Planning a Road Trip to Utah

[Liquid_Turbo]

Thanks for all the help guys.

I finalized my itinerary:

Vancouver to Yosemite,
Death Valley
Las Vegas
Joshua Tree
Phoenix
Chirichua National Monument
White Sands National Monument
Roswell
Albuquerque
Mesa Verde
Arches National Park
Canyonlands
Monument Valley
Antelope Canyon
Zion National Park
Bryce Canyon
Capitol Reef
Great Basin National Park
Salt Lake City
Craters Of the Moon National Park
Grand Tetons
Yellowstone
Glacier National Park

Then home.

 

[Liquid_Turbo]

Originally Posted By: Rhymingmechanic


Also, if you're going to the Moab area from the north, exit I-70 on Highway 128 instead of US 191. From Green River, UT, the exit is another 22 miles past US 191. From Grand Junction, CO, it is the first Moab exit. 128 is an awesome drive through the canyon of the Colorado, one of the most scenic roads I've ever driven. Don't drive like you're in a car commercial, though--you would probably hit a cow or somebody taking in the scenery. (If you don't go in that way, drive 128 north from Moab to Dewey Bridge and then turn around and go back to town.)


Thanks so much for this tidbit of information. I checked it out with Google Street view and it looks amazing! I added it into my Itinerary!!

 

[Vikas]

Wow, I am jealous of your itinerary

 

[Rhymingmechanic]

That was my introduction to canyon country. You'll seriously think you're in a Road Runner cartoon.

Considering your itinerary, you'll want to get a National Parks Pass ($80) either online or at the first park you visit. http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm
Also keep in mind that most roads inside the parks are 45 mph or slower, so plan accordingly. At Mesa Verde, for example, it feels like forever from the park entrance to the cliff dwellings. Great Basin is WAY off the beaten path, so you'll probably be spending the night. I recommend the high campground, which I think is right near the bristlecone pine trail.

Carry lots of water, and have fun. I'm envious.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: Rhymingmechanic
That was my introduction to canyon country. You'll seriously think you're in a Road Runner cartoon.

Considering your itinerary, you'll want to get a National Parks Pass ($80) either online or at the first park you visit. http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm
Also keep in mind that most roads inside the parks are 45 mph or slower, so plan accordingly. At Mesa Verde, for example, it feels like forever from the park entrance to the cliff dwellings. Great Basin is WAY off the beaten path, so you'll probably be spending the night. I recommend the high campground, which I think is right near the bristlecone pine trail.

Carry lots of water, and have fun. I'm envious.


Let me add, the reason the $80 is good is that admission to most parks is $25 per park if you don't have the Pass.

I was at Glen Canyon National Recreation Ares (Lake Powell), North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion National Parks and Death Valley National Monument last week. Regular admission would have been $125. I have the lifetime old geezers pass ($10) so got in free.

I did notice that the speed limits in the wide open spaces of some parks have increased. There were some 60 mph limits in some parks.

 

[Liquid_Turbo]

I just came back.. and WOW.

16,000km later. (10,000miles).. loved every bit of it. American SW is truly a beautiful place.

I had a job interview right before I left to, so I am able to come home to a job! Which is great news after job searching for a year.

I took 16,000 photos, so I will definitely post some when I sort through them! Thanks to everyone's suggestions, they were EXCELLENT!

I took some photos thinking.. "man, I'll have to post some of these on BITOG when I get home!"

 

[StevieC]

Did you go see Bill?

 

[Liquid_Turbo]

Originally Posted By: fred
When in Utah go to temple square in Salt Lake. The temple is a beautiful building worth getting pictures of.


The Temple square is beautiful!! Thanks for this suggestion. I did the tour to see the Mormon convention center.. it is an amazing piece of engineering!

Originally Posted By: Rhymingmechanic
You must go to Arches if you're in the area, but it will be busy. Hike the Devil's Garden trail, and go up to Delicate Arch for sunset.


