West - Consolidated "Utah and Colorado - What to see and do?" thread

Hey Guys,

I am going to fly into DEN and spend a week in CO and UT. I am pretty effecient in seeing a place in a short period of time and would like to know what are yours top 5-10 places in each state?

My plan was to flying into DEN, get a car, drive to check out Veil/Breckenridge/Aspen, drive to Colorado Springs, then go south west through the monument valley and the north to SLC. After, drive through Wyoming to Boulder and fly out of DEN. What do you guys think? What are the best things to see? What is worth skipping? I love sightseeing, outdoors stuff, anything that I cant get in Chicago. I am not too fond of hanging around cities and big places, since I can get that at home.

One of my favorite parts of Colorado is the San Juan Mountains in the southwest. My suggestion would be as follows -

After Breckenridge and Vail, take 24 south through Leadville and 82 west to Aspen, Instead of backtracking to Colorado Springs, go west to Carbondale, then south to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, then south from Montrose to Durango through the San Juan Mts. Once you get to Durango, you can head west through Mesa Verde and then to Monument Valley.

If you do decide to include Colorado Springs, I think it makes more sense to go there first out of Denver, and then head west to Breckenridge and Vail. One thing you will see for sure is the devastation of the recent fire just west of Colorado Springs.

Is Colorado Springs worth seeing or is it skippable? Same w/ Veil/Breckinridge since it is over the summer? Is there a point even going there if there is no snow?

Have you been to St.Elmo? What are other destinations worth seeing?

Thanks!

Is Colorado Springs worth seeing....

Garden of the Gods
The Air Force Academy Chapel
Pikes Peak (via the cog railway)

In other words, yes.

I have some of those same stops. Keep in mind that Hwy 24 that goes from the Vail/Breckenridge area to Leadville is suffering some road closures because of a sinkhole. I am not if the entire road is closed or if they are alternating traffic. There are other ways to get to Leadville though. I love the SW area of CO/AZ/UT. Monument Valley was very nice. It is an easy drive through there to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Im not sure of the time of year you are going but if it is before the end of Sept, you can add that to your stop (the North Rim closes early because of snow; it is significantly higher elevation than the South Rim).

A week is a really, really short amount of time given the distances.

Don't know when you arriving at DIA, but I'd consider

a) Colorado Springs -- Garden of the Gods and/or Air Force Academy Chapel. If you want to RON at Colorado Springs, you could add in a trip to Pikes Peak up the cog railway.

b) Bluff, Utah (via US 50 west of Canon City - Arkansas River canyon. Beautiful). Use Bluff to see Monument Valley.

c) Bluff to Kanab Utah (stopping at North Rim -- keep in mind that the drive from the highway to the rim will add about 3 hours)

d) Kanab to Moab via the incredible Utah Highway 12. Some time at Arches National Park (and Capitol Reef Monument and Escalante Staircase monument along the way).

e) Moab back to Denver one a number of ways that others would be better at advising on.

But this will be a VERY rushed trip and your sightseeing will necessarily have to be Griswold-style.

Thanks guys! I know it is a rushed schedule, but it is what it is, and I am planing on seeing as much as possible. Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs sounds fun.

I have been to the South Rim, is it worth going to the North Rim and seeing it but "wasting" more time or since I have been to the South Rim, I should spend the time seeing more of other stuff? After Monument Valley, I was planing on going north, to SLC.

Also, the big question is, between Monument Valley to SLC, what is the best things to see? I wanted to see Bryce, Arch's, and Rainbow Bridge. Anything else?

Thanks guys! I know it is a rushed schedule, but it is what it is, and I am planing on seeing as much as possible. Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs sounds fun.

I have been to the South Rim, is it worth going to the North Rim and seeing it but "wasting" more time or since I have been to the South Rim, I should spend the time seeing more of other stuff? After Monument Valley, I was planing on going north, to SLC.

Also, the big question is, between Monument Valley to SLC, what is the best things to see? I wanted to see Bryce, Arch's, and Rainbow Bridge. Anything else?

IMO, Bryce is the most spectacular of the parks and monuments I've seen in Utah and I would not miss it.

Rocky Mountain National Park. I always take out of towners there, and even the most jaded are always impressed.

If I were going to take someone on a roadtrip of Colorado at Utah from Denver, this is what I would do:

Denver to Rocky Mountain National Park
US 34 / Trail Ridge Rd to US 40 to I70
I70 to SR91 or US 24 to Leadville
US 24 to Independence Pass to Aspen
Aspen to Durango via the Million Dollar Highway
Durango to Mesa Verde
Mesa Verde to Monument Valley
Monument Valley to Moab
Arches and Canyonlands National Parks
Moab back to Denver

IMO, Bryce is the most spectacular of the parks and monuments I've seen in Utah and I would not miss it.

Agreed, if you make it that far west. If you have time you should try to make it out there. The entire drive through southern Utah is gorgeous.

GoBucks has an excellent itinerary. I'd only add to it with a suggestion that, after Leaving Aspen, you turn left in Carbondale and take co133 and 92 to Sapinero to Montrose and on south to Durango.

