Trip: Utah and Colorado –

The Utah and Colorado Trip

9 Days of Deserts and Mountains

This 10-day trip uses Las Vegas as a starting and ending point, but spends almost all of the time in central Utah and central and northern Colorado.

Day 1

Out of Nevada, into Utah

The Trip Begins: Las Vegas into Utah

Las Vegas often becomes a starting point for my vacations, and once again, I had ended up here. To be ...

Nevada

Jan 24, 2016

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Day 2

Across the empty center of Utah

Colorado National Monument

My original vacation plan called for me to spend the first half of Day 3 in Colorado National Monument. Instead, ...

Colorado

Jan 24, 2016

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Buckhorn Draw Road: San Rafael River Swinging Bridge

After dropping down from “The Wedge” and passing the Pictograph Panel, the next interesting stop in the drive through the ...

Utah

Jan 24, 2016

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Buckhorn Wash Pictograph Panel

If you need proof that prehistoric man had some artistic talent, you need look no further than the walls of ...

Utah

Jan 24, 2016

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Buckhorn Draw Road into Buckhorn Wash: MK Tunnels

While the Wedge gave you the opportunity to peer into a wildly sculpted sandstone world, now you have the opportunity ...

Utah

Jan 24, 2016

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Wedge Overlook Little Grand Canyon of Utah

This might be the greatest natural wonder that you never knew existed. Deep in the middle of the desolate San ...

Utah

Jan 24, 2016

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Buckhorn Draw Road, San Rafael Swell

In one of the most, if not the most, thinly-populated areas of Utah, there’s a huge jumble of geology called ...

Utah

Jan 24, 2016

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Energy Loop Scenic Byway: Huntington Canyon

The tiny downtown of Fairview goes by quickly. There are only a few buildings along US 89, in this farming ...

Utah

Jan 24, 2016

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Utah Highway 29: Ephraim Canyon Heritage Tour

On the map, it seemed like the perfect shortcut across the Wasatch Plateau. Utah Route 29 climbs up and over ...

Utah

Jan 24, 2016

1
Utah’s US 89 North: Manti, Ephraim

US 89 provides a nice, scenic alternative to Interstate 15, headed north to Salt Lake City. I was only going ...

Utah

Jan 24, 2016

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Driving Across Utah: Interstates 15 & 70, US 89, Gunnison

The middle of Utah is remarkably desolate and empty, which makes it so surprising that, in the middle of nowhere, ...

Utah

Jan 24, 2016

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Beaver, Utah

As I checked out of my gas station/motel room in Beaver, Utah, I noticed a stack of bumper stickers that ...

Utah

Jan 24, 2016

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Day 3

Exploring Colorado

Tincup Ghost Town & Cemetery

With Day 3’s daylight quickly slipping away, I drove from Taylor Park Reservoir out to the semi-ghost town of Tincup ...

Colorado

Jan 24, 2016

2
The (Dirt) Road To Cottonwood Pass

There’s nothing quite like driving over the Continental Divide, and when you’re taking a road trip around Colorado, you’ll likely ...

Colorado

Jan 24, 2016

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The Road to Taylor Park Reservoir, Gunnison National Forest

There are several good reasons to delay your arrival in Gunnison by a few hours, and take a detour into ...

Colorado

Jan 24, 2016

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Kebler Pass to Crested Butte: CR12, West Elk Loop

For much of the year, there’s only one way to get in and out of Crested Butte, Colorado: Highway 135, ...

Colorado

Jan 24, 2016

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McClure Pass: West Elk Loop Byway

I didn’t have a good reason for driving up the western side of McClure Pass on Colorado Highway 133. In ...

Colorado

Jan 24, 2016

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Somerset, Colorado: West Elk Loop Byway

Driving along Colorado Route 133, I had the bizarre experience of, for a brief moment, feeling like I had driven ...

Colorado

Jan 24, 2016

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West Elk Loop Byway: Paonia, CO 92, 133

After leaving Cedaredge, I ran into Colorado Route 92, and headed east for a while. Large mountains loomed far ahead ...

Colorado

Jan 24, 2016

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Cedaredge, Colorado

As you drop down from the Grand Mesa Byway, the nice little town of Cedaredge is waiting to greet you. ...

