Midwest National Parks

Day 1	Saturday	September 12th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Spokane
		(Go west on I-90. Turn right on at exit 219 on I-15. )
5:30 p.m.	Arrive:	Pocatello, ID	559
	Lodge:		(559)

Day 2	Sunday	September 13th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Twin Falls
		(Continue south on I-15. Take exit 188 left on W 400 N Rd. Turn right on State St/Hwy 50. Go right on Main St/Hwy 260. Turn right on Hwy 24 after Aurora. )
2:30 p.m.		Capitol Reef National Park Sign	380
		Twin Rocks Scenic View	1.1
5 min		Panorama Point	2.7
2 min		The Fluted Wall	1
3 min	Arrive:	Capitol Reef National Park Visitor Center (8-4:30)	1.6
	Do:	Scenic Road
		Ripple Rock Nature Center	.9
		Gifford House Store & Museum Homestead	.3
		Fruita Barn
		Slickrock Divide	4.6
		Capitol Gorge Trailhead
50 min	Arrive:	Torrey, UT	21
	Lodge:		(413.20)

Day 3	Monday	September 14th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Torrey
		(Go east on Hwy 24.)
15 min	See:	Petroglyph Panels	11.8
7 min		Behunin Cabin	4.8
15 min		The Gray Ones Scenic View	12
		(Go east on Hwy 24. At Hanksville the road would go left/north.)
30 min		Kathline Rock	26.4
		(Continue north on Hwy 24. Go right/east on I-70. At exit 182 turn right on Hwy 191. Turn right on Hwy 313.)
	See:	Canyonlands National Park
1 hr 22 min		Intestine Man Petroglyphs	93.6
3 min		Monitor & Merrimac Viewpoint	1.9
4 min		Big Mesa Viewpoint	1.9
4 min		Plateau Viewpoint	2.2
10 min		The Knoll	6.5
9 min		Islands in the Sky Visitor Center (8-5)	7.1
2 min		Shafer Trail Viewpoint	.9
8 mn		Mesa Arch (.6 miles RT)	5.2
3 min		Candlestick Tower Overlook	1.2
4 min		Buck Canyon Overlook	2.3
6 min		Orange Cliffs Overlook	2.7
2 min		Grand View Point Overlook (1.8 miles rt) 1.5 hrs-Stunning out and back trail showcases spectacular panoramic views as it follows the canyon edge.)	.2
		(Go back on Hwy 313. Turn right on Hwy 191.)
1 hr	Arrive:	Moab, UT	44.6
	Lodge:		(224.3)

Day 4	Tuesday	September 15th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Moab
		(Go left/west on Hwy 191. Turn right into the park.)
	See::	Arches National Park
11 min		Visitor Center	5.4
8 min		La Sal Mountain Viewpoint	2.8
4 min		Courthouse Towers	1.2
1 min		Tower of Babel	.4
3 min		Petrified Dunes Viewpoint	2.1
1 min		The Great Wall	.5
2 min		The Phallus Pillar	.9
		(On the right side. Cross the road to the restroom.)
3 min		Balanced Rock (.3 miles) 35 ft	1.5
		(Turn right on the Windows Rd. On the left side.)
4 min		Garden of Eden and Owl Rock	1.4
		(Continue on Window Rd to the end.)
5 min		Double Arch Trail (.6 miles)	1.5
		Turret Arch and NorthWindow Trail (1.1 miles)
		(Go back on Window Rd to Arches National Park Rd and turn right. On the right side.)
6 min		Panorama Point-Restroom	3.4
7 min		Salt Valley Overlook	3.9
		(On the right side.)
2 min		Fiery Furnace Viewpoint-restroom	.6
		(Turn right on the Devil's Garden Rd.)
9 min		Devil's Garden Trail- restroom	3.9
		Tunnel Arch
		Pine Tree Arch
		Landscape Arch	.7
		(Go back out the way you came. Turn left on Hwy 191.)
38 min	Arrive:	Moab	22.8
	Lodge:		(53)

Day 5	Wednesday	September 16th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Moab
		(Continue east on Hwy 191.)
	Arrive:	Kane Springs Rest Area
20 min		Hole in the Rock	15.5
4 min		Mouth Rock	2.5
7 min		Wilson Arch	7.4
2 min		Lopez Arch Viewpoint	2.5
		(Continue on Hwy 191. Turn right on Hwy 211.)
15 min		Home of Truth Ranch	14.8
11 min		Newspaper Rock State Historical Monument	9.3
4 min		Bears Ears National Monument	2.6
2 min		The Woman Face	.9
13 min		Six Shooter Peaks View Area	10.1
	See:	Canyonlands National Park
11 min		The Needles Visitor Center	8.6
4 min		Wooden Shoe Overlook	2.2
9 min		Pothole Point Trailhead	5
3 min		Big Spring Canyon Overlook and Trailhead	1.5
		(Go back on Hwy 211. Turn right on Hwy 191.)
1 hr 10 min	Arrive:	Monticello	55.2
	Lodge:		(127.3)

Day 6	Thursday	September 17th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Monticello
		(Go east on Hwy 491. In Colorado go north on Hwy 141. Go right on Hwy 145. At Placerville go left on Hwy 62. At Ridgway go left/north on Hwy 550. Go right on Niagara. Turn left on Hillcrest Dr. Go right on Hwy 50. Go left on Hwy 347.)
3 hr 20 min		Tomichi Point -restroom	176
		South Rim Visitor Center
1 min		Gunnison Point-restroom	.3
4 min		Pulpit Rock Overlook- restroom	1.8
		Chasm View (.3 miles)	176
9 min		Sunset View	3.3
		(Go back on Hwy 347 and right on Hwy 50.)
35 min	Arrive:	Montrose	20.2
	Lodge:		(377.60)

