This may be the final rev.

I’ve been back at the maps again.  After having been talked into entering Colorado farther north I’ve included Rocky Mountain National Park and dropped the South Rim of Grand Canyon.

From the Rockys in northern Colorado I’ll work my way down to Black Canyon of the Gunnison.  I’ll follow the Million Dollar Highway through Silverton and head west to Mesa Verde.  Monument Valley is up next, but unlike my trip two years ago I’ll be backtracking from there slightly to pick up route 261 up through the Valley of the Gods and a 1,000 foot climb of switchbacks called the Mokee Dugway.  I then pick up the Burr Trail after a ferry ride over to Bullfrog Bay.  The Burr Trail runs through an area in Capitol Reef NP called the Waterpocket Fold.  This “fold” is described as a 100-mile long wrinkle in the earth’s crust.  Burr Trail intersects with Notom road that continues north up to route 24.

Onto Arches, Canyonlands and Moab.

Ahhhh, Moab.

Route 191 will carry me through Utah and into Wyoming, cutting through Flaming Gorge, the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone.  I’ll take route 212 out of Yellowstone, crossing over Beartooth Pass and perhaps backtracking a bit to pick up Chief Joseph Highway.  That will put me on course for Cody where I’ll pick up route 14 headed east  and toward Devils Tower, Crazy Horse Monument, Mt. Rushmore and finally, Badlands NP.

Badlands marks the end of the “destinations”, leaving approximately 1,800 miles of pavement between me and my driveway.

Next Installment