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Salt Lake City, the National Parks and Fossil Butte National Monument
This Salt Lake City route will take you on some of the same routes of discovery and exploration as America’s earliest Pioneers. The route will take you from one of the United State’s biggest city to some of its smallest, with a barrel-full of beautiful scenery along the way.
#thisismyroute
Prepared by: James
States:
Utah, Wyoming
Start/End:
Salt Lake City, Utah
Total miles:
730
Suggested days:
At least 14
Type:
scenic road trip
Recommended for:
First-timers to the United States, honeymooners, photographers, road trippers
Suggested season:
May-November
Overview
This trip takes you in a loop that will start and end in Salt Lake City, Utah. The trip takes you through some of the best untravelled small towns in the Mid Rocky Mountains as well as some of the more famous destinations like Jackson and Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park. You will travel through the outdoor Utah towns of Layton, Ogden and Logan before crossing the border into Wyoming to hit Afton, Jackson, the National Parks and the ranching town of Kemmerer, before crossing back into Utah and visiting the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics, Park City. The trip will end in Salt Lake City, and we would recommend spending a few days here to soak up the city’s culture before heading back home.How to Prepare
We recommend at least 14 days to accomplish everything there is to do in the trip starting in Salt Lake City. This trip takes you through two states and you will have a lot of driving. The bigger towns are well worth the stops and can offer you many opportunities for nightlife, but the smaller towns have a western charm to them that is well worth an overnight stop and will add a uniqueness to your trip. This itinerary is full of suggestions of some of the best places to stop, especially during your longer days on the road. So plan your trip accordingly so that you can experience the places that spark your interest the most. These areas can be crowded in the summertime, and for good reason. There are multiple events and the weather is beautiful. If you want to avoid crowds we suggest traveling at the end of spring or the beginning of fall. If you can’t make that happen then we suggest visiting the smaller towns on the weekends and the National Parks and bigger towns on the weekdays. Wintertime is still beautiful in these places, however, many roads are closed and you cannot drive into some of the parks.DAY 1: arrival in Salt Lake City, Utah
1.5 hours/87 miles
Salt Lake City is a great town, and one that we would recommend spending some time in, but not today. That will come at the end of the trip. For the start of your trip, we would recommend landing in SLC, gathering your bags and getting your car. After this head up north on the 15 to the northern suburbs of Layton and Ogden, before reaching your overnight stop in Logan. Both Layton and Ogden are full of great little restaurants and shops and we would recommend taking the time to stop for a few hours in each one. It’s a great chance to acclimate yourself to the American West before heading out onto the road. When you arrive in Logan, don’t just make it a one night stop. Stay through the next day and enjoy the Bear River Mountains. Best Short Hike-Layton:Adams Canyon Trail
Best place grab a quick bite-Layton:Cafe Sabor
Best local winery-Layton:The Hive Winery
Best short hike-Ogden:Ogden River Parkway
Best place to take the kids-Ogden:Ogden High Adventure
Best place for a stroll:25th Street Historic District
DAY 2: Logan
1.5 hours/65 miles
Logan, Utah is an amazing place to spend some time. From the outdoor adventures to be had to the great downtown experiences, you can have any kind of time you want in this amazing town nestled at the foot of the nearly 10,000-foot high Bear River Range. Logan’s setting is beautiful in any season. There are many places to fuel up for the day, but a breakfast in Logan wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Angie’s. It is the classic American breakfast menu, done with great food and great service all in a downtown locale. From there, pick your fancy. You can head up into White Pine Lake trail system or check out the unsurpassed Wind Caves and Crimson Trail in Logan Canyon. Or stay in town and visit the local history with a downtown tour. Stop in at the Cache Valley Visitor’s Bureau for more information about all the things to do both in-town and out. Best scenic drive:Logan Canyon Scenic Drive
Best place to grab a quick bite:Jack’s Wood Fired Oven
Best place to see a wolf:Zootah at Willow Park
Best place to get a little history:Daughters of the Utah Pioneers
Best taco:La Chispita Bakery
Best local brew and burgerThe Beehive Grill
DAY 3: Logan to Afton, Wyoming
2 hours 18 minutes/117 miles
This is going to be a short driving day but packed with a bunch of activities along the way. The first thing you are going to need is coffee. Head to Cafe Ibis to get a healthy start to your day and in-house roasted coffee. Afterward hop in your car and get ready for some beautiful scenery. The route to Afton, takes you up Hwy 89 to Bear Lake through Logan Canyon. Logan Canyon is a National Scenic Byway and has plenty of great photo ops. About 40 miles into your drive you will hit Garden City and Bear Lake. Well worth a stop to stretch your legs, Bear Lake is known as the “Caribbean of the Rockies” for its unique turquoise-blue color, which is due to the refraction of limestone deposits suspended in the lake. A great place to stop is Bear Lake State Park. After that head to LaBeaus Drive Inn for a Raspberry Shake. You won’t regret it. After Garden City, Hwy 89 will cut through a corner of Idaho before entering Wyoming. In Wyoming you will enter the Bridger-Teton National Forest, one of the most beautiful National Forests in the US, eventually ending up in the Star Valley and Afton. Afton is a great place, and we recommend staying the night in this quintessential western town. Best hike:World’s Largest Intermittent Stream
Best local shopping:Mountain Valley Gallery
Best sugar fix:Star Valley Chocolates
Best Place to stay:Kodiak Mountain Resort
Best place for dinner:Rocky Mountain Seafood
Best after-hours fun:The Cowboy Bar
DAY 4: Afton to Jackson
1 hour 23 minutes/70 miles
Our recommendation for Jackson is to find a place to stay and head out on the town. There is so much to do in this western town, you will not be let down. Best place to shop for new clothes:Wyoming Outfitters
Best place to shop for old clothes:Forget Me Not Thrift Store
Best place to people watch:Jackson Town Square
Best way to eat farm to table:Local
Best sushi in the state:King Sushi
Best place to have a drink while sitting on a bar stool shaped like a saddle:The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar
DAY 5: Grand Teton National Park
We hope that you explored all you wanted to Jackson because it’s time leave the city behind and head north for a nature-focused experience in Grand Teton National Park. You really aren’t prepared for the beauty until you actually experience these mountains up close. Today you are going to explore crystal clear lakes, flowing rivers, and great spots for photography all with the rugged Grand Tetons next to you. If you really want to enjoy Grand Teton National Park you can avoid the crowds and bike on the many trails throughout the park. After you have been blown away by the Grand Tetons let’s head north towards Yellowstone.