Colorado Springs is ok and Pikes Peak is nice but Trail Ridge, Independence Pass and especially the Milion Dollar Hwy are far more scenic. Personally, SLC is way out of the way and is a lot of driving just for a city, a nice city but still a city.

Also, if you're traveling in summer, Utah will be hot.

Have fun!
JimS

Rocky Mountain National Park. I always take out of towners there, and even the most jaded are always impressed.

If I were going to take someone on a roadtrip of Colorado at Utah from Denver, this is what I would do:

Denver to Rocky Mountain National Park
US 34 / Trail Ridge Rd to US 40 to I70
I70 to SR91 or US 24 to Leadville
US 24 to Independence Pass to Aspen
Aspen to Durango via the Million Dollar Highway
Durango to Mesa Verde
Mesa Verde to Monument Valley
Monument Valley to Moab
Arches and Canyonlands National Parks
Moab back to Denver



.

I would alter it slightly....

day 1: Rocky Mountain NP overnight in vail/breckonridge
day 2: drive down through independence pass to aspen then on to Moab
day 3: Arches/Canyonlands
day 4: Arches...drive to monumnet valley to view at sunset...the drive to cortez
day5: Mesa Verde in the AM..US 550 in the afternoon/evening....stay in Ouray
day 6: There is a nice shot of the mountains in the morning near dallas divide....then drive US 50 To gunnison....option drive down to see Sand Dunes national park for the afternoon/evening or go to colo springs
day 7: colorado springs area

alternate option...
day 4: AM Arches...evening drive to Torrey
day 5: UT 12 am, Bryce in the PM...stay in Kanab
day 6: you could try and do north tim in the am...then drive and do monument valley in the evening then on to cortez....
back to above--day 5 pushes 2 days to day 5 and so on...

You got some great Ideas here. Just wanted to add if you do happen to get to southern Wyoming take Snowy Range, route 130, out of Laramie. It's a 29mile spectacular drive.

Bobette

Myself and my better half are thinking of heading to Colorado Utah etc on a two week drive hol in October. Has anyone been? Any suggestions of must sees. Really into national parks, the Rockies etc

Good timing as well, not too hot and the snow hasn't started so travel should be easy. I only know the skiing in Colorado which wouldn't apply then, but for Utah, I would recommend Bryce Canyon, the Arches national park and if you have any interest in biking, Moab (and don't worry about being an expert rider, as long as you can ride a little you can enjoy Moab)

A big second for Moab Utah. Absolutely one of the most beautiful places in the world. Along with Arches you will be close to Canyonlands park which is also worth a day or two of driving / hiking.

I would definitely go to Mesa Verde There you will see how the Indians lived in the sides of cliffs. I think you can still climb down to one I am not sure but it is definitely interesting. While in that area you can take the steam train from Telluride to Silverton and see the old west town.
I would also go to the top of Pike's Peak. It is not everyday you can have altitude sickness. They have a train that goes up or you can drive. I took the train it was quite fun.

With a more-focused thread title, let me move this to the specific forum on Travel to the Western U.S. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

Myself and my better half are thinking of heading to Colorado Utah etc on a two week drive hol in October. Has anyone been? Any suggestions of must sees. Really into national parks, the Rockies etc

I have been there in October--it depends when you go.

Not sure if you have set your dates yet but here are some suggestions....

Rocky Mountian National Park...this is Elk mating season so the first weekend of October they usually have some sort of festival in Estes Park.

At the end of September you have fall color changes at higher elevations and through Aspen, Vail, Breckonridge.

In the flat areas of Colorado and Utah (Grand Junction, Moab, Durango, Alamosa) the tree colors change in early October (around Columbus day weekend).

Say you drive from grand Junction to Cortez in early October. The flat part of grand junction to Ouray , dallas divide will be at peak color, Telluride, Silverton will be past peak. Durango, Cortez, Mesa Verde will be around peak fall color.

In terms of sites to see...

Rocky Mountain national park

Maroon bells near aspen

Mesa Verde

Great Sand Dunes

Moab (Arches, Canyondlands, Dead horse Point State Park)

Monument Valley

What you can do is a loop trip....drive to Rocky Mountain...then to Aspen...to Moab...to Monument Valley...to Mesa Verde, drive US 550...then to San Dunes...then back to denver.




..

I would definitely go to Mesa Verde There you will see how the Indians lived in the sides of cliffs. I think you can still climb down to one I am not sure but it is definitely interesting. While in that area you can take the steam train from Telluride to Silverton and see the old west town.
I would also go to the top of Pike's Peak. It is not everyday you can have altitude sickness. They have a train that goes up or you can drive. I took the train it was quite fun.


With Mesa Verde at this time of year half the park is closed (its only open Memorial Day to Labor Day). There are two you can do but you need to obtain tour tickets for these.

