Wildflowers in Wyoming – Spring Showers Bring Spectacular July Flowers!!

Posted on July 13, 2018 by Roads Less Traveled

July 2018 – Our spring travels through Utah, Wymoing, Montana and South Dakota have been awash in deluges of rain for the past few months. But while we camped in Cody, Wyoming, recently we witnessed the most astonishing blossoming of wild flowers that we have ever seen anywhere.

For us, this year, March through June showers have brought gorgeous July flowers!

Wildflowers in meadow on Chief Joseph Highway Wyoming-min

After driving the eye-popping Beartooth Highway we decided to check out other scenic drives near Cody, Wyoming. But our quest for beautiful mountain scenery was quickly set aside when we drove into the National Forest and found ourselves surrounded by meadows of fabulous wildflowers!

Meadow with wildflowers and mountains Wyoming-min

We quickly set up shop and started taking pics with our cameras and tripods. What a display this was!

Photographer in meadow of wildflowers in Wyoming-min

Bouquet of wildflowers in Wyoming meadow-min

We have never seen fields of wildflowers like this!

Buddy took off on his own, chasing the grasshoppers and butterflies all over the place.

There were pinks and yellows and purples and white flowers too. And they were thick across the meadows!

Pink wildflowers blooming in Wyoming-min

Wildflowers were blooming everywhere, so we decided to forego the scenic drive for the moment and try some hiking instead. Beautiful flowers lined the roads and trails!

Buddy posed for a shot with some flowers. Thank you, Bud!

Puppy with wild lupines Cody Wyoming-min

Most of the colors so far had been yellows, purples, pale blues and pinks, but we rounded a bend to find our view filled with all of those colors plus bright red Indian Paintbrush flowers too.

Indian paintbrush and lupine wildflowers in Wyoming-min

Woods and wildflowers with puppy in Wyoming-min

Indian Paintbrush.

Neither of us had ever seen wildflowers like this before.

I joked with Mark that when I bought my first house years ago I’d purchased a packet of wildflower seeds that had a photo on it that looked like these meadows. But that packet of wildflower seeds sure didn’t give me a garden like this!

We entertained ourselves with our cameras for a few hours as Buddy continued to chase butterflies. We were in heaven!

Colorful wildflowers in Wyoming woods-min

As we tromped around in the woods, we loved the logs and rocks that were peeking up through the tall grasses. They made for the most beautiful flower arrangements!

Yellow wildflowers with tree stump in Wyoming forest-min

Wild lupine with old log in Wyoming woods-min

Pink wild flowers with tree stump in Wyoming woods-min

In some places the flowers arranged themselves together better than any floral arranger could do. Mother Nature’s work was infused with a divine and artistic flair!

Yellow daisies and lavender lupine in Wyoming forest-min

Yellow daisies and lavender lupine in Wyoming-min

Wildflowers with logs and rocks in Wyoming woods-min

Tucked away from the huge splashes of color we found some less common flowers blooming on their own.

Looking down on wildflower in Wyoming forest-min

If you happen to be in this area when it warms up after a very rainy spring, head down some of the winding dirt roads and trails that lead off the main highway. The flowers are spectacular!

Puppy looks down hiking trail in Wyoming-min

The flip side of being surrounded by gorgeous and abundant wildflowers is being surrounded by the flying bugs that feed on them — and on you!! I’m not a fan of bug spray, but the eruption of bugs everywhere we’ve been in Montana and Wyoming lately has been really bad.

I hunted around a little online and discovered that some essential oils can be effective bug repellents. I’ve never been an essential oils person, but I picked up some lavender and eucalyptus, and when we returned to those meadows of wildflowers for more flower pics, I gave them a try.

Mark opted not to try the essential oils at first, and lo and behold, about 10 minutes into photographing the flowers he was ready to quit and run home while I hadn’t been bothered much at all!

The official recipe I found called for 15 drops of lavender and 5 drops of eucalyptus mixed together with 2 tablespoons of jojoba oil in a small bottle. But all I did was put a few drops of the lavender and eucalyptus on my arms, legs and face and spread it around, and it was like magic.

I have found I need to reapply it about every hour or so, and of course it’s not as effective as 40% Deet. But it has been good enough for us and Buddy to romp around in the flowers and be comfortable.

Subscribe
Never miss a post — it’s free!

Other blog posts from Wyoming:

Beartooth Highway Scenic Drive – Dazzling All American Road – WOW!! 07/06/18
4th of July in Cody, Wyoming – The Cody Stampede Parade! 07/04/18
RVing Wyoming – Lakes, Mountains and Waterfalls 06/01/18
Wyoming Back Roads by RV – Rugged, Remote and Wild! 05/18/18
Buffalo Wyoming – RVing Basque Style in the Bighorns! 09/04/17
Buffalo Wyoming – Cowboys, Cowgirls and Sheriff Walt Longmire! 08/27/17
Eastern Wyoming Small Towns – An RV Trip through Wyoming’s Quiet Side! 08/15/17
Grand Teton National Park Wyoming – Rare Sightings! 09/29/14
Grand Teton National Park – 101 Ways to Enjoy The Tetons! 09/20/14
Grand Teton National Park WY – Mirrored Waters 09/17/14
Grand Teton National Park WY – Wild Skies 09/10/14
Flaming Gorge, WY – Absolutely spectacular, colorful views and friendly big-game animals 09/30/12
Pinedale, WY – A beautiful modern-day Boomtown 09/29/12
Jackson, WY – The Wild West Tamed & Gentrified 09/20/12
Afton, Wyoming – Cowgirl Town! 07/20/12
Devil’s Tower, WY – Remember “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” ?? 09/30/07
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming – Stunning! 09/28/07
Yellowstone National Park, WY – Bubbling Geysers 09/22/07
Yellowstone National Park, WY – Big Game Animals 09/17/07

