WILDLIFE. Hot springs, bison and bears await on this 1,763-mile adventure. FROM XXXX, TO XXXX xxx Miles

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1 W I L D L I F E & N AT U R A L W O N D E R S FROM XXXX, TO XXXX xxx Miles D E N V E R T O R O C K Y M O U N TA I N A N D Y E L L O W S T O N E A N D B A C K WILDLIFE A N D N AT U R A L WON D E R S Hot springs, bison and bears await on this 1,763-mile adventure. 42 COLORADO JOURNAL 2019 CO2019_RoadTrips_WildlifeWonders_PROOF.indd 42 12/10/18 1:25 PM PHOTOSBY PHOTO BYDOLLAR, COURTESY MAP BY PETER SUCHESKI A VIEW OF THE TETON MOUNTAIN RANGE AND GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK IN WYOMING PHOTOS BY COURTESY E L PASO, TEXAS, TO G RAN D CANYON AN D BACK 1,789 Miles

2 Yellowstone National Park East Entrance MT Grand Teton National Park Meeteetse South Entrance 33 Rexburg Victor Idaho 15 Falls Devils Tower National Monument Cody SD 90 Gillette Dubois Jackson ackson Thermopolis 26 WYOMING Pocatello Lander I DA H O 789 Riverton Casper Saratoga 84 Salt Lake City PHOTOSBY PHOTO BYDOLLAR, COURTESY MAP BY PETER SUCHESKI Provo PHOTOS BY COURTESY 25 Rawlins F Dinosaur National Monument U TA H Cheyenne 130 Laramie NE 80 Estes Fort Collins Park Rocky Mountain Mountain Loveland National Park National Park 25 Boulder 36 COLORADO Denver rom alpine lakes and herds of elk in Rocky Mountain National Park to the granite peaks of Grand Teton National Park and the grizzlies of Yellowstone, this road trip is packed with once-in-a-lifetime sights. From Denver, head west to Estes Park, Colo., the closest town to the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Spend time perusing its local breweries, restaurants, shops and outdoor activities. From there, access Rocky's hidden gems and popular routes, including the legendary Trail Ridge Road, the highest paved road in a U.S. national park. Cross into Wyoming, exploring Laramie, Saratoga and the Snowy Range Scenic Byway, an extraordinary, less-traveled route that takes you past gorgeous alpine peaks. Continue to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. Jackson, Wyo., which is minutes from Grand Teton National Park, makes for a great stopover. From there head north to Yellowstone National Park, the world's first national park. On your way home, head out Yellowstone's East Entrance and experience Native American culture in Riverton, Wyo., where you can watch traditional and non-traditional Native American dances. Afterwards, drive to Cheyenne for a dose of outdoor fun and Old West culture. MYCOLORADOPARKS.COM CO2019_RoadTrips_WildlifeWonders_PROOF.indd /10/18 1:26 PM

