Taking the scenic route back from Bonneville...What to see?

Since we are already going to be out there, we are going to take a couple extra days on the way back and see a bit of the country.

What are the must see sights in Utah, Nevada, Colorado or Arizona?

We are kinda thinking of making a big loop or zig zagging through those states somehow. Right now the list is penciled in as:

Las Vegas strip at night
Grand Canyon (is North or South side better?)
Arches National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park

 

Are you attending the HAMB Drags in Joplin MO?

 

Good idea! For some reason, I was thinking the HAMB drags were the same weekend as frog follies (aug 27-29)...but they aren't.

 

See everything you can. Go off the beaten path. Explore and discover, but most of all enjoy yourself and take it all in. There's alot out there that's not on the map...yet.

Spike

 

There should be a decent size contingent traveling from the Salt to the HAMB Drags this year.

Last year we drove from Wendover to Provo and took 189 up to Heber and then 40 across to Denver. Was a great drive.

 

Spearfish Canyon drive into Deadwood is beautiful. The road follows a winding river with mountains on both side.

 

I like the drive south from St. George Ut. to the nort rim of the Grand Canyon. St. George has Snow Canyon, small but interesting. Bryce Canyon and more .

 

After you leave RMNP head down to Breckenridge- Fairpay- Woodland Park and take a drive up Pikes Peak.

 

I say you take a look at a map and the see what may be off the "beaten path." There's a lot of cool, natural stuff to see that's not super-touristy. However, what you've got mentioned could have you zig-zagging for more time than you've got. They're all worth exploring though...

 

Stop by and say hi when you're in Vegas! Lots to see out here in the west. Drive through central Nevada instead of the interstate is awesome!

 

i would say highway 50 through nevada if you are out that way, or the san juan skyway (?) in southwest colorado. durango, silverton, ouray, etc. pikes peak is cool. and of the peak to peak is nice.

 

The list I have is not set in stone. ...and yeah there is a whole lot of distance in between the points I have on the list so far.

I don't think I will have much free time to find stuff off of the beaten path myself, but would like to see some of the cool stuff other people have found.

I'm trying to cram as much good stuff into the trip back as humanly possible and need help finding the places where I need to get off of the interstate and check out the scenery.

 

Down Hwy 93? is it better than taking I-15 through Utah?

 

The 93 Hwy is better (IMO) than the 15, mostlt desert but nicer than the freeway. If ya take the road 89 to the East of the 15 its beautiful. Head for Page, Az. towards Flagstaff, Az. It takes you thru the Navajo res. and is close to the Grand Canyon. Anyplace on the Canyon is beautiful. Enjoy your trip! When you get to the Salt Flats look for my Harley, with the Old Crow Speed Shop logo on the tank, at the Bend in the road! Look me up and we can talk more! BCNU on the Salt? Crow.

 

Yes, but we tend to be a bit North for the Salt-HAMBDrags for most folk

 

Time spent in any of Utah's National Parks is time well spent. Canyonlands N.P. is my favorite, but Arches is also a must see. Take your time and stick to as many back roads as you can.

 

I made that same trip [Bonneville to the HAMB drags in Joplin] a few years ago, driving "blue hiways" [2 lane roads] in my 41 Pontiac..Spent one night in Durango, Colorado at a little mom and pop motel at the edge of town. Was awakened the next morning by the sound of a steam locomotive. The locals said the train is actually a tour around the city. I didn't take the time to do it and have kicked myself ever since...might be something cool to do.

 

Moab/Arches National Park is a must see place, but you need to plan for an early (before the sun rises), or sunset/half a day driving around the park to see everything. The "Grand Canyon" will be CRAZY packed and you will spend a day getting in & out of there.

If you need a place to stay in Moab, this is a great place.

http://www.kokopellilodge.com/index.htm

Chris Nelson
Kansas

 

There are several roads that go into the park. Do they all offer decent views?

