Help me have a great trip...

[Catfish]

So here's the plan...my dog and I are heading out of Texas for two weeks in either late July or sometime in August and heading up to Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and maybe Utah. The plan is to camp (both in a tent and in the truck) the entire way there and back. Aside from stopping at various breweries, Yellowstone Nat'l Park and Devil's Tower, I have no real destination. I just have to escape this Texas heat for a couple of weeks.

My 4runner is 2wd, but I have Nitto Terra Grapplers, so I'd love to get into some offroad/remote situations. Not looking for anything too crazy, as I will be traveling alone. And so, I'm looking for suggestions on places to hit, since I've never really spent any time in any of those states. Offroad, remote, scenic and quiet places are the ones that I'm most interested in, as well as any state and national parks whose hiking trails are dog friendly. I would love to get my truck dirty and maybe find a swimming hole/stream or two for my dog and I to cool off in.

Suggestions?

 

[MICA4R]

1 ) Get 20% DEET deep woods off
2 ) change out any fluids that are due or will be due
3 ) check/rotate tires/psi
4 ) Get Deep woods off x2
5 ) Lots of munching food
6 ) Good pair of sunglasses

- don't get stuck, bring a shovel (small one) if you are going to offroad alone
- have a recovery strap because you may get stuck ( 2 wd ) [*** although I think your rig with 4x2 Nitto's would be JUST as or ALMOST as capable as mine 4x4 because I have the original stock dunlops.]

Wyoming Trails - ORV
Colorado Off-Highway Drives | Colorado Off-Road Trails
4x4 ATV Jeep Offroad Trails and Dirt Bike ATV trail Riding, Motorcycle Dual Sport ATV Colorado, TN, GA, KY, AL, NC, WV

Good luck! Post pics if you can!

 

[Catfish]

Thanks, MICA4R! I'll be getting the 50k service done just before I leave, so the truck should be in tip-top shape. I hadn't thought about a recovery strap, but I think I'll look into that. I don't know that I'll get into a situation that would require it, but better safe than sorry.

Thanks for the trail links too. That's exactly the kind of stuff I'm looking for. Also, any nice scenic drives...highway, 2wd forest/service roads, etc...like I said, I've never really been in that part of the country (except for Estes Park, CO), so I'm looking for some cool places to check out. The main goal of the trip is to cool off, relax and take tons of pictures.

 

[gaterose]

do you have a planned route?

I'm heading out there at the end of July, myself. I have a friend who lives off of 160 in south fork, co.

I can tell you the ride from Alamosa, through Pagosa Springs and then up through Durango, Ouray, and Telluride is some of the most beautiful (and varying) mountain scenery I've ever experienced.

 

[aaronfro17]

Most importantly, remove wallet from back pocket, place wallet in console!

 

[03_4x4Runner]

You should try to get to Utah. It is one of this nations most scenic states. Check out Arches, Canyon Lands and Capitol Reefs national parks. Plenty of easy off road trails in all these areas also. You will not regret it. Only problem is it can be warm there the time you want to go. Million Dollar highway north of Durango, Colorado to Telluride is nice also and cooler in the summer.

 

[4Runners]

You should try to get to Utah. It is one of this nations most scenic states. Check out Arches, Canyon Lands and Capitol Reefs national parks. Plenty of easy off road trails in all these areas also. You will not regret it. Only problem is it can be warm there the time you want to go. Million Dollar highway north of Durango, Colorado to Telluride is nice also and cooler in the summer.

I'll be in Utah this August! Taking a massive trip in my 4runner (4,000 miles round trip) from texas to yosemite national park. Thing is my 4runner almost has 150,000 miles, but that shouldn't be a problem. Check out the advise people gave me at this thread: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/90074-4runner-has-150-000-miles-want-take-4-000-mile-trip.html

 

[Bigrupp]

If you're gonna go to Devils Tower, you're close enough you might as well hit up Mt. Rushmore while you're in the region. One of those things you should see at least once. My two cents. Hope two weeks is enough to get through all those states. So much good stuff out there.

 

[Catfish]

Awesome info, guys! I don't have a planned route yet...and i may keep it that way. Might just start driving and see where I end up each day. And not sure if it makes much of a difference weather-wise, but it's now looking like this trip will take place at the end of August/beginning of September.

I've heard that the Durango/Ouray/Telluride area is gorgeous, so I do plan on cruising through there. Good tip on Mount Rushmore...never been to the Dakotas, so I might as well visit while I'm up that way. A friend also recommended hitting Glacier National Park in Montana...hopefully, I'll have time to get that far north. And I'm likely to swing through Utah on my way back home. This two/two-and-a-half weeks is filling up fast!

 

[Bigrupp]

Just out of curiosity, what kind of dog will be riding along?

And keep us posted on your progress if you can. I'm sure people will give you have some more tips for you as you proceed and know where you're gonna be.

 

[Catfish]

My traveling companion will be Luke, my 95lb best friend and golden retriever.

And yeah, I'll be checking in when I can...posting pics and asking questions...

 

[4Runners]

Cute dog. Looks very heroic in that pic! lol Anyways like i said before, i've done this trip before to yellowstone from texas (i live in north texas near dallas) and it's amazing out there, but don't expect any cellphone reception once you hit these parks! Here's a couple highlight pics from yellowstone i took back in 2009. When i was there President Obama landed in the park the last day i was there and i got pics of him and his whole family so i put that here too:

 

[4Runners]

And these few pics are from my trip to Glacier National Park in 2010 which is almost in Canada and is further than most think from yellowstone: The first is of a long hike up to Grinnell glacier. Sadly most of these glaciers have shrunk to nothing and will completely disappear in the next 10 years.

 

[4Runners]

Ok and if you go very far east from yellowstone you will eventually get to Mount Rushmore, which is very impressive when you see it in real life. I went there after spending a whole week in Yellowstone/Grand Teton national park back in 2009.

 

[4Runners]

Overall these are all very nice places and i could have spent weeks in each park hiking and photographing everything (except Mount Rushmore, that only takes a hour) Definitely invest in a good camera (if you dont have one already) and post up pics here when you get back!
The best way to plan out a drive like this is to make it a giant loop. Start out driving through Colorado, then into Wyoming for Grand Teton/Yellowstone, then up through Montana to Glacier National Park, then to Devils tower in Wyoming which will be on the way to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, then it's straight down through Nebraska, Kansas, then Oklahoma before your back into Texas.
If you like roadside rock formations like Devils Tower in Wyoming then try to hit up Chimeney Rock in Nebraska. Kinda cool looking although i missed photographing it twice because it was night when we drove by it (once on the way back from yellowstone in 2009 then again in 2010 going to Glacier) It's a big trip you've got to plan there. Let us know what your final plans are. I'm subscribing to this thread because i love road trips! Have fun, it's a long drive! :driving:

 

[Nuke]

I travel alot with my dog (65 lb shepherd/lab/chow mix). Be sure you bring plenty of fresh water, snacky stuff and watch out for prolonged sun exposure, especially if you have to leave him in the car. And he'll appreciate his own bed and having a favorite toy or 2 handy. Just watch out for the McDonalds signs. My dog still goes ballistic if I pull into a fast food parking lot...

 

[Catfish]

4Runners...that first pic of Yellowstone is amazing! That's exactly the kind of thing I'm after. And no cell phone service? Even better. That's why I spend the week after Christmas out in Big Bend Ranch State Park every year. No phones, no people...nothing. Just me and my dog and a cooler full of venison chili and great beer.

The rest of the pics are great too. I'll be shooting a Canon D60 and will probably borrow an additional lens or two from my sister and/or dad. Glacier National Park looks like a must. Devil's Tower and Mount Rushmore are also on the list, for sure. My loop will likely have some backtracking involved, as I want to hit Idaho too...I'm being drawn to the Snake River for some reason...probably all the Evil Knievel I watched as a kid...

Nuke...you nailed it. Luke is my traveling buddy. We've spent plenty of time traveling to Big Bend, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana and all over Texas. He loves road trips. But yeah, the green stuffed frog is a MUST. We don't leave home without it.

 

[4Runners]

4Runners...that first pic of Yellowstone is amazing! That's exactly the kind of thing I'm after. And no cell phone service? Even better. That's why I spend the week after Christmas out in Big Bend Ranch State Park every year. No phones, no people...nothing. Just me and my dog and a cooler full of venison chili and great beer.

The rest of the pics are great too. I'll be shooting a Canon D60 and will probably borrow an additional lens or two from my sister and/or dad. Glacier National Park looks like a must. Devil's Tower and Mount Rushmore are also on the list, for sure. My loop will likely have some backtracking involved, as I want to hit Idaho too...I'm being drawn to the Snake River for some reason...probably all the Evil Knievel I watched as a kid...

Nuke...you nailed it. Luke is my traveling buddy. We've spent plenty of time traveling to Big Bend, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana and all over Texas. He loves road trips. But yeah, the green stuffed frog is a MUST. We don't leave home without it.

Nice! My camera is a Nikon D90, and some of the shots were taken with the 18-105mm nikon lens and the wide ones were with the tokina 11-16mm. That waterfall is called Lower Falls and is located in the yellowstone canyon. You can take the exact same picture from different drive too lookouts on the side of the road, so its an easy shot to get! Its a long trip and you could spend forever in these parks! This country has amazing national parks and i cant wait for my Yosemite trip this August. Now i wish i had a dog!

EDIT: Should probably mention that yellowstone is teeming with wildlife. There are bears and big buffalos everywhere! Glacier National park had less wildlife but more mountains and land features that were very picturesque if you know what i mean, although in the summertime most of the snow has melted. Still pretty in August though!

 

[amccalla89]

sheridan wy

just south of sheridan wy is a mountain road called red grade. its a great dirt road with plenty to see and very fun to drive. i lived in sheridan for 25 years but now live in denver. if you go all the way to the end of the road and take a left when you hit pavement again it will take you right to yellow stone park. i have a 95 4runner that loves the drive and only needs 4x4 when i get wa off the road. dont miss this road plenty of streams and ponds to swin in and camp by. you will love it trust me.

 

[Texas4runnerguy]

Hey catfish, I would pack a little cooler with some water, soda gatoraid. That way you dont have to stop as often for drinks and saves some money which will be good for gas driving up all those mountains. and im not sure which way you went up to estes park. But from denver headed to estes park is a pretty nice drive. When i went it was all frozen and the rivers were kind of melting and the high mountains were just incredible. Since you're going to be in cali, you should check out the redwood forests too those are sweet!

Good luck Catfish, Best of luck!