Our most recent posts:

Beartooth Highway Scenic Drive – Dazzling All American Road – WOW!! 07/06/18
4th of July in Cody, Wyoming – The Cody Stampede Parade! 07/04/18
RVing Central Montana – Great Falls, Cool Coffee & Amish Buggies 06/29/18
Glacier National Park’s “Many Glacier” – Crown of the Continent! 06/22/18
East Glacier Scenic Drive – Treasures OUTSIDE Glacier National Park 06/15/18

More of our Latest Posts are in the MENU. New to this site? Visit RVers Start Here to find where we keep all the good stuff and check out our GEAR STORE!!

<-Previous || Next->

Beartooth Highway Scenic Drive – Dazzling All American Road – WOW!!

Posted on July 6, 2018 by Roads Less Traveled

June 2018 – The Beartooth Highway is a spectacular scenic drive in Montana and Wyoming that is so awe inspiring it has been given the well deserved designation of “All American Road.” Few roads in America have been singled out for this distinction, and the others we have driven knocked our socks off.

So, it was with great anticipation that we set out from Red Lodge, Montana, to drive the 69 miles of steep and arduous switchbacks into the heavens, passing endless sweeping vistas and stunning alpine lakes as we made our way towards the northeastern entrance of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.

Entrance to the Beartooth Highway Montana RV trip-min

A glimpse of things to come on the Beartooth Highway scenic drive.

The first snow capped mountain peaks crept into view between towering rock walls on either side of the highway shortly after we left Red Lodge, and then we drove straight into the sky until we had a fabulous view of it all at the Rock Creek Vista overlook.

Views on the Beartooth Highway Montana RV trip-min

Magnificent views of the Beartooth Mountains from Rock Creek Vista overlook.

This first formal lookout has a big parking area and a low rock wall to keep people and puppies from falling over the edge.

Puppy at Rock Creek Vista on Beartooth Highway Montana RV trip-min

Buddy liked the view too!

After the long grind going up the mountainside, our sweet pup Buddy loved seeing the view from the top! But he was most interested in the chipmunks that were scampering around on the ground!

Puppy on Beartooth Highway Montana RV camping-min

Rock Creek Vista overlook is just the first big viewing area on the incredible Beartooth scenic drive, and from that point on we were on top of the world with jaw-dropping views out our windows in every direction.

Beartooth Highway Wyoming scenic drive RV trip-min

With every bend in the road the views got better and better!

Snowcapped views on Beartooth Scenic Highway Wyoming RV trip-min

Light clouds teased the mountain tops.

Snowcapped mountains with clouds Beartooth Highway Wyoming RV trip-min

A recent snowstorm showed the mountains off in their Sunday best!

RV trip on Beartooth Highway scenic drive Wyoming-min

My camera shutter was clicking as fast as my fingers could go. When I turned to look at Buddy, his eyes were glued to the view too!

Puppy's eyes like saucers driving the Beartooth Highway in Wyoming-min

Buddy’s eyes were like saucers as we drove!

There are pullouts and overlooks all along the Beartooth Highway, and we had lots of chances to get out and stretch our legs and soak in the view.

Mountain views Beartooth Highway Wyoming RV trip-min

A view even a puppy can love!

The Beartooth Highway is closed during the winter months, and it opens over Beartooth Pass only when the road is fully cleared and safe to drive. It had been open for a few weeks when we drove it in late June, but a cold snap had drenched us with rain for a few days down in the valleys, and that same rain had buried Beartooth Pass in snow once again and had even closed it for a day or two right before our drive.

This divine intervention meant that we were treated to lots of snowy vistas and the views were just magnificent.

Beartooth Highway Scenic Drive Wyoming RV trip to the mountains-min

Wow!!!

Signs of spring were everywhere, though, and as we climbed through elevations between 7,000 and nearly 11,000 feet we saw a wide variety of wildflowers in bloom at each altitude.

Wildflowers Beartooth Scenic Highway in Wyoming-min

There were wildflowers blooming everywhere.

Snow and wildflowers Beartooth Highway scenic drive Wyoming RV trip-min

Some of these wildflowers are extremely tiny and delicate and not more than a pencil eraser in size!

Pink wildflowers Beartooth Highway scenic drive on a Wyoming RV trip-min

Pink jewels in the meadows.

Blue wildflowers on Beartooth Highway scenic drive in Wyoming-min

Tiny tiny sapphire blue flowers.

The flowers were blooming in every possible shade, and some meadows were filled with mixtures of yellow and blue and pink.

Tiny yellow wildflowers Beartooth Highway Scenic Drive Wyoming-min

A spray of yellow.

Magenta wildflowers Beartooth Scenic Highway Wyoming RV travels-min

Magenta delights.

Familiar wild lavender colored lupine bloomed in thickets here and there as well.

Wild lupines Beartooth Scenic Highway Wyoming-min

Familiar wild lupines stand tall.

One of the most dazzling images we found were the bright blue alpine lakes that shimmered in the sun between snowy banks.

Alpine lake Beartooth Highway RV scenic drive in Wyoming-min

What a view!

And patterns appeared on the hillsides showing a special kind of asymmetry that only the finest artist could render.

