I'll just throw this into your mix, it's an old bucket list from an old post;
My top 10 would be the drive to and thru these places; my second 10 would be the destinations.
1. Yellowstone, Wyoming – coming from the south and leaving thru the Beartooth Pass this would include Dinosaur NP, Flaming Gorge and (7)The Grand Teton NP -- I'll also throw in the drive to and through Wind Canyon between Thermopolis and Shoshoni.
2. All of southern Utah – this drive would include Arches and Canyon land NP’s, Capitol Reef NP, Escalante NM, Zion, Bryce NP’s, with a drive around Lake Powell, and because we have time we’ll do the north rim of the (8)Grand Canyon. (will stop in as many SP's as possible Kodachrome and Goblins, for sure and if the timing is right lets catch a few of the slot Canyons - Antelope)
3. The San Juan’s of Colorado, this would include Gunnison NP, for the life of me I can’t understand how this area has been so left out of the national park system other than it has so many private land owners(silver mines and coal), starting on Gunnison Reservoir (including Crested Butte) we would go down to Lake City taking the Alpine loop over to Silverton(just the tow car and only if it’s tough and 4X4) leaving to Ouray then over to Telluride thru Dunton and Rico to Cortez slipping into Mesa Verde NP, then taking the Durango to Silverton RR before back tracking the Million Dollar high all the way back to Montrose and Gunnison, NP. While in Colorado I would try to time it so as to be able to do the drive again to Maroon Bells, starting in Leadville - Buena Vista area and going thru Independence Pass during the last week of September when the Aspen have turned.
4. Ashville, NC is the start of the next trip – heading to Lake Toxaway on RT 64, better have your driving gloves on and pray for light traffic, from there to Cashiers and Highland heading NW to Silva and the Pisgah National Forest getting on the southern most part of the Blue Ridge parkway heading north untill your worn out. (Might just catch a quick hike in the Great Smoky Mountains NP). These are some of the most beautiful and wild mountains in the US. This is where they filmed the Last of the Mohicans.
5. Glacier NP – Going to the Sun Road, need I say more? Just driving anywhere around this park will give you a rush, just follow the rivers and stay by the lakes. (might need to head up to Banff while this close)
6. Canyon de Chelly NM. Will always go by this spiritual place of the Navajo Indians usually coming from or going to the Grand Canyon going through the four mesas to Grand Canyon NP
7. The Grand Teton NP. See number 1 its only number seven because I got to see it when I did number 1 and the bonus is to catch Yellowstone again.
8. The Grand Canyon NP. See number 2 its only number eight because I saw it from the high side on the drive on number 2. As long as this is my dream might just throw in a Rafting trip.
9. Yosemite and Sequoia are this late only because I don’t like to drive in California and it is almost always crowded, but thses are both two of the most beautiful spots in America.
10. Three way tie for tenth -- Carlsbad, Olympic and Cascades NP’s these are always hard because my wife thinks they are so far from everything but trust me these are great drives and beautiful places that are well worth the drive.
As you can see I've been working on this Bucket List, and it has to be a LIST to qualify, IMHO, Sure there are places I have yet to go but having seen and experienced so many it would be great to just do them all again, maybe with the Grandaughters, Now that would be a trip.
Having driven back and forth this country more times than I can remember, one thing we've learned you will never see it all and every trip down every road will uncover a new adventure.
Take a look at Stan's Photo Album
********* for some great shots -- many are water falls, so you might find a couple new spots to discover on your trip.
