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Planning my summer vacation and need help


Bob C

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I have a couple of questions about my planned trip for this summer.  I will be going through Rocky Mountain NP on about June 1.  I have checked and they try to have Trail Ridge Road open before Memorial Day.  Has anyone gone through RMNP this early in the season?  I know that the higher elevations will be mostly snow covered but what about the mid-level elevations?  

We will also be going from the Grand Canyon south rim to Yosemite.  What is it like to drive through this area in early June?  The most direct route goes through Lost Wages and the Death Valley area.  This sounds like a good way to overheat the Toyhouse, my wife and I.  I would like to enter Yosemite from the east but that is not set in stone.  Would it be better to go northwest out of Vega on Nevada Highway 95 or follow Interstate 40 through Barstow and then go north on California highway 395 and follow that to Lee Vining?  I have never been to California before and will be traveling north into Canada  before heading back home in Wisconsin.  

This trip will be about a month long with about 10 days spent getting to the Grand Canyon and home from Glacier NP so we have about 3 weeks to see the basics of California, Oregon and Washington.  I don't like cities and crowds so that keeps me away from the where most people like to hang out.  Any input would be appreciated.

I know that we are covering many miles in a short time but we have always been the drive and look type.

 

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My roommate who used to live in that area and spent a lot of time in the park hiking and camping at all times of the year has this to say about RMNP. There will be lots of places in the park to visit in early June. The West side will be snowier than the east side. The trail ridge is the only way to get from one side to the other. Early in the season when Trail Ridge opens there will be snow banks piled up on either side of the road. Trail Ridge opens in stages so at that time of year even if it is not completely open all the way across you can still get fairly high up into the park to enjoy some of the higher elevation areas. It is usually open in early June but can close down unexpectedly for a few days if a large snow storm comes through in early June.

Edited by snail powered
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Thanks for the reply.  The RMNP part of the trip is pretty much planned out.  I have been through there several times and agree with your friends comments.  Any ideas on when the mid-elevation flowers start blooming?

The part that I am unsure of is west of the Grand Canyon.  I have been to the Canyon but never any further west.

Edited by Bob C
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