Gorgeous patterns Beartooth Highway Wyoming RV scenic drive-min

The snow made patterns on the mountainsides.

The Beartooth Highway is beloved by motorcyclists because it is truly the Ideal Ride. Groups of motorcycles and individuals were riding in both directions and loving the scenery with fresh air and no windows.

Motorcycle on Beartooth Highway scenic drive Wyoming-min

What a place to ride!!

At last we reached the actual Bear’s Tooth Pass.

The Bear's Tooth on Beartooth Highway scenic drive on Wyoming RV trip-min

Before we did this drive, back when we were down in Red Lodge, we had stopped into a cool metal works shop and starting chatting with a gal who worked there. She had moved to Red Lodge so she could ski as much as her heart desired, and she spoke warmly of the spring skiing around the Beartooth Highway that begins on Memorial Day and continues through June.

We saw skiiers hitting the slopes, and gingerly walked out onto the thick snow ourselves. Much of the rest of America was experiencing a massive heatwave at that very moment, but up here on the Beartooth Highway life was cool.

Snow and puppy on Beartooth Highway scenic drive Wyoming RV trip-min

Buddy loved playing in the snow.

Photographer and puppy in snow on Beartooth Highway scenic drive in Wyoming-min

Truly awe inspiring!!

Our cameras were going full speed ahead, and so were everyone else’s too. This is a place where digital photography is a true blessing. I can’t imagine how many dozens of rolls of film we would have both gone through if we’d been using film cameras!

Puppy portrait Beartooth Highway scenic drive Wyoming-min

We got portraits and selfies…like everyone was doing…who could resist?

Selfie Beartooth Highway scenic drive Wyoming RV trip-min

In some places the snow banks along the highway were still 12′ high, and people were decorating the drifts with all kinds of graffiti. We had to add ourse too!

Love in the snow Beartooth Scenic Highway RV trip in Wyoming-min

We put our own graffiti on the snowbanks too.

And then, after cresting the top, we came upon the most incredible view that stretched for miles and miles out to the horizon. Just glorious!

Majestic views Beartooth Highway scenic drive Wyoming by RV-min

The view after cresting the summit took our breath away.

Majestic vista Beartooth Highway near summit on Wyoming RV trip-min

The Beartooth Highway deserves more than one cursory drive-through, and we ended up driving all of it or part of it on three separate occasions. This gave us a day with fabulous storm clouds and a day with perfect blue skies and lots of time to savor the various overlooks until we reached saturation and returned home, satisfied in our hearts that even if we “left early” we’d be back in a day or two to take in a little more.

It is best to hit the Beartooth Highway early in the day, and on our first trip we discovered that starting from Red Lodge at 7:00 a.m. wasn’t quite early enough! Lots of people have the same bright idea of starting early, so there was a surprising amount of traffic on the mountain.

We started out another day shortly after 6:00 a.m. and when we arrived at Beartooth Lake, which is easily seen from the road about 53 miles into the drive, the water was as still as glass and held reflections of the mountains like a mirror.

Beartooth Lake reflections Beartooth Highway scenic drive by RV in Wyoming-min

Beartooth Lake was perfectly calm in the early morning hours.

Reflections at Beartooth Lake on Beartooth Highway scenic drive by RV in Wyoming-min

We stopped at the overlook and then wandered down to the boat launch to see these wondrous reflections a little closer.

Mountain reflections Beartooth Lake on Beartooth Highway Wyoming RV scenic drive-min

A short stretch of rapids broke up the reflecting images in the most beautiful way.

Reflections at Beartooth Lake on Wyoming RV scenic drive Beartooth Highway-min

The mirror reflections were disturbed by some silky rapids.

Reflections and rapids Beartooth Lake on Beartooth Highway Wyoming-min

Reflections and rapids Beartooth Lake Beartooth Scenic Drive Wyoming-min

Where the water was still, the air was even more still. It was a crystalline moment in a world apart. As we stared at the view we were alone in the universe save for a few chirping birds in the trees.

Morning calm Beartooth Lake on Beartooth Scenic Highway Wyoming-min

On our return trip past the lake the wind was whipping.
How fortunate we were to see the water like this earlier on!

Like much of Montana and Wyoming, this area was deluged with snow and rain this year and the lakes and rivers were overflowing. As I looked into the water from the shore I was amazed to see a beautiful clump of yellow wildflowers happily blooming under a few inches of water!

Submerged flowers Beartooth Lake on Beartooth Scenic Highway Wyoming-min

Overflowing water submerged a bouquet of yellow wildflowers!

A little further on we came across the Crazy Creek waterfall. Here we could see and feel the extraordinary power of the waters that had been elevated and swollen by unusual amounts of snow and rain.

Crazy Creek Falls Beartooth Highway Wyoming RV trip-min

Wildly frothing Crazy Creek Falls.

The sound was deafening and the water was leaping and spraying across the path above the rapids.

Wild Crazy Creek Falls Beartooth Highway Wyoming RV trip-min

The water pranced and sprayed and exploded everywhere.

The Beartooth Highway ranks among the most stunning scenic drives we have ever done. How wonderful it is to find that even after eleven years on the road we are still making fabulous discoveries, and what a thrill it is to witness such an astonishing place.

Stunning vista Beartooth Highway Wyoming RV scenic drive-min

We’d never get tired of these views!

If you are taking an RV trip towards Montana or Wyoming, the Beartooth Highway is well worth a big detour to see.

