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MudHog wrote:Nice!!!!

Is that Bear Lake in the picture of y'all standing on the rock?


Coming into Estes, on the left is there still a motel with an a-frame cabin as a restaurant?

Yep that is bear lake... Not sure on the a-fram cabin/resturant though..

crazyjoedevola wrote:Got you beat. 10 days 11 states and 4,500 miles. Estes Park is next on my list though. We went to Yellowstone Nat park this summer and made stops along the way at the Badlands of South Dakota, Mt. Rushmore, and Grand Teton Nat park. I would recommend any of these places. Amazing trip and can't wait to go to Colorado and see Estes.

We were like Clark Griswalds of the 70s.. My Dad would shut down shot for 2 weeks at the end of August and we would head out west. I think we hit every one of the national parks out there.. I remember very well Yellowstone and Grand Canyon and the Redwoods... I think our next trip is going to be Yellowstone/Grand Teton and Glacier National Park. Supposedly Glacier is the best for view wildlife because of the number of bears. I think this trip got my wife hooked..


If you have kids do the Ariel Tram in Estes it is a good relaxing trip.. And hit me up if you want some trails to take while your up there.

great pics. Thanks for sharing. For a moment, I got to daydream myself out of the prison I am in . I tell my wife repeatedly that if I ever get out there, I ain't coming back. I am gonna go one day. I think del cue said "the rocky mountians are the marrow of the world". It sure looks like it to me.

Dutch Dog wrote:Sweet trip!!! That one Elk is gonna be a MONSTER!!

Tell me about it.. Usually there is a traffic jam when someone spots wildlife.. We saw a lot of Elk but either they were way off or just cows and young bulls. We got really lucky with that big boy.. I just barely caught a climpse of him as we drove passed and I found the first pull off I could locate and jumped out. He started off about 200 yards from us but walked to within about 75 yards right in front of us. I got a great video of him walking by..

landscaper wrote:Looks like a great trip! I haven't been out west in a couple of years, and I've really been jonesing for it lately. Thanks for posting your pictures, though, I'm not sure if that helped my jones or made it worse! The Rockies really get in your blood. It must be something you're born with,though, because my wife has been and couldn't care less about going back, but I on the other hand tried to stay the first time I went about 15 years ago. My dad drug me kicking and screaming back home. Not to be morbid, but, if I died on the side of one of those mountains my bones would be smiling a thousand years from now!

I know what you mean.. I didn't want to come back either..

tombstone wrote:great pics. Thanks for sharing. For a moment, I got to daydream myself out of the prison I am in . I tell my wife repeatedly that if I ever get out there, I ain't coming back. I am gonna go one day. I think del cue said "the rocky mountians are the marrow of the world". It sure looks like it to me.

You just got to go..My wife was not all excited about it, but when we got there she was thrilled and said it was the best vacation we have been on .

I'll have to find some pictures of that same spot. Glad to know the rock is still there.


My family would vacation every year to CO back when I was in school. Once I got to high school I would go with a family friend that was always with us.

Have you ever been to Arches National Park in UT? Also, Zion National Park should be seen too? Angel's Landing is in Zion National park and a great trail to hike. It has an area of 21 switch backs that's called Walter's Wiggles. Then it's up to the actual AL area. Then there's Bryce Canon which isn't the Grand Canyon, but Bryce is more sandstone and has some amazing colors.

Then there's Shiprock which is a nice visit and stop at the outcroppings on the side of the road, will find many of fossils in those outcroppings. I'm guessing yall made it to 4 corners too?



The Rockies is a passion of mine, as fishing and duck hunting. When I hear people talking about the Great Smoky Mountains and them calling them mountains, I ask if they've ever been to the Rockies. Generally the answer is no and I tell them these are just ant hills compared to the Rockies.


When I went to Calgary and was driving back to Great Falls, I took a detour on the road that passes at the Glacier NP entrance. GNP is certainly on MY list, as is Yellowstone. The only thing on Yellowstone is that I want to do that trip via train.

MudHog wrote:I'll have to find some pictures of that same spot. Glad to know the rock is still there.


My family would vacation every year to CO back when I was in school. Once I got to high school I would go with a family friend that was always with us.

Have you ever been to Arches National Park in UT? Also, Zion National Park should be seen too? Angel's Landing is in Zion National park and a great trail to hike. It has an area of 21 switch backs that's called Walter's Wiggles. Then it's up to the actual AL area. Then there's Bryce Canon which isn't the Grand Canyon, but Bryce is more sandstone and has some amazing colors.

Then there's Shiprock which is a nice visit and stop at the outcroppings on the side of the road, will find many of fossils in those outcroppings. I'm guessing yall made it to 4 corners too?



The Rockies is a passion of mine, as fishing and duck hunting. When I hear people talking about the Great Smoky Mountains and them calling them mountains, I ask if they've ever been to the Rockies. Generally the answer is no and I tell them these are just ant hills compared to the Rockies.


When I went to Calgary and was driving back to Great Falls, I took a detour on the road that passes at the Glacier NP entrance. GNP is certainly on MY list, as is Yellowstone. The only thing on Yellowstone is that I want to do that trip via train.

Those areas sound good also.. I am trying to get my wife into the Camper thing to cut down on the cost though..

camper isn't always the best route. You save on SOME living, but you burn more fuel. I say some living, as you will still pay for a camp site at a campground. Add on the cost of the camper itself and you just as soon stay at a hotel that has a swimming pool and all the other stuff. Then you factor breakdowns and what not and I just don't see it worth a LONG distance travel like that. Plus, when your not at a destination, your limited on where you could go for in between sight seeing trips. One of the best things of driving is have the option to layover somewhere if you ended up sight seeing to much that day.



Now if you were retired and on no time schedule, that's a different story.

MudHog wrote:camper isn't always the best route. You save on SOME living, but you burn more fuel. I say some living, as you will still pay for a camp site at a campground. Add on the cost of the camper itself and you just as soon stay at a hotel that has a swimming pool and all the other stuff. Then you factor breakdowns and what not and I just don't see it worth a LONG distance travel like that. Plus, when your not at a destination, your limited on where you could go for in between sight seeing trips. One of the best things of driving is have the option to layover somewhere if you ended up sight seeing to much that day.



Now if you were retired and on no time schedule, that's a different story.

Already have the camper for deer camp, so it just sits there.. We would definitly have to take it on a short trip first to try it out..

Could i possibly tag along with anyone going out there next year? I will buy some gas, buy my own food, sleep outside in a tent and i promise you wont even know i am on the trip with you(except i will possibly show up in a few family photos). Just tell your kids i am you long lost crazy Uncle Bill who just wanted to tag along.
It looks like yall had a blast in some beautiful country.................

novacaine wrote:Could i possibly tag along with anyone going out there next year? I will buy some gas, buy my own food, sleep outside in a tent and i promise you wont even know i am on the trip with you(except i will possibly show up in a few family photos). Just tell your kids i am you long lost crazy Uncle Bill who just wanted to tag along.
It looks like yall had a blast in some beautiful country.................

.. Shoot just share the driving duties...