3 WILDLIFE & NATURAL WONDERS DENVER TO ESTES PARK, COLO. 65 miles, 1 hour and 35 minutes ENTREPRENEURS IN ESTES Three local women share their favorite spots and why they love their town. BIRD & JIM ESTES PARK MARATHON KIND COFFEE MELISSA STRONG Co-owner, Bird & Jim, Estes Park s first farm-to-table restaurant REALIZED HER DREAM: Opened Bird & Jim in 2017 after working in the restaurant business and living in Estes Park since WHY SHE LOVES ESTES PARK: The community. After being severely burned on her hands, this rock climber spent three months in the hospital recovering. Without my doctors, my husband and the Estes Park community, I wouldn t be where I am today. Which is back on the rock and greeting guests in her restaurant. FAVORITE DISH AT BIRD & JIM: Lamb Bolognese with lamb from SkyPilot Farm in Longmont, Colo. RECOMMENDS: Hiking to Chasm Lake to watch rock climbers. Bring your binoculars to get a bird s eye view of the Diamond, the legendary face of Longs Peak, the park s highest mountain at 14,259 feet. FAVORITE PLACE TO BRING OUT-OF-TOWN- ERS: Visit the Aspen and Evergreen Gallery and Earthwood Artisans to see pieces by local and national artists. VOLUNTEERS: In Rocky Mountain National Park as a bouldering steward, joining park climbing rangers to educate people about Leave No Trace principles, access to climbs and so on. BELLE MORRIS Race director, Estes Park Marathon President, Estes Park Running Club REALIZED HER DREAM: Has spent 12 years as race director for Estes Park Marathon, enabling people to challenge themselves and connect with nature while running a spectacular course. WHY SHE LOVES ESTES PARK: I ve lived here off and on since I was nine-and-a-half. I love its smallness, its closeness to nature. FAVORITE TRAIL RUN: A 14-mile run roundtrip to Thunder Lake in the Wild Basin area of the park. The parking lot fi lls early, so get there before 9 a.m. RECOMMENDS: Training now for the June 16, 2019, Estes Park Marathon, which also features half-marathon, 10K and 5K courses, plus a kids fun run. RUN WITH THE LOCALS: On Tuesdays, meet at the Stanley Hotel at 5:45 p.m. for a stretching session before the group run starts at 6 p.m. On Thursdays meet at 5:30 p.m. at The Barrel, a brewery at 251 Moraine Ave., and get 10 percent off your pint that night. All are welcome. BEST WAY TO AVOID PARK TRAFFIC: Park in the new downtown parking structure near the Estes Park Visitor Center, 500 Big Thompson Ave. Then take one of the town s free shuttles into the park. AMY HAMRICK Owner, Kind Coffee Learn more at VisitEstesPark.com or stop by the Estes Park Visitor Center, 500 Big Thompson Ave. REALIZED HER DREAM: Started Kind Coffee 17 years ago, blending her love of the outdoors and her commitment to the environment by serving organic, fair-trade coffee, stocking green products like compostable cups and giving discounts for reusable mugs. WHY SHE LOVES ESTES PARK: The short answer is the mountains. I always say I want to live in the mountains, not look at them. But the answer after all these years is the community: both our year-long friends and the millions of people who visit Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park every year. FAVORITE COFFEE DRINK: Vanilla latte. Since RECOMMENDS: Hiking to Gem Lake on Lumpy Ridge. It s the perfect place to see the Estes Valley and Continental Divide. FAVORITE PLACE TO BRING OUT-OF-TOWN- ERS: From our back door, the Riverwalk extends in both directions." To the west is the heart of downtown. The east leads you past the visitor center to Lake Estes. GIVES BACK: Is a business member of the 1% for the Planet and founding member of the Estes Give Back Program, in which businesses give 1 percent of their sales to Estes Valley nonprofi ts through cash, in-kind services/merchandise and volunteer time. PHOTOS CORUTESY KIND COFFEE 44 COLORADO EDITION 2019

4 Cheyenne Frontier Days July 19-28, 2019 Hiking, Biking, and Rock Climbing at Vedauwoo Recreation Area, Medicine Bow National Forest, and Curt Gowdy State Park Old West Museum and Store Historic Cheyenne Depot Wyoming State Capitol and State Museum Trail Rides at Terry Bison and Bit-O-Wyo Ranches Plus There s So Much More! Cheyenne, Wyoming! At the intersection of I-25 and I-80 cheyenne.org

