Route 40 from Salt Lake City to Rocky Mt. Nat. Park

Rabbit Ears pass is 3,000' higher than Steamboat so not a big deal in 20 miles so 40 is a easy route. I would stay in the Grand Lake area and use the Yaris to go to Estes Park as a day trip. I thought E Park was a tourist trap 30 years ago. I usually stay in the USFS CGs south of Grand Lake and day trip into the park.

From Grand Lake I take 40 to I-70 and then Denver. South of Winter Park is Berthound Pass (11,300') which is a good climb but it's four lanes and by now you know to manually gear down and use your engine for braking on the way down.
Do you have a braking system on the Yaris? If not, then I would unhook it in Winter Park and let the DW drive it over Berthound assuming she knows to gear it down instead of using the brakes. Also at 10,000+ your non turbo engine is struggling for air.

If you decide to take the MH over Trail Ridge, then have the DW drive the Yaris.

slay wrote:
We are leaving next week on a 6-week trip to the Pacific Northwest. I am considering in the return leg traveling from Salt Lake City via U.S. Rt. 40 to Dinosaur Nat. Monument and then on to Rocky Mt. National Park. I am assuming it is a severe climb over the mountains but just how bad is it. I can handle long uphills and downhills but can do without narrow roads and harrowing hairpin turns.

US 40 as noted by Busskipper's response, is not overly difficult. When you get to RMNP on the WEST side, there are some nice areas to consider.

-- In RMNP, Timber Creek CG is first come/first served and is a good campground. Paved roads, clean restrooms, lots of sites to choose from, if you arrive during the week should be no problem getting a site.

-- Outside RMNP in Grand Lake area, there's Winding River Resort, which is nice and fairly reasonably priced. Choice of no hookups to full hookups there, in a rustic setting.

-- Also outside RMNP in the Arapahoe NRA, there's a variety of campgrounds around Lake Granby and Shadow Mountain Lake, notably Arapahoe Bay and Stillwater.

-- Between Granby and Tabernash on US 40, there's the YMCA camp, Snow Mountain Ranch, and they have a campground that's open to the public, great place to camp as a base camp for the general area.

Might want to consider trying for reservations for some of these, particularly on the weekend.

Would strongly recommend you NOT try to take your rig and toad up and over Trail Ridge Rd, based on your comments above. You will not enjoy the drive up there. It's much better to just go up there and over to Estes Park if you so desire, in your toad.

slay wrote:
We are leaving next week on a 6-week trip to the Pacific Northwest. I am considering in the return leg traveling from Salt Lake City via U.S. Rt. 40 to Dinosaur Nat. Monument and then on to Rocky Mt. National Park. I am assuming it is a severe climb over the mountains but just how bad is it. I can handle long uphills and downhills but can do without narrow roads and harrowing hairpin turns.

Rt 40 is an easy drive to RMNP - the question of the mountains will depend on you, I would guess by the time you are heading Back you will know exactly what your comfort level is.

Rt 40 is IMHO, easy only real pass is Rabbit Ears, which I have driven in my last two rigs in both the summer and the winter/snow with no problem. Coming into Estes from the west will require you to go over Trail Ridge - some feel this might be a tough drive, but again many have no issue with it. (I LOVE it) Also along the way you will pass some really nice Colorado State Parks Yampa and Stagecoach are usually not crowded and with the water give the Kids something to do.
Plan on spending some time on the West side of RMNP - not as crowded as Estes and fun. If you decide not to take Trail Ridge Rt 40 over to I-70 is a little steep with some switch backs but again a easy drive and just Beautiful (the option out is Rt 9 to Silverthorne.

Short answer NO PROBLEM - and the kids will love Dinosaur NM.

BOL,