Help Route planning between Glacier and Arches National Park

**wjpatter** · 01-06-2021, 04:23 PM

I'm laying in the big bones of our travel this summer and need some help getting from St Mary, MT to Arches National Park next August. I'll be stopping in Caldwell, ID if they ever set the date for their rodeo. I know nothing about what is along the Snake River. I'm leaving Florida in June and will be in Albuquerque in October for Balloon fest. Getting to Glacier is easy. Idaho and Utah are mysteries. Any places to stay, things to do, events happening that you know of will be greatly appreciated.

**JeffOfBoise** · 01-06-2021, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by wjpatter

I'm laying in the big bones of our travel this summer and need some help getting from St Mary, MT to Arches National Park next August. I'll be stopping in Caldwell, ID if they ever set the date for their rodeo. I know nothing about what is along the Snake River. I'm leaving Florida in June and will be in Albuquerque in October for Balloon fest. Getting to Glacier is easy. Idaho and Utah are mysteries. Any places to stay, things to do, events happening that you know of will be greatly appreciated.

A couple of suggestions in Idaho would be Craters of the Moon National Monument near Arco, Idaho; Three Island Crossing State Park in Glenn's Ferry Idaho and Boise has a hot air balloon festival on Labor Day weekend.

Jeff of Boise

**traveldawg** · 01-06-2021, 05:56 PM

If it isn't out of your way the C M Russel Museum in Great Falls is a wonderful place for both the art and history.

Butte, MT - city tour to learn about the mining there. Grab a nice steak at one the restaurants.

I guess if you go that way there is Yellowstone and Jackson, WY.

**AustexGP** · 01-06-2021, 07:36 PM

I would consider staying in Heber City at Mountain City RV Park. Take a full day to visit Park City visit the down town area and take a tour of the Olympic Village, then take another day to visit Salt Lake City. In the little town of Midway there is a monument to all the service men and women from this part of Utah. It's a scary drive up and down but worth the trip.

Then take Hwy 189 from Heber City to Provo. This is a very pretty drive with great views of the mountains, streams, BYU campus and Provo. From Provo pick up IH15. We then took Hwy 6 to Price Utah and then Hwy 191 to IH70/HWY191 to Moab. This is a very twisty highway with big drops in elevation. You MUST go slow a be very aware of your surroundings. You will/can run right up behind a big 18 wheeler and he will struggle to get up the mountain. If you want to skip Hwy 6 then continue down IH15 until you hit Hwy 50 toward Salina. Hwy 50 junctions with IH70/Hwy191.

In Moab we stayed at Spanish Trails RV park on Hwy 191 south of town. This is a fairly small park but was purchased by the same group that owns Mountain City RV in Heber City. We stayed there about a week. Lots of great places to see in Moab, good eats and now they have real beer instead of "near" beer. Using Moab as a base we went to Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse State Park (don't skip this state park. It has been used in many movies and is great place to spend 3-4 hours) and Capitol Reef National Park. If you do go to Capitol Reef plan on making it a FULL day. Leave Moab on Hwy 191 to IH70 to Hwy 24. Then take the drive to Capitol Reef. As you enter Capitol Reef look for the rock carvings, old school house and the original stagecoach station. Once inside of Capitol Reef visit the original town and be prepared to pick your own apples and other fruit.

From Moab we took IH70 to IH15. Try to stay in Bryce Canyon RV park (Hugh park with lots of stuff to see and do) or stay in Hurricane or Springdale. You travel from Bryce Canyon to Zion but don't bring the travel trailer. You have to go through a tunnel and only one truck is allowed at a time plus there are many switch backs that I would not want to try pulling any trailer.

We stayed in Tropic off of Hwy12. We didn't get to do it but we were told that taking Hwy12 from Bryce City to Boulder is an awesome drive with lots of arches and valleys to see.

Wherever you go and do be sure to bring your hiking shoes because you'll do a ton of walking.

Good Luck

**orbiker** · 01-06-2021, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by wjpatter

I'm laying in the big bones of our travel this summer and need some help getting from St Mary, MT to Arches National Park next August. I'll be stopping in Caldwell, ID if they ever set the date for their rodeo. I know nothing about what is along the Snake River. I'm leaving Florida in June and will be in Albuquerque in October for Balloon fest. Getting to Glacier is easy. Idaho and Utah are mysteries. Any places to stay, things to do, events happening that you know of will be greatly appreciated.

Head towards Missoula, MT and go west on 12. It's up and down with curves, but the scenery is WOW.
Take 95 south to 55 to Caldwell.

