I'm headed to Idaho in a couple weeks. After we get to Denver, we're going to be in the look-see mode for the last 5 days of travel. We've done most of CO except north of Denver. Would appreciate any suggestions on what to see and do north of Denver, along the southern part of WY, into northeast corner of UT, and on to Boise. Wouldn't mind some info on great local resturants, too.
Speedhitch said
02:57 PM Apr 14, 2009
If I might suggest...Poudre Canyon...in Northern Colorado is beautiful. Located on Hwy 14. This is a great drive if you don't mind following the river there. Many places to get out and take pictures.
Joe and Sherri
Racerguy said
07:17 PM Apr 14, 2009
Being I am from Colorado if you are adventurous I would suggest taking U.S 34 west off of I-25 to Estes Park.If your rig is large it may be a little tight but there is an rv park up there so it can be done .Also agree with Speedy about Poudre Canyon.One or the other is worth it.Big Thompson Canyon to Estes is more dramatic but Poudre is great also.Both have good paved Highway.
-- Edited by Racerguy on Tuesday 14th of April 2009 09:30:54 PM
thebearII said
08:29 AM Apr 15, 2009
Idaho- Craters of the Moon National Park was impressive, it took about half a day to see what needs to be seen.
There's a bridge going into Twin Falls, ID, it crosses a deep canyon and is fun to walk across.
Also Thousand Springs Resort is beautiful and it's kind of scary to stand in front of a rock wall with dozens of waterfalls coming out of it and find out there's a great big underground lake with billions of gallons of water behind that natural rock wall dam.
Here's a website with more:
http://www.strengthinperspective.com/mpcompel/mpgal23/mpgal23a.html
Jan and GC said
09:08 PM Apr 15, 2009
We have enjoyed several meals at the Terry Bison Ranch (http://www.terrybisonranch.com/) south of Cheyenne on I-25. Also, Don Pedro's Restaurant in Green River, WY has good mexican food. There you would have to park in the large parking lot on 191 South where Ace Hardware is located and then walk a block around to the back strip mall to the restaurant as it isn't RV accessible. Almost any restaurant in Utah will have good food. The best time to travel I-80 through WY is June, July and August. Some RV parks don't open until mid May. There is a oilfield boom affecting Wyoming. We will be workamping at Buckboard on the Flaming Gorge south of Green River starting May 15. They are still getting snow and freezing temps. Living there 35 years we never planted anything until June 1st because of the freezing. Keep a close eye on the weather as I-80 closes with spring snowstorms and chains may be required.
edit: oops! it's 430 South out of Green River not 191...sorry.
-- Edited by Jan and GC on Thursday 16th of April 2009 07:36:13 PM
TXRVr said
01:05 PM Apr 17, 2009
Thanks for the ideas folks. I spent most of the morning planning and plotting on the route map. Estes Park would most likely be a day trip in the toad.
Jan & GC> We'll definately plan on Don Pedro's. In my part of the country, good Mexican food is second only to Beef Brisket.
NorCal Dan said
01:27 PM Apr 17, 2009
If your using Google Maps in your planning...I like it because I can drag the route line to include cities or avoid mountains...but I never use their time estimate. A car can make much better time than an RV :) I like my TomTom as it calculates trip time based on both actual travel speed and time.
jrp said
05:09 PM Apr 17, 2009
Today was a good example of one of those famous April snow storms in the Rockies. Northern Colo and southern Wy got a foot of snow last night, with another 2 ft predicted for today and tonight. You sure wouldn't want to be driving Poudre Canyon in 3 ft of snow. I25 is closed north of Ft Collins to Wy; and I80 is closed Rawlins to Cheyenne.
Jim
Speedhitch said
05:46 PM Apr 17, 2009
When does the Global Warming kick in??? How could the ice caps be melting when Our Knee Caps are freezing? Just don't seem right to me
Speedy
TXRVr said
12:58 PM Apr 21, 2009
I do use google maps and earth for trip planning, Norcal, which brings up another question for someone who has info on Hwy 191 from Green River, Wy to Vernal, UT (Dinosaur NP). Google Earth pictures it as a road thru mountains with several switch backs. I'm piloting a 40 ft deisel pusher with toad. It would be nice to take the rig from Green River to Vernal and then head on out to Salt Lake for the rest of my journey. I'm an experienced driver, but just because that's so, it doesn't mean I get pleasure from 25 mph up hill or constant pac braking down hill.
