A week in early June. Where to go?

[Tech Tonics]

We have a week off leaving the Sunday after Memorial Day, back the following weekend.

Leaving from SWCO (Durango), our plan was to take our van and either go to the northern Rockies (ID, WY, MT) or the California coast

Though, it occurs to me that:
-early June is too early to enjoy the Northern Rockies (lots of alpine trails not dry yet)

-California is super far away and crowded with douchebags. We’d burn up 1/2 our time just getting there and back.

Also, desert locations in Utah will already be too hot.

So where would you go? We are fine with hot as long as there is water. And we prefer to camp NOT in campgrounds. Our van is 4x4 and pretty capable.

Anyone? Thoughts?

[stealurface831]

ogden

[m2711c]

https://beartoothbasin.com/

[stealurface831]

^^i'll be at beartooth second week of june.

[Cruiser]

Early June? I'd go to the San Juans for alpine wildflowers and fishing. Oh, wait, you're in dgo. In that case, I got nuthin.

[hawkgt]

Blackhills and Badlands area are cool

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/black...d=FSEPRD533421

[Tech Tonics]

ogden

But if my van scores positive GOTOS points but the trip would be negative Ogdons, is it even worth it? Maybe I should just go upstate.

[Tech Tonics]

Early June? I'd go to the San Juans for alpine wildflowers and fishing. Oh, wait, you're in dgo. In that case, I got nuthin.

I know. We were just saying “if we didn’t live here already we’d just come to Durango”.

But we want to see somewhere different

[Conundrum]

What do you want to do while you're where ever you end up?

[muted reborn]

We are leaving about the same time from SLC in our camper van and going to Oregon: Joesph for fun and Oakridge to bike. Oakridge should have a ton of vert dry by then. I hope. My wife knows a girl who works at a bike shop in Oakridge and has the scoop. I probably should double check though. ShralpMachio what's the scoop there? Hoping to hit Crater NP too.

I follow the Downieville shuttle company and their last post hinted at the shuttle road being almost ready, but I'm not a local to decipher exactly what that means...is the main DH trail dry then too? I dunno.

[canyonrider]

Northern New Mexico?

[Tech Tonics]

What do you want to do while you're where ever you end up?

That’s a fair question.

Some mtb, though it’s not my wife’s favorite thing to do

Some climbing. Sport cragging.

Cool hikes? Dramatic scenery? Unique geography? Trail runs? Swimming holes? Hot springs? Sweet camps to vanlife?

[Buster Highmen]

We thought 139, Douglas Pass road, was pretty cool, then head up to Flaming Gorge area, maybe stop at the Dinosaur National Monument. Flaming Gorge has lots of interesting topography, there has to be good rock climbing around there. Swimming and fishing options.

From there, if the wanderlust is strong, take 80, stop in Ogden, head up to City of Rocks, camp up by Pomerelle, stop in Boise, hit the Wine Coop, drive up through the Burnt River to Baker City, check out Phillips Reservoir, camp around Anthony Lakes, drive up through Elgin and down to Joseph OR.

[berko]

City of rocks, id?

[Danno]

We thought 139, Douglas Pass road, was pretty cool, then head up to Flaming Gorge area, maybe stop at the Dinosaur National Monument. Flaming Gorge has lots of interesting topography, there has to be good rock climbing around there. Swimming and fishing options.

From there, if the wanderlust is strong, take 80, stop in Ogden, head up to City of Rocks, camp up by Pomerelle, stop in Boise, hit the Wine Coop, drive up through the Burnt River to Baker City, check out Phillips Reservoir, camp around Anthony Lakes, drive up through Elgin and down to Joseph OR.

A good rule of thumb is to always do Buster's suggested itineraries.

[Buster Highmen]

That route from Baker City, through John Day, Bend, down to Chemult, Crater Lake, Diamond Lake and down the Umpqua is a super stunner.

[Timberridge]

What about Londonderry, VT?

The black flies should be gone by then.

[mfcf13]

That route from Baker City, through John Day, Bend, down to Chemult, Crater Lake, Diamond Lake and down the Umpqua is a super stunner.

Which is why it's going to be mobbed this year (I think I read it's currently the second most popular road trip destination in the West, behind Utah).

[mfcf13]

I know. We were just saying “if we didn’t live here already we’d just come to Durango”.

But we want to see somewhere different

Penitente Canyon, Sand dunes (if you haven't been before), beer/hanging in Salida, Westcliffe, back side of Greenhorn Mountain (home of the "Gardner Gold"), Cuchara/Spanish Peaks loop, Latir wilderness.

[muted reborn]

We thought 139, Douglas Pass road, was pretty cool, then head up to Flaming Gorge area, maybe stop at the Dinosaur National Monument. Flaming Gorge has lots of interesting topography, there has to be good rock climbing around there. Swimming and fishing options.

From there, if the wanderlust is strong, take 80, stop in Ogden, head up to City of Rocks, camp up by Pomerelle, stop in Boise, hit the Wine Coop, drive up through the Burnt River to Baker City, check out Phillips Reservoir, camp around Anthony Lakes, drive up through Elgin and down to Joseph OR.

I'd recommend driving from Joesph to Boise (or vice versa) through Hells Canyon on Pine Road, just make sure the road is open.

[evdog]

I follow the Downieville shuttle company and their last post hinted at the shuttle road being almost ready, but I'm not a local to decipher exactly what that means...is the main DH trail dry then too? I dunno.

Once the road to Packer Saddle (shuttle dropoff) has melted out they will start running shuttles. The trails up top will still have snow - patches, if not large snow fields. In the past they have put up flagging tape to show people where to go across large patches.

[evdog]

North Rim of the Grand Canyon might be an option. I've seen pics of a few people riding it recently. You could hit up Bryce, Zion, Thunder Mtn as well plus whatever else along the way.

[NBABUCKS1]

ogden is full

[bennymac]

Where the even fuck that is?

[stealurface831]

Where the even fuck that is?

i see that you too are a scholar of the english language.