Midwest National Parks

Day 1	Saturday	September 12th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Spokane
		(Go west on I-90, south on Hwy 395. Enter I-82 south. Go east on I-84. Take exit 173 south.)
5:30 p.m.	Arrive:	Twin Falls	551
	Lodge:

Day 2	Sunday	September 13th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Twin Falls
		(Continue south on I-84. It will become I-15. Take exit 95 left on Hwy 20. Turn right on Hwy 89. Go left on Hwy 89 and left again on Hwy 12. Turn right on Hwy 63.)
5:00 p.m.	Arrive:	Bryce National Park
	Lodge:

Day 3	Monday	September 14th
	See:	Bryce National Park
	Lodge:

Day 4	Tuesday	September 15th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Bryce
		(Go north on Hwy 63. Turn right on Hwy 12. Turn right on Hwy 24.)
11:30 a.m.	Arrive:	Capitol Reef	122
	See:	Capitol Reef Visitor Center (8-4:30)
		Ripple Rock Nature Center (9-5)
		Gifford House Store and Museum (9-4:30, closed 12-12:45)
		Scenic Drive Stop 8
		Scenic Drive Stop 9
		(Go back to the visitor center and turn right on Hwy 24.)
		Fruita Schoolhouse
		Petroglyph Panels
		Hickman Bridge Rim Overlook-.9 mile pathr through the canyon to a 133 ft natural bridge
		Behunin Cabin
		The Gray Ones Scenic View
45 min	Arrive:	Hanksville	36.9
	Lodge:

Day 5	Wednesday	September 16th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Hanksville
		(Go north on Hwy 24. Turn right on I-70. Take exit 182 south on Hwy 191. turn right on Hwy 313.)
	See:	Intestine Man Petroglyphs
		Monitor and Merrimac Viewpoint
		Big Mesa Viewpoint
		Plateau Viewpoint
2 hrs		Islands in the Sky Visitor Center (9-4)	119
		Shafer Trail Viewpoint
		Mesa Arch (.6 miles rt) 30 minutes
		Candlestick Tower Overlook
		Buck Canyon Overlook
		Public Restroom
		Orange Cliffs Overlook
		Gooseneck Overlook (.6 miles rt) 30 minutes-Gooseneck bend in Colorado River
		Grand View Point (1.8 miles rt) 1.5 hrs-Stunning out and back trail showcases spectacular panoramic views as it follows the canyon edge.
		(Go back and continue straight ahead on Hwy 313. Turn right on Hwy 191.)
40 min	Arrive:	Moab	32.7
	Lodge:

Day 6	Thursday	September 17th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Moab
	See:	Arches National Park Visitor Center	5.4
		La Sal Mountain Viewpoint
		Courthouse Towers
		Tower of Babel
		Petrified Dunes Viewpoint
		The Great Wall
		The Phallus Pillar
		Balanced Rock (.3 miles) 35 ft
		(Turn right on The Windows Rd.)
		Pothole Arch
		Garden of Eden
		Double Arch (.6 miles) 15-30 minutes 30 ft-Tallest arch at 122 ft.
		(Turn around and go back to the main road. Turn right on Panorama Pt.)
		Panorama Point
		(Turn right on Salt Valley Overlook.)
		Salt Valley Overlook
		(Go back to the main road. Turn right on Fiery Furnace Viewpoint.)
		Public Bathroom
		(Go back to the main road and turn right.)
		Broken Arch (1.2 miles rt from Sand Dune Arch Trail.) 30-60 minutes 59 ft
		Public Restroom on the right
		Devil's Trail-Landscape Arch	17.6
		(Turn around and go back to Hwy 191. Turn left on.)
38 min	Arrive:	Moab	22.8
	Lodge:

Day 7	Friday	September 18th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Moab
		(Continue east on Hwy 191. Turn right on E Canyon Rd and left shortly.)
		Sugar Loaf Rock
		(Continue on Sugar Loaf Rd. Turn right on Hwy 211.)
		Newspaper Rock State Historical Monument
		The Woman Face
		Six Shooter Peaks View Area
		Wooden Shoe Overlook
1 hr 25 min		The Needles Visitor Center (8-5) Only Restroom	74.1
		Stone Storehouse (.3 miles) 20 minutes-Storage structure built by Indigenous people.
		Pothole Point (.6 miles) 40 minutes-Leads to a diverse pothold and views of the Needles
12 min		Big Spring Canyon Overlook	6.5
		(Turn around and head back. Turn left on Hwy 191. Turn right on Hwy 46. In Colorado it becomes Hwy 90. Turn right on Hwy 141. On the left side.)
2 hr 15 min	Arrive:	Naturita	116
	Lodge:

Day 8	Saturday	September 19th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Naturita
		(Go east on Hwy 141. Continue on Hwy 145. Go left on Hwy 62. Turn left on Hwy 550. Turn right on 12th and left on Hillcrest Dr. Turn right on Hwy 50. Go left on Hwy 347.)
11:00 a.m.	Arrive:	Black Canyon of the Gunnison sign	98.6
		Tomichi Point Public bathroom
4 min		South Rim Black Canyon of the Gunnison Visitor Center	1.6
		Pulpit Rock Overlook
		Chasm View (.3 miles)
		Sunset View
		High Point
		(Go back on Hwy 347. Turn right on Hwy 50.)
24 min	Arrive:	Montrose, CO	15.2
	Lodge:

Day 9	Sunday	September 20th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Montrose
		(Turn left on 5th. Go right on Miami Rd.)
	Arrive:	Museum of the Mountain West 68169 Miami Rd	4
		(Go right on Hwy 50. Turn right on Hwy 114. Go right on Hwy 285. Go left on Hwy 16. Now right on Hwy 55 at the junction. Go left on U60. Turn right on Hwy 17. Go left on Lane 6N. Go left on Hwy 150.)
3.5 hrs	Arrive:	Great Sand Dunes National Park 11999 CO-150	193
	See:	Visitor Center Center (9-5)
		(Go back to Hwy 150 turn right at the 1st road..)
		Montville Nature Trail-Walk along a shady forested trail named for a late 1800s settlement, comprising 20 houses in its heydey.
		(Go back to Hwy 150 and turn left at Medrano Creek Rd.)
		Great Sand Dune picnic area-restroom
		(Go back to Hwy 150 and turn left to the end.)
		Camp Store
		(Go back down the road. Turn left.)
	Lodge:	Great Sand Dunes Lodge
	See:	Urraca Cemetery

Day 10	Monday	September 21st
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Great Sand Dunes
		(Go left on Hwy 150. Turn right on Lane 6N. Trn right on Hwy 17. Enter Hwy 285.)
	See:	Historic Schoolhouse Nathrop, CO
		(Continue on Hwy 285. Go straight onto Hwy 24. In Leadville go right on 9th and left on Poplar St. Continue on Hwy 91.)
		Kokomo Landmark
		(Continue on Hwy 91. Enter I-70.)
		Scenic View East Bound I-70
		(Take exit 205 left on Hwy 9/Blue River Pkwy. In Kremmling go right on Hwy 396. Go right on Eagle and an immediate left on 13th. Go right on Hwy 40. Turn left on Hwy 34.)
		Rainbow Bay Pull-Off and Scenic Stop
		Granby Cutthroat Bay Pull-Off and Scenic Stop
4 hrs 25 min	Arrive:	Grand Lake, CO	(254)
		Grand Lake Visitor Center
3 min	See:	Kawuneeche Visitor Center (9-5) Gift shop, restroom	1.4
	Lodge:

Day 11	Tuesday	September 22nd
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Grand Lake
		Holzwarth Historic Site- .5 mile dirt path (9:30-2:30)
		Public Bathroom on the right side.
14 min		Public Restroom at Bowen-Baker Trailhead	8
6 min		Public Restroom at Timber Creek Ranger Station	1.8
4 min		Beaver Ponds Picnic Area	1
11 min		Farview Curve Viewpoint	4.7
4 min		Milner Pass	2.2
7 min		Medicine Bow Curve	3.8
2 min		Alpine Ridge Visitor Center (9-4:30) Trail Ridge Store, restroom, food-drinks	.5
3 min		Gore Range Overlook	1.1
1 min		Trail Ridge Road Summit	.6
1 min		Lava Cliffs Overlook	.5
15 min		Rainbow Curve Overlook	7
11 min		Many Parks Curve Overlook	4.0
5 min		Beaver Ponds	2.2
13 min		Beaver Meadows Visitor Center (9-6) Gift shop, restroom	6.2
2 min		Rocky Mountain National Park Sign	.6
7 min		Estes Park Visitor Center	2.7
1 hr 30 min	Lodge:	Estes Park	(44.9)

Day 12	Wednesday	September 23rd
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Estes Park
		(Go east on Hwy 34. Turn left onto I-25.)
9:20 a.m.		Big Thompson River Scenic Stop	10
		Big Thompson River Falls
		The Dam Store 10103 W US 34
1 hr 15 min		Natural Fort	62.3
		Welcome to Colorado Sign
		(Continue on I-25. Take exit 17 onto Hwy 85.)
55 min		Meriden US 85 Rest Area	57.5
		(Continue north on Hwy 85. In Torrington go left/west on Hwy 26/85. In Lingle go right on Hwy 85. It will become Hwy 18/85. Go right on Hwy 18.)
		Welcome to South Dakota Sign
		(Continue north on Hwy 18, then jog left on Hwy 89. In Pringle job left on Hwy 89.)
		Bicycle Sculpture
		(Go back south on Hwy 89 and turn left on Hwy 385. Turn right on Wind Cave Rd.)
3 hr 10 min		Wind Caves National Park Visitor Center (8-5) 26611 US Hwy 385	200

