Summer 2017 Trip Planning (Utah, Wyoming, Montana, S Dakota)

For off roading the area we are looking at is the Wasatch Plateau. That's tours 21-26 in that Utah Byways book. They are around Price UT, which is an area that I haven't heard a lot about. The roads are the three Skyline DRives (I, II, and III) , Nine Mile canyon, Ferron Canyon and the Reservation Ridge area. Plus some others. We've mainly been doing the area around Escalante but this will be our next target area. You may be able to google them

I don't know if we will get to it this summer since we are targeting WY like you and Central CO

yrusoslo wrote:
Crazy Horse Memorial

Thanks - I've added that to my list for South Dakota.

accsys wrote:
If it were me, instead of taking I-15/70 to CO from Zion, I would go south and east to go through Page, Monument Valley and then north through Canyonlands and Moab before getting to I-70. There is a lot to see in that area if you haven't been there and the Moab area is Jeepers paradise.

Thanks for the suggestions. We've done each of those several times, and will go back again - they're beautiful, and some of our favorites. And Moab is the Jeep Mecca - we try to get there every couple years over Spring Break; have done the summer a couple times, and it's just too hot.

For this trip we're looking to do something different, so I'm currently looking for things we haven't done before, which makes this loop around Wyoming more interesting. But as we've not done 70% of this loop, I'm doing a lot of research.

We've done Yellowstone, so we're only going to spend a few days there to hit a few favorite spots, and catch a couple things we missed before. And then we'll move on to new places we've never been to (and some that I saw as a kid).


So what I'm really looking for is help with Flaming Gorge, campgrounds near Dinosaur, CO, and comments on the route from Dinosaur, CO to Zion NP.

Also, input about campgrounds in South Dakota would be helpful...

And lastly, the route from Red Lodge, MT to Rapid City, SD. The one in the map I posted above was the default route provided by Google Maps, but I'm considering I-90 instead of 212 - I-90 is only about 55 miles longer. And then I was toying with the idea of re-routing a bit to combine a trip through the Big Horn Mountains, a stop at Thermopolis, and Devil's Tower.

Crazy Horse Memorial

If it were me, instead of taking I-15/70 to CO from Zion, I would go south and east to go through Page, Monument Valley and then north through Canyonlands and Moab before getting to I-70. There is a lot to see in that area if you haven't been there and the Moab area is Jeepers paradise.

agesilaus wrote:
For Utah I'd get this book: Utah Byways

I think most of the Colorado 4WD trails are further east but the best books I've found on them is this series: CO 4WD trails

For CO south of Grand Junction CO HWy 141 is very scenic, it reminded me of a mini Yosemite Valley in places and the southern section drives right thru CO Uranium mining district.

Thanks!

I used to have that Utah Byways book, but can't find it on my bookshelf at the moment... will have to look around the house.

As for Colorado - we've spent a lot of time exploring different parts of Colorado, and intend to go back for more. I'll make a note about 141 for our next Colorado adventure, but for this particular trip I'm thinking of focusing on Wyoming / Utah / South Dakota.

For Utah I'd get this book: Utah Byways

I think most of the Colorado 4WD trails are further east but the best books I've found on them is this series: CO 4WD trails

For CO south of Grand Junction CO HWy 141 is very scenic, it reminded me of a mini Yosemite Valley in places and the southern section drives right thru CO Uranium mining district.