5 WILDLIFE & NATURAL WONDERS ESTES PARK, COLO., TO CHEYENNE, WYO. 87 miles and 2 hours CHEYENNE FRONTIER DAYS RODEO CAPITAL ADVENTURES Stop in Cheyenne for an old-meets-new West experience. Enjoy authentic cowboy culture, craft beers and the uncrowded outdoors in Cheyenne, Wyo. It s really the best of both worlds, says Jim Walter of the Visit Cheyenne Convention & Visitors Bureau. You ve got some great historical resources here, whether it s trains or the West or carriages or the history of rodeo. But then you ve got the best of what the West is today craft breweries, rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking. Bring your dog [as long as its on leash] to Freedom's Edge Brewing Co. It's family friendly and located at 1509 Pioneer Ave. If you're looking for food with your beer, head to Accomplice Beer Co. in the historic Cheyenne Depot. Switch gears and head further west for outdoor activities at Vedauwoo Recreation Area and Curt Gowdy State Park. Outdoor enthusiasts come up here and they re amazed, says Darren Rudloff, president and CEO of the visitors bureau. They love it, simply because you re not fighting with so many other climbers and mountain bikers every single weekend. For a truly unique experience, spend the day hand-feeding a buffalo herd at Terry Bison Ranch. Then visit Cheyenne Botanic Gardens with award-winning, curated displays of plants, shrubs and trees from around the world in the new Grand Conservatory. In the evening head downtown for dinner at the Wyoming Rib & Chop House. The [Wyoming Rib & Chop House] is in a historic building with a good menu of steaks, burgers and fish, Rudloff says. It feels like Wyoming. The Visit Cheyenne Convention & Visitors Bureau is located in the Depot Square at 121 W. 15th St, suite 202. Learn more at cheyenne.org. Lasso the Fun Terry Bison Ranch Take a train through a bison herd, go on a trail ride and enjoy Wyoming s best burger at Senator s Restaurant; 51 I-25 Frontage Rd; terrybisonranch.com. The Wrangler Breathe in the smell of fresh leather and gear up with authentic cowboy boots, hats and other Western apparel at this Cheyenne classic; 1518 Capitol Ave.; bootbarn.com Cheyenne Frontier Days Celebrate western culture at Cheyenne Frontier Days July 19-28, See concerts, a carnival as well as team roping, bull riding and more as part of the PRCA wrangler pro-rodeo tour; cfdrodeo.com. PHOTO COURTESY VISIT CHEYENNE 46 COLORADO EDITION 2019

6 MEDICINE BOW NATIONAL FOREST POWER TO THE PEOPLE In southern Wyoming, you ll discover a string of towns that make up Carbon County. They re woven together by ranching, coal, oil and a growing wind turbine industry. SOAK IN HOT SPRINGS In Saratoga, choose between two different hot springs experiences. The Hobo Hot Springs are free mineral pools and open 24 hours a day. At Saratoga Hot Springs Resort, only guests can access the teepee-covered mineral pools and 70-foot mineral hot spring pool. DRIVE SCENIC BYWAYS The 73-mile Seminoe-Alcova Backcountry Byway brings you by a patchwork of prairie country and high desert en route over the Seminoe Mountains. The south end starts in Sinclair and ends in Alcova about 30 miles southwest of Casper. Or enjoy the solitude you ll fi nd on the 29-mile Snowy Range Scenic Byway, which travels along Hwy. 130 through the Medicine Bow National Forest. SPEND THE NIGHT Spend the night at the historic Hotel Wolf and Restaurant in Saratoga, which was built by Frederick Wolf in Walk through the swinging doors of the saloon to taste a regional microbrew and the area's best burger. ENJOY LOCAL FOOD Hit Lollypops in Saratoga for breakfast or ice cream and to connect to WiFi. For fi ne dining, stop by the Aspen House Restaurant in Rawlins for blackened ribeye or vegetarian dishes. Buck s Sports Grill and Anong s Thai Cuisine in Rawlins also are popular. Learn more about Carbon County at wyomingcarboncounty.com. PHOTO COURTESY CARBON COUNTY MYCOLORADOPARKS.COM 47