Bigger RVs are not recommended on this road. There are signs suggesting that rigs longer than 40′ not drive it at all, and we saw less than a handful of Class C and smaller RVs. However, Mark felt fully confident that he could easily take our trailer on the drive if we wanted or needed to. We just wouldn’t have been able to stop so often or so easily, and it would have taken a lot of concentration on his part.

Beautiful scenic drive Beartooth Highway Wyoming RV trip

Beartooth Highway rates among the most spectacular drives we have done anywhere. Do it!!

POSTSCRIPT

A little while after we drove the Beartooth Highway, we met a trucker who has been in the road construction and trucking business for many decades. He told us that he had been hired to help film an Ice Road Truckers commercial on the Beartooth Highway a few winters back. Rather than fly the film crew to Alaska where the TV series takes place, it was much cheaper to film the ad here in Montana and Wyoming. So, they did it on the first switchbacks of the Beartooth Highway on the Montana side.

His stories were fantastic as he described the week-long creation of this video which was, in many ways, quite similar to the three days of filming we participated in as part of an ad campaign for Camping World last winter.

The film crew needed four inches of snow on the Beartooth Highway, so it was plowed to leave four inches of snow behind, and when that melted more snow was piled on to bring it up to four inches. A frightening sequence where the truck skids backwards down the mountain was actually filmed on level ground while he and his fellow workers pulled the truck backwards with chains attached to another truck.

The film director wanted to stage a horrific rollover accident, and he had some fancy and expensive equipment made to help simulate the rollover. However, the equipment was designed and built on the California coast, and the difference in altitude between there and the Montana Rockies wasn’t taken into account in the design and the equipment failed.

In classic down home fashion, the Montana boys on the film set said, “Hold my beer,” and huddled together to come up with a solution. Using a truck with chains again, they put chains under the semi and jerked back on them with to flip the truck on its side (with no one in it, of course). The film director was delighted with the perfect shot and said, “I didn’t need anything from California. All I needed were some good Montana boys!”

I’m not 100% sure that the following video is the actual ad or is perhaps just a bit of footage from it, but it is definitely an ice road trucker on the first switchbacks of the Beartooth Highway in Montana, and the various sequences appear just as described. Enjoy!

Subscribe
Never miss a post — it’s free!

More info about the Beartooth Highway and camping in nearby Red Lodge, MT:

Other blog posts featuring Top Scenic Drives:
(Check out the Utah Byway 12 “All American Road” in this list!)

Some pretty back roads drives in Montana and Wyoming

RVing Wyoming – Lakes, Mountains and Waterfalls 06/01/18
Wyoming Back Roads by RV – Rugged, Remote and Wild! 05/18/18

Our most recent posts:

Wildflowers in Wyoming – Spring Showers Bring Spectacular July Flowers!! 07/13/18
4th of July in Cody, Wyoming – The Cody Stampede Parade! 07/04/18
RVing Central Montana – Great Falls, Cool Coffee & Amish Buggies 06/29/18
Glacier National Park’s “Many Glacier” – Crown of the Continent! 06/22/18
East Glacier Scenic Drive – Treasures OUTSIDE Glacier National Park 06/15/18

More of our Latest Posts are in the MENU. New to this site? Visit RVers Start Here to find where we keep all the good stuff and check out our GEAR STORE!!

<-Previous || Next->

4th of July in Cody, Wyoming – The Cody Stampede Parade!

Posted on July 4, 2018 by Roads Less Traveled

July 2018 – Every year we are somewhere different for the 4th of July, and this year we were lucky enough to find ourselves near Cody, Wyoming, a vibrant town just east of Yellowstone National Park that celebrates the 4th of July in style.

This morning we found a spot to watch the 4th of July parade opposite the historic Irma Hotel. Buffalo Bill built the Irma Hotel in 1902 to encourage tourism to the town of Cody which he and several other investors had founded in 1896.

Crowd 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

The crowd gathers in front of Buffalo Bill’s historic Irma Hotel for the 4th of July Cody Stampede Parade.

The parade announcers were set up on an upper deck and they entertained us while we waited for the parade to begin.

Announcers 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

The announcers got the crowd going.

The American flag was on proud display all over town.

Flags and crowds 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

We saw lots of American pride.

Polaris General 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

And lots of folks were dressed in stars and stripes or at least in red, white and blue.

Flag jacket 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

Waiting for the 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

Young and old alike waited patiently while more and more people showed up along the parade route, camping chairs and flags in hand.

Waiting at the 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

“I hope it starts soon!”

Cody, Wyoming, is accustomed to extending a warm welcome to throngs of summer tourists who drop in for a visit on their way to or from Yellowstone National Park.

The town hosts a professional rodeo — the Cody Stampede Rodeo — every night all summer long. It is held in their huge rodeo arena on the edge of town. The Cody Stampede Rodeo also hosted this 4th of July parade, and some of the rodeo folks rode their horses up and down the parade route, waving to friends and keeping an eye on things.

Rodeo stampede guard 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

Riders from the Cody Stampede Rodeo rode up and down the parade route.

This 4th of July Parade in Cody was actually the third parade this week. A kiddies parade was held on July 2nd and a preliminary 4th of July parade was held on the 3rd!

Finally the big parade began, and it began with a flourish.

Beginning 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

At last the parade began with a grand military display.

Then a whole slew of Rodeo Royalty went by, each of the girls and women more beautiful than the last. There were Rodeo Queens from various cities and states, and there was even the Rodeo Queen USA, if I caught her title right.

Rodeo queen 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

Miss Rodeo Mississippi.

