Historic American West | Fly-Drive Holiday

Day 1

Denver

Arrive in the Mile High City of Denver, collect your car and drive into Denver.

In 1858, there was not a single person living in the Denver metro area except for some migrating camps of Arapaho and Cheyenne Native Americans.  Just 30 years later, Colorado was a state with a population of almost 200,000.  It was a Gold Rush that caused this boom and in a 30-to-40-year period Denver saw some of the wildest events in the “Wild West.”  This fascinating period is brought to life at museums, old gold mining towns and in hundreds of elegant Victorian buildings. LoDo, a 26 square block historic district, has the largest concentration of Victorian and turn-of-the-century buildings in the country.  Today, LoDo is home to 90 brewpubs, rooftop cafes, restaurants, sports bars and nightclubs. Please let us know if you would like an extra night or two in Denver.

1 night in Denver

Day 2

Denver to Estes Park

A short drive will take you into your first National Park; Rocky Mountain National Park whose 415 square miles encompasses spectacular mountain environments. Enjoy Trail Ridge Road which crests over 12,000 feet including many overlooks to experience the subalpine and alpine worlds along with over 300 miles of hiking trails, wildflowers and wildlife to view. Overnight in Estes Park.

1 night in Estes Park

Day 3

Estes Park to Cheyenne

Drive to Cheyenne, founded in 1867 when the Union Pacific Railroad built a depot there. Cheyenne is the capital of Wyoming: a typical western town, never more so than during the Cheyenne Frontier Days in the middle of July. During the rest of the year, visit Gunslinger Square, the Plains Indian Museum, ride the Trolley and the Cheyenne Depot and soak up the atmosphere.

1 night in Cheyenne

Days 4-5

Cheyenne to Custer State Park

Drive through the Southern Black Hills, pausing at the National Historic site of Fort Laramie to discover the Hot springs, Wind Cave National Park and the 71000 acres of spectacular Custer State Park.

Today you could drive the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road: you are very likely to see some of the 1300 bison that call the park home.

Bison can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds. Historically, the animal played an essential role in the lives of the Lakota who relied on the “tatanka” for food, clothing and shelter. Besides bison, the park is home to wildlife such as pronghorn antelope, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, deer, elk, wild turkeys, and a band of friendly burros.

2 nights in Custer State Park

Day 6

Custer State Park to Rapid City

Take the short drive to Rapid City stopping on the way at the famous carvings of Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial. This extraordinary structure was commenced in 1948 at the request of Lakota chief, Standing Bear to educate the American masses and communicate the strength of Native American culture.  He wrote “”My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know that the red man has great heroes, too”. You might also like to take a detour into the Badlands of South Dakota.  These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds testaments to the ancient mammals such as the rhino, horse, and sabre-toothed cat which once roamed here and are home to the enchanting prairie dogs.

1 night in Rapid City

Day 7

Rapid City to Sheridan

Visit Devils Tower National Monument, a geologic feature protruding out of the rolling prairie that surrounds the Black Hills. The site is considered Sacred to the Lakota and other tribes in the area and there are legends to explain its unique shape. We suggest you spend a night (or better still two) at the Ranch at Ucross near Sheridan to experience the life of the cowboys who history is so embedded in this area. If this does not appeal, historic Sheridan provides some comfortable hotels.

1 night in Sheridan

Day 8

Sheridan to Cody

A great drive today through the Big Horn Mountains to overnight in Cody. Cody, founded by Colonel William F “Buffalo Bill” Cody in 1896, has a number of attractions, including the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Old Trail Town, and the Cody Nite Rodeo. The Buffalo Bill Center of the West consists of five separate museums dedicated to Western history, art, and culture. Old Trail Town is a living history museum with 26 original buildings that were moved to Cody from different parts of the West. The Cody Nite Rodeo is a nightly rodeo that has been running since 1893 from the beginning of June to the end of August.

1 night in Cody

Days 9-11

Cody to Yellowstone National Park

One of the highlights on the holiday will undoubtedly be Yellowstone National Park. You have choices here – as it is so enormous you can either split your time between the north and south of the park, but if you would rather stay in one place, we would suggest staying near Old Faithful.

Explore the park by foot or by car. There are many excellent hiking trails as well as some scenic driving routes, but bear in mind that traffic around the park can be slow partly because of the speed limits and partly for wildlife jams. A recommended option is to detour into the stunning Teton Mountains to the south of Yellowstone.  If you have time, you can go as far as the pretty alpine town of Jackson Hole where there are some excellent hotels.

3 nights in Yellowstone National Park

Day 12

Yellowstone National Park to Great Falls

As you leave the park, you will pass through Helena and along the Missouri River and overnight towards Great Falls where it is worth checking out the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and the First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park. It is a long drive but with lots to see along the way.

1 night in Great Falls

Days 13-14

Great Falls to Glacier National Park

Another National Park today and one of the great ones! The Going to the Sun Highway is one of the most spectacular roads in the world and this will be your route today as you drive into Glacier National Park touring. Accommodation is very limited in the park – Lake Macdonald Lodge is in the best position, but books up very early, so you may have to stay in Kalispell or Whitefish.

A day to enjoy Glacier National Park. There are over 700 miles of hiking trails, alpine meadows and glorious lakes.  Glacier National Park spreads into Canada where it is known as Waterton Lakes National Park.

2 nights in Glacier National Park

Day 15

Glacier National Park to Missoula

As you start to make your way south to Missoula, do stop at Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Located at the confluence of the Clark Fork and Bitterroot Rivers, Missoula is surrounded by mountains, forests, and wildlife. You might like us to arrange a rafting trip on the Clark Fork River or perhaps you would rather explore the breweries as Missoula is known for its craft beers.

1 night in Missoula

Day 16

Missoula to McCall

Driving through Montana and into Idaho through Nez Perce and Payette National Forests; you will overnight in the lakeside community of McCall. On the shores of Payette Lake, there are plenty of opportunities for hiking, boating, stand-up paddle boarding or perhaps you would rather try your hand at trout fishing?

1 night in McCall

Day 17

McCall to Boise

Today is quite a short drive, just over two hours so you will have time to stop at Lake Cascade State Park:  other possible stops could include rafting on the Payette River or zip-lining at the Aerial Adventure Park. Boise is the capital of Idaho. You might want to visit the Old Idaho Penitentiary which has 19^th century prison cells and gallows as well as historic military weaponry. Rather more modern is the Boise Art Museum which houses contemporary art and an outdoor sculpture garden.

1 night in Boise

Day 18-19

Boise to Salt Lake City

You have a five-hour drive today to get to Salt Lake City. Despite that, you might want to detour to visit the Craters of the Moon National Monument. This weird area is a vast ocean of lava flows, lying along the Great Rift of Idaho, interspersed with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush.

Take a full day touring Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City is a city of contrasts.  It is the capital of Utah, a state known for its Mormon heritage and stunning natural beauty, but it is also a modern city with a thriving arts scene. Visit Temple Square where you can learn about the Mormon history and faith or get in one last State Park called believe it or not “This is the Place State Park” just outside the city.

2 nights in Salt Lake City

Day 20

Salt Lake City

Depart from Salt Lake City airport.