I really don't want to fight traffic for a whole day, but I would like to give Alex the chance to see it.

 

Yes, take highway 89 to 64 to the "north rim" and it will be a once in a lifetime view. Also, you might check into getting an "eagle pass" from the national parks service to get into all the places along your trip.......dumb question, but are you driving an old car?

Chris

 

Ditto on the Moab Arches scene, thats a way cool little town there, its a must see.The Ditch, or Grand Canyon will be packed, unless you have time to spend there save it for its own trip, seen it twice, once in the fall late October, it was way better then. Canyon Lands and Bryce are also cool, a lot fewer people. Zion is sorta cool but it will be packed as well. You could take a look at Mesa Verde, thats the place where they built the towns under the caves. Hoover Dam was a mess last time I saw it, they were building the road over it. Bad thing about the trip is you tend to get rock shock, you see so many mountains that after a while they all look the same, you have to put in a few other cool activities in there. We gotta find him some good eats and night life.

 

If you see your original list and do it in a couple of days, you will be exhausted. Great list, you will not be sorry.
The thing I remember most in my travels is taking the helicopter ride into the Grand Canyon out of Vegas.
Mumosas and sandwiches deep in the Grand Canyon, it is truly close to God.
Remember that the Grand Canyon stretches from Vegas over 250 miles to the south rim. It is not just a hole in the ground.

 

I can't afford the gas to drive the 48 this year...I'm driving my little toyota echo (15 vs. 40 MPG AND AIRCONDITIONING). I have roughly 4500 miles planned so far.

 

Everyone on this forum needs to have the Speedway Museum in Lincoln Nebraska on his or her bucket list. From Kentucky, its a straight shot west on 80 to the salt. If you are an airplane guy, go east from Lincoln about 30 miles to the SAAC Air Museum, on the north side of 80. Then, a day later, stop at the Hill AFB Museum, near Provo UT. That one is free. You will see two SR71's in two days. Tour the bridge over I 80 near Kearney, sort of hokey, but very informative. Stop at Minden NE to see Pioneer Village, three to four hours off the highway total. Visit Ft. Bridger in Wyoming.

 

Every 1/4 mile offers a different view of the canyon and it goes on for 250 miles, but you can't get to most of it. South rim is a must if you never see anymore of it.

 

I had originally planned on crossing Nebraska in the dark. I may have to rethink that.

 

If you plan on coming home thru Colorado( i ALWAYS come home thru COLORADO), hit ARCHES in Utah then take 70 thru Colorado. It is a beautiful highway especially going thru Glenwood canyon, along the Colorado river, one of my all time favorite roads. Stop in GlenWood Springs at the hot springs pool, well worth the admission price. There are many neat little towns along the way to stop in ,like Idaho Springs( got a real cool mueseum). Shit, you can go to Rockie MT National Park , Red Rocks,Garden of the Gods, Royal Gorge,or Black Hawk or Cripple Creek (if you want to gamble) If I were you , I would take an extra week of vacation and spend it in Colo,you will not regret it. Mitch

 

definitely the canyonlands outside moab ut. from there, take hwy 139 north to I70. it follows the colorado river and much of the movie "vanishing point" was filmed along that stretch including the end scene at a little berg called cisco. nearly a ghost town now.. when you hit 70 head east, its a short squirt into grand jct co. where you can do a 20 mile loop over the co. national monument and then continue up 70 into the high country. whatever you do, dont go through ike tunnel, take the old road over the top. i cant even explain the views, you just gotta see it!

 

thats the train that runs from silverton to durango. a MUST if you've never taken that ride!

 

Man, I want to see the Speedway Museum on the way out, but it looks like they only do one guided tour a day at 2:00 in the afternoon. Trying to hit that time slot is going to suck...means I would have to leave my house at midnight or 1:00 in the morning ...and then would have a 13 or so hour drive after the meusem tour to make it to the salt Saturday morning. Brutal!