I did this, and it was STUNNING.

Originally Posted By: Rhymingmechanic

Also, if you're going to the Moab area from the north, exit I-70 on Highway 128 instead of US 191. From Green River, UT, the exit is another 22 miles past US 191. From Grand Junction, CO, it is the first Moab exit. 128 is an awesome drive through the canyon of the Colorado, one of the most scenic roads I've ever driven



This was an awesome suggestion, and the road was phenomenal. I ended up turning back and doing the La Sal Mountains scenic loop.. which was amazing as well!

Originally Posted By: Stuart Hughes

For something a little off the beaten path in Yellowstone- when we went there in '93, I saw a little sign off one of the main internal roads that read, "Lone Star Geyser". Turned off, there was a small parking area. You had to walk in over a mile, maybe 1.5 or 2 miles, on a paved path. Since I grew up in a little town named Lone Star, Texas, of course I had to go!

Walked in, it was July, (humidity was so low there was a negative heat index, a truly alien concept for a guy from East Texas) and on arrival I was the only one there. After waiting almost an hour, the geyser blew- just for me! It remains my favorite memory of that trip.


I checked this place out based on your suggestion. The geyser erupts every 3 hours and I had just missed the eruption by 15 minutes!! Sadly. However, the geyser itself was still very interesting.

Originally Posted By: GROUCHO MARX
Visit the large Statue of Bill In Utah. What's really neat is that he's standing on a large oil filter.


Sadly.. I look long and hard.. but could not find this!







One of my favorite places was Antelope Canyon near Page AZ.

Another favorite was Zion:

Angels Landing:

Mono Lake in California was memorable as well:

Bryce Canyon:

Yellowstone was amazing as well, but also hated it, due to the crowds and traffic...

I did the hike up to Mount Washburn.. and it was incredible.
Saw this along the way:

Shot from Prismatic Spring:

LOVED Canyonlands:

Saguaro Cactus National Park:

Yosemite (another memorable favorite.. Gorgeous)

Thanks to everyone for their help. If anyone has any photo requests of any parks, I'll definitely post some. Driving and camping in America has been the utmost delightful experience.

 

[mopar_monkey]

Originally Posted By: Liquid_Turbo
Since I still can't find a job, I've decided to go travelling. I've read a lot of books and have my sights set on Wyoming (to visit Yellowstone), Utah, and Colorado.

Can anyone recommend any gems from these areas? I am interested in the 'cool' places that no one knows about, but also like the famous activities (such as hiking the Canyon Narrows @ Zion National Park).

I am an avid photographer and want to get some nice pictures!


if you are anywhere close i would suggest taking a couple of days and checking out death valley, very cool place.

 

[StevieC]

I have got to go there... Put Utah on my list and bumped it up in front of some other places I wanted to go.

Thanks for posting the pics!

 

[Liquid_Turbo]

Originally Posted By: mopar_monkey
Originally Posted By: Liquid_Turbo
Since I still can't find a job, I've decided to go travelling. I've read a lot of books and have my sights set on Wyoming (to visit Yellowstone), Utah, and Colorado.

Can anyone recommend any gems from these areas? I am interested in the 'cool' places that no one knows about, but also like the famous activities (such as hiking the Canyon Narrows @ Zion National Park).

I am an avid photographer and want to get some nice pictures!


if you are anywhere close i would suggest taking a couple of days and checking out death valley, very cool place.


I'm back home now and I did go to Death Valley.. it was one of my favorite places. VERY very hot though.. It hit 120 when I was there.. Amazing.

 

[mopar_monkey]

i love death valley, it is in my opinion the most underrated national park.

 

[Vikas]

Wow, those are beautiful pictures! You said you took 16K pictures? Since you are an avid photographer, mind you if I ask what is the ratio of your good vs duds? If you are going to post album online, please remember to let us know. I would be interested in them.

- Vikas