Itinerary: National Parks
Many of America's greatest national landmarks are located within the four state region, including America's first national park - Yellowstone; the crown jewel of the continent Glacier; and the most well known symbol of America - Mt. Rushmore. This is perhaps the regions most popular fly-drive tour.
Day 1/2 - Arrive Denver
Rocky Mountain National Park offers 412 square miles of scenic beauty with waterfalls, meadows filled with wildflowers, scenic vistas and abundant wildlife. Trail Ridge Road through the center of the park is the highest continuous roadway in the world with a restaurant that is two miles above sea level. Overnight Denver.
Day 3/4 - Denver to Black Hills of South Dakota
Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument are the world’s sixth and fourth longest caves. Badlands National Park contains spires, pinnacles, buttes and gorges covering 98,747 hectares of eerie, haunting topography caused by 37 million years of wind and water erosion. Mount Rushmore is considered the world’s greatest mountain carving and is certainly America’s most recognized. Overnight Custer or Rapid City.
Day 5 - Black Hills to Billings
Devils Tower was America’s first national monument and reaches 364 meters into the western sky. To the northwest, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument(formerly Custer battlefield National Monument) serves as a symbol for both sides – the U.S. Cavalry and Native American Indians including the Sioux and Cheyenne, who fought on the banks of the Little Bighorn River. Overnight Billings.
Day 6 - Billings to Wisdom
The Big Hole Battlefield National Monument, near Wisdom, is the site of the 1877 battle between Colonel John Gibbon’s troops and Chief Joseph’s Nez Perce Indians. One of Montana’s three units of the Nez Perce National Historic Park, the Big Hole Battlefield features a visitor center, museum and battlefield tours. Overnight Butte.
Day 7 / 9 - Butte to Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park, in the northwest corner of Montana, features the spectacular 88.5 KM Going-To-The-Sun Road and over 1126 KM of foot and horse trails. Stunning mountains, abundant wildlife and crystal lakes are the jewels of this park. Overnight Glacier or Flathead Valley.
Day 10 - Glacier National Park to Lewiston
Near Spalding, the Nez Perce National Historic Park brings alive the history of the Nez Perce Indians that reside here. Overnight Lewiston.
Day 11 - Lewiston to Riggins
Hells Canyon a National Recreation Area is North America's deepest river gorge. Jet boat excursions and river trips are available in Lewiston, Whitebird and Riggins. Overnight in Riggins.
Day 12 - Riggins to Stanley
Travel 3 Scenic Byways today on the way to the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, a hiker's delight with over 300 high alpine lakes. Overnight in Stanley.
Day 13 - Stanley to Yellowstone
Craters of the Moon National Monument covers 53,120 acres near Arco, Idaho. This desolate moonscape reveals the violent age of volcanoes and holds an astounding variety of caverns and craters hidden among black cinders. Overnight in Yellowstone
Day 14 / 15 - Yellowstone
The world’s first national park is Yellowstone National Park, where over 10,000 thermal features and hundreds of animal species run wild. Overnight in Yellowstone.
Day 16 - Yellowstone to Grand Teton
Adjacent to Yellowstone is Grand Teton National Park, home of seven mountain peaks ranging from 3,000 to over 4,000 meters in height. Overnight Grand Teton or Jackson Hole.
Day 17 - Grand Teton to Evanston
Fossil Butte National Monument contains millions of years of fossil remains on open display. Overnight Evanston.
Day 18/19 - Overnight and Depart From Salt Lake City
A monument to Mormon pioneers crowns a peak above Salt Lake, where Church leaders proclaimed "this is the place" for thousands of Mormon pioneers who traveled in covered wagons west to Salt Lake in 1847. Adjacent to the monuments is Old Deseret Village, a cluster of homes, shops and buildings dating back 100 years and staffed by friendly volunteers in period garb.
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