Denver to Yellowstone

RAS43 wrote:

lbrjet wrote:
The drive down the wind river canyon is pretty spectacular.

X2

IMHO this is one of the most interesting and Beautiful Canyon drives around-to miss it would be just wrong. The River Runs North while you drive South and you feel (or at least I felt) as if the River is running up hill. As an added bonus there is a nice CG on the River just before you get into Shoshoni.

Enjoy the Drive

When we exploring snow range road in August a couple of years ago, there was hardly anyone up there. Had lunch at Mirror Lake and 90 percent of the plates in the parking lots were from CO, mostly hikers. Figured it was their little secret: serenity now.

RPreeb wrote:

Isaac-1 wrote:
I agree 287 from Fort Collins to Laramie is a nice drive and no real steep grades. From there if you want the direct shot get on the interstate I-80 to Rawlins, if you have time for a scenic drive with lower speed limits and a little more pulling power to climb a steeper pass take hwy 130 across and spend a night or more in or around Saratoga WY. There is an RV campground on 130 lower elevations on the west side of the pass. We were there last summer at the end of June and there was still snow on the ground in patches around the pass. We stayed at copperline lodge in Saratoga,it had a new owner (Dan) who was busily fixing up the place in rustic fashion and was in the process of adding some RV hook ups last summer (web site says they have 3 pull through sites now). Having said this if your vehicle is marginal you will want to stay on I-80 as there are no steep grades, it is so relatively flat it is hard t even call it a pass, more of a gap in the mountain range.

If you stop off in Saratoga take the time to do a float trip down the North Platte river, it takes about 3-4 hours for the half day trip, we went with Hacks Tackle and outfitters which is next to the river on Hwy 130, price was $135 for 1 people and a private guide who does all the rowing in a hard bottom fiberglass boat. We had a great guide, I forget his name (Jason?), but he had just moved back to town after 8 years of working as a store manager in one of the Wyoming cities, and was enjoying being back out in nature. When we were there in late June the float trip was rather peaceful but swift as the river was at just the right stage, earlier or later in the season we were told it could be much rougher along the way we saw a few wrecked canoes from earlier in the season when the water was running 3-4 feet higher up the banks.

Agree with this. Hwy 130 (Snowy Range Road) is a great alternative, with some NF dry campgrounds available if you can forego the hookups for a day or two. (Campgrounds on both 130 and on the Sand Lake Road, NF 101)

^^^^ This. The Snowy Range Road has some similarities to Trail Ridge Rd down in RMNP, but with about 1/10th the number of tourists. If USFS CG would fit the bill for you, consider Brooklyn Park and Sugarloaf, both near the top. Sugarloaf in particular has views that are some of the most spectacular in the entire Rocky Mountains! At ~10000 feet it does get a bit brisk up there, even in the summer, so be prepared. But it is well worth it!

Isaac-1 wrote:
I agree 287 from Fort Collins to Laramie is a nice drive and no real steep grades. From there if you want the direct shot get on the interstate I-80 to Rawlins, if you have time for a scenic drive with lower speed limits and a little more pulling power to climb a steeper pass take hwy 130 across and spend a night or more in or around Saratoga WY. There is an RV campground on 130 lower elevations on the west side of the pass. We were there last summer at the end of June and there was still snow on the ground in patches around the pass. We stayed at copperline lodge in Saratoga,it had a new owner (Dan) who was busily fixing up the place in rustic fashion and was in the process of adding some RV hook ups last summer (web site says they have 3 pull through sites now). Having said this if your vehicle is marginal you will want to stay on I-80 as there are no steep grades, it is so relatively flat it is hard t even call it a pass, more of a gap in the mountain range.

If you stop off in Saratoga take the time to do a float trip down the North Platte river, it takes about 3-4 hours for the half day trip, we went with Hacks Tackle and outfitters which is next to the river on Hwy 130, price was $135 for 1 people and a private guide who does all the rowing in a hard bottom fiberglass boat. We had a great guide, I forget his name (Jason?), but he had just moved back to town after 8 years of working as a store manager in one of the Wyoming cities, and was enjoying being back out in nature. When we were there in late June the float trip was rather peaceful but swift as the river was at just the right stage, earlier or later in the season we were told it could be much rougher along the way we saw a few wrecked canoes from earlier in the season when the water was running 3-4 feet higher up the banks.

Agree with this. Hwy 130 (Snowy Range Road) is a great alternative, with some NF dry campgrounds available if you can forego the hookups for a day or two. (Campgrounds on both 130 and on the Sand Lake Road, NF 101)

I second or third the idea of driving to Laramie through Fort Collins and then I-80 to Rawlins. Turn right at Rawlins and go to Lander and stop at the Sleeping Bear Campground. Then go up to the Sinks in Sinks Canyon and over to the rise to see some of the bigger trout you will ever see. Then, the next day on to Dubois, over Togwotee Pass for that first time flew of the Tetons, down to Moran Junction, through Grand Teton National Park and on to your Destination in Yellowstone. From Lander to Moran Junction is about 2 1/2 hours so you will have plenty of time to get to Yellowstone. Great scenery and a pretty easy drive all around if you take this route.

lbrjet wrote:
The drive down the wind river canyon is pretty spectacular.

X2

Buffalo/Cody going in and 26/286 out. Sinks Canyon SP in Lander is worth a stop.

The drive down the wind river canyon is pretty spectacular.

Thom02099 wrote:

enblethen wrote:
Cheyenne, Wy , then over to Rawlins US 287 then US 26 would be my route.

Or...rather than going up to Cheyenne on I-25, at Fort Collins, you could take US 287 to Laramie WY. Saves some time and is a beautiful drive. Very good roadway, while it's rolling hills and some ups/downs, nothing that you probably haven't driven before, and there's lots of 3 lane sections for climbing.

Also,be aware of wind in Wyoming. Always. Never ends...

This is absolutely the way to go and it is coming from two people who live close to Denver! Even maps.google maps this route.

And also heed the warning about WY being windy as until you get near the mountainous areas in WY, there is generally nothing to block the wind. It will make the drive a bit more taxing when out on the plains.

RAS43 wrote:
A lot depends on how much you want to travel in a day. It is about 550+ miles to Yellowstone from Denver by US287. That is about the shortest route. If you go thru Buffalo WY it will add another 125 miles. It would be a long day either way as the roads are not flat or straight. An overnight stop would make it a lot easier.
With 2 nights for stops I'd recommend Denver to Cody by way of US20 and Wy120 from Casper. Stop in Shoshoni or Thermopolis the first night and it is an easy run to Cody with time to see the museum, which I'm sure you all will like. Spend the night there and it is a short drive into Yellowstone. Lots of great scenery all along this route from Casper.

We are going to leave Yellowstone heading south and spend 3 days in the Grand Tetons so I like the idea of going in via Cody.

We'll do 26 to 287 coming out.