Route suggestions for heading out west (US)?

[azia]

Heading out to West to Montana, Wyoming (and maybe Idaho?), Utah, Colorado area for 3 weeks and looking for some route suggestions on getting over to that general area.

Not 100% sure whether we'll start north and go counterclockwise or the other way around. I'm leaning towards counterclockwise so we can camp in Badlands first.

So I guess what I need is a route suggestion from Toronto to Badlands and also from Colorado back to Toronto.

If you have a different idea or want to suggest some routes/POI in those general areas, I'm all ears.

 

[BeastieGirl]

I'm terrible at giving route advice, because I might minutely plan from point A to point B, then wander from point B to whatever point C ends up being, then punch in point D on my GPS and go into auto pilot for a bit and never document my route or mileage.

So having said that there are some dribs and drabs I can offer. My first trip out west I did the straight google/interstate route - I-80 to I-76 to Colorado to go back and then I-40 to I-44 back from Flagstaff, AZ to Hamilton, with a few side trips on the areas of Route 66 that still exist.

Last year I looked into an alternative to the hit the interstate and go till your eyes glaze over routine. If you google U.S. 36 you'll find a nice little cross-country route to Colorado. The first day I just punched into my GPS Hannibal, Missouri, then hooked up with U.S. 36 for the rest of the ride to Colorado. This was actually much more like I had envisioned Route 66 to be (but wasn't). There was a genuiness to this small town Americana highway that wasn't there on 66. Enough towns on the way that you never lacked for gas or a pit stop and of course the ever-present Golden Arches. Most towns are not much more than an intersection with a gas station but a few were more substantial with overnight accommodations if need be - I didn't stop until Burlington, CO, the speed limit was I think 65 for the most part, but it was rare to see another vehicle, I saw one police car in 1,100 kms. I like the endless sky of the prairies and there was were some surprisingly hilly areas through Kansas - but also hours of flat fields - really no way of missing that going from here to there. All in all in added about 2 hours on to my travel time to get to Golden, CO and took massive amounts off my stress level.

 

[BeastieGirl]

As far as POI's - there are really too many to fit into even a 3 week journey - why I went two years in a row and if I had the dollars, would head back this year.

Anyway - some of my recommendations and highlights from both trips - for Colorado: Trail Ridge Road, starts out of Estes Park; Peak-to-Peak Highway - the most fun in terms of sheer riding enjoyment - nice pavement, nicely banked and decent sitelines, but also scenic; Mount Evans - highest continually paved road and nifty mountain goats; Independence Pass which would have been more enjoyable if I wasn't doing those switchbacks in a sudden downburst :-( ; San Juan Scenic By-Way which includes the Million Dollar Highway through Ouray and Silverton - and well just about everywhere else you turn once you hit the Rockies.

I didn't see nearly as much of Utah as I should have, because I was mostly centred in Arizona for the southern part of my trip. But Bryce Canyon was spectacular, Scenic Highway 128 going from Colorado into Utah, coming out by Moab and then hit Arches National Park.

I'm not including directions because you can easily google all the areas and routes.

You also might want to search posts by Kiley and Wheelieboy - there are several previous posts and pix on touring in the West and South West which can probably help you.

You can't really go wrong - the parts I missed in 2011 I hit in 2012 - but I wouldn't have wanted to miss the things I saw on my first trip either!

 

[azia]

As far as POI's - there are really too many to fit into even a 3 week journey - why I went two years in a row and if I had the dollars, would head back this year.

Anyway - some of my recommendations and highlights from both trips - for Colorado: Trail Ridge Road, starts out of Estes Park; Peak-to-Peak Highway - the most fun in terms of sheer riding enjoyment - nice pavement, nicely banked and decent sitelines, but also scenic; Mount Evans - highest continually paved road and nifty mountain goats; Independence Pass which would have been more enjoyable if I wasn't doing those switchbacks in a sudden downburst :-( ; San Juan Scenic By-Way which includes the Million Dollar Highway through Ouray and Silverton - and well just about everywhere else you turn once you hit the Rockies.

I didn't see nearly as much of Utah as I should have, because I was mostly centred in Arizona for the southern part of my trip. But Bryce Canyon was spectacular, Scenic Highway 128 going from Colorado into Utah, coming out by Moab and then hit Arches National Park.

I'm not including directions because you can easily google all the areas and routes.

You also might want to search posts by Kiley and Wheelieboy - there are several previous posts and pix on touring in the West and South West which can probably help you.

You can't really go wrong - the parts I missed in 2011 I hit in 2012 - but I wouldn't have wanted to miss the things I saw on my first trip either!

Wow, thanks BeastieGirl! Great suggestions....I'll have to sit down and put some highlighter to map and figure out exactly where those are....I've heard of some of those but you've pointed out a few new ones for me. I'm excited to check out the national parks and have heard that Bryce is amazing.

Also, thanks for recommending 36...exactly what I'm looking for - a no-frills straight shot from CO. We might jump off here and there but looks like it'll be a good way to get home fast.

I'll go do a sesarch for wheelieboy and kiley's posts.

 

[regder]

This is the route I took in that direction a few years back. Mine was condensed into 8 days though.

https://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?msid=206201417535132431022.000490579b3e869bcb870&msa=0

I would say get out west and back as fast and as straight as possible. Spend as much time in the rockies as possible. No point wasting days getting there and back. There's really not much of interested in between. The destination is incredible though.

Best tip I can give, which is one that I got many times but dismissed. Don't waste time on Route 66. Nothing but a tourist trap with not much of interest