Day 13	Thursday	September 24th
	Do:	Garden of Eden Tour (9,10,12,2,3) 1 hr, .25 mile, 150 stairs This one-hour tour is our least strenuous tour. It is a wonderful sample of Wind Cave. Small amounts of all of the beautiful cave formations - boxwork, cave popcorn, and flowstone - are seen along this 1/4 mile tour. The tour is designed for people with limited time or abilities. It enters and leaves the cave by elevator with 150 steps along the tour route.
		Natural Entrance Tour (11:30, 1:30) 1.25 hrs, .6 mile, 300 stairs $1 This tour includes a visit to the natural entrance of Wind Cave where visitors can see the largest opening to the cave and learn how we get our name. Participants enter the cave through a man-made entrance and journey into the middle level of the cave. Wind Cave's famous boxwork is abundant throughout this trip. This moderately strenuous 2/3 mile tour lasts 1¼ hours and exits the cave by elevator. Collect ticket 30 minutes before

Day 12	Wednesday	September 23rd
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Estes Park
		(Go west on Hwy 34. On the left side.)
		Cinnamon's Bakery Estes Park (7:30-10 a.m.) 920 W Elkhorn
9 min	See:	Fall River Visitor Center (9-4:30) Gift shop, restaroom	4.5
	Depart:	Estes Park
		(Go east on Hwy 34. At Centerra go left on I-25.)
1 hr 40 min		Natural Fort Interstate 25 Frontage Rd Carr, CO	76.7
3 min		Bison Statue	1.7
		Colorado Sign
		(Continue north on I-25. Go right on Hwy 85, then right on Hwy 151. At the border it becomes Hwy 88. Go left on Hwy 71. At Terrytown go left on K St. On the right side.)
1 hr 40 min		Scotts Bluff National Monument Visitor Center (9-5) 190276 Old Oregon Trail Gering, NE 69341	109
		(Go back east on K and left on 21st. Turn right on Beltline Pkwy. It will become Hwy 26. It will become 62A. Go left on Hwy 385/Heartland Expy. Turn right on 25th after Alliance. Go left on Hwy 59/87.)
1 hr		Carhenge	61
		(Go right on Hwy 87/59.
12 min		Box Butte County Historical Marker	12.9
		(Continue on Hwy 87. Go right on Hwy 20. Turn left on Hwy 87. Turn right on Hwy 18. Go left on Hwy 27.)
		Scenic Overlook
		Chief Big Foot Surrender Historical Marker
1 hr 45 min	Arrive:	Badlands National Park	108
	Do:	White River Visitor Center (9-5) Restroom
		(Continue north/left on Hwy 27. Turn righton Hwy 44. In Interior go left on Hwy 377.)
		Scenic Pass
52 min	Lodge:	Cedar Pass Lodge (AC, minifridge, microwave,	53.5
	Do:	Cedar Pass Restaurant (4 p.m.) https://www.cedarpasslodge.com/dining/cedar-pass-restaurant/ (Indian taco, buffalo chili or burger, ,sandwiches, huckleberry cheesecake

Day 13	Thursday	September 24th
8:00 a.m.	Do:	Breakfast (8-10) https://www.cedarpasslodge.com/dining/cedar-pass-restaurant/ breakfast burrito, sandwich, biscuit and gravey, french toast, yogurt and fruit
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Cabins
	See:	Ben Reifel Visitor Center
9 min		Toadstool Rock	4.1
2 min		Fossil Exhibit Trail-Restroom	.6
6 min		White River Valley Overlook	2.3
2 min		Big Foot Pass Overlook-Restroom	.8
5 min		Panorama Point	1.8
4 min		Prairie Wind Overlook	1.5
5 min		Burns Basin Overlook	2.7
7 min		Homestead Overlook	2.6
5 min		Conata Basin Overlook	1.8
4 min		Yellow Mounds Overlook	.8
7 min		Ancient Hunters Overlook	2.6
3 min		Pinnacles Overlook-Restroom	.6
		(Turn around and go back on Badlands Loop Rd.)
	Depart:	Badlands National Park
		(Go left and then right on Hwy 240.)
14 min	Arrive:	Wall	8.7
	See:	National Grasslands Visitor Center (8-4:30) 708 Main St
		Wall Drug 510 Main St
	Lodge:

Day 14	Friday	September 25th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Wall