Colorado

Jan 24, 2016

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Grand Mesa Byway, Colorado

As I left Grand Junction, I didn’t have to go far to find a nice, scenic highway. Just a few ...

Colorado

Jan 24, 2016

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Day 4

Dirt roads, small towns, and ghost towns

Garden Of The Gods

Even if you’ve never been to Colorado, you’ve probably seen the Garden of the Gods. It’s one of those places ...

Colorado

Jan 24, 2016

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Gold Camp Road: Victor to Colorado Springs

Since Victor, Colorado is tucked away on the western side of Pike’s Peak, getting to Colorado Springs on pavement requires ...

Colorado

Jan 24, 2016

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American Eagles Mine Overlook, Victor Colorado

Victor, Colorado may have a much smaller population than it did during the gold boom days of the turn-of-the-20th-century, but ...

Colorado

Jan 24, 2016

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Victor: Mining Ghost Town

When I visited Colorado in 2005, Victor was one of my favorite discoveries. This little mining town (surrounded by a ...

Colorado

Jan 24, 2016

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The Gold Belt Tour: Shelf Road – Cañon City to Victor

When I visited Colorado back in 2005, I had planned to drive up Shelf Road from Cañon City to Victor, ...

Colorado

Jan 24, 2016

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Skyline Drive above Cañon City, Colorado

I do a lot of planning before I set out on a vacation, but the most memorable moments often occur ...

Colorado

Jan 24, 2016

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Spiral Drive, To The Big “S” on Tenderfoot Mountain, Salida

While walking around Salida, Colorado, I was fascinated by the big “S” on the hill above downtown. It reminded me ...

Colorado

Jan 24, 2016

2
Salida, Colorado

I think you’d have a hard time finding anyone who doesn’t like Salida, Colorado. This small town of about 5,500 ...

Colorado

Jan 24, 2016

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US 50 to Monarch Pass, Colorado

Driving east from Gunnison, US 50 won’t bore you to tears, but it won’t wow you with any amazing scenery, ...

Colorado

Jan 24, 2016

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Gunnison, Colorado

The city of Gunnison provides a good home-base for a visit to this area of Colorado. Aside from the charming ...

Colorado

Jan 24, 2016

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Day 5

The foothills west of Denver

Lily Lake, on the Peak to Peak Byway

If the southern end of the Peak To Peak Byway wasn’t dramatic enough for you, just wait for the final ...

Colorado

Jan 25, 2016

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Wild Basin: Copeland Falls, Rocky Mountain National Park

If you’re spending a few days in Rocky Mountain National Park, and you get tired of the trails near Estes ...

Colorado

Jan 25, 2016

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Peak To Peak Highway: Routes 119, 72, 7

Halfway between Denver’s urban sprawl and the Continental Divide, the Peak To Peak Byway finds a path through Colorado’s Front ...

Colorado

Jan 25, 2016

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Central City & Black Hawk, Colorado

While it may seem that most of Colorado’s old gold mining boom towns are teetering towards ghost town status, a ...

Colorado

Jan 25, 2016

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Rampart Range Road, from Colorado Springs

For the drive north towards the Denver area, and eventually Estes Park, most people take Interstate 25. It would have ...

Colorado

Jan 25, 2016

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Day 6

Hiking and driving Rocky Mountain National Park

Alluvial Fan, Rocky Mountain National Park

With rain and grey skies surrounding me at the end of Day 6, I drove around the eastern side of ...

Colorado

Jan 25, 2016

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Driving Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park’s centerpiece is its high-altitude highway into the sky — the highest continuous road in the United ...

Colorado

Jan 25, 2016

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Sprague Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park

On the way back from my hike out to Emerald Lake and Alberta Falls, I made a quick stop to ...

Colorado

Jan 25, 2016

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Hiking to Alberta Falls, Rocky Mountain National Park

After taking the trail out to Emerald Lake and back, I was still in the mood for a little more ...

Colorado

Jan 25, 2016

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Hiking to Bear, Nymph, Dream, and Emerald Lakes, RMNP

Anyone visiting Rocky Mountain National Park during the summer should reserve at least a half-day for hiking in the Bear ...

