Utah road trip ~ what's unmissable?


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trixie1868 is offline trixie1868 Post #1  May 1,2010, 2:08pm

what the bejeezus is going on round here?!

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This summer I'm flying into Denver, meeting my friend in Colorado Springs and then heading through to Utah for a road trip.

We've got about 2 weeks and our route needs to be a loop back into Colorado Springs. I love geology and hot springs and think I'm going to be spoilt for choice.

So what is too good to miss?
 
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Calm2010 is offline Calm2010 Post #2  May 1,2010, 2:57pm
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Hi Trixie - my brother lives in Utah. Some parts of Utah require a membership with a club to drink.

The mountains around Salt Lake are amazing but I know there are many other places he raves about. Bryce canyon is amazing - http://www.brycecanyon.com/

I will ask him for his thoughts.

Other than scenery is there anything in particular that you like to experience when you travel?
 
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trixie1868 is offline trixie1868 Post #3  May 1,2010, 3:05pm

what the bejeezus is going on round here?!

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Oh cool Calm2010!

I thought I'd probably stay in south Utah because it's more loopable from Colorado Springs and there's a lot down there. I probably won't get up as far as Salt Lake City.

I was thinking Bryce Canyon and Arches National Park and somehow fitting in Moab.

I love the geology of it, so landscape, landscape, landscape. Any scenic highways or things that locals know about but tourists might not would be fabulous. We'd like to do a bit of easy walking here and there but mostly we'll be driving and seeing as much as we can. It's the cowboy country landscape (the Sedona type stuff) that makes my heart beat faster.

I know a lot of people camp but we don't intend to ~ American motels are exotic if you're English no matter how ordinary, we feel like we're starring in our own film!

I also love to take in a hot spring or 10, especially ones that you're allowed to get into.

No chance you'll be in Utah in late July / early Aug? It'd be great to meet.
Last edited by trixie1868; May 1,2010 at 3:07pm.
 
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Jato87 is offline Jato87 Post #4  May 1,2010, 3:07pm
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North to South:

> Experience the flotation of a swim in the Great Salt Lake.
> Visit (Mormon) Temple Square in Salt Lake
> If you like ski resorts in the summertime, most operate ski lifts and trams to restaurants on top.
> In Southern Utah drive thru both Zion and Bryce National Parks. Also Arches National Monument
> Visit Lake Powell on the AZ border. Rent a houseboat or take a tour boat trip on the lake. The scenery (colored canyon walls around the lake) is spectacular.
> Most important, since you're that close to Arizona, don't miss the Grand Canyon. It's just a 3 hour drive into Arizona. You'll also see the Glen Canyon Dam on the border.
Last edited by Jato87; May 1,2010 at 3:16pm.
 
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Buck is offline Buck Post #5  May 1,2010, 3:25pm
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We were not able to visit the Temple in question during my one and only intentional visit to Salt Lake - quite some time ago. Public viewing was not an option. Don't know nowadays.

Aside from seeing the Lake, if you happen to get up that far, immediately head south. It's gorgeous down there, from about half-way down and on into AZ.

At that time of year you will experience real HEAT!!! Getting out of an air-conditioned car will take your breath away. You'll come to appreciate "misters" when you can find one. Consider a horse ride.

These kinds of trips are a blast.

For the one after this, you absolutely must visit the Badlands in SD. Nothing like it on this planet that I know about.
 
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j0hn8andy is offline j0hn8andy Post #6  May 1,2010, 3:36pm
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Oh, you are one lucky girl to be making this trip!

Gotta see the Great Salt Lake, of course, and the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City. If you continue west on I-80 to Wendover, on the Nevada-Utah border, you will see the Bonneville Salt Flats and the Floating Islands.....mountains that appear to be floating (as if they were islands) in the mirage of the Salt Flats.

I would make it a point to get down to Bryce Canyon Natl Park in south Utah. Not to be missed! Also Canyonlands Natl Park, a little south of I-70, near to Colorado. It's spectacular, but you need 4WD; there are few paved roads. I would say 1-2 days for Bryce and 2-3 days for Canyonlands.

I wonder if you'd have time to get down to the Grand Canyon Natl Park in northern Arizona? It really would be a crying shame to miss that! And, umm.....if it was me.....I'd hate to miss Santa Fe in northern New Mexico. It's the art center of the southwest, known for its art galleries.....

Now, back in Colorado, almost at the border with Utah on I-70 is Colorado Natl Monument. Worth a drive, half a day at most.....

Now, you just know I could come up with so much more, but you've only got those two weeks.....

j8a
Last edited by j0hn8andy; May 1,2010 at 4:05pm. Reason: .....and we like to say out west.....it's a DRY heat, LOL.....
 
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username_already_exists is offline username_already_exists Post #7  May 1,2010, 3:43pm
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trixie1868 wrote :
This summer I'm flying into Denver, meeting my friend in Colorado Springs and then heading through to Utah for a road trip.

We've got about 2 weeks and our route needs to be a loop back into Colorado Springs. I love geology and hot springs and think I'm going to be spoilt for choice.

So what is too good to miss?
depending on your route, on your way through/out of Colorado, (given that you like geography) should you go south hit Royal Gorge and the Great Sand Dunes. should you come north and hit I-70, the Grand Mesa just south of Grand Junction is great. if you're off the beaten track, Black Canyon of the Gunnison is quite scenic. the mtn passes south of Ouray on the way to Durango or Telluride are amazing.

in Utah, Bryce, Canyon Lands, Moab, Arches, and especially the north rim of the Grand Canyon are all must sees.

ck Amazon for books which are by state - Roadside Geology of ____. get teh ones for Utah and Colorado. the books explain the geology and geologic features along the roads you'll be travelling. I have found them most helpful - but then I'm a self-taught novice.

pm me if you'd like to discuss routes and sites along the route.

safe travels.
 
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Buck is offline Buck Post #8  May 1,2010, 4:18pm
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Yea ... Go ahead and believe that "dry heat" stuff. LOL. You'll quickly discover exactly what a lobster feels like right before the moment of truth.

Just sayin' to be prepared for this reality. Clothes, liquids, lotions, expectations ...

I don't know of any caverns down that way at the moment, but I'd go out of my way to find one.
 
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trixie1868 is offline trixie1868 Post #9  May 2,2010, 3:34am

what the bejeezus is going on round here?!

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Wow thanks everyone.

The only problem I can see is being ok with the things that I'll inevitably miss.

I've been to the Grand Canyon a couple of times but only the south rim and I love Arizona and New Mexico (and Vegas isn't a million miles away) but I think I'll try to stay true to Colorado and Utah this trip and maybe do a little bit more on a shorter loop.

I'm off to research your suggestions.
 
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Jato87 is offline Jato87 Post #10  May 2,2010, 5:20pm
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Trixie, it sounds like you have the info you need, and have already seen the Grand Canyon.

Be sure to Google Lake Powell to see the kinds of geological scenery available from a tour boat. The lake snakes up into canyons that are accessable only by water.

In southern Utah the two cities as a headquarters for motels, shopping, and restaurants are Cedar City and St. George. You can easily make day trips from there. You might stay a night or two in Moab on the way to/from Colorado Springs.

You mentioned you’d like a hot springs spa. I Googled one, the Pah Tempe Mineral Hot Springs, 18 miles east of St. George, 20 miles West of Zion National Park.
Pah Tempe Hot Springs Tel 888-726-8367.

I’m sure there are also others in that area. Hot springs are common in Utah and Colorado.
 
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