Questions about a trip west

[Conroy]

I am planning a drive out west in the beginning of April and spending a few weeks looking around CO, WY, and MT. I am bringing my sons with me to check out places to live. While we are driving, we are going to do a little sightseeing and hiking as well. I am bringing our tent and camping equipment as well as staying in a hotel when needed (or wanted).

I plan on starting in Estes Park, just as a stop to look around, no plans to live there. From there we are just going to explore and check things out. I don't really have a route set.

My questions are, is there anything in particular we should check out on this trip and are there any areas you recommend us hiking? If there was an opportunity to find sheds on our hikes that would be a bonus, but not required.

We have the whole month of April and some of May if needed. I do want to see Yellowstone and Glacier Parks, but have a pretty open schedule.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Chris

 

[Trogon]

Since you're headed NW through CO, I would steer you towards some of the northern country. At that time of year, expect quite a bit of snow in the high country yet. You could go up to Fort Collins and follow the poudre river valley across to North Park. The area around Walden is beautiful. If you wanted to explore you could go south a bit and venture towards the Troublesome wilderness area and/or cross over towards Mt Zirkel and the Encampent river valley. Good fishing up that way. Delaney Buttes, North Platte, etc.

April can be a great time to visit yellowstone. Weather may suck, but you'll have the park to yourself.

 

[ChrisS]

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/general-discussion-forum/60798-yellowstone-np.html

Search around on the site, there have been a few threads to discuss generalities. Weather may be an impediment due to snow pack around that time. People will volunteer plenty of info when you have some specific routes mapped out.

And I don't think anyone is going to volunteer places to find sheds.

 

[PantherCity]

No advise here, but that sounds like an awesome trip that your sons will remember for the rest of their lives. Have Fun!

 

[Tod osier]

sounds great. Age of kids would be useful. Fishing?

Parks, especially the passes, will have snow, but it will be awesome if/when you can get in. I don't know what the average year is like, but we were there in late May and there was enough snow to close the roads in Yellowstone for several days. We were there this year the first week of October and fought with road closures every day.

 

[elkduds]

It will almost certainly still be winter above 7-8K elev. in early April. Some lower elevation spots in CO I would recommend include Brown's Park/Dinosaur NM in the NW corner of the state, Moab UT/Arches/Canyonlands, Black Canyon/Montrose/Ridgway/Telluride, Durango/Mesa Verde NP/train to Silverton, Pagosa Hot Springs, Great Sand Dunes NP, Royal Gorge, Garden of the Gods/CO Springs. In fact, I would start in CO Springs, see the spots I just named in reverse order, then see RMNP in late April or early May before heading north to WY. A great state for road tripping.

 

[rayporter]

elkduds plan is a mighty good one.

 

[wyosteve]

Typically Yellowstone doesn't open for the summer season until mid-May and I believe much of Glacier is similar. Just fyi.

 

[137buck]

Sent you a PM.

 

[ben h]

Elkduds has sound advise. On a normal year above 7-8k can still be more like winter in April, let alone a record year for many parts of the west. I'd try to find places more in the 6-7k range and you could have some great days, or you could get a foot of wet snow. If April happens to be pretty warm, be careful around rivers as runoff could be starting and fishing will suck (I don't think this is very likely though so bring your poles). I visit the NRCS' Snotel map frequently for early trips so you can see snow depths, temps etc. They have weather stations all over the west that you can get weather data by the minute if you want it. These can give you an idea if there's no snow or a lot. Word of caution using them though is they are intended to predict stream flow for reservoir/water management, they're not always in locations that have "the most" snow. Have a great trip.NRCS National Water and Climate Center | Home