A few days earlier we had bumped into some younger rodeo royalty at a parking lot in town. Blair, the Junior Cody Stampede Princess, and her older sister Bridger, also a member of the Cody Stampede Royalty, had just finished doing the first of the three parades, and they posed for me next to their horse trailer.

Blair explained to me that becoming the Junior Cody Stampede Princess involved not only equestrian skills like barrel racing, but a modeling contest, a written essay exam and an oral exam as well. Congratulationss to her and all the other rodeo princesses and queens!

Cody Rodeo Stampede Junior Princess and Royalty Blair and Bridger-min

We caught up with Rodeo Princess Blair and her older sister Bridger a few days prior.

There was royalty of another kind too. A woman who has appeared in the Cody 4th of July Parade for 35 years walzed by with her famous pink poodle. She hammed it up delightfully and showed us all what it’s like to be 82 years young.

Pink poodle lady 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

82 years young — in high heels — with a pink poodle to boot!

There were floats of all kinds.

“Riding hogs and chasing chicks!”

And a lineup of wonderful antique cars.

Antique cars 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

Antique cars that might have driven through Yellowstone National Park back in the day!

One local family was celebrating 100 years in Wyoming since their ancestors arrived as homesteaders in 1918.

Fales family 100 years 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

The Fales family homesteaded in Wyoming 100 years ago.

The theme of this year’s 4th of July Cody Stampede Parade was “Wyoming – Buckin’ through time,” and with that in mind a few of Wyoming’s early mountain men went by.

Mountain men 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

Before the homesteaders there were the mountain men…

One of the really fun local tourist attractions is a shooting range, the Cody Firearms Experience, where you can shoot all kinds of intriguing guns, including a gatling gun from the Civil War era. They showed it off during the parade!

Gatling gun 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

This guy shooting the gatling gun was having too much fun!

You can shoot the gatling gun too over at the Cody Firearms Experience!

There were also marching bands of all kinds. The Cody High School Band strutted past and quite a few other bands from other Wyoming towns went by as well.

Cody High School Band 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

No parade is complete with out the local high school marching band!

Tuba and marching band 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

There were lots of marching bands from all over the place.

Marching band 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

The city of Cheyenne sent quite a bit of talent to the Cody Stampede Parade. This was very impressive since Cody and Cheyenne are in opposite corners of Wyoming, over 400 miles apart!

Drummers 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

There was a bagpipe band too!

Bagpipe band 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

Bagpipes!

You can’t have a 4th of July parade without some noisy fire engines, and sure enough, If the gatling gun and marching bands weren’t loud enough, the sirens on the fire engines certainly were!

Old fashioned fire engine 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

The fire engines made the most noise, of course!

Wyoming, like all the western states, is beset by wildfires every summer, and just as there is a “snow season” and a “fall foliage season” there is a “wildfire season” too. A big round of applause went up for the wildfire hot shot firefighters as they went by.

Wildfire firefighter hot shot 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

The wildfire hot shot fire fighters are much appreciated every year come wildfire season!

We were also treated to a sighting of the Wells Fargo Stage Coach. This is a really ornate and beautiful stage coach, and the folks riding inside and on it were all members of the Wells Fargo family.

Wells Fargo Stage Coach 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

The folks in and on the Wells Fargo Stage Coach were from the Wells Fargo family!

Perhaps my favorite part of any parade is all the kids running around. I just love the excitement, and they are so darn cute. Lots of the parade folks threw out candy for the kids, and they ran after it with glee.

Kids run for candy 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

The cute kids chasing the candy were my favorite part of the parade!

Chasing candy 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

It was a wonderfully warm and sunny day, and whether they had barefeet or boots on, the happy kids were running wild and free.

Running for candy 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

Nevermind the candy. Just running around barefoot is fun!

Dressed for the 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

Shorts and boots and stars and stripes!

Sometimes the littler ones weren’t quite quick enough to get a handful.

Kids chase candy 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

Oh, I didn’t see that one!

“Score!”

But there was plenty of sharing going on too.

Sharing candy 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

“Here, have some.”

The Cody Stampede Parade was just terrific. If you didn’t catch it this year, perhaps you will next year!

Running with the American flag 4th of July parade Cody Wyoming-min

Happy Independence Day!!

Subscribe
Never miss a post — it’s free!

More info about Cody, Wyoming:

Other fun 4th of July celebrations, parades and fireworks:

Our most recent posts:

Wildflowers in Wyoming – Spring Showers Bring Spectacular July Flowers!! 07/13/18
Beartooth Highway Scenic Drive – Dazzling All American Road – WOW!! 07/06/18
RVing Central Montana – Great Falls, Cool Coffee & Amish Buggies 06/29/18
Glacier National Park’s “Many Glacier” – Crown of the Continent! 06/22/18
East Glacier Scenic Drive – Treasures OUTSIDE Glacier National Park 06/15/18

More of our Latest Posts are in the MENU. New to this site? Visit RVers Start Here to find where we keep all the good stuff and check out our GEAR STORE!!

<-Previous || Next->

RVing Central Montana – Great Falls, Cool Coffee & Amish Buggies

Posted on June 29, 2018 by Roads Less Traveled

June 2018 – After leaving stunning Many Glacier in Glacier National Park, we wandered east and south through central Montana on a wonderful and leisurely tour of rolling green farm country.

Small villages and hamlets dotted the landscape, and when we pulled into the town of Choteau (pronounced “show-tow”), it was so cute we had to stop and have a look around.

Airstream trailer RV parked in Choteau Montana-min

Tiny Choteau, Montana, was so intriguing we had to stop and check it out!