Colorado

Jan 25, 2016

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Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park

It’s possible that the only time you’ll spend in Moraine Park is while driving through the area, headed for somewhere ...

Colorado

Jan 25, 2016

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Day 7

More of RMNP, then the drive west

Harpers Corner Scenic Drive & Trail, Dinosaur National Monument

After driving for hours across northwestern Colorado’s lonely landscape, there’s finally something to see. Dinosaur National Monument straddles the Utah/Colorado ...

Colorado

Jan 25, 2016

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US 40 Across Northwest Colorado

Be sure to grab a cup of coffee or a Mountain Dew for the drive across northwest Colorado on US ...

Colorado

Jan 25, 2016

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Craig, Colorado

Colorado’s second largest county is Moffat County, and it fills up the empty northwestern corner of the state. The entire ...

Colorado

Jan 25, 2016

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US Hwy. 40 – Hayden, Colorado

When you travel across a road that’s as lonely and empty as US 40 in northwestern Colorado, you pay attention ...

Colorado

Jan 25, 2016

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Downtown Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Downtown Steamboat Springs wasn’t at its most attractive, when I visited in June, 2010. The big construction project that had ...

Colorado

Jan 25, 2016

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Yampa River Botanic Park, Steamboat Springs

On my way into Steamboat Springs on US 40, traffic slowed to a crawl. A big construction project in the ...

Colorado

Jan 25, 2016

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Granby to Kremmling, Colorado on US 40

I admit, I didn’t make many stops after leaving Rocky Mountain National Park, headed west on US 40. In Hot ...

Colorado

Jan 25, 2016

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Trail Ridge Road, The Second Time

I began Day 7 with lofty goals: travel over Trail Ridge Road and through Rocky Mountain National Park, then continue ...

Colorado

Jan 25, 2016

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Day 8

The scenic route to Salt Lake City

Utah Capitol & City Creek Canyon

With the clouds parting, after my muddy hike up to Ensign Peak, I drove down the hill to the Utah ...

Utah

Jan 31, 2016

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Ensign Peak: Salt Lake City, Utah

If you want to take in the best view of Salt Lake City, you’ll have to be willing to do ...

Utah

Jan 31, 2016

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Kamas, Utah

The small city of Kamas, Utah is located at the end of the Mirror Lake Byway, where U-150 dead-ends at ...

Utah

Jan 31, 2016

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Provo Falls, On The Mirror Lake Scenic Byway

Most of my drive down the Mirror Lake Byway was gloomy and disappointing, but I did find one place where ...

Utah

Jan 31, 2016

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Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, Utah

State Highway 150 begins in Evanston, Utah, and keeps its number as it crosses over into Utah, then into the ...

Utah

Jan 31, 2016

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Flaming Gorge – Uintas Scenic Byway

My expectations were low for Day 8, even though I knew I would be driving through some remarkably beautiful places. ...

Utah

Jan 25, 2016

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Vernal, Utah: Say Hi to Dinah

As I arrived in Vernal, Utah, it was unmistakable that this was a town devoted to dinosaurs. Dinah, the beloved ...

Utah

Jan 25, 2016

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Day 9

A mad dash south, then a big hike

Grafton Ghost Town & Smithsonian Butte Backcountry Byway

As I left Zion National Park, I had only a few minutes of sunlight remaining. It was just enough time ...

Utah

Jan 31, 2016

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Zion National Park: Observation Point Trail

It’s funny how vacations seem to have a way of working out. Weeks earlier, during the planning stage of this ...

Utah

Jan 31, 2016

1

Main Menu

The Utah and Colorado Trip

9 Days of Deserts and Mountains

This 10-day trip uses Las Vegas as a starting and ending point, but spends almost all of the time in central Utah and central and northern Colorado.

Day 1

Out of Nevada, into Utah

Day 2

Across the empty center of Utah

Day 3

Exploring Colorado

Day 4

Dirt roads, small towns, and ghost towns

Day 5

The foothills west of Denver

Day 6

Hiking and driving Rocky Mountain National Park

Day 7

More of RMNP, then the drive west

Day 8

The scenic route to Salt Lake City

Day 9

A mad dash south, then a big hike