Cool sights to see driving from San Luis Obispo to Denver.

[asteffes]

So I'll be driving from the central coast to Denver, over the Rockies and taking I15 to I70 into Denver. Is there anything I should stop and see along the way? I'll be a bit pressed for time, but if there is anything near the highway that I shouldn't miss (scenery, monuments, greasy spoons ) I'll try to stop.

I would also appreciate any info on 2m/440MHz repeaters I can punch into the radio before taking off.

Anyone here along that route and want to meet up for lunch? :chowtime:

 

[gjackson]

I would suggest Moab and Colorado National Monument! maybe Glenwood Springs CO if you like relaxing in hot springs!

Is your final destination Denver? And when are you travelling? I'd love to meet up. I'm in Denver most of the time.

cheers

 

[Scott Brady]

I would also recommend Moab. Not far out of your way, and a great spot to visit, eat and play. You could even fit in Fins N' Things (short, fun trail)

 

[Nullifier]

Just before you come into denver there is a neat scenic over look and you can free ranging buffalo. Cool if you never seen bufflo before. If you happen to go to moab at night. There is acool place on the road into moab just before you cross the bridge over the colorado. It is caled canyon lands by night. They have a huge diiner barge that goes up the river and they light it up so you can see all the cliff art etc. Not a real 4wd thing but when we did it it was fun. Good food and something unique. You can also hit the klindike bluff trail for a short trail closeoer to the highway. You can peer into arches N.P. There is a spectacular view at the bluff as well as the arches off in the distance.

The hot springs mentioned earleir is cool man there are so many neat towns along 70. You'll have fun.

 

[asteffes]

Wow... thank you for all the ideas, everyone! I hope I have enough time to actually visit some of these sites. :sunflower

 

[pangaea]

If you make the Moab side trip, a couple of recommendations:

Come in on Hwy 191, but leave on Hwy 128, going through Castle Valley. It will give you a chance to hit Onion Creek, which was mentioned above. Its one of my favorite places in Moab, and a great place to camp if you have time.

Also, as fun as the four wheeling is in Moab, don't sell the National Parks short. I FINALLY got around to seeing Arches National Park a couple of years ago after a dozen or so trips to Moab and just four wheeling.... Let me just say WOW! Its not nearly as adventurous as the four wheeling around the area, but the rock formations that you get to see in Arches are truly incredible.

 

[paulj]

Utah 12 from Cedar City through Bryce, Escalante and Capitol Reef would be a scenic 'short cut' around the I15 / I70 junction. It would add, though, a day or more to your drive. Unfortunately there isn't a short cut between this area and Moab - you either have to return to I70 or drop south toward Glen Canyon.

 

[asteffes]

Thank you all for your help! I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon from San Jose for my grandparents' home near Santa Maria. Then we leave Saturday morning, bright and early, to head toward Denver. I'll be traveling solo on the way back home, so I'll have a little more flexibility to stop and see some sights, but I will be keeping a fast pace.

I purchased a Garmin GPSMAP 276C a couple weeks ago, and got to play with it a bit on a trip to Tahoe. I'm sure it will come in handy, and I've programmed in all the maps I'll conceivably need to explore the area south of I70 (near Moab.)

gjackson: I'll be in Denver for a week, working and visiting family. Maybe we can meet up for a beer one evening. I'll be checking the forum while there, so feel free to PM or email me with your contact info over there!