Hikes in Utah :

Q: I've taken some of the more popular hikes in Zion and Bryce National Parks, and there are always a lot of people on the trail. Especially in peak season. Are there hikes in the same area that are more peaceful? I am looking for something with moderate difficulty and distance.
--John F., Santa Ana, California

TIP: The Grand Staircase Escalante Wilderness is a spectacular area just northeast of Bryce. One of the most beautiful hikes gowest has ever taken is the one to Upper Calf Creek Falls. Not only is it relatively uncrowded, but there is a lot to see along the way. The journey is almost as beautiful as the destination!

See Related Story: Lower Calf Creek Falls

Motorhomes and the Million Dollar Highway:

Q: My husband and I are planning a trip to Southwest Colorado with our motorhome, and would like to take the San Juan Skyway loop. But we're worried about the portion of Highway 550 between Silverton and Ouray. Should we be?
--Terry P., Renton, Washington

TIP: It really depends on your mountain driving experience and the size of your motorhome.

Technically, the portion of 550 called the Million Dollar Highway is just the last few miles immediately south of Ouray. There are very steep dropoffs, no guardrails, and early in the season there can be closures due to road work clean up from winter slides.

If you really want to try the road, then taking it from south to north is the right direction. But other drivers will certainly suffer because your progress will be slow and cautious.

An alternative is to take 160 west out of Durango and then turn north on 145 through Telluride, Ridgway and eventually turn south back into Ouray. It is almost as beautiful as Highway 550 and a lot less treacherous.

To get a spectacular feel for the area without the sweats and chills, take the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge when you are in Durango and a jeep trip up into Yankee Boy Basin when you're in Ouray.

See Related Story: The San Juan Skyway

Elephant Seals:

Q: When is the best time to visit the elephant seal rookery on the California coast?
--Kate S., St Paul, Mn.

TIP: Males and females, adults and juveniles, cycle in and out of the rookery depending on the season. Friends of the Elephant Seal actually publishes a calendar by month so you know what to expect. You can see the most variety from the end of January till mid February when females are birthing, adult males are fighting, mating is occuring, and juveniles are beginning to feel their oats. Weaned pups are teaching themselves to swim in March after the last adults leave. Then, starting in April, females, juveniles, subadult and adult males all return to molt. In September and October the now growing pups return to rest, and then mature males start arriving again at the end of November.

See Related Story: The Amazing Elephant Seal

Southwest Indian Ruins:

Q: I've visited some of the bigger Indian ruins in the Southwest, like Mesa Verde and Canyon de Chelly. Now I am ready for a less crowded, more intense experience. Any suggestions?
--Dan N., Redondo Beach, Ca

TIP: Ute Mountain Tribal Park is about as far away, and at same time as close, to Mesa Verde as you can get. Visitors must be physically active, and expect hiking and climbing during their visit. Regular tours are held throughout the year. Also watch for special events on their website.

See Related Story: Ute Mountain Tribal Park

Outlaws of the West:

Q: Where do we go to see the places where Billy The Kid and Butch Cassidy and Sundance hung out?
--Ariana V., San Antonio, Texas

TIP: Head for Colorado, Utah and New Mexico. Butch Cassidy made tracks all over Colorado, including robbing the bank in Telluride. The Parker spread in Utah, situated in the Sevier River Valley 200 miles south of Salt Lake City, is where Butch learned to be a cowboy. As for Billy the Kid, he spent a lot of time in Lincoln County, New Mexico. In fact, there is a Billy the Kid Trail Ride held every May that backtracks the 125 mile route The Kid took after escaping from the Lincoln County Jail.

See Related Story: Old Mesilla

I Want to Be a Cowboy!:

Q: Where are working ranch vacations available? I know there are 'dude' ranches, but my family and I want to spend time on a real cattle ranch instead of just casual horseback riding.
--Darin R, St. Louis, Missouri

TIP: Gowestusa recommends Zapata Ranch in Southwest Colorado, which is owned and operated by the Nature Conservancy. This working cattle and bison ranch ranch is well over 100,000 acres, managing around 1000 head of cattle seasonally and 2,000 head of bison. They sometimes offer horsemanship and cattle clinics, and regular ranch vacations include locating and relocating cattle. An incredible experience happens every year at the end of October and early November when guests can participate in the annual buffalo roundup.

See Related Story: A National Park Without Limits

Visiting the California Coast:

Q: We want to visit the Central Coast between Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz. What is the best way to make the trip into a loop?
--Ron C., Medina, Mn.

TIP: Airlines make it easy for you to visit California without having to loop back to your arrival airport.

You can fly into LAX, take your sweet time winding your way up the coast, and fly out of the San Jose Airport without cost restrictions. San Jose is much easier than San Francisco, unless you want to visit the City by the Bay.

The same applies to rental cars. Because the California Board of Tourism wants to encourage you to visit the entire state, there are normally not dropoff fees for returning a vehicle to a different location.

See Related Story: Montana de Oro State Park

When to visit Utah:

Q: I'd really like to know when would be a good time to visit the parks in Utah. Spring? Fall? Summer? Have a suggestion?
--Robert R., Washington DC

TIP: It really depends on which areas of Utah you visit. Here are a couple of suggestions.

Southwest Utah: (Zion, Bryce, Escalante). All of these areas get snow. Personally, we love them in fall. They are less crowded than the rest of the year and crowds are few and far between. Mid September to mid October. If you are flying in, consider going through Vegas. Cheap flights and not a long drive.

South Central Utah: (Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Natural Bridges). These areas are nice year round. Not much chance of snowfall. We would combine this with Northern Arizona and visit Sedona and Canyon de Chelly at the same time. November or March even work. Just avoid spring break.

Eastern Utah: (Arches, Canyonlands, the entire area around Moab). Also good all year, although there is occasional snow in winter. One of the best places to see multiple parks. April is a really good month. If you are flying in, consider going through Grand Junction, Colorado. Depending on the time of year, combine with the San Juan Mountains in western Colorado for a wonderful variety.

See Related Story: Island in the Sky