Rocky Mountain States

The high-mountain country of Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier and Rocky Mountain national parks: wildlife and alpine lakes in summer, ski resorts in winter.

In this plan, the Rocky Mountains region covers four states, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. It is split off from the census "Mountain" division and is built around the main crest of the Rocky Mountains. The core attractions are the national parks. Wyoming's Yellowstone is the world's first national park, with Grand Prismatic Spring, Old Faithful geyser, and the bison and wolves of the Lamar Valley as the biggest draws. Just to its south, Grand Teton is known for its jagged peaks, the Snake River and the Mormon Row barns, with the town of Jackson as the hub for lodging and skiing. Montana's Glacier National Park has Going-to-the-Sun Road, one of the most spectacular alpine highways in the US. Colorado, with Denver as its gateway, offers Rocky Mountain National Park, the maroon-hued Maroon Bells near Aspen, the ancient Pueblo cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde and Great Sand Dunes National Park, each distinctive, and in winter ski resorts such as Vail, Aspen and Telluride are world-famous. The classic itinerary is a one-week "Yellowstone–Grand Teton" trip, entering and leaving via Jackson, Bozeman or Cody; adding Glacier extends it to 10–12 days; a Colorado loop takes about 7–10 days. Driving is the main way to get around, and Denver, Salt Lake City and Bozeman are the commonly used arrival airports. At high elevations, watch for altitude sickness, sun exposure and big day–night temperature swings; in the backcountry, keep your distance from bears and bison and carry bear spray. Lodging around Yellowstone is tight and must be booked months ahead in summer, and some parks require reservations for entry at peak times.

Destinations

Itineraries

Colorado's Four National Parks: 13-Day Grand Loop – A clockwise grand loop from Denver, linking Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and Rocky Mount…
Colorado Mountain Towns & Hot Springs – Depart from Denver to explore Estes Park, Steamboat Springs, Aspen, Vail, and Breckenridge.
Grand Teton, Yellowstone & Glacier: 12-Day Three-Park Traverse – Fly into Jackson and out of Kalispell, linking three iconic national parks from south to north.
Salt Lake City, Grand Teton and Yellowstone Loop – From Salt Lake City, drive through Grand Teton and across Yellowstone, then return via Craters of the Moon in Idaho.
Beartooth Highway, Cody and Yellowstone Loop – From Bozeman, cross the Beartooth Highway to Cody, enter Yellowstone by the East Entrance, and exit by the West Entranc…
San Juan Skyway & Mesa Verde – In and out of Durango: experience the narrow-gauge railroad, the Million Dollar Highway, historic mining towns, and cli…
Denver, Rocky Mountain & Garden of the Gods: 4-Day Getaway – Starting from Denver, this short itinerary links Red Rocks, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Garden of the Gods.
Glacier National Park & Flathead Lake – In and out of Kalispell: cross the Going-to-the-Sun Road, hike the east side, and return to the lake area via the south…
Four Corners Ancestral Puebloan Loop – An Albuquerque-based loop through the Four Corners region, featuring cliff dwellings, narrow-gauge railroads, Monument…