Picks and Pans – Rocky Mountain National Park

PICKS:

Longs Peak Campground

Although the facilities are limited (cold water sinks, flush toilets) and the price is a little steep ($20 per night when water is on), this tent-only campsite’s location more than makes up for it. Our campsite was perched on the edge of a foothill with a clear view of the […]

Picks and Pans: Needles in Canyonlands National Parks

Canyonlands is composed of two main sections: Island in the Sky to the north and Needles in the south. We made Needles our first stop because we were coming from the Grand Canyon and also because it had been highly recommended by Autumn, a fellow Montanan. The drive into the park started in a relatively […]

Picks and Pans – North Rim of the Grand Canyon

Don’t let the scant information available on the Park Service website fool you, the North Rim is incredible and has plenty of things to keep you occupied. Plus, the majority of people going to the Grand Canyon seem to head over to the south side (est. 90% according to National Geographic Scenic Highways & Byways), […]

Picks and Pans – Zion National Park

PICKS: Driving into Zion National Park from the East entrance

Entering the park from this direction gives you the chance to see Zion starting from the slick rock formation at the top and then descending slowly into the valley where the mythic cliffs tower over you. It’s a very intimate way to enter the park. […]

Picks and Pans – In and Around Bryce Canyon

PICKS: Driving on Utah Highway 12

One of the amazing things about this Utah place is that you can go from sandstone canyon to huge dirt dunes, through a lush national forest and come out into white slickrock that stretches for miles and miles. We did exactly that when we drove on Hwy 12 from […]