Choteau seems to love summer and summertime visitors, and we were intrigued by a collection of little buildings that stood side by side on the main drag. One was an ice cream parlor and another was a one room school house!

Ice cream parlor Choteau Montana RV trip-min

Choteau had a unique flair that was very inviting.

There was a Basque sheep wagon nearby too, something we can now recognize after enjoying the fabulous Basque festival in Buffalo, Wyoming, last year (blog post here).

Basque sheep wagon Choteau Montana RV trip-min

We noticed a Basque sheep wagon on display.

We really liked the slightly funky spirit of Choteau and got a chuckle out of seeing two dinosaurs in town.

The greeter…

…and his sidekick.

We always enjoy visiting mom-and-pop coffee shops, and we noticed an “Espresso” sign in front of a shop called Maddimo & Company.

Maddimo interior design front entrance Choteau Montana RV trip-min

Maddimo turned out to be much more than just a coffee shop!

Their front door was made of old barn boards and was very cool.

Front door Maddimo workshop design studio Choteau Montana RV trip-min

The boards in this door were once part of a barn!

Inside Maddimo we found the most intriguing and inviting little boutique shop filled with home decorations and plaques with cool sayings on them and a coffee bar too.

Maddimo interior design Choteau Montana RV trip-min

The owner, Samantha, started chatting with us as she made our yummy drinks. She explained that she holds crafting workshops right there in the shop, and she showed us a wonderful table filled with paints and other artists’ goodies.

Maddimo workshop Choteau Montana RV trip-min

Samantha offers workshops on how to make these wonderful plaques and home decorations.

Samantha makes all the plaques she sells, and she teaches other people how to make them too.

One had a saying that is perfect for would-be adventurers who are on the fence about becoming full-time RVers!

Plaque from Maddimo Choteau Montana RV trip-min

Indeed!

Samantha also sells stencil templates so craftsy people can make sets of plaques for friends and family.

‘It’s a work in progress,” she said, gesturing around the cute little shop. Growing up in Choteau, Samantha’s family had owned a deli restaurant that they eventually sold. After she moved away and lived elsewhere for a few years, Samantha and her husband decided to move back to Choteau and, along with her mother, they bought back the deli and opened it again.

This was the first season for their new venture, and the place was hopping. How satisfying it must be to return home to your roots and buy back and reopen the family business to great success!

Maddimo unique gifts Choteau Montana RV trip-min

There were lots of neat sayings and stencil templates to reproduce them easily.

We continued on down the road towards Great Falls, Montana, which has always had a special place in my heart even though I’d never been there. One of my childhood idols, the figure skater John Misha Petkevich, grew up in Great Falls. For years I cherished an embroidered patch from his figure skating club in my collection of club patches, and I always wondered what his hometown of faraway Great Falls was like.

We aren’t city folk, but with a name like Great Falls, we figured this town had to have some kind of fabulous waterfall, and sure enough there are several.

We drove to Ryan Island at the edge of town, a lovely little grassy park that is accessed via a suspension bridge for walkers. Tall shade trees fill the park and a short and pretty trail takes you to an incredible view of Ryan Dam and the Missouri River spilling over.

Ryan Island Park Great Falls Montana-min

The grassy park at Ryan Island has lots of big shade trees. A bald eagle had a nest in one!

Rainbow in Ryan Dam Waterfall Great Falls Montana-min

Great Falls, tamed a bit by Ryan Dam.

Back in 1805 when Lewis and Clark made their 16 month trek across America from St. Louis, Missouri, to the Pacific Coast at the mouth of the Columbia River, they came upon these waterfalls. At the time, of course, the falls flowed freely and unhindered. I got goose bumps when I read a plaque that said Merriweather Lewis had likely stood right where I was standing.

Ryan dam waterfalll Great Falls Montana RV trip-min

Merriweather Lewis stood somewhere near here!

Mandan Indian Chiefs had told Lewis that his group would encounter the falls during their voyage on the Missouri River. Lewis wrote in his diary:

“…my ears were saluted with the agreeable sound of a fall of water and advancing a little further I saw the spray arrise above the plain like a column of smoke…..it began to make a roaring too tremendous to be mistaken for any cause short of the great falls of the Missouri.”

After arriving at the falls, the entire Corps of Discovery team, about four dozen people, spent the next three weeks carrying all their boats and equipment 18 miles around the falls so they could continue their journey afloat on the Missouri River.

In contrast, we had driven up in an air conditioned truck with music playing over multiple speakers and had adjusted our heated and vented electric seats just so.

Interestingly, Captain Lewis had stood pretty close to where we were standing on Thursday, June 13, 1805. It was now Tuesday, June 12, 2018. The dates were so close yet were separated by over 200 years and such radical change. How awesome!

The Lewis & Clark expedition had to carry their boats and equipment overland 18 miles to get beyond the series of waterfalls.

We continued our back road RV travels in Montana heading east and south from Great Falls. Pastures and farm fields stretched in every direction on gently rolling hills.

Our drive through rural central Montana took us past beautiful rolling farmlands.

We passed an old truck with a straw man riding a stack of hay bales bronco style in the bed. Cute!

Bronco riding a hay bale on a farm truck in Montana-min

Ride ’em, Cowboy!

Suddenly we saw a horse-and-buggy warning road sign, and within a few minutes we spotted a horse pulling a young Amish couple in an open two person “courting” buggy that the young men drive. We had talked to a young Amish man about his cool ride in upstate New York. He was as proud of his buggy as any teen is about their new wheels. How neat to find more Amish out here in rural Montana!