7 WILDLIFE & NATURAL WONDERS RAWLINS TO JACKSON, WYO. 284 miles, 4 hours and 41 minutes MILLION DOLLAR COWBOY BAR IN JACKSON, WYO. YELLOWSTONE ENTRANCES Located mainly in northwestern Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park is the world s first national park. Parts of it also stretch into Idaho and Montana. To access the park, choose between five entrances. NORTHEAST ENTRANCE Closest to Cooke City, Mont., and its sister village Silver Gate, this entrance gives you the best access to Yellowstone's legendary Lamar Valley where grizzlies, black bears, bison and wolves roam. The tiny outpost of Cooke City (year-round population is 100) has a downtown that spans only a few blocks but offers good dining and lodging options. In the summer, travelers can reach Cooke City via the Beartooth Highway or the park. In winter, this entrance is closed and the only way into Cooke City is through Yellowstone s North Entrance in Gardiner, Mont. NORTH ENTRANCE Want to experience some of the West s most spectacular scenery in a town that can feel like a cross between Northern Exposure and Animal Planet, given its wild neighbors living up the street in Yellowstone? Head to Gardiner, Mont., just five miles from Yellowstone s steaming terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs, one of the park s many natural wonders. Sitting at the only year-round entrance to the world s first national park, pretty much everything in Gardiner is colorful from the scenery and people to the names of dishes on menus, adding a poetic slant to your visit. EAST ENTRANCE The closest town to Yellowstone s East Entrance is Cody, Wyo., 53 miles away. Named after one-time resident and western showman Buffalo Bill Cody, it s home to a world-class museum complex, an Old West replica town and historic reenactments. There also are lively rodeos, charming hotels, down-home restaurants and even a zipline that puts you up to 84 feet off the ground. The closest year-round airport to Yellowstone National Park (Yellowstone Regional Airport) is here, making Cody an especially convenient launching point for trips to the park. SOUTH ENTRANCE Take one part historic cowboy charm, add a healthy dash of modern glamour and finish with a heaping portion of world-class mountain scenery, and you ve got Jackson, Wyo. Yellowstone s southern gateway town. Situated on the doorstep of Grand Teton National Park and 57 miles from Yellowstone s South Entrance, Jackson s (Jackson Hole refers to the entire valley) fantastic dining, outdoor scene and cultural attractions make it a great basecamp. It's also home (at least part-time) for a number of famous residents, including former Vice President Dick Cheney and Harrison Ford. WEST ENTRANCE This entrance is the park s busiest, so it s no wonder that West Yellowstone, Mont., is a bustling gateway with dining, shopping and attractions for travelers. Located just across the Wyoming border in Montana, West Yellowstone is a convenient entrance town for those coming from Idaho or western Montana, especially Missoula. Visitors will find Wild West flavor, plenty of lodging and a mix of cultural and outdoor activities. Catch a show at the Playmill Theatre or study up for your park trip at Yellowstone IMAX, which shows a rotating series of movies about Yellowstone. PHOTO BY GRANT ORDELHEIDE 48 COLORADO EDITION 2019

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9 WILDLIFE & NATURAL WONDERS CODY, WYO., TO RIVERTON, WYO. 139 miles, 2 hours and 21 minutes NATIVE AMERICAN POWOW NATIVE EXPERIENCE From seeing Native American dances to rolling the dice, there are a number of things to do at the Wind River Hotel & Casino. Catch a rare glimpse into Northern Arapaho culture in Riverton, Wyo. Every Tuesday evening in the summer, travelers can watch the Northern Arapaho Experience, an hour-long performance that showcases traditional and non-traditional Native American dances at the Wind River Hotel & Casino. You ll see everyone from a two-year-old to an elder dancing, says Jackie Dorothy, marketing director of the hotel and casino. The weekly dance performance is just one of a collection of unexpected experiences you ll have when you stop by or stay at the hotel. Although the Wind River Casino is the largest in the state, you ll find much more than gambling here. A small museum in the lobby, staffed by elders, showcases Northern Arapaho history. Three restaurants offer a variety of food, including the Buffalo Restaurant that offers everything from pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven to BBQ. In addition you can book Adventure Packages that involve a hotel stay paired with rafting, golfing or a dinosaur dig. What we are is a destination, says Dorothy, noting the hotel and casino have come along way since opening 20 years ago as a bingo hall. You can stay at our hotel, and it s just a day trip to Jackson, Cody and Yellowstone National Park. Stop by the Wind River Hotel & Casino at Hwy. 789 in Riverton or go online to windriverhotelcasino. com. PHOTOS COURTESY OF WIND RIVER HOTEL & CASINO 50 COLORADO EDITION 2019

