Seasons to Travel:
Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer
Distance:
1,237 Miles
States Covered:
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is a historic train that runs through the beautiful San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. The train travels from Durango to the historic mining town of Silverton, offering stunning views of the rugged mountain landscape along the way.
The train follows the same route that was used to transport gold and silver from the mines to the smelters over a century ago. Today, the train is a popular attraction for visitors to the area, offering a unique and nostalgic way to experience the beauty of the region.
The train offers a variety of train rides, ranging from half-day excursions to full day trips. Some of the most popular trips include the historic steam train ride from Durango to Silverton and the Cascade Canyon Express.
The Durango Train is a unique and memorable way to experience the beauty and history of the San Juan Mountains. Whether you’re a history buff, a train enthusiast, or just looking for a fun and scenic adventure, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is a must-see attraction in southwestern Colorado.
Canyonlands National Park is a national park located in southeastern Utah, near the town of Moab. The park is known for its stunning canyons, mesas, and buttes that have been eroded by the Colorado River and its tributaries over millions of years.
The park is divided into four districts, each offering a unique landscape and experience for visitors. The Island in the Sky district is the most accessible and offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding canyons from its mesa-top location. The Needles district is known for its colorful sandstone spires and remote backcountry hiking trails. The Maze district is the most remote and rugged, offering a true wilderness experience for hikers and backpackers. The Rivers district includes the stretch of the Colorado River that flows through the park, offering opportunities for rafting and kayaking.
We suggest going on the Mesa Arch hike, which is short and scenic. Additionally, a scenic drive os Island in the Sky has beautiful viewpoints and allows you to see all of the unique landscapes the park has to offer. Lastly, we suggest Dead Horse State Park for sunset.
Arches National Park is a national park in eastern Utah, known for its stunning sandstone arches, natural bridges, spires, and other rock formations. The park covers an area of over 76,000 acres and contains over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, including the famous Delicate Arch.
Visitors to the park can explore the many hiking trails that wind through the park’s canyons and valleys, offering stunning views of the unique rock formations. Some of the most popular trails include the Devil’s Garden Trail, the Fiery Furnace, and the Delicate Arch Trail.
Arches National Park is also a popular spot for stargazing, due to its remote location and clear skies. The park offers a number of ranger-led night sky programs throughout the year.
The next stop, the Colorado National Monument, will show you how Colorado got its name from the red colors. Colorado National Monument is a breathtaking natural wonder located in western Colorado, USA. The park is known for its towering red rock formations, stunning canyons, and panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
The monument is home to a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, rock climbing, and mountain biking. Visitors can explore the park’s trails, which wind through canyons and along ridges, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
One of the most popular attractions in Colorado National Monument is the Rim Rock Drive, a 23-mile scenic drive that winds through the park, offering spectacular views of the surrounding canyons and rock formations. The drive includes several overlooks, where visitors can stop and take in the stunning scenery.
The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including bighorn sheep, mule deer, and a variety of bird species. Visitors can explore the park’s diverse ecosystem and learn about the region’s natural history through the park’s interpretive exhibits and ranger programs.
Dinosaur National Monument is a national monument located on the border of Colorado and Utah. The monument is known for its rich fossil beds, which contain some of the most complete and diverse collections of dinosaur fossils in the world. Visitors to the monument can explore the Quarry Exhibit Hall, where they can view hundreds of dinosaur fossils in situ.
In addition to its paleontological resources, Dinosaur National Monument also offers stunning natural landscapes and recreational opportunities. The monument encompasses over 200,000 acres of canyons, plateaus, and river valleys, providing opportunities for hiking, camping, river rafting, and fishing.
Some of the most popular activities in the monument include exploring the scenic drives along the Yampa and Green rivers, hiking to overlooks and waterfalls, and enjoying ranger-led programs and educational exhibits.
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is a popular destination located in northeastern Utah and southwestern Wyoming. The recreation area encompasses over 200,000 acres of land, including the Flaming Gorge Reservoir and portions of the Green River.
The area is known for its stunning natural beauty and abundance of recreational opportunities. Visitors can enjoy boating, fishing, and swimming in the clear waters of the reservoir, which is home to several species of fish, including trout, bass, and kokanee salmon. The surrounding mountains and forests provide opportunities for hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing, with a chance to see mule deer, elk, and bighorn sheep.