Amish couple riding in a courting buggy in central Montana-min

Some Amish families have settled in this area.

Within a few minutes we saw another Amish horse and buggy go by. How fun!

Amish buggy trotting down the road in central Montana-min

As we dropped south and approached the small town of Harlowton, Montana, we suddenly started seeing a different kind of farming: wind farming. There were rows and rows of windmills in huge clusters here and there.

We came across a different kind of farming!

We stopped in Harlowton and noticed that windmills adorned a lot of buildings and business logos.

Harolowton Montana wind farm appreciation-min

Windmills are a common theme on stores and businesses in Harlowton, Montana.

Even the local brewpub, Gally’s Brewing Company, had a windmill on their logo!

We decided to grab a pint and stepped inside Gally’s Brewing Company. I asked the bartender why they had a windmill on their logo and why windmills were such a popular motif all around town. She explained that the wind farms were bringing a lot of money to the community.

The brewery wasn’t open for a few more hours, so we didn’t get to taste any of their brews, but we continued chatting with the bartender and she explained a little more about these wind farms. The ranchers graze their cattle on their land and also lease it out to wind generating companies to erect windmills. The cattle just munch the grass all around the base of the windmills.

So, the ranchers make money from the leases, the community makes money from taxes that the wind generator companies pay, and there are a few more jobs to be found. “It’s a win-win,” she said with a smile.

Gally's Brewing Company Harlowton Montana-min

There was even a windmill on the brewpub’s logo!

We continued driving south towards Big Timber through this is a very quiet part of the country. There were lots of open spaces and small peaceful spots tucked under the trees alongside streams and rivers.

Big storm clouds swept across the sky, whipping themselves into a frenzied windy storm that dumped buckets of rain across the land.

Afterwards, a beautiful rainbow appeared.

Rainbow between the trees in central Montana-min

Stormy skies and a huge rainstorm produced a beautiful rainbow.

Rainbow over farm fields central Montana-min

And then the sun set in vibrant shades of pink and orange that filled the sky.

If you are traveling across Montana, whether with or without an RV, these quiet roads through the middle of the state make for a rewarding trip, and the village of Choteau, the waterfall and dam at Ryan Island in Great Falls, and the town of Harlowton are fun stops along the way.

RV camping at sunset in central Montana-min

Perhaps you’ll catch Gally’s Brewing Company when they’re open for business in the afternoon and you can sample some of their brew and tell us how you like them!

Subscribe
Never miss a post — it’s free!

More info about these areas:

Choteau
Maddimo & Co. Coffee & Gifts (Facebook page)
Great Falls
Ryan Island Picnic Park
Harlowton
RV campgrounds near Choteau, near Great Falls and near Harlowton
Our route from Choteau through Great Falls and Ryan Island to Harlowton towards Big Timber

Other blog posts from Montana:

Our most recent posts:

Wildflowers in Wyoming – Spring Showers Bring Spectacular July Flowers!! 07/13/18
Beartooth Highway Scenic Drive – Dazzling All American Road – WOW!! 07/06/18
4th of July in Cody, Wyoming – The Cody Stampede Parade! 07/04/18
Glacier National Park’s “Many Glacier” – Crown of the Continent! 06/22/18
East Glacier Scenic Drive – Treasures OUTSIDE Glacier National Park 06/15/18

More of our Latest Posts are in the MENU. New to this site? Visit RVers Start Here to find where we keep all the good stuff and check out our GEAR STORE!!

<-Previous || Next->

Glacier National Park’s “Many Glacier” – Crown of the Continent!

Posted on June 22, 2018 by Roads Less Traveled

June 2018 – We have visited Glacier National Park three times, and each time we have seen another jewel in this appropriately named “Crown of the Continent” National Park.

Glacier National Park has several entrances, and all of them head towards the mountains in the crown. Like all the biggest and most famous National Parks, it deserves at least a week of exploring — or many return trips — to experience the beauty in any kind of depth.

Approaching Many Glacier in Glacier National Park Montana-min

As we approached Many Glacier the mountains rose before us in the distance.

The most popular entrance to Glacier National Park is on the west side at West Glacier, but some of the most jaw-dropping views are on the east side, 120 miles away via an easy drive around the park or 50 miles away via the twisty, curvy mountain road that traverses Logan Pass in the middle of the Park.

A few years ago we explored the park at the Two Medicine and St. Mary entrances on the east side, but somehow missed the stunning Many Glacier area. It is the furthest north entrance to the east side of Glacier National Park and is just 50 miles from Canada’s spectacular Waterton Lakes National Park.

Waterton Lakes National Park abuts Glacier National Park along the US/Canadian border, shaking hands across the border in what is officially called Waterton-Glacier National Park in both countries.

First views entering Many Glacier at Glacier National Park Montana-min

We got a glimpse of Lake Sherburne as we drove in.

Of the 60+ National Parks, Monuments and World Heritage Sites we have visited so far, Canada’s Waterton Lakes is one of our favorites. For anyone visiting Glacier National Park, we highly recommend driving the short distance and going through the very easy and small border crossing to have a look at Waterton Lakes, a vibrant and breathtaking jewel in the crown of Waterton-Glacier National Park.

However, if you don’t have your passport with you, Many Glacier is very similar to Waterton Lakes and is truly awe-inspiring as well.

Lake Sherburne and wildflowers Many Glacier Entrance Glacier National Park Montana-min

Many Glacier at Glacier National Park in Montana

When we visited Many Glacier this year, we got excited as soon as we saw the mountains appearing down the road in front of us. We stopped to enjoy the glorious wildflowers that were blooming along Lake Sherburne.

