Posted by Zack Clothier on September 2, 2010 at 6:38 PM
Hey all, I will be making my third consecutive road trip out west next week, two days after labor day. I am going for 15 days (including driving time, takes about 3 days one way). This year I will be hitting Rocky Mountain NP, from there I will make my way up to the Tetons, Yellowstone, and finally Glacier. Does anyone have any recommendations on the drive from Rocky Mountain to the Tetons, I'm looking for a nice scenic drive. Last year I I25 up to 287 to Laramie and then I80W to 191 to Jackson, WY.
Also curious about fall foliage and weather this time of year. Last year I was out there about the same time and some of the aspens in Rocky Mountain had changed but none in the Tetons. The weather was also in the high 70s and low 80s, which I thought was a little unusual that time of year. I was planning on going around the end of Sept. but could not get that time off from work so I have to take what I can get. I've been checking the weather forecasts and noticed some high elevation areas are predicting snow showers, has this actually happened?
I'm also interested in wildlife (bears especially), last year I did not see any Grizzlies, only Black Bears. I'm assuming this was because it was still so hot. I talked to a friend of mine who was in Glacier NP in mid-August and a lot of trails were closed due to bear activity. Other than last year, I usually go in June so I'm not sure what to expect for wildlife this time of year. Any help in these areas would be greatly appreciated!
Posted by Todd Caudle on September 2, 2010 at 6:46 PM
Three days one way? That's a lot of potty breaks!
The good news for you is that grizzlies have finally migrated as far south as Rocky Mountain National Park and vicinity. It's quite common to see them roaming the streets of nearby Estes Park. However, in order to avoid getting shot or relocated by wildlife managers, they've morphed into an elk-looking beast. But they are grizzly bears, so fire away! (with a camera, of course...)
Posted by John Mumaw on September 2, 2010 at 7:21 PM
Oddly enough, someone asked that exact same question here just last week.
You can find a couple of tips towards the end of this thread.
Posted by Chris Whitted on September 2, 2010 at 7:46 PM
Just addressing the short segment in my backyard, there's really no reason to go all the way out to I-25 from RMNP to get to 287, even if you were driving for time and not scenery. Depending on how long of a scenic route you want to take, there are a couple of ways north to 80/Laramie. Sticking mostly to 287, I would take 34 down from RMNP toward Loveland to Buckhorn Rd north to Masonville, northeast to CR23 (goes along the tops of the dams of Horsetooth Resevoir, down into Bellevue and then a quick jog in one of a couple of directions to get onto 287 as it goes north.
To get farther away from 287, you could go out the other side of RMNP and take 125/230 north to WY and 80. Highway 14 up the Poudre Canyon can also get you over that way though you'd be coming east to go west from the park, and there's a back way or three to that from Masonville without going into Fort Collins. You could also take 40 all the way west from Granby to 191 and then north...
I guess it kind of depends on what kind of scenic you're looking for and how much time you want to spend finding it between your major points of interest. Personally, I'd want to devote as much time to those parks as I could and choose the fastest route between. I could do 9 days at Yellowstone or Glacier alone, never mind splitting it between all four!
Discussion
3 repliesAlso curious about fall foliage and weather this time of year. Last year I was out there about the same time and some of the aspens in Rocky Mountain had changed but none in the Tetons. The weather was also in the high 70s and low 80s, which I thought was a little unusual that time of year. I was planning on going around the end of Sept. but could not get that time off from work so I have to take what I can get. I've been checking the weather forecasts and noticed some high elevation areas are predicting snow showers, has this actually happened?
I'm also interested in wildlife (bears especially), last year I did not see any Grizzlies, only Black Bears. I'm assuming this was because it was still so hot. I talked to a friend of mine who was in Glacier NP in mid-August and a lot of trails were closed due to bear activity. Other than last year, I usually go in June so I'm not sure what to expect for wildlife this time of year. Any help in these areas would be greatly appreciated!
The good news for you is that grizzlies have finally migrated as far south as Rocky Mountain National Park and vicinity. It's quite common to see them roaming the streets of nearby Estes Park. However, in order to avoid getting shot or relocated by wildlife managers, they've morphed into an elk-looking beast. But they are grizzly bears, so fire away! (with a camera, of course...)
You can find a couple of tips towards the end of this thread.
To get farther away from 287, you could go out the other side of RMNP and take 125/230 north to WY and 80. Highway 14 up the Poudre Canyon can also get you over that way though you'd be coming east to go west from the park, and there's a back way or three to that from Masonville without going into Fort Collins. You could also take 40 all the way west from Granby to 191 and then north...
I guess it kind of depends on what kind of scenic you're looking for and how much time you want to spend finding it between your major points of interest.