Would love your opinion on 2 month trip to NW in Fall 08
Hello, my first post. I have spent at least a week and a half, really, pouring over this great site. I was able to put together my itinerary using a lot of your input, thank you! Now, here’s my question – what do you think of our plan? I’m most interested in routes and roads, timing, campgrounds and crowds, are reservations needed, oh, and any “must do’s” beyond the usual suspects of hikes, sights, eats, activities, etc. First the delimiters: traveling in our long time 21.5’Minnie Winnie, so no tow vehicle; will drive up to 8 hours/day; no kids or pets (so we can drive 8 hours); love National Parks, scenery, short (3-7 miles) hikes, wildlife, some ranger led programs, peaceful campgrounds for lazing around; would love to try fishing; can dry camp about 5 days before needing to hook-up; need showers often enough to maintain domestic harmony; no time constraints other than how long the Post Office will extend our mail hold request, or when services close for the season, and that we must get to Glacier before the shuttle shuts down on Sept 1 as it is the only way we are going to see Going To The Sun Road. Now the trip: Leaving Las Vegas August 20 will take Hwy 93 straight up to Glacier, stopping at Ely NV (Valley View RV Park or Cave Lake), Craters of the Moon ID (their campground), Missoula MT (Jim & Mary’s RV), and Polson MT (Eagle Nest RV) to see friends. Then to West Glacier Fish Camp for the week of August 25 (will make resies here) before a trip on Hwy 2 to the East side to stay in Many Glaciers if we can get in, otherwise St. Mary’s or Rising Sun for a week tho we will need a hookup park just outside for one night, any good ones (maybe Johnson’s of St. Mary)? From Glacier to Yellowstone on Hwy 89 staying the first night in Gardiner at maybe Rocky Mountain campground, it will be somewhere around the second week of September by now. A week-10 days between Madison and Grant Village. On to the Tetons and maybe Colter Village campground with hookups for a night and move to NPS Colter campground for 5-ish nights. Taking Hwy 191 to Flaming Gorge, it’s the end of September now, staying a night or two somewhere, maybe Firefighter’s Memorial. Continuing down Hwy 191, across I-70 to Hwy 24, staying in Goblin Valley a night and on to Bryce and Zion for a couple nights each, staying in the NPS campgrounds. Will get to Bryce about the first of October. We’ve done Moab area many times and love it but thought we’d forgo it this time, also been to Bryce and Zion many times, but they are “on the way” and would be good stopping points. Then back to SoCal via Las Vegas and culture shock. So, what do you think, how can we make it better? Thanks for any and all input!
PS In reading your posts I see DW and DH a lot, I figured out the wife and husband part, but “D”??
D - usually dear, sometimes dumb, in my case dandy. Looks like a good itinerary to me. Won't go thru the whole thing, but suggest Cave Lake (Ely) a good choice. If you stay on the dirt road that goes south thru the campground and by the lake, there are some great boondocking spots along the river. The campground itself is OK...a bit tight for us, but you would be OK. On 93, you might consider diverting at Shoshone (above Twin Falls) to ID 75 thru Sun Valley and over Galena Summit...reconnects to 93 at Challis...Challis Hot Springs RV Park is a great place to lay back if you can get in. The hot pools there are outstanding..then northbound on 93 another great spot to stop is Wagonhammer RV park (note my sig pic)in North Fork just below the MT border. Those are just a couple of suggestions....been all over that area. You're going to have fun...let us know if more info wanted.
OOPS, I did indeed mean NORTH, sorry 'bout that -- I'm a newbie, what d'ya expect! Oregon/Washington/Canada on future list, hopefully soon. Thanks for info on Cave Lake and alternate route in Idaho!
I believe Colter Village shuts down around Sept. 15th, there are other areas to camp though. Your trip sounds good, my only suggestion would be to go North from Glacier to the Canadian Rockies (also Glacier NP) for a week or so, since your so close, and drop the Bryce/Zion aspect since you've been before.
Bob & Sue (Driverman & SignLady)
2004 Allegro Bay 34xb
2008 Jeep Liberty
While you're in the Ely area, you shouldn't miss Great Basin NP. Lehman Cave is definitely worth the tour, and you can drive up to 10,000' and take a relativley short hike to a grove of 3000-4000 year old bristlecone pines. There is a nice dry-camp campground at about the 7,000' level.
It would also be easy to include Capitol Reef NP between Goblin and Bryce. It's an historical Morman farming area and has many hiking trails.
Highway 12 between Capitol Reef and Bryce is a very scenic highway.
Great trip. A few small suggestions. Cut down on the week in West Glacier. It is nice but fairly typical forested high country there. There is more to see on the east side. Two Medicine, Many Glacier, and St Mary's all meet your criteria for things to do. Waterton in Canada is another fabulous option. If you shorten your stay in West Glacier you will have more time on the more dramatic east side where the Great Plains meet the Rockies.
Consider Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Mesa Verde NP's if you have been to Moab, Bryce and Zion. All have some great things to see and are beautiful in the fall.
And do come visit us in the true NW soon...
Family that loves to camp 30 days a year! Two kids, 12 and 9
Goblin is an interesting park, otherworldly actually. In September in can still be very, very hot and Goblin is pretty far out of the way and its very exposed. One thought might be to stay at Green River State Park and day trip to Goblin. Green River is shady, next to the river, closer to (limited) amenities. If you stick with Goblin I hope you get a lot of moonlight and go wandering around - it's sort of like being on another planet.
Me,DW & Max the Maltese
2005 Nissan Titan, Offroad Crewcab 4x4
FunFinder X-210
Lots of goodies
Offline