Wildflowers blooming at Many Glacier National Park Montana-min

Wildflowers were in bloom everywhere.

Glacial lakes are vivid shades of turquoise and blue when the light catches them just right, and the mountains behind Lake Sherburne were truly majestic.

Mountains and Swiftcurrent Lake at Many Glacier in Glacier National Park Montana

Wow!

Montana had an enormous amount of snow this past winter, and the rivers and lakes have been swollen for weeks as the snow has melted.

A waterfall to our left on the road alongside Swiftcurrent Creek that is probably very modest at other times of the year was crashing over the rocks in an all fired rush to get downhill.

Thunderous waterfall Swiftcurrent Creek Many Glacier at Glacier National Park Montana-min

The waterfall on Sherburne Creek was roaring!

Huge waterfall Swiftcurrent Creek Many Glacier at Glacier National Park Montana-min

Montana had big snows and a rainy spring, so the water was rushing at full throttle.

We walked along a short trail on the edges of the waterfall to get a closer look.

Waterfall at Many Glacier in Glacier National Park Montana-min

Rushing waterfall Many Glacier at Glacier National Park Montana-min

At the end of the road leading into Many Glacier we crossed another area of rapids that is just upstream from the waterfall.

Rapids on Swiftcurrent Creek at Many Glacier section of Glacier National Park Montana-min

And then we arrived at the most fabulous view. Jagged mountains formed a fantastic backdrop behind Swiftcurrent Lake. In the distance, the historic Many Glacier Hotel proudly watched over the lake as it has for over a century.

Many Glacier Hotel Swiftcurrent Lake Glacier National Park Montana-min

Swiftcurrent Lake at Many Glacier!

Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park on Swiftcurrent Lake-min

Many Glacier Hotel is a Swiss Chalet style hotel that was built in 1914-15.

We were mesmerized by the view, and we both shot at least three photos with every step we took as we wandered around on the shore. Looking at our photos later, Mark noticed he had captured a butterfly in one of his images. How cool!!

Butterfly at Many Glacier in Glacier National Park Montana-min

A butterfly flitted through Mark’s pic!

The weather was constantly changing with the clouds chasing the sun away and then the sun trying very hard to chase the clouds away.

Pine tree at Many Glacier in Glacier National Park Montana-min

Many Glacier is so photogenic we had a blast wandering around taking pics.

Mountains at Swiftcurrent Lake Many Glacier Entrance of Glacier National Park Montana-min

The valleys left by the immense earth-moving forces of the glaciers are all U-shaped with sloping sides and rounded bottoms.

Glacier carved valleys across Swiftcurrent Lake Many Glacier National Park Montana-min

Pine tree at Swift Current Lake Many Glacier in Glacier National Park Montana-min

There is a small gravel beach along the shoreline and a dirt road wanders around the hotel property.

Swiftcurrent Lake at Many Glacier in Glacier National Park Montana-min

A dirt road wanders near the shore and hiking trails go all over the place.

Beach at Swiftcurrent Lake in Many Glacier section of Glacier National Park Montana-min

In 1914-15, long before Glacier National Park was created in 1932, the Great Northern Railway built the Swiss Chalet style Many Glacier Hotel on the banks of Swiftcurrent Lake. The railroad barrons at the time wanted to encourage people to travel on their trains, so they went to great lengths to create enticing destinations at the ends of their lines.

Another beautiful resort that sprang into existence this way is Sun Valley, Idaho, which was created as a skiing destination for the Union Pacific Railroad.

What a fabulous property Many Glacier Hotel is, and how exotic it must have been to journey there and spend some time over 100 years ago. It would be fabulous to stay there now!!

Many Glacier Hotel

Many rooms not only have lake views but have a porch that opens onto the lake.

Balcony view of Swiftcurrent Lake at Many Glaicer Hotel in Glacier National Park Montana-min

Some rooms have a little porch and a fabulous view.

As we wandered around the hotel we noticed two restaurant workers from the fancy Ptarmigan Dining Room taking a break and soaking in the views from the parking lot.

I started chatting with one of them and discovered that he was living right at Many Glacier in dormitory style housing while working at the restaurant for a four month summer job gig. It was his fourth summer doing it, and he absolutely loved it.

“All you need to bring is your hiking boots,” he told me, “and we make great money too!”

Wow!!

He’d had restaurant serving experience before, but he said the hotel was still hiring for this summer and that folks with no restaurant experience bus tables and do other entry level jobs.

Swiss Chalet style Many Glacier Hotel on Swiftcurrent Lake Glacier National Park Montana-min

Climbing up on the hillside opposite the hotel we got some wonderful shots.

Future full-time RVers often wonder how they can make money on the road. Working at a restaurant overlooking a stunning view serving happy guests who are on vacation in one of the most picturesque spots in our country wouldn’t be a bad way to pick up some pocket money.

And for folks who don’t need a summer job themselves but who know young adults who’d appreciate a thrilling summer experience, what a fabulous summer that would be! You have to be at least 18 to apply. I know I would have far preferred working in the Many Glacier Hotel kitchen over the urban kitchen that did employ me my 18th summer so many decades ago!

Many Glacier Hotel on Swiftcurrent Lake Glacier National Park Montana-min

What a place to call home for a few days or a few months!

We just scratched the surface of Many Glacier on a quickie in-and-out visit this time around. But we will be back to explore it in greater depth in the future