Day 7	Friday	September 18th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Montrose
		(Go south on Hwy 550. At Ridgeway go right on Hwy 62.)
42 min		San Juan Mounains Scenic View	36
		(Continue on Hwy 62. Go left on Hwy 145. It will go right.)
37 min		Sunshine Mountain Scenic Overview	31.9
10 min		Lizard Head Peak Vista Overlook -vault toilet	6.6
41 min		Memorial Rock	37.8
		(After Delores it will go left. Go left on Hwy 160.)
39 min		Mancos Valley Overlook	32.8
5 min		Montezuma Valley Overlook	3.3
12 min		Geologic Overlook	6.4
4 min	Arrive:	Mesa Verde Nattional Park	2.2
	Lodge:	Far View Lodge	(157)

Day 8	Saturday	September 19th
	See:	Mesa Verde
	Lodge:

Day 9	Sunday	September 20th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Mesa Verde
		(Go back to the Hwy 160 and turn right. turn right on Hwy 140. At La Plata go left on Light Plant Rd. It will become Hwy 574. In Aztec turn left on McWilliams Rd. Turn left on Aztec Blvd and shortly a right on Chco St. Turn right on Hwy 550/Main Ave. It will become Hwy 544. In Bloomfield go right on Broadway and left on Bloomfield/Hwy 550. At Bernalillo turn right on I-25. In Albuquerque go left on I-40. Go right on Hwy 285. In Carlsbad go right on Hwy 180.)
9 hr 5 min	Arrive:	Carlsbad, NM	558
	Lodge:	White City Cavern Inn	(558)

Day 10	Monday	September 21st
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	White City
	See:	Carlsbad Caverns National Park	.4
		Visitor Center (9-5)
		Big Room Trail (9:30-2:30) Finish by 4:45 p.m. 1.25 miles
		Natural Entrance Trail 1.25 mile
	Arrive:	White City	.4
	Lodge:	White City Cavern Inn	(.8)

Day 11	Tuesday	September 22nd
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	White City
		(Head back toward Carlsbad. Go left on Loop Rd, which will become Hwy 524. G left on Hwy 285. Go left on I-25. Take exit 282B right. Continue on Hwy 285. It will become Hwy 84/285.)
7 hr 40 min	Arrive:	Alamosa, CO	427
	Lodge:		(427)

Day 12	Wednesday	September 23rd
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Alamosa
		(Go right on Hwy 160 and left on Hwy 150..)
40 min	Arrive:	Great Sand Dunes National Park 11999 CO-150	34.3
	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.)
11 min	Lodge:	Great Sand Dunes Lodge	4
	See:	Urraca Cemetery-	(38.3)

Day 13	Thursday	September 24th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Great Sand Dunes
		(Go left on Hwy 150. Turn right on Lane 6N. Turn 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.)
2 hr 40 min		Kokomo Landmark	154
		(Continue on Hwy 91. Enter I-70 north.)
20 min		Scenic View East Bound I-70	17.4
		(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.)
1 hr 20 min		Rainbow Bay Pull-Off and Scenic Stop	71.2
4 min		Granby Cutthroat Bay Pull-Off and Scenic Stop	3.2
4 hrs 25 min	Arrive:	Grand Lake, CO
7 min		Grand Lake Visitor Center	5.7
3 min	See:	Kawuneeche Visitor Center (9-5) Gift shop, restroom	1.4
	Lodge:		(252.9)

Day 14	Friday	September 25th
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	(46.9)

Day 15	Saturday	September 26th
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
16 min	Arrive:	Hot Springs	11.1
	Lodge:		(340.9)

Day 16	Sunday	September 27th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Hot Springs

9:15 a.m.	Arrive:	Wind Caves Park National Park	11.1
	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
	Lodge:		(11.1)

Day 17	Monday	September 28th
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	(427.3)

Day 18	Tuesday	September 29th
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:	Badlands National Park
		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:		(30.9)

Day 19	Wednesday	September 30th
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Wall
		(Go west on I-90. Take exit 32 right. Go right on Lazelle/Hwy 34. Go left on Hwy 79. At Castle Rock go left on Hwy 168. Go right on Hwy 85. Go left on I-94. Take exit 32.)
	Arrive:	Theodore Roosevelt National Park	290
		Painted Canyon Visitor Center (8:30-4:30) Just out back, a sidewalk traces the rim of the badlands with fantastic views of the South Unit all along the way. A nature trail and picnic pavilion offer travelers a break from the highway.
		(Enter I-90 west. Take exit 27 onto Hwy 94. Turn right on East River Rd.)
	See:	South Unit Visitor Center (8-4:30)
		Maltese Cross Cabin
		(Take the East River Rd north.)
		Roadside Pulloff
		Johnson' Plateau Roadside Pulloff
		Skyline Vista
		Wayside Exhibit
		Prairie Dog Colony Roadside Pulloff
		Roadside Pulloff
		Wayside Exhibit
		Badlands Overlook
		Vault Toilet
		Talkington Trail Roadside Pulloff
		Bolcourt East Overlook
		Bolcourt Overlook
		Wind Canyon
		Wayside Exhibit
		Peaceful Valley Ranch
	Lodge:	Medora

Day 20	Thursday	October 1st
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Medora
		(Take I-90 west. Take exit 126.)
7.5 hrs	Arrive:	Butte, MT	507
	Lodge		(507)

Day 21st	Friday	October 2nd
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Butte
		(Take I-90 west.)
7.5 hrs	Arrive:	Spokane, WA	(315)