Glenwood Springs, CO

 

Dead Horse, Canyonlands, Goblin

 

5 hours of driving if stay in Torrey near Capitol Reef, or 4 hours if staying in Hanksville. 

Moab/Arches

Only 1 h 46 min of driving for the Arches day.  Rest up next day.

 

"If you miss timed entry for Arches, focus on nearby Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky district) for incredible views without timed entry, explore Dead Horse Point State Park, drive the scenic byways around Moab like the La Sal Mountain Loop, hike shorter trails or viewpoints outside timed hours (before 7 AM or after 4 PM) at Arches, visit the Moab Giants dinosaur park, go rafting on the Colorado River, or explore the Manti-La Sal National Forest. The town of Moab itself also offers breweries, wineries, and shops. "

But if you get into the park by 7a, as long as you don't leave the park, you can see all you want, you just can go back in until after 4p

Moab to Arches drive is 9 minutes, 5.2 miles.

Moab to Grand View Point overlook and trailhead is 1 hr 2 min, 44 mi.

Grand Junction, CO to Grand View Point overlook and trailhead is 2 hr 15 min, 135 mi.

National & State Parks

Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky): Just minutes from Arches, offers stunning canyon vistas and is not on a timed-entry system for its main district.

• Dead Horse Point State Park: Famous for its dramatic overlooks of the Colorado River, requiring a separate state park pass.
• Goblin Valley State Park: A bit further, but offers unique hoodoo formations. 

Scenic Drives & Views

• Arches Scenic Drive (Early/Late): Drive the 18-mile road before 7 AM or after 4 PM to see viewpoints like Courthouse Towers, Balanced Rock, and The Windows without needing a timed entry.
• La Sal Mountain Loop: A beautiful drive through forested mountains with cooler temperatures. 

Hikes & Trails (Outside Timed Entry)

• Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail: An 8-mile trail with dinosaur tracks.
• Short Walks in Arches (Early/Late): Try Balanced Rock (2.2 mi loop) or the Windows Section if entering during the permitted hours.
• Colorado Riverway Recreation Area: Offers trails along the river. 

Other Activities in & Around Moab

• Moab Giants Dinosaur Park: See dinosaur skeletons and tracks.
• Colorado River: Go rafting, kayaking, or stand-up paddleboarding.

Vally of Fire State Park in NV

 "Is like a poor-man's Waves", no lottery to get in, easier hike, smaller, less cool, but still wave-like.  Annual Trail Closures: For the safety of guests, staff, and local rescue services, many of the park's trails are closed annually May 15 - September 30. https://parks.nv.gov/parks/valley-of-fire 

Salt Lake City

On Trip Advisor, Great Salt Lake is #14 of things to do in Salt Lake City behind seeing the state Capitol building.  User reviews say "Its a lake.  It smells bad."  People aren't enthusiastic and don't list it as a must-see.

Tracy Aviary is #10.  Chloe and I would like it.  Alex would not  https://tracyaviary.org/nose-to-beak-experiences#trainer-for-a-day-4-hour-experience

Park City is nearby, but we are seeing a lot of mountains.  Do we need to see more?

If we skip SLC altogether, it is 6.5 hours from Bryce to Dinosaur, or 6 hours Escalante to Dinosaur.

things to do in Colorado

Pikes Peak does not look interesting to me: 

Top scenic drives in CO:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g28927-Activities-c47-t74-Colorado.html

#1 Trail Ridge Road: Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States. Known appropriately as the "Highway to the Sky," it crosses the Continental Divide at a whopping 12,183 feet. Colorado has also designated Trail Ridge Road as a scenic and historic byway.   Ends in Estes.

Best trail in Estes: Emerald Lake Trail is also the best trail in all of Colorado:   https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/emerald-lake-trail  "Emerald Lake Trail is a 3.1 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park... The trailhead is at the end of Bear Lake Road - a short drive from Estes Park in Colorado.  Hikers will pass pristine alpine lakes including Nymph Lake and Dream Lakes and be treated to beautiful views of rocky peaks including Flattop Mountain, Hallett Peak and Glacier Gorge. … It took us an 1.25 hours there and back stopping many times to take pictures. "



********************San Juan Scenic Byway: *******************************
 A spectacular scenic drive stretches from the old mining town of Silverton, to the town of Ouray, along what is called the Million Dollar Highway. This is a 46-kilometer two-lane highway that hugs the mountainside in places and looks out over jaw-dropping cliffs and across valleys to inspiring mountain peaks. It is one of the most spectacular mountain drives in Colorado.
https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/colorado-usco.htm


Ice Lake Basin Trail in San juan National Forest is 8 miles.  I don't know if we can spend a whole day doing one hike.

OR there are hot springs in Ouray for something to do along the San Juan Scenic Byway. 

