Upcoming trip, Western US - Where should I go!

[Skymac]

So taking a trip next week from Kentucky to the “western frontier”. Taking a trusty Navajo, so no pressurization. Route planning will be a little more critical but strictly a VFR trip. If we don’t have the weather to make a true 10 mile visibility with ceilings giving us at minimum of 2,500/3,000’ over terrain, we just won’t make those segments. Would love to hear of other good fuel stops, route ideas, etc! Just looking to do something new with some good friends.

Planning a fuel stop in Tulsa, and then Roswell with the first overnight in Sedona.

From Sedona, planning to visit the Grand Canyon (GCN) and then on into St. George to stay in Zion.

Once leaving St. George, planning to visit Driggs (DIJ) for a couple of days to take a car into Jackson and surrounding areas. Maybe Bozeman though instead of Driggs. Uo for suggestions on this stop so get the most bag for the buck on things to see.

On the way home, stopping for fuel at Rapid City to see Mt. Rushmore and then Omaha for fuel before making it back to Kentucky.

 

[Zeldman]

If we don’t have the weather to make a true 10 mile visibility

Here in the southwest I have heard folks complain when the vis drops below 100 miles...

If anyone is interested in shopping for Navajo and southwest style then Gallup is a place to visit.

Otherwise sounds like a fun trip.!!

 

[Oldmanb777]

So much to see. But a couple of thoughts. Jackson is just another crowded city. But worth seeing if you have never been there. Cody has an amazing museum. Lander has Sinks Canyon which is pretty neat. You can see the tracks of the Oregon Trail and California trail, Mormon Trail from the air. Especially near Sweetwater. Thermopolis has a large hotsprings pool etc. Just south of Thermopolis is Wind River canyon. Pretty neat. If you venture into Kolorado. Leadville is the highest airport in North America. They also have the highest road in North America, Mosquito Pass. Spectacular scenery around there. But If you have not had some mountain flying experience, you might want to avoid the mountain airports. They are usually not difficult to deal with, but really take a bit of different planning. Just a couple if interesting ideas.

 

[Skymac]

Thanks for those ideas on locations. Some of the airports fall out of our capability for getting in and out with excess margins for our weight but otherwise experience won’t be an issue, nor will having an attitude of having to make any particular destination.

 

[luvflyin]

Montrose

Thanks for those ideas on locations. Some of the airports fall out of our capability for getting in and out with excess margins for our weight but otherwise experience won’t be an issue, nor will having an attitude of having to make any particular destination.

Montrose MTJ or Telluride TEX. Cool things to see are Telluride itself, Ouray, Black Canyon of the Gunnison

 

[Wagondriver]

Montrose

Montrose MTJ or Telluride TEX. Cool things to see are Telluride itself, Ouray, Black Canyon of the Gunnison

I left TEX early one June morning. At 08:30 DA was 11,000

 

[Silvaire]

Not sure if it's legal to visit South Dakota without stopping at Wall Drug.

 

[Skymac]

TEX isn’t even on our radar for operational concerns. Wish we were flying around a turbine but that’s not in the budget! Ha

 

[iamtheari]

Not sure if it's legal to visit South Dakota without stopping at Wall Drug.

There are exceptions, but they’re printed next to the free coffee inside Wall Drug, so nobody has ever seen them.

 

[Eldorado]

Last year, flew into lake Powell, got rent car and drove to Kanab for three nights. First day to Zion National Park(much less busy driving in from East), next day to Bryce Canyon(most enjoyable of all), last day drove to North Rim. Less tourists which I appreciated.