Posted by Stewart Ayrey on September 16, 2007 at 8:57 AM
I need your help!
I am flying in from England to Denver on the 13th October. I am hiring a car and have a maximum of 10 days to photograph as much as I can. Thinking of a tour including RMNP, Yellowstone/Grand Tetons and may be all the way down to Monument Valley.
Not knowing the area at all - what should I also see? Will the weather still be OK in Rockies at this time (I know I will of missed the autumn colours)? Is this too ambitious in terms of distance/time - I don't want to rush it!
Thanks!
Stewart
Posted by Derek Sedillo on September 16, 2007 at 10:04 AM
I guess it really depends on how much you want to be driving versus taking pictures. If you did the Tetons you could always catch RMNP on the way back. It is a relatively short trip from Denver.
- Derek
Posted by bill meikle on September 16, 2007 at 1:59 PM
Stewart, if it helps (I'm a Scot), it takes about 7 hours to drive from Denver to Jackson and the Tetons, in October you might well get great shots of bull moose rutting near Jackson Lake Lodge. There are bison there too and the famous Moulton's barns with the tetons in the background. Maybe misty sunrises and sunsets.
Rocky Mountain N.P. is about 1 hour from Denver and is always worth a visit, Elk in their thousands and bugling/rutting going on from now into October, maybe coyote sightings too. Lots of views and maybe snow capped peaks. Try Bear Lake and Dream Lake too.
Colorado altitudes are interesting, Denver is 5000ft, and RMNP is about 8-12000 ft. Better bring mountain gear!
Have a wonderful trip,
Bill
Posted by Grant Collier on September 16, 2007 at 2:34 PM
The Moab, Utah / Monument Valley area is probably ideal for this time of year with some fall colors and warmer temps. The fall colors will pretty much be gone in the mountains, so things will be kind of brown. But if this will be your only chance to visit Yellowstone / Grand Tetons, it's worth a visit. The Great Sand Dunes might also be worth stopping by if you head to Monument Valley. It is, however, about 16 hours of driving from Monument Valley to Yellowstone.
Posted by Mia McPherson on September 17, 2007 at 3:45 PM
Stewart,
Weather may affect your proposed trip, it can snow at the higher elevations in the Rockies and almost any time of the year. Be prepared to spend time at lower elevations if the weather gets bad.
In the past 10 days I have been to RMNP, then up to SD (Mt Rushmore, Sturgis, Deadwood), across Montana, back into Wyoming through Yellowstone, the Tetons then headed south to Utah to see Bryce, and Zion.
I was heading to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon yesterday and when I entered Kanab Utah the transmission seal blew out. I'm in St George waiting for that to be repaired.
I don't know how to make sure a rental car has a good transmission seal, but speaking from experience, it is not a fun thing to have that seal blow.
But I could not have been in a better place for it to happen, the food in Kanab was great and so were the people, and it could have happened when I was at 9902 feet in elevation yesterday morning, at least 20+ miles either direction from a town.
I think I am just saying to allow time for flexibility if weather or some thing else slows you down.
I haven't gotten as many images taken as I hoped to, but I have spent an enormous amount of time driving and enjoying the scenery.
Discussion
4 repliesI am flying in from England to Denver on the 13th October. I am hiring a car and have a maximum of 10 days to photograph as much as I can. Thinking of a tour including RMNP, Yellowstone/Grand Tetons and may be all the way down to Monument Valley.
Not knowing the area at all - what should I also see? Will the weather still be OK in Rockies at this time (I know I will of missed the autumn colours)? Is this too ambitious in terms of distance/time - I don't want to rush it!
Thanks!
Stewart
http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=21777&b=vf10&st=0&la=2209&ph=14&sid=26672&u=26672
I am not sure if the Colorado San Juans would have anything left.
I guess it really depends on how much you want to be driving versus taking pictures. If you did the Tetons you could always catch RMNP on the way back. It is a relatively short trip from Denver.
- Derek
Rocky Mountain N.P. is about 1 hour from Denver and is always worth a visit, Elk in their thousands and bugling/rutting going on from now into October, maybe coyote sightings too. Lots of views and maybe snow capped peaks. Try Bear Lake and Dream Lake too.
Colorado altitudes are interesting, Denver is 5000ft, and RMNP is about 8-12000 ft. Better bring mountain gear!
Have a wonderful trip,
Bill
Weather may affect your proposed trip, it can snow at the higher elevations in the Rockies and almost any time of the year. Be prepared to spend time at lower elevations if the weather gets bad.
In the past 10 days I have been to RMNP, then up to SD (Mt Rushmore, Sturgis, Deadwood), across Montana, back into Wyoming through Yellowstone, the Tetons then headed south to Utah to see Bryce, and Zion.
I was heading to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon yesterday and when I entered Kanab Utah the transmission seal blew out. I'm in St George waiting for that to be repaired.
I don't know how to make sure a rental car has a good transmission seal, but speaking from experience, it is not a fun thing to have that seal blow.
But I could not have been in a better place for it to happen, the food in Kanab was great and so were the people, and it could have happened when I was at 9902 feet in elevation yesterday morning, at least 20+ miles either direction from a town.
I think I am just saying to allow time for flexibility if weather or some thing else slows you down.
I haven't gotten as many images taken as I hoped to, but I have spent an enormous amount of time driving and enjoying the scenery.