OR Old Hundred Gold Mine https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g33646-d1734410-Reviews-Old_Hundred_Gold_Mine_Tour-Silverton_Colorado.html
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g33646-d1734410-Reviews-Old_Hundred_Gold_Mine_Tour-Silverton_Colorado.html
"Really interesting

Very unpretentious, value for money experience, brought to life by a tour guide who knew a lot about mining. We came away with a much better appreciation of the life of a miner past and present, and no question was too much trouble for our guide. Great was to spend an hour or two, 5 miles or so out of Silverton. "

********************************************************************************* Dinosaur to Estes is a 6 hour drive.  Sounds like a crappy day.  
Dinosaur to Aspen is a 4.5 hour drive.  Maroon Bells are near Aspen.
Aspen to Estes via Kremmling puts us on the Trail Ridge Road and takes 4.75 hours. 

*****************************Dinosaur****************************************
Places to see petroglyphs in Dinosaur National Monument: https://www.nps.gov/dino/learn/historyculture/viewing-petroglyphs-and-pictographs.htm

https://www.nps.gov/dino/learn/historyculture/viewing-petroglyphs-and-pictographs.htm



There are white water rafting day trips in Dinosaur that stop at petroglyphs for $119+$15/persson. 
https://www.oars.com/adventures/split-mountain-utah-whitewater-rafting/
OR https://adrift.com/utah-whitewater-rafting/


********************************************************************************************
Top Attractions in Colorado: 
Great Sand Dune National Park

High Dune Trail is a 3 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Mosca, Colorado that features a river and is rated as difficult. Nice views from the top. Trailhead has changing rooms and outdoor showers to clean up after the hike. There is a small store just outside the park that rents sand boards to surf down the dunes. We missed it driving in so didn't get the chance to surf but it looked fun.

34 h (1,967 miles) - ()

Great Sand Dunes to Old Hundred Mine: 4.5 (Great Sand Dunes adds 2 hours)

Old Hundred to Cliff Palace Mesa Verde: 2 hr 40 min (Cliff Palace adds 2 hours) 

Old Hundred to Moab: 4 hr (Moab adds 34 minutes) (Old Hundred adds 3 hours in San Juan Ntl Forest)

Moab to Zion: 5 hr 21min (Zion adds 3 hours) 

Moab to Bryce: 4 hr 26 min

Moab to Escalante: 4 hr 1 min

Cliff Palace to Zion: 6 hr 42 min

Cliff Palace to Bryce: 7 hr 15 min

Cliff Palace to Escalante: 6 hr 56 min

Cliff Palace to Moab: 2 hr 55 min

Escalante to Dinosaur/Vernal: 5 hr 49 min

Escalante to Moab: 4 hr

Moab to Dinosaur/Vernal: 3 hr 41 min (Dinosaur adds 2 hours) 

Bryce to Little Wild Horse Canyon: 3 hr 47 min (Little Wild Horse Canyon adds 2 hrs)

Little Wild Horse Canyon to Dinosaur/Vernal: 4 hr 35 min

Dinosaur to Emerald Lake: 6 hrs 6 min (Emerald Lake adds 2 hours) 

The problem is that Dinosaur and Estes are very far from everything else and add long (6+ hours) days of driving which results in hotel and food charges, but no real vacationing/experiencing.  Consider arriving Denver, and leaving from Las Vegas, or vice versa.  That would mean skipping the white water rafting, or doing it in a different place than Dinosaur.

***********************************ASPEN*************************************
Maroon Bells "This was the reason for going to Aspen and I wasn't disappointed. It is a bit of a challenge to get to. The buses are your best bet as parking is a problem. We took a bus from downtown to the Highlands and then they have buses running to the Bells. I do think this is a must see, gorgeous peaceful and spiritual." "Because of the crowds, private vehicles are not allowed during tourist season between 8 AM - 5 PM. Bus transportation is required during those hours"

There is a 1.8 mi easy hike, or a 3.6 mi moderate


https://www.stayaspensnowmass.com/sites/default/files/MaroonBells.pdf
https://www.stayaspensnowmass.com/sites/default/files/MaroonBells.pdf
"Developed Campgrounds:

• Silver Bar Campground - 4 sites available at this small primitive campground.
• Silver Bell Campground - 14 sites available on the banks of Maroon Creek.
• Silver Queen Campground - 5 campsites available, near Maroon Creek.

Reservations: 

Call Toll Free 1 (877) 444-6777 (International (518) 885-3639 or TDD (877) 833-6777) or reserve on-line at www.recreation.gov.

Food Storage:

Storing food properly is required when camping in the developed campgrounds in the Maroon Bells area. Please seal and store food in a container inside a vehicle or in bear boxes provided at the campsite."

" You can hike on this road in the winter but it is a 12 mile round trip to make it to the lake. The road is open to all Non-Motorized forms of transportation at no charge. (bicycles, skateboarders, hikers, rollerbladers, etc...).  Buses are expected to run every 30 minutes from the Buttermilk lot to Aspen Highlands. There is a $10 recreation use fee for driving to the Maroon Bells. Cash or check only. You must catch the bus to the Maroon Bells at Aspen Highlands. Leashed dogs are allowed on the bus."