Anyone driven that road in a large rig??
jrp said
03:53 PM Apr 21, 2009
TXRVr,
It was before I got into RV'ing, but back when I lived in Steamboat Springs and was involved in rafting the Green, including the section through Dinosaur. We would ocassionaly have to use portions of this route with our big rafting bus, when the back road from Maybell was closed or washed out. From Rock Springs to the Flaming Gorge Dam its mostly rolling hills, up and down grades of the typical 4-6% range. A few miles before the Wy-Ut border is a steep 9% downhill and then further into Ut where you cross the crest of the Wasatch Mtns (8500) you will have several miles of 8% downhill, with about 10 sharp switchbacks at 20 MPH max. I dont mean to scare you off, many large trucks, buses and RVs use this route. Its definitely doable but has some steep grades you must take seriously. Those runaway truck ramps are there for good reason. Its a personal decision based on your experience, comfort level, equipment and conditions. You'll be glad you have that PAC brake on constantly for the downhill sections. In my mind, the added concern for driving these steep downhills with my MH would only be worth it if I was continuing south on 191 toward the Moab area, and wanted to avoid SLC. But if you're already planning to go into SLC first, why not stay on I80, then you only have to deal with the grade down off Parleys Summit, its got a lot more margin for error.
TXRVr said
11:09 AM Apr 28, 2009
jrp wrote:
From Rock Springs to the Flaming Gorge Dam its mostly rolling hills, up and down grades of the typical 4-6% range. A few miles before the Wy-Ut border is a steep 9% downhill and then further into Ut where you cross the crest of the Wasatch Mtns (8500) you will have several miles of 8% downhill, with about 10 sharp switchbacks at 20 MPH max. I dont mean to scare you off, many large trucks, buses and RVs use this route.
jrp> Appreciate the indepth info. Too much work, not enuff fun. I think I'll catch the park from the UT side when we return to home base in a few months. I wasn't aware that there was rafting in the area. Will also have to check that out.
-- Edited by Racerguy on Tuesday 14th of April 2009 09:30:54 PM
edit: oops! it's 430 South out of Green River not 191...sorry.
-- Edited by Jan and GC on Thursday 16th of April 2009 07:36:13 PM
Thanks for the ideas folks. I spent most of the morning planning and plotting on the route map. Estes Park would most likely be a day trip in the toad.
Jan & GC> We'll definately plan on Don Pedro's. In my part of the country, good Mexican food is second only to Beef Brisket.
Jim
I do use google maps and earth for trip planning, Norcal, which brings up another question for someone who has info on Hwy 191 from Green River, Wy to Vernal, UT (Dinosaur NP). Google Earth pictures it as a road thru mountains with several switch backs. I'm piloting a 40 ft deisel pusher with toad. It would be nice to take the rig from Green River to Vernal and then head on out to Salt Lake for the rest of my journey. I'm an experienced driver, but just because that's so, it doesn't mean I get pleasure from 25 mph up hill or constant pac braking down hill.
Anyone driven that road in a large rig??
It was before I got into RV'ing, but back when I lived in Steamboat Springs and was involved in rafting the Green, including the section through Dinosaur. We would ocassionaly have to use portions of this route with our big rafting bus, when the back road from Maybell was closed or washed out.
From Rock Springs to the Flaming Gorge Dam its mostly rolling hills, up and down grades of the typical 4-6% range. A few miles before the Wy-Ut border is a steep 9% downhill and then further into Ut where you cross the crest of the Wasatch Mtns (8500) you will have several miles of 8% downhill, with about 10 sharp switchbacks at 20 MPH max.
I dont mean to scare you off, many large trucks, buses and RVs use this route. Its definitely doable but has some steep grades you must take seriously. Those runaway truck ramps are there for good reason. Its a personal decision based on your experience, comfort level, equipment and conditions. You'll be glad you have that PAC brake on constantly for the downhill sections.
In my mind, the added concern for driving these steep downhills with my MH would only be worth it if I was continuing south on 191 toward the Moab area, and wanted to avoid SLC. But if you're already planning to go into SLC first, why not stay on I80, then you only have to deal with the grade down off Parleys Summit, its got a lot more margin for error.