Best road for photo ops:
Signal Mountain Summit Road
Best hike:Colter Bay Lakeshore
Best museum:National Museum of Wildlife Art
Best place to hike:Colter Bay Lakeshore
Can’t miss it:Carriage Ride through the National Elk Refuge
Best scenic drive:Jenny Lake Scenic Drive
DAY 6 through 9: Yellowstone National Park
You can’t come all the way to Wyoming and not spend at least three days exploring these two amazing parks, there is so much to do and see, to try to do it in one day would be depriving yourself of a truly grand experience. Once you reach the southern entrance of Yellowstone National Park don’t forget to grab a park map. In that map you will be able to see anything and everything that may spark your interest during your park journey. Remember, Yellowstone covers a huge area of land. If you want to get the best experience without a lot of driving we suggest staying one night within Yellowstone National Park.
SOME ATTRACTIONS IN YELLOWSTONE:
LAKE BUTTE OVERLOOK FISHING BRIDGE VISITORS CENTER YELLOWSTONE LAKE MUD VOLCANO SULPHUR CALDRON VIRGINIA CASCADE BERYL SPRING
Best place for wildlife:The Lamar Valley
Best hike:Storm Point Nature Trail
Best place to ride a horse:Lodges of East Yellowstone
Best point of interest:Lake Yellowstone Hotel
Best Iconic American Landmark:Old Faithful
Cant’s Miss it:Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Emerald Pool
DAY 10: Fossil Butte national monument
4.5 hours/241 miles
With Yellowstone in your rearview mirror, It’s time to take a trip into Wyoming’s pre-history. Kemmerer, Wyoming exits today on what is essentially the bed of an ancient tropical sea. Not only is the town itself a great pace to spend some time, right outside of town is the phenomenal Fossil Butte National Monument. Some of the world’s best preserved fossils are found in the flat-topped ridges of southwestern Wyoming’s cold sagebrush desert. Fossilized fishes, insects, plants, reptiles, birds, and mammals are exceptional for their abundance, variety, and detail of preservation. After your trip through the ancient world, head back into Kemmerer for a little modern-day fun. Kemmerer is a great little town on the western plains, with a vibrant downtown and a number of parks and green spaces just aching for a picnic. Best place to grab coffee and a quick breakfast:Caribou Cafe
Best place to see a fossilized crocodile:Fossil Butte Visitor’s Center
Best place for a swim and a picnic-Kemmerer:Archie Neil Park
Best place for dinner:The Ham’s Fork Grill
Best place for after hours fun:Anywhere on Triangle Park
Best place for a hike through pre-Cambrian history:Historic Quarry Trail-Fossil Butte
DAY 11: Kemmerer to Park City, utah
2 hours/112 miles
From Kemmerer you will cross back into Utah below Evanston, Wyoming and keep heading south to Park City, Utah. Park City is a fun place. That’s just the truth of it. There is so much to do in this little town, but the best thing about Park City is its dedication to the outdoor world. This was the place of the 2002 Winter Olympics after all, and the outdoor activities are extensive. But Park City has a great city-centric activity level too. In Park City it is realistic to be browsing through one of the numerous art or history museums in the morning and be lacing up your boots to hike one of the numerous trails just outside the town in the afternoon. The best place to start any time in Park City, though, is the Park City Visitor’s Center. Not only will it have all the information you need, but its also a really cool place, with some of the best coffee in town accompanied by a nice little breakfast and lunch cafe. Best way to get up the mountain:Park City Mountain Resort
Best way to get down the mountain:Park City Alpine Ride
Best place to burn some calories:Utah Olympic Park
Best way to see the town and get fed:Park City Food Tour
Best local shopping:Tanger Outlet
Best place to people watch:Park City Historic Downtown
DAY 12 through 14: Salt Lake City
