The Rocky Mountains are part of a mountain chain that runs from Alaska to the southern tip of South America in Patagonia. As far as the Rockies proper go, they form a nearly unbroken wall from British Columbia and Alberta in Canada down into New Mexico in the United States.
If you wanted to explore the U.S. Rockies roughly from north to south, where should you go? Here are our top 15 picks:
Glacier National Park– Montana
Glacier is sometimes called the “Crown of the Continent” (even though that geographically doesn’t make sense). The mountains there are not the highest in the Rockies, but they’re among the most rugged, colorful, and spectacular. Hundreds of miles of hiking trails can take you to places that are even more spectacular than what you see from the road.
Chinese Wall– Montana
Unless you’re in a plane, this one takes a lot of work to see, as it’s deep inside the Bob Marshall Wilderness, a huge blank area on maps. It’s a 1000’-tall limestone cliff band that runs for about 10 unbroken miles along the Continental Divide. The shortest way to get there requires about 20 trail miles.
Sawtooth Mountains– Idaho
One of the most aptly named mountains ranges you’ll ever see, the Sawtooths are the centerpiece of a large national recreation area. They tower over the valleys below them, and numerous trails provide access to their secrets.
Beartooth Highway– Montana/Wyoming
Famed travel writer Charles Kuralt called this the most scenic drive in America. It connects the Montana towns of Red Lodge and Cooke City, though a good half of the drive, including some of its most spectacular stretches, is in Wyoming. This drive is a must for anyone who loves the mountains.
Yellowstone National Park– Idaho/Montana/Wyoming
Yellowstone was the world’s first national park, and it’s so big that it feels like a whole state unto itself. The list of what makes this place special is nearly endless, but it’s known for two things in particular: the world’s largest concentration of geothermal features and the abundant wildlife that includes iconic species such as grizzly bears, wolves, moose, elk, and bison.
Grand Teton National Park– Wyoming
Just south of Yellowstone, and often visible from points within it on clear days, is one of the world’s most famous and beautiful mountain ranges: the Tetons. Note: locals will know you’re a clueless tourist if you refer to them as the Grand Tetons or to the main gateway town as Jackson Hole.
The Grand Teton is the highest peak in the Teton Range, and Jackson Hole is the long valley that runs well north and south of the town of Jackson.
Brooks Lake– Wyoming
Five miles of driving on a dirt road get you to this watery jewel in the Absaroka Range near the small town of Dubois. It’s best to visit at dawn and sunset. When the waters are calm, they reflect the 2000’-tall Brooks Lake Cliffs at dawn and the ominous-looking Pinnacle Buttes at sunset.
Snowy Range– Wyoming
The road over Snowy Range Pass takes you up into the alpine for views of mountain peaks, lakes, wildflower meadows, and tundra. For hikers and climbers, this area is also a great way to access the alpine from high-elevation trailheads, cutting out a lot of the time and effort usually required for that.
Vedauwoo– Wyoming
Not far to the east of the Snowies is this world of large granite outcrops and spires, meadows, and subalpine forests. There are some established hiking trails, but in much of the complex, you can just get out and wander. The area is known as “The Voo” to rock climbers, who consider it one of the most challenging places in the country to climb.
Rocky Mountain National Park– Colorado
In this fourth-most-visited national park in the country, you don’t even have to get out of the car to enjoy the amazing scenery. Trail Ridge road meanders up from pretty valleys to cross into the alpine zone, where the mountain views are awe-inspiring.
Just driving through would be a mistake, though; miles and miles of hiking trails give you access to pristine wilderness most eyes never behold.
Maroon Bells– Colorado
You’ve probably seen the Maroon Bells in pictures many times; they’re among the most photographed mountains in the country, if not in the world as well. Climbers call them the Deadly Bells because of the treacherous rock quality, but you can see them safely by driving south out of Aspen to Maroon Lake.
Yankee Boy Basin– Colorado
Bring or rent a 4WD vehicle for this adventure just outside Ouray in the San Juan Mountains, the most spectacular mountain range in Colorado.
You’ll crawl your way up well past timberline, passing waterfalls, some of the most gorgeous wildflower displays in the country, mining ruins, and an alpine lake before finally reaching the road’s end beneath majestic Mt. Sneffels.
Great Sand Dunes– Colorado
Here, you’ll find some of the tallest dunes in North America framing some of the highest mountains in Colorado. Climbing to the top of one of the tallest dunes can be exhausting, but the reward, after the views, is the fun and fast descent.
Taos Ski Valley– New Mexico
This famous ski resort sits in the shadow of Mt. Wheeler, New Mexico’s highest peak. There’s a trail that will get you there, and there are also trails that take you to mountain lakes along its flanks.
Sierra Blanca– New Mexico
Sierra Blanca is nearly 12,000’ in elevation, and it’s the highest peak in the southern part of New Mexico. Much of the mountain range here is on public lands, but the summit of Sierra Blanca itself is within the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation. This peak is sacred to them, and if you want to hike to the top, you need to get a permit.
15 Must-Dos on Your Next Trip to Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border makes a lot of lists of the most beautiful places in America. There’s also a lot to do there, with a wide range of outdoor recreation, great dining, resorts, nightlife, and more. If it’s your first time going or if you’re going back, consider adding some of the following places to your itinerary.
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