Headed westward....and back

[KLSDAD]

I'm about to embark on a drive to San Francisco and back. My wife is going to fly out and meet me for a week visiting our recently married daughter and her husband as well as some other relatives.

My route on the way will take me thru KS, CO, UT, NV and CA. I've traveled that route quite a few times so am familiar with many of the historical sites along the way. Some of the places I want to see this time are Fort Riley, historical downtown Denver, Meeker, Mountain Meadow and Death Valley.

My drive back is going to be along a route that will be pretty new to me... tips/advice would be especially appreciated !! I want to see the Lava Beds and then head to Twin Falls ID. I want to make a day trip to the Bear River battlefield and back then head north to the Nez Perce trail and follow parts of it to West Yellowstone.

Once I get to Yellowstone I'll be in familiar territory again but never in late Oct/Nov. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. From there I'll be looking for some Indian War sites in WY and NE.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

Have fun, be safe and take some photos.

You will like the Death Valley National Park. My wife and I toured this venue last September.

The Lava Beds National Monument was a neat place to tour. This park contains a battlefield related to the Modoc War, post American Civil War.

Cheers,
Bill

 

[pamc153PA]

Sounds like a great trip! Be careful--and take pictures!

 

[Bruce Vail]

Wow, sounds like a great trip!

My son just moved to Boulder, Colo., so I am looking forward to a trip out there next year.

 

[KLSDAD]

Sounds like a great trip! Be careful--and take pictures!

Don't hold your breath re pics folks.... my abilities are limited.

That's why Buckeye Bill and I are such a good team !

 

[KLSDAD]

Hope you all don't mind but I like to update my travel threads so I can refer back to them....plus you never know when the bump or the added info might give rise to add'l input from others.

Yesterday was mainly travel down to Sparta MO but I did take a scenic route the last few hours. Visited (or drove/stopped in the vicinity of) scenic downtown Rolla, Hartville, Whitlock's Mill in Marshfield, Sand Springs (NW of same) and Curtis' Pea Ridge approach HQ SW of Strafford.

The next two days will be quality time with the folks, Then up to the Lawrence area for a combination of quality time and adventuring. I mentioned Ft Riley upthread but just found out that my dad spent a week there when he was in a WWII era State Guard unit as a high school kid. He is looking forward to seeing it again as well.

 

[bankerpapaw]

I'm about to embark on a drive to San Francisco and back. My wife is going to fly out and meet me for a week visiting our recently married daughter and her husband as well as some other relatives.

My route on the way will take me thru KS, CO, UT, NV and CA. I've traveled that route quite a few times so am familiar with many of the historical sites along the way. Some of the places I want to see this time are Fort Riley, historical downtown Denver, Meeker, Mountain Meadow and Death Valley.

My drive back is going to be along a route that will be pretty new to me... tips/advice would be especially appreciated !! I want to see the Lava Beds and then head to Twin Falls ID. I want to make a day trip to the Bear River battlefield and back then head north to the Nez Perce trail and follow parts of it to West Yellowstone.

Once I get to Yellowstone I'll be in familiar territory again but never in late Oct/Nov. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. From there I'll be looking for some Indian War sites in WY and NE.

Got room for me? Have a wonderful trip and be safe. My wife and I were in Yellowstone in late August.

 

[KLSDAD]

Got room for me? Have a wonderful trip and be safe. My wife and I were in Yellowstone in late August.

I'm always looking for companions if you want to get together some time! I visit my folks in Sparta MO a couple times a year and venture out in all directions from there.

Update:
Ft Scott, Trading Post, Ft Riley, Ft Hays, Beecher Island, Summit Springs, Milk Creek and Meeker are all int the rear view mirror. Today is Zion(Kolob) and Death Valley...then on to the Yosemite area (Tuolomne).

The three indian battles were well worth a visit if you are in the area. Beecher Island is easy to find and pretty well interpreted. The other two are neither so do your homework. Feel free to prod me for further details here!

 

[KLSDAD]

Death Valley from east to west was a chore and not the fun that my first visit along the eastern side was. Tuolomne/Yosemite was a bust due to snow. Had lots of fun doing family stuff, San Francisco stuff and missions from there to Paso Robles and back the last week.

Left SF Thursday morning and loved Lava Beds, Klamath Falls and Crater Lake......

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10209284522564952&set=p.10209284522564952&type=3

Not sure if that photo works....I told you that I'm challenged in that respect!

In Twin Falls ID ready to start the Nez Perce trail west of the Lolo Pass if weather cooperates.

 

[KLSDAD]

I'm sitting in my daughter's Chicago apartment overlooking the SW corner of Grant Park.. I understand something is going on down there this morning

My trip from Twin Falls ID, first north and then east was great. I did decide to skip Yellowstone due to the weather but that opened up other opportunities:

Sunday... Nez Perce Trail from White Bird to Missoula
Monday... Big Hole NP and Bannack SP
Tuesday... perhaps the best day of touring I've ever had. Little Big Horn, Rosebud Battle SP (I didn't even realize it was accessible until the night before), Wagon Box Fight, Fort Phil Kearney, Fetterman Massacre and finally a drive west of Kaycee into the Hole-in-the-Wall area until I ran out of road/daylight
Wednesday... Fort Fetterman, Fort Laramie and the area of Bluewater/Ash Hollow

I would highly reccomend every single one of those sites very highly except maybe the Bluewater and Hole in Wall adventures...unless you like that kind of thing.

Too bad Wild Buckeye Bill Bechman wasn't along to take pictures !!!

 

[MaryDee]

As you found out, you had to bypass Yellowstone, because the roads through it are closed. Only a small section (Mammoth Hot Springs to Cooke City) is kept open in winter. (Common saying in Wyoming--"We have three months in the year, July, August and Winter.") Mentioned just in case someone wants to follow your itinerary.

Sounds like a great trip! I did some of this in 2006, but was concentrating mostly on Lewis and Clark, it being the bicentennial of their expedition.