Suggestions for Colorado and Wyoming

[citadel96]

Hello everyone, I've planned a trip to Colorado and Wyoming for September. We will be doing a road trip starting in Denver, crossing the Rockies to the Colorado National Monument just outside Grand Junction, then up to Dinosaur NP, through Flaming Gorge NRA, to the Tetons and Yellowstone, then diagnolly across Wyoming through the Wind River Range to Cheyenne, down to Rocky Mountain NP, and back to Denver. It seems like a lot but we have three weeks so the pace won't be too bad. I'm planning to spend the biggest chunk of time in Yellowstone, about 6-7 days.

Though I am generally familiar with most of the areas we are going to, I was wondering if anyone could provide some guidance on good photographic opportunities or even travel/logistical tips. I will most likely be dragging around two camera systems: An Ebony 4x5 for landscapes and a Contax 645 for wildlife.

Thanks for your input.

Stephen

[Glenn Thoreson]

It sounds like you're hitting all the top spots. There are, however, rather long barren regions in Wyoming that aren't very photographically interesting. I'm sad to say I live in one of them.
Have a great trip!

[John Kasaian]

Take along a scotch-brite pad. Its the only thing I know that really cuts through accumulated bugs on the windshield.

Have a great trip!

[paulr]

It sounds like you're hitting all the top spots. There are, however, rather long barren regions in Wyoming that aren't very photographically interesting. I'm sad to say I live in one of them.
Have a great trip!

Not photographically interesting to you, maybe. Don't write them off for someone else. Personally I'd rather take my camera exploring on a desolate stretch of I-80 than to take yet another picture of the tetons from the glacier gulch scenic turnout!

[Glenn Thoreson]

After you live here long enough, photos of miles and miles of sagebrush and grass will become very uninteresting. Still, I would rather live here than anywhere else.

[John Kasaian]

There is a pass going through the "Never Summer" area, from Laramie (I think) to Walden, Co. which I found to be really nice countryside. From Walden, Hahn's Peak isn't far, niether is Steamboat Springs. Warning:very early one morning I overheated my brakes(and I don't 'ride' my brakes---ever) coming down that pass and blew right through Walden----I couldn't stop! On the far side of town I finally was able to downshift and turn 'er around and chugged back into town for breakfast and to let the brakes cool off. BTW the Smokehouse in Steamboat Springs has great brisket, the VFW is the place to drink beer on a saturday night to get away from the tourist crowd. The James Brown Memorial Stockbridge isn't all its cracked up to be though. For some reason I don't understand, Chinese food seems to taste better in ski towns than in other places in Colorado. YMMV of course.

[John Kasaian]

Almost forgot, catch a Kip Attaway performance if theres one in Jackson Hole when you're passing through!

[Paul Sorensen]

If you like to photograph architecture, you ought to take a look at the new addition to the Denver Art Museum, designed by Daniel Libeskind. While you are there, check out Camera Obscura Gallery, just around the corner. It is an amazing place to see and buy (if you have serious $$$) prints from the "greats."

On your way back from RMNP to Denver, take the back way down the Peak to Peak Highway (State Highway 119) through Nederland. I suggest going south of Nederland a couple of miles to Highway 72 and taking that east to Golden. It is less traveled than the major routes and very lovely. Let me know if you have any questions.

Oh, and feel free to stop by Denver Darkroom (http://www.denverdarkroom.com) to visit our little school and community darkroom.

[MJSfoto1956]

If you are going to do Yellowstone, then by all means stop by Bozeman MT -- cute town, somewhat artsy, definitely hip. Plenty of valleys and forest and and mountain lakes and trout streams/rivers nearby.

Here is a shot I did usig my Technikardan of Bridger Canyon (east of Bozeman) when the Bitterroots were on fire and the sky was literally a shade of lavender.

http://static.flickr.com/8/9555299_49b50d4be2.jpg

Anyway, the whole area is wonderful and full of wicked-awesome cliché and non-cliché photo subjects. ;)

[bdeacon]

Hi Stephen. The great thing about Wyoming is that it is full of very scenic areas that are off the beaten path and largely unknown to most out-of-state photographers. I live in Laramie and have easy access to 2 such areas: the Snowy Range (45 minutes west of town on Highway 130) and Vedauwoo (20 minutes east of town on I-80). September is a good time to shoot here because of the perfect weather, fall colors, and occasional snowfall. Here is a link to some Wyoming pictures, most of which were taken at these two spots:

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=555996

If you're interested in learning more or making travel plans, let me know!

[Photo Dave]

Stephen,
If you get lost leaving Denver and find yourself down south check out the Great Sand Dunes Nat. Park near Alamosa. Or, as I do, get the Hell out of Denver as fast as you can on I-70 west... turn left onto Hwy 91 to Leadville, south on Hwy 24 to Hwy 82 to see the high country. Than west over Independence Pass into Aspen. Stop and photograph the Maroon Bells like every other tourist on earth... if you must. Continue down Hwy 82 (avoiding rush hour!) turning left onto Hwy 133 at Carbondale. Stop in Redstone for a bite to eat, and stop at the top of McClure Pass for a photo op. than down into Paonia. Time permitting, check out the Black Canyon of the Gunnison before heading west into Grand Junction on Hwy 50. That's how I'd get to Grand Junction from Denver... And the next time you come to visit you should explore the SouthWest corner of the state.

The weather should be great that time of year... ether mild summer or mild winter or, if your lucky, beautiful fall weather. The aspens should be turning and we should have our first dusting of snow.
Enjoy your trip...Dave

[Kerey]

Hi Stephen-

Beautiful country! I lived near Gunnison CO several summers ago, and now work in YNP. A side trip on your way to Grand Junction would be the Maroon Bells near Aspen... cliched perhaps, but beautiful nonetheless.

I've been working w/ my Cambo for three summers now in the YNP area, and the grand vistas present in other parks just aren't here, IMHO. Instead, focus on the geysers and travertine formations around sunset in Lower, Midway, and Upper Geyser Basins north of Old Faithful. Grand Prismatic is one of my favorites, but requires a very wide angle lens (which I don't have) to wrap around the edges of the pool. The colors of all of them seem to come out best mid to late mornings, so you should have options all day.

The northern range of the park, where I spend my days tracking pronghorn, provide for some nice scenics, particularly in the Soda Butte valley near the NE entrance. Some wildlife shots are possible, as the bison in particular are currently milling about in the Lamar valley and should be rutting in Sept. They aren't moving much, so adequate focus, a small aperture, and cropping should yield some images that will put our resident EOS hordes to shame. ;) The elk will be rutting in the Mammoth area then too... watch out for the bulls! They enjoy attacking cars in front of the hotel.

The trip up and over the Beartooths, between Cooke City and Red Lodge, MT (out the NE entrance), alone is worth the drive from Denver. Absolutely stunning. I'm sorry I won't be around in Sept, otherwise I might join you for an LF expedition. We don't see too many coming through!

Kerey
www.kerey.com

[Roy Gold]

If you are going to be in Grand Junction at Colorado National Monument you should check out Rattlesnake Canyon just to the west of the Monument. There are a number of arches in Rattlesnake Canyon. You should be able to get directions on how to get there from the rangers at the monument. You will need 4-wheel drive for the last couple of miles. Every time I have been to Rattlesnake Canyon, I have had it to myself.

In the Dinosaur Monument area you should check out Fantasy Canyon. It is South of Vernal Utah and is an area of fantastic eroded rock formations. You can get directions to Fantasy Canyon at the Vernal BLM office

[Henry Ambrose]

I agree with Kerey about the Beartooths - its an absolutely stunning area. One thing you can do there is hike into high mountains with hardly any elevation gain on the trail. You can drive to the campground and hike almost level trail starting at 10,000 feet or so.

Two things to watch for: grizzlys and weather - September could bring almost anything weather wise and its always a good idea to check out the bear situation when you arrive. I was there three or four years ago in September backpacking - it went from a daytime high near 80 to below freezing each night. The next week it snowed ass deep to a giraffe. The highway down to Cody is a wonderful drive. http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/2168/

Kerey, I'm going to be out your way in about a week. One day I have a chance to be on Yellowstone Lake in a fast boat. Are you familiar with what is accessible from the water? What should I be sure to visit for photos? I may post this question again in its own thread.

[PhotographicBlack]

Ah... As a Colorado native, I have a good piece of advice for you... In fact, this place is so beautiful, you may want to divert days from your trip to Yellowstone to the Great Sand Dunes National Park! It has been a favorite place of mine forever and I am to travel there on the 23 of August to take photographs.

It is in the central southern part of Colorado and it sounds as though it might be a little out of your way if your going to be tipping Colorado up in Dinosaur. It's a 4 hour drive from Denver and well worth it. It contains the highest dune in North America at some 700 feet. It is nestled between surrounding 14,000 foot peaks. It blows away Death Valley and is widely unknown amongst travelers. Look it up.

-R