US 12 about half way down from Lolo pass. KEN

**orbiker** · 01-06-2021, 10:28 PM

Hopefully you will allow time for more then just Arches NP.

One of our favorite NP's in Utah is Bryce.

Natural Bridge in Bryce NP. KEN

**wjpatter** · 01-07-2021, 07:16 AM

Originally Posted by AustexGP

I would consider staying in Heber City at Mountain City RV Park. Take a full day to visit Park City visit the down town area and take a tour of the Olympic Village, then take another day to visit Salt Lake City. In the little town of Midway there is a monument to all the service men and women from this part of Utah. It's a scary drive up and down but worth the trip.

Then take Hwy 189 from Heber City to Provo. This is a very pretty drive with great views of the mountains, streams, BYU campus and Provo. From Provo pick up IH15. We then took Hwy 6 to Price Utah and then Hwy 191 to IH70/HWY191 to Moab. This is a very twisty highway with big drops in elevation. You MUST go slow a be very aware of your surroundings. You will/can run right up behind a big 18 wheeler and he will struggle to get up the mountain. If you want to skip Hwy 6 then continue down IH15 until you hit Hwy 50 toward Salina. Hwy 50 junctions with IH70/Hwy191.

In Moab we stayed at Spanish Trails RV park on Hwy 191 south of town. This is a fairly small park but was purchased by the same group that owns Mountain City RV in Heber City. We stayed there about a week. Lots of great places to see in Moab, good eats and now they have real beer instead of "near" beer. Using Moab as a base we went to Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse State Park (don't skip this state park. It has been used in many movies and is great place to spend 3-4 hours) and Capitol Reef National Park. If you do go to Capitol Reef plan on making it a FULL day. Leave Moab on Hwy 191 to IH70 to Hwy 24. Then take the drive to Capitol Reef. As you enter Capitol Reef look for the rock carvings, old school house and the original stagecoach station. Once inside of Capitol Reef visit the original town and be prepared to pick your own apples and other fruit.

From Moab we took IH70 to IH15. Try to stay in Bryce Canyon RV park (Hugh park with lots of stuff to see and do) or stay in Hurricane or Springdale. You travel from Bryce Canyon to Zion but don't bring the travel trailer. You have to go through a tunnel and only one truck is allowed at a time plus there are many switch backs that I would not want to try pulling any trailer.

We stayed in Tropic off of Hwy12. We didn't get to do it but we were told that taking Hwy12 from Bryce City to Boulder is an awesome drive with lots of arches and valleys to see.

Wherever you go and do be sure to bring your hiking shoes because you'll do a ton of walking.

Good Luck

Great Suggestions, thanks. Dead Horse State Park looks great. We have always stayed at Moab Valley RV Resort & Campground so I can take the truck into the park at night to watch the sky. Even there, the lights from the city pollute the horizon. Some of those campground in Dead horse look large enough for me to get my fiver in. More planning!

**wjpatter** · 01-07-2021, 07:23 AM

Originally Posted by orbiker

Hopefully you will allow time for more then just Arches NP.

One of our favorite NP's in Utah is Bryce.

Natural Bridge in Bryce NP. KEN

Bryce is one of my favorites. I gone on trail rides into the park. Amazing. Something I couldn't do without a horse or mule.
The last time I was there, park service had closed the road past the canyon overlook at night. We couldn't get in at dusk to watch the deer and antelope. That was a real let down.

**Canyonlight** · 01-07-2021, 07:40 AM

Originally Posted by wjpatter

I'm laying in the big bones of our travel this summer and need some help getting from St Mary, MT to Arches National Park next August. I'll be stopping in Caldwell, ID if they ever set the date for their rodeo. I know nothing about what is along the Snake River. I'm leaving Florida in June and will be in Albuquerque in October for Balloon fest. Getting to Glacier is easy. Idaho and Utah are mysteries. Any places to stay, things to do, events happening that you know of will be greatly appreciated.

Bill & Marsha - great information shared so far by several folks. If you have not done so, your questions raised on these locations have come up a several times over the years. Conducting a search on the locations on your trip or possibly on your trip will yield some more great feedback.

Dan

**wjpatter** · 01-08-2021, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by orbiker

Head towards Missoula, MT and go west on 12. It's up and down with curves, but the scenery is WOW.
Take 95 south to 55 to Caldwell.

US 12 about half way down from Lolo pass. KEN

The route from Missoula to Caldwell looks interesting. Do you know anything about ID55 from New Meadows South? It is either that or cross into Oregon and head for Copperfield. I'm going to have to find an overnight for a couple of days to checkout the area. Thanks.