Upper Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park has the highest concentration of geysers anywhere in the world. This section of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed park is often overlooked because many people concentrate on Old Faithful, but it’s definitely worth walking through.
There’s a 17 mile stretch of Grand Loop Road between the junction at West Thumb and the Old Faithful area in UNESCO World Heritage listed Yellowstone National Park. The road crosses the Continental Divide twice and has a few nice places to stop.
Just outside of Guernsey, Wyoming, south of the North Platte River, is a section of solid rock that has been cut into by history. The wagon ruts were made by brave pioneers heading west on the Oregon Trail in the mid-1800s. Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site preserves this history.
Grand Lake is a small town that sits at the western end of Trail Ridge Road just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park. It makes a great base for exploring the national park.
The Alpine Visitor Center is roughly the halfway point of Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s a good place to stop and rest before continuing the rest of the drive.
Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the great scenic roads in the United States. It covers 48 miles of US 34 between the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake and reaches a high point of 12,183 feet.
On the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park are two small mountain lakes that are worth visiting. Sprague Lake and Bear Lake both have short trails around them and are a great opportunity to spot wildlife. They’re located near the Glacier Basin campground.
If traveling between Denver and Estes Park, it’s a great idea to drive down the Peak to Peak National Scenic Byway. This 55-mile route takes a bit longer but is well worth the time.
Long gone are the Gold Rush days of Idaho Springs, Colorado, but the small town has struck another form of gold – tourism. Just 30 miles west of Denver, Idaho Springs and neighboring Georgetown make for a nice day tour.
A nice scenic drive begins and ends in the city of Golden, Colorado. The Lariat Loop National Scenic Byway combines history and scenery in the many possible stops along the way. It makes for a nice full day of activities.