Yellowstone and Grand Teton from Denver

MIke and Sue wrote:

We're from UK and planning to pick up a Cruise America C25 RV from Denver in late May for a 4 or 5 week tour to include Yellowstone and Grand Teton.

We've used an RV in USA before and generally like to keep our options open and not book campgrounds in advance and have tended to seek out National/State Park campgrounds.

We enjoy birdwatching and may try to take in some of the area near Salt Lake City too.

Any suggestions/comments would be welcome.

For the end of May this route should work well and allow a bit of Bird Watching in the many Forest/Rivers along the way.

Coming out of Denver, heading west on I-70, jump off on Exit 265 Rt 58 go straight it will turn into Rt 6 getting you right into the Mountains - Rt 6 through 6 tunnels and rejoining I-70 at Idaho Springs -Truly a Special/Beautiful Drive!

Now on I-70 you will take that to Rt 91 (Yes you will have to go through the Eisenhower tunnel)- Exit 195 to Rt 91 - You will take Rt 91 to Leadville, Highest incorporated Town in America at 10,000' - Quincy's - Turquoise Lake - just a neat little town, with a lot of old Mining History.

From there heading South on Rt 24 through Buena Vista - K's - Collegiate Peaks - Arkansas River - Rafting - Dirt Roads - then When Rt 24 turns Left to the Springs you go on Rt 285 south to Poncha Springs there you will Take Rt 50 through Gunnison (option here to go to Crested Butte - Gunnison Lake - Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP - or even a side trip to Lake City.

Now Rt 50 will take you west to Montrose where you will take Rt 550 to Ridgway - Big Choice here! - I suggest you spend the night and go to Ouray, the Alps of Colorado, then back and over to Telluride - Trout Lake - possibly Dunton - Rico - but this is starting to be a Colorado Trip not a Yellowstone trip.

Couple of Options from Ridgway - up through Aspen to Glenwood Springs - catching Maroon Bells, one of the most Photographed spots in all of Colorado - Glenwood has the Over Under I-70 just east of town with the Hot Springs Pool - You will take Rt 133 which will take you past Redstone and Marble, both which have even more History in their stories.

From Glenwood Springs on to Vernal, UT and Dinosaur National Monument - stay in the park at Split Rock CG on the Green River - Now we will head to Flaming Gorge, just to get to the top of the Gorge and look down on the lake - then to Alpine, WY on the way into Jackson and the Tetons - The Lake - the Rocks - the Hikes - Just to lay back and look at the SKY - OMG.

Now on to Yellowstone - the whole figure eight - many spots to stay with out reservations so just be sure to go out towards the Beartooth - Chief Joseph Hwy - Red Lodge to Cody - then to Thermopolis on through - Wind River Canyon, possibly staying on the River before you get into Shoshoni.

Bounce around to Craig, CO - to Steamboat - Steamboat Lake SP - Yampa SP - Stagecoach SP -

Now on to Grand Lake - which will allow you to Do Trail Ridge over to Estes then Down to Rt 7 Peak to Peak - On down Rt 72 to Rt 6 on into Golden to return the Rental RV.

Yes I understand you only have 5-6 weeks but even if you just drive through these spots, you will have some memory of them. That sure beats not even at least seeing them.

While I have done this trip a number of times it is a Big Chunk of America - you will not really be able to do much more than just see most of this and you will be putting a lot of Miles on the RV BUT - you will see a lot - almost every mile will expose you to Spaces and Places only few Americans have seen. Take your time - Bring a Really Good Camera! Lot's of Memory - take three pictures when you think one will do - You'll need good hiking Boots - Fleece and Rain Gear - even if you just drive through the locations I've mentioned you will still be able to enjoy your time in the Rockies.

While this might seem to be a lot it's doable and Beautiful.

Best of Luck - hope this contributes to what you are looking to see and Do.