Hello everyone, I have a business trip coming up to SLC (Provo actually) and I was able to convince my company to let me go early so I can do some sightseeing with my wife. Last time I was there (only for 1 night) I was able to drive through Big Cottonwood Canyon and walk around Silver Lake (and see moose!) and that was awesome. We will be arriving Nov 3 (in the morning) and I have to report for work on Nov 6 (afternoon) so I realize that we won't have a lot of time to do stuff. My original plan was to spend a night in Moab and another near Bryce Canyon, but I have decided that would be way too much driving for a short trip like ours. So my new plan is to spend our first night in SLC and I can take her through Big Cottonwood and we can explore more than I got to and probably go through Little Cottonwood as well. Maybe hit up Bridal Falls in the Provo area if there is time.

My question to all of you is, if you had a choice, would you visit the Bryce Canyon area (along with Zion) or would Moab be a better choice (with Canyonlands, Arches, etc)? Do I have to worry about snow at all at this time of year in any of these areas? I'm from Chicago so it isn't like I'm not used to driving in the stuff, but it would make me think twice about driving and hiking in some places!

Hello everyone, I have a business trip coming up to SLC (Provo actually) and I was able to convince my company to let me go early so I can do some sightseeing with my wife. Last time I was there (only for 1 night) I was able to drive through Big Cottonwood Canyon and walk around Silver Lake (and see moose!) and that was awesome. We will be arriving Nov 3 (in the morning) and I have to report for work on Nov 6 (afternoon) so I realize that we won't have a lot of time to do stuff. My original plan was to spend a night in Moab and another near Bryce Canyon, but I have decided that would be way too much driving for a short trip like ours. So my new plan is to spend our first night in SLC and I can take her through Big Cottonwood and we can explore more than I got to and probably go through Little Cottonwood as well. Maybe hit up Bridal Falls in the Provo area if there is time.

My question to all of you is, if you had a choice, would you visit the Bryce Canyon area (along with Zion) or would Moab be a better choice (with Canyonlands, Arches, etc)? Do I have to worry about snow at all at this time of year in any of these areas? I'm from Chicago so it isn't like I'm not used to driving in the stuff, but it would make me think twice about driving and hiking in some places!

There is too much driving to do Bryce and Moab in a weekend.

I would keep things open and look at the weather.

Moab will likely be warmer than Bryce.

Either way you will have a mountain pass to go through. That is the bigger issue.

From SLC it takes about 4.5 hrs to drive to Moab. About 3.5 to drive to Bryce (depending on the way).


With either park dont count on seeing large widelife (other than deer in bryce).

With Bryce this is off season so there is limited park stuff. The elevation at Bryce is 8500-9500 feet which means it can get colder and you get snow. Also at this time you can drive into Zion with your own car. In the summer you cant unless you were stayin at the parks hotel.

Here are options/suggestions

If you arrive in the AM on the 3rd....(remember this weekend clocks turn back on Saturday)

you drive to Moab getting there mid/late afternoon. drive into Arches and do Windows section with the later day sunlight or hike.

On Saturday spend the day in Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point state park. Food is unavalable so bring your lunch with you unless you want to drive out and back. For sunrise do Mesa Arch. Do the western facing pullouts. Then in the afternoon do the eastern facing pullouts and dead horse state park.

On Sunday do Arches. go in the early AM to see balances rock and windows and then in the afternoon do Delicate arch hike (takes 1-2 hrs to get there depending on your condition...its all uphil hike...then half the time back down hill). Then you hike back at dusk so bring a flashlight. This time will be around 6pm the hike back so you could go back into town and eat dinner before driving back to Provo....you could stop over and stay in green river or in Price.

If you go to Bryce.....

if you are leaving the aiport at 11am....this is what I suggest to maximize the daylight driving.

Drive to Torrey, UT then drive down UT 12 to Bryce. Depending on your schedule you could stay in Escalante or Boulder....or drive to Bryce.

Saturday...all day at Bryce through sunset. drive and stay in Kanab or Springdale.

Sunday...all day in Zion. in the evening drive and stay in ceder city or beaver for the night.

Alternate option....

Friday...drive to Bryce...stay there through sunset....drive and spend night in Kanab and use this as your base.

Saturday.....drive to Page, AZ and see Powel dam and Antelope Canyon. ( Alternate option...North Rim of gran Canyon is usually closed by early November....but it could still be open depending on weather).

Sunday...Zion then drive and stay in Cedar City or Beaver.

If you didnt want to do Page....Saturday would be Zion and then Sunday would be Bryce...then drive up to Beaver, Richland, or Torrey.

Bryce is cool to take pictures off if you can get fresh snowfall.

In terms of the cities.....

Moab you have sivilization where the city has a supermarket and there are restaurants.

Kanab has supermarkets and restaurants. Springvale has some restaurants (just not sure of the seasonality with them).

In Bryce the Rubys Inn (Best Western) has a restaurant you can eat at. Along UT 12 some of the towns places may be closed for the season.

Cedar City and Price are larger cities with a walmart and supermarkets that do not shut down (pop in these cities are 60,000+ while many of the other towns are smaller)