10 LOCALS IN LARAMIE Here s where to go and why from these enterprising locals. PHOTOS BY MICHELLE THIEL COURTESY OF GOLDEN PRAIRIE BAKERY (JENNIFER SMALL), KARI KILMER (KARI KILMER), LORI ROBERTS COURTESY OF REBECCA WALSH (REBECCA WALSH) JENNIFER SMALL Owner, Golden Prairie Bakery JENNIFER SMALL REALIZED HER DREAM: Opened her bakery in October I grew up in a family-owned country inn where my father was an old-school apprentice-trained chef. WHY SHE LOVES LARAMIE: The small-town feel and the friendly people FAVORITE BAKERY ITEM: Probably my Chocolate Rum Pecan Pie, but people are crazy about the bear claws, cinnamon rolls, carrot cake and sourdough breads. FAVORITE THING TO DO IN LARAMIE: We have seen some great shows at the Gryphon Theatre. It is a very beautiful, small venue. Less than 1 mile from downtown, the theater is on the north side of the Historic Laramie Plains Civic Center. RECOMMENDS: The Snowy Range to see Medicine Bow Peak, a 12,014-foot peak ESSENTIAL INFORMATION: Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. You may stop by during the week while we are producing. We always have items available. HOW TO GET THERE: The bakery is located off Hwy Two miles west of the airport, turn on Herrick Lane and take the first dirt road on your right [BWJ Road]. Drive.3 miles until you reach the little red building in the cow pasture. KARI KILMER Manager, Vee Bar Guest Ranch KARI KILMER REALIZED HER DREAM: As the oldest granddaughter of co-owner Lefty Cole, Kari started working as a wrangler at Vee Bar at age 14. She continued working there in the summer through college as she fell in love with Brent Kilmer whom she met in college. The two have managed Vee Bar since WHY SHE LOVES LARAMIE: The sports and cultural opportunities offered through University of Wyoming, plus the mountains, western culture and heritage. FAVORITE THING TO DO AT THE RANCH: I am very happy to be raising my kids at the ranch. We go riding, walking, bike riding and more as a family. We also work together. Our kids come to work with us all the time. RECOMMENDS: Sporting events at the University of Wyoming BEST ASPECT OF VEE BAR RANCH: Vee Bar touches our guests in the most unexpected ways, whether it is overcoming a fear of riding, spending time together as a family or providing the right dose of adventure and relaxation. ESSENTIAL INFORMATION: The guest packages are 6-nights, Sunday through Saturday. There are three-night packages available, as well. REBECCA WALSH Owner, Basecamp outdoor store REBECCA WALSH REALIZED HER DREAM: Opened Basecamp, an outdoor store in May We do more than just sell clothing and gear. It's a place where we have workshops and clinics and start adventures. My ultimate goal is to help people get outdoors and explore. WHY SHE LOVES LARAMIE: Within a short drive from town, you can hike through the prairie, the forest or through a high alpine meadow. FAVORITE HIKING AREAS CLOSE TO LARAMIE: Happy Jack/Tie City trail network and Vedauwoo RECOMMENDS: Vedauwoo for a picnic and a hike amongst its gigantic boulder formations and the Snowy Range Scenic Byway to hike to the top of Medicine Bow Peak MOST REWARDING ASPECT OF HER WORK: "I love people. I always feel good when someone who might be intimidated by the thought of going backpacking or cross-country skiing for the fi rst time wanders in the store looking for advice and encouragement." WHAT PEOPLE CAN RENT IN THE SUMMER: All things related to camping from tents to water fi lters, backpacks and sleeping pads. You also can rent stand-up paddle boards. HOW TO GET THERE: Basecamp is located at 222 S. 2nd St. in Laramie. Learn more at the Larmie Area Visitor Center/Albany County Tourism Board, 210 E. Custer St., in Laramie or at VisitLaramie.org. MYCOLORADOPARKS.COM 51

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