U.S. WEST
Three itineraries for exploring the natural wonders of the U.S. West – from 5 to 10 days
The possibilities for road trips from Denver are plentiful. With Colorado sharing a border with seven states, it’s a natural starting point for an adventure on the open road. The state features four national parks, and to the west, the Rocky Mountains and then Utah. The Colorado Plateau, with its vast stretches of cliffs, arches and sandstone buttes, is all within a day’s drive.
We moved to Colorado in 2010 and immediately set out to explore this beautiful state and beyond. Coming from Toronto, the open landscape of the west felt remarkable. We’ve taken many road trips in the years since, and from those I’ve compiled three itineraries of some of our favorite places. These are the trips I recommend to friends who ask for my favorite adventures in the west. And you can easily start these trips from other cities, such as Salt Lake City.
Road Trip 1
Arches & Canyonlands National Parks, with Moab
5 days / Drive time, 12 hours
Two remarkable Utah parks & an outdoor adventure hub
This shorter road trip from Denver (or Salt Lake City) takes you to the town of Moab, Utah, known as a gateway to incredible adventures – hiking, mountain biking and river rafting to start. And Moab is an ideal base for exploring two spectacular national parks: Arches and Canyonlands. These two parks feature otherworldly landscapes and stunning sandstone arches carved by millions of years of erosion. A four-night itinerary allows for three full days of exploring, one for each of the parks and time to enjoy some of the adventures available in Moab. In the summer when it’s very hot, you will want to hike early and then find other things to do around Moab. Spring is a great time to visit if you want to experience Moab’s famous mountain biking.
Denver to Moab - Itinerary
Day 1 Depart Denver and drive 5 hours to Moab, Utah
Day 2 Explore Arches
Day 3 Explore Canyonlands
Day 4 Moab Adventure
Day 5 Return to Denver
Road Trip Highlights
- Spring mountain biking in Moab, famous for its slickrock and incredible scenery. The season ends in early June.
- Whitewater rafting on the Colorado River. This is especially good in late spring or summer.
- Sunrise hikes: Mesa Arch in Canyonlands and the Delicate Arch hike in Arches.
- The Grand View Point in Canyonlands is a moderate two-mile hike with panoramic views along the canyon edge. In Arches we loved the Windows section as well as the hike near the park entrance called Park Avenue.
Where to Stay in Moab
Moab positions you perfectly to explore both Canyonlands and Arches. If you want to be close to town and are looking for something budget-friendly, I recommend the Fairfield Inn & Suites Moab. It has a nice pool and is just outside of town, so close to the entrance to Arches. Suites are available with separate sitting areas, a mini fridge and microwave.
If you are looking for something a little more upscale, or want a resort experience, I recommend the Red Cliffs Lodge, where we stayed on our last visit. It’s about 20 minutes outside of town and has a gorgeous setting on the Colorado river with towering cliffs all around. Amenities include a nice outdoor pool, lots of activities including horseback riding. Choose between a regular “hotel-style” room or a cottage with a kitchen, living area and balcony overlooking the river. The lodge’s dining room has a fantastic view.
For a luxury experience, consider the Sorrel River Ranch. It’s pricey but supposed to be exceptional with lots of amenities including a spa. I would love to stay there on my next visit. You can also just pop in for lunch or dinner.
Road Trip 2
Colorado Loop: Two National Parks & Crested Butte
7 days / 13.5 hours drive time
Colorado has four national parks and this week-long road trip from Denver includes two of them: Rocky Mountain National Park and Great Sand Dunes National Park. Beyond that you will visit one of the state’s most beautiful mountain towns: Crested Butte. The itinerary begins at Rocky Mountain N.P. so the two longer drives are mixed with shorter ones, and the Crested Butte visit falls between the park stays. I also suggest stopping at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs on your final day. Its sandstone rock formations are spectacular and you can see them easily by just driving the main loop.
Road Trip Itinerary
Day 1 Depart Denver and drive 1.5 hours to Rocky Mountain N.P
Day 2 Explore Rocky Mountain N.P.
Day 3 Drive to Crested Butte, about 5.5 hours
Day 4 Explore Crested Butte
Day 5 Drive to Great Sand Dunes N.P., about 3 hours
Day 6 Explore Great Sand Dunes
Day 7 Return drive to Denver, about 4 hours. Take Interstate 25 to Denver, in order to stop at Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs.
Highlights
- Take a scenic drive in Rocky Mountain National Park, such as Trail Ridge Road
- Hear the Elk bugling during the fall mating season in Estes Park
- Take a wildflower hike or go mountain biking in Crested Butte
- Walk up the giant dunes to gain perspective on their enormous scale, in Great Sand Dunes N.P.