Other popular activities in the area include river rafting, kayaking, and canoeing on the Green River, as well as rock climbing, mountain biking, and horseback riding on the many trails in the recreation area. Winter sports such as cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are also popular in the winter months.
The recreation area is also home to several developed campgrounds and picnic areas, as well as visitor centers and ranger-led programs that offer educational opportunities and insights into the area’s natural and cultural history.
The Pilot Butte Wild Horse Scenic Loop is a 24-mile driving route in southwestern Wyoming that offers visitors the opportunity to view wild horses in their natural habitat. The loop takes visitors through a rugged and scenic landscape, offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains, rock formations, and high desert terrain.
The wild horses that inhabit this area are descendants of domestic horses that were released or escaped from settlers and ranchers in the early 20th century. These horses have since adapted to the harsh desert environment, and now roam freely throughout the area.
We suggest visitors bring binoculars and a camera, as the horses can often be seen grazing or running in herds. It’s important to note that the horses are wild animals and should not be approached or fed. The loop also passes through areas of sagebrush and juniper forest, which provide habitat for a variety of wildlife, including pronghorn antelope, mule deer, and coyotes.
The Pilot Butte Wild Horse Scenic Loop is a great way to experience the rugged and wild beauty of Wyoming, while also observing these magnificent animals in their natural habitat. The loop is open year-round, although road conditions may vary depending on the season, so visitors are advised to check road conditions before embarking on the journey.
Jackson Hole is a valley in northwestern Wyoming, located between the Teton Mountain Range and the Gros Ventre Range.
Jackson Hole is known for its stunning natural beauty, including the iconic Teton Range, which offers world-class skiing and snowboarding in the winter and hiking and mountain biking in the summer. The area also boasts several rivers and lakes, which offer opportunities for fishing, rafting, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
In addition to its outdoor recreational opportunities, Jackson Hole also has a vibrant arts and culture scene, with several galleries, museums, and live music venues. The town of Jackson offers a variety of dining and shopping options, as well as a weekly farmers market and several festivals and events throughout the year.
Visitors to Jackson Hole can also take advantage of guided tours and excursions, including wildlife safaris, hot air balloon rides, and scenic drives. Jackson Hole is a year-round destination, with each season offering its own unique beauty and activities.
Grand Teton is a mountain range located in northwestern Wyoming, just south of Yellowstone National Park. The range is a popular tourist destination and is known for its stunning natural beauty, including towering peaks, glacial lakes, and abundant wildlife.
The highest peak in the Grand Teton range is Grand Teton itself, which rises to a height of 13,775 feet (4,199 meters). Other notable peaks in the range include Mount Owen, Mount Moran, and Teewinot Mountain. The range is also home to several popular hiking trails, including the Teton Crest Trail, which offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
The area surrounding the Grand Teton range is home to a variety of wildlife, including grizzly bears, black bears, elk, moose, bison, and wolves. Visitors to the area can take guided tours or go on their own wildlife watching excursions in the hopes of spotting some of these animals.
In addition to hiking and wildlife viewing, Grand Teton National Park offers a variety of other recreational activities, including camping, fishing, kayaking, and scenic drives. The park is open year-round, although some areas and activities may be limited during the winter months.
Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast, wildlife lover, or simply looking to take in some of the most stunning scenery in the United States, Grand Teton is a must-visit destination.
The last stop is Yellowstone National Park! Yellowstone is a vast wilderness area located primarily in the state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho. Established in 1872, it was the first national park in the world, and is famous for its incredible natural features, including geysers, hot springs, canyons, waterfalls, and wildlife.
One of the most famous features of Yellowstone is Old Faithful, a geyser that erupts regularly and has become a symbol of the park. There are over 10,000 geothermal features in the park, including hot springs, mudpots, and steam vents. Visitors can take guided tours or explore on their own, but it’s important to stay on designated trails and boardwalks to avoid injury or damage to the delicate ecosystems.
Yellowstone is also home to a variety of wildlife, including grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, elk, bison, and moose. Visitors can take guided tours or go on their own wildlife watching excursions.
Other popular activities in Yellowstone include hiking, camping, fishing, and boating. The park offers a variety of camping options, including frontcountry, backcountry, and RV camping, and there are plenty of hiking trails to explore, ranging from short nature walks to multi-day backcountry treks.
Whether you’re interested in geology, wildlife, or just taking in some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the world, Yellowstone is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to the United States.
Agency Tourism Marketing