I have an unexpected opportunity to have about 12 days to travel. It's the next two weeks and cannot move them. Ideally I would pick October but its going to be June. Looking to hit the road from Texas on Tuesday and drive. Any suggested areas in Colorado, Wyoming, or Utah where I could expect to find good conditions now for landscapes?
June is the hot and dry month in west Texas so between that and having some extra days beyond the typical week want to get west.
I am really looking at spending 2-3 days in the Snowy Range in southern Wyoming. But not sure if its too early. The Beartooth highway is another area that has interested me but don't know the details on when is a good time there either.
Ideally someplace I could set a basecamp and spend a few days hiking or short drives to locations. National parks are usually great for this but upen to any area. I will be tenting so lodging is not an issue.
Could consider Zion , its a known factor I have been to several times, but would like to get more onto the Rockies.
So any thoughts on where is a great place this time of year?
Well, it's a good time to visit the Narrows, but you've already been there several times. The SW is kind of getting too hot for ideal temperatures except for Bryce Canyon and Cedar Breaks would both be excellent choices. I've been to Great Basin NP in June and had good experiences. You might want to call ahead to find out about the snow levels though. The Tetons certainly would be good too. I am not sure about Colorado - I've never been there in June. Black Canyon of the Gunnison would definitely be viable.
I took a run down 550 through the San Juans (Durango-Silverton-Ouray) a couple weeks back. Everything felt a bit thin - the Aspens were just budding in the higher elevations; and while there were a few wildflowers along Old Lime - it is a bit early for wildflower season that peaks in late July. The good news, with the easy winter, is that many of the 4x4 trails appeared to be open at lower elevations - with mild bank snow encountered around the Red Mountain Mining District (I took the east side trail). Snow in general seemed spotty - at least from the highway.
Posted by Darren Huski on June 10, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Thanks. I used to always backpack into the Weminuche Wilderness in late June for mountaineering, but it was always early for flowers and still mostly frozen. Zion and the Narrows are tempting but I was looking for something different. Maybe Wyoming is the place, Tetons should have some wildflowers hopefully.
Posted by Brett Deacon on June 10, 2012 at 2:39 PM
Hi Darren. What a nice opportunity! I responded to your other post regarding the Snowy Range. It's a bit early for peak conditions there at the moment, but still perhaps worth a trip if you haven't been there. Conditions are perfect in the Vedauwoo area to the east of Laramie. I checked your website and didn't see any photos from the Tetons. This should be a good time of year to visit there, though others might be able to prrovide more specific information about current conditions. Early June usually provides opportunities to photograph wildflowers in the valley when the peaks are still covered in snow. You could do worse than splitting your time between the Tetons and Yellowstone...
I can't tell you about CO or WY, but Utah had remarkably little snow this past winter. I'd call the rangers (national park or forest) to ask about local conditions. I'd bet there's a bunch open in the Rockies that wouldn't be most years. Even with little snow, though, most wildflowers don't seem to be out yet (at least locally). I will say that the Beartooths, at 10,000'+, probably aren't open for hiking yet.
Summer weather patterns haven't set up in Utah, so we seem to be in a pattern of open blue skies for now.
With the idea of driving less and working one general area, I might look into the Snowies, and then the Zirkel wilderness and the Never Summer/Rahwah mountains in Northern Colorado.
Good luck!
Posted by Darren Huski on June 10, 2012 at 3:31 PM
Thanks even more. The blue sky problem is the same in west Texas right now, hence my desire to go north. Brett, that is great news for the Snowy Range and helps me solidify my decision.
I am going for the Snowys for a few days and then to the Tetons and will loop over the Beartooth Pass area on my way back.
Discussion
6 repliesJune is the hot and dry month in west Texas so between that and having some extra days beyond the typical week want to get west.
I am really looking at spending 2-3 days in the Snowy Range in southern Wyoming. But not sure if its too early. The Beartooth highway is another area that has interested me but don't know the details on when is a good time there either.
Ideally someplace I could set a basecamp and spend a few days hiking or short drives to locations. National parks are usually great for this but upen to any area. I will be tenting so lodging is not an issue.
Could consider Zion , its a known factor I have been to several times, but would like to get more onto the Rockies.
So any thoughts on where is a great place this time of year?
Thanks for any input.
I can't tell you about CO or WY, but Utah had remarkably little snow this past winter. I'd call the rangers (national park or forest) to ask about local conditions. I'd bet there's a bunch open in the Rockies that wouldn't be most years. Even with little snow, though, most wildflowers don't seem to be out yet (at least locally). I will say that the Beartooths, at 10,000'+, probably aren't open for hiking yet.
Summer weather patterns haven't set up in Utah, so we seem to be in a pattern of open blue skies for now.
With the idea of driving less and working one general area, I might look into the Snowies, and then the Zirkel wilderness and the Never Summer/Rahwah mountains in Northern Colorado.
Good luck!
I am going for the Snowys for a few days and then to the Tetons and will loop over the Beartooth Pass area on my way back.
Thanks all!