Where to Stay
Rocky Mountain National Park does not have any accommodation within the park, so stay in nearby Estes Park or Grand Lake, on the other side of the park. Popular options in Estes include: the Rams Horn Village Resort and the Stanley Hotel which gives you the experience of an old-time summer lodge (it’s also where Stephen King was inspired to write The Shining). Alternatively, the Grand Lake Lodge is a quintessential summer experience.
In Crested Butte, stay in the cute historic town and enjoy great dining options and a lively atmosphere. There are several popular choices including the Elk Mountain Lodge, a charming property, built in 1919 as a miner’s hotel.
Camping at Great Sand Dunes usually requires booking well ahead, especially during May, a popular time when the Medano Creek at the base of the dunes fills with water. We stayed at the Zapata Ranch, a working bison ranch a short drive from the park and had a wonderful experience. The closest town with hotels is Alamosa, about 30 minutes away.
Road Trip 3
Epic Southwest - Utah Parks & Monument Valley
10 days / 24 hours drive time
The Utah parks are all incredible and this itinerary takes you to my favorite – Zion National Park. You’ll also visit Bryce Canyon and see the remarkable hoodoo rock formations – tall spires of rock that protrude dramatically from the dry badlands. Convenient starting points for this trip are Las Vegas or Salt Lake City. This road trip from Denver is also wonderful, just a little longer.
After 4 nights in Utah, you will carry on to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. It is only open between May 15 and October 15, and gets a fraction of the visitors of the south rim which is open year-round. There is limited accommodation here so book ahead if possible, especially if you want to camp or stay with the park (details below.)
After the Grand Canyon, you’ll drive east through Arizona and into Navajo Nation – the largest indigenous region in the U.S., and the location of beautiful Monument Valley.
Itinerary from Denver
Day 1 Depart Denver (or Salt Lake) and drive 9 hours to Bryce Canyon
Day 2 Explore Bryce Canyon
Day 3 Drive 2 hours to Zion
Day 4 Explore Zion
Day 5 Drive just over 3 hours to the Grand Canyon, North Rim
Day 6 Explore Grand Canyon
Day 7 Explore Grand Canyon
Day 8 Drive a little over 4 hours to Monument Valley
Day 9 Explore Monument Valley
Day 10 Return to Denver – 8.5 hours
Highlights
- Explore the remarkable hoodoo rock formations in Bryce Canyon
- Hike in Zion, choosing from spectacular hikes such as The Narrows or Angels Landing (reserve ahead in high season)
- Take a mule ride into the Grand Canyon to see the Supai Tunnel on the N. Kaibab Trail. You'll descend 2300 feet
- Take a scenic drive along the edge of the Grand Canyon for incredible scenery and great photos
- Explore Monument Valley with a local Navajo Guide who can share more about Navajo traditions and modern life. The drive through Monument Valley is considered among the most scenic in America.
Where to Stay
In Zion National park we enjoyed our stay at Flanigan’s Inn. Every room is different and we had one with a lovely outdoor terrace called the Petite Suite. The food was delicious at the restaurant onsite – The Spotted Dog Café. The Zion National Park Lodge is also popular and located within the park. It was built in 1925 and has a historic national park feel.
I’ve only been to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon but hope to visit the North Rim soon. The only lodging available here is inside the park at the Grand Canyon Lodge. There is also camping in the park. Reserve at Recreations.Gov. Other lodging options are the Jacob Lake Inn and the Kaibab Lodge.
In Monument Valley, we stayed at the Monument Valley View Hotel – the only accommodation within Monument Valley. We had a premium cabin with a separate bedroom with double bed, twin bunks outside in their own “nook” and a kitchenette. We had spectacular views of the massive sandstone monuments from our balcony. The hotel is run by Navajo community members and there’s a large gift shop with amazing art and jewelry. Note there is no pool here as the climate is dry and water a valuable resource for Navajo Nation residents.
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I hope this guide sparks some ideas for planning your own special road trip from Denver, or Salt Lake City, through the beautiful U.S. West.
I didn’t mention Wyoming here, but I especially love it in summer when southern Utah and Arizona gets very hot. If you are interested in learning more about Grand Teton National Park (another of my favorite parks) I wrote about it here: Things to do in Grand Teton National Park.
For another road trip idea, we loved our adventure between Los Angeles and Denver. You can read that story here: An Unexpected Los Angeles to Denver Road Trip.
I’ve also written about Great Sand Dunes National Park if you are planning a visit.
