Grand Canyon 2018

Planning trip to GC this year. Will be travelling in a motorhome. Thinking about 5 days there then travel to maybe Colorado or Utah. Looking for input for places to see and photograph.Thanks.

IMO, the South West is a beautiful area, love Colorado but Utah has 5 National Parks. All are uniquely different and each deserve at least a day. Between parks the state is beautiful to view and drive across. A copy of "Photographing the South West" by Laurent Martres is a nice book to read before leaving on your trip, Volume one will give a lot of info.
My vote would be see the GC for a couple days then spend the rest of my time in Utah.

Check this thread https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1490736.

I live in CO, but personally I would do Utah if I had to choose. You can't really go wrong in Utah IMO.

If you particularly want to see mountains, you could hit Rocky Mountain NP, but it gets packed in the summer. I would suggest a side trip to Telluride or Oray instead, but they a quite a side-trip off I70.

Side trips off I70:

St Marys glacier. I have only been in the winter, it could get very busy in the summer, but it is a short hike, even if you have to park in town, nice views and interesting wind-blown trees. There is also a not-to-steep hike to Loch Lomond with some pretty lakes just up a bit further.

James Pass. This will be a longer hike up a 4WD road, but quite a lot of ridges that you can hike up and get nice views. Probably aught to be reasonably fit to enjoy this one.

Hiking from Loveland pass which is on US6, also just off I70 is also very nice, but the altitude can get people if you are not either used to the altitude or quite fit. However, a short, although somewhat steep 400ft-ish climb will get you nice views in all directions.

In the summer you can also drive up Mt Evans, almost to the top, again a short side trip from I70.

So I guess I would recommend Utah with perhaps 1-2 side trips in CO if you are taking I70.

ejenner wrote in post #18566409
St Marys glacier. I have only been in the winter, it could get very busy in the summer, but it is a short hike, even if you have to park in town, nice views and interesting wind-blown trees. There is also a not-to-steep hike to Loch Lomond with some pretty lakes just up a bit further.

James Pass. This will be a longer hike up a 4WD road, but quite a lot of ridges that you can hike up and get nice views. Probably aught to be reasonably fit to enjoy this one.

St. Marys does have some people in the summer, but that wouldn't be a bad place to visit. Very short hike in from the parking lot. I think you mean Jones Pass, which would not be accessible with an RV, and I mean lower down even, not the pass itself. Hanging Lake is another one nice spot, but that has gotten absurdly crowded, no parking unless you are there early.

Lake Isabelle in Indian Peaks Wilderness would be a nice hike for an out of stater. Pretty flat walk, easy access, but don't go before July, too much snow.

Yea, I meant Jones Pass, I keep calling it James for some reason. I was thinking parking by the Henderson Mine, which is essentially the winter parking spot. Honestly I'm not sure what the summer parking looks like.

ejenner wrote in post #18566932
Yea, I meant Jones Pass, I keep calling it James for some reason. I was thinking parking by the Henderson Mine, which is essentially the winter parking spot. Honestly I'm not sure what the summer parking looks like.

I think summer parking is however far you feel like bumping along that road. Two summers ago, in August, I almost got to the top, but there was a large drift (cornice maybe) basically at the top still hanging in there where the snow blows through the gap, so had to back down to the first switchback where there was enough room to turn around.

Thanks for all the replies. I will look into those destinations.

Speaking of Hanging Lake. just saw this news. Unfortunate but probably necessary.

The USFS’s plan will cap visits to 615 people per day, that’s about half the number of people who use the trail during a busy summer day. Everyone who visits must buy a permit.

Officials also want to close the small parking lot and force visitors to pay for a shuttle ride to then hike to Hanging Lake.

patrick j wrote in post #18568719
Speaking of Hanging Lake. just saw this news. Unfortunate but probably necessary.

The USFS’s plan will cap visits to 615 people per day, that’s about half the number of people who use the trail during a busy summer day. Everyone who visits must buy a permit.

Officials also want to close the small parking lot and force visitors to pay for a shuttle ride to then hike to Hanging Lake.

According to http://denver.cbslocal​.com …rictions-garfield-county/ these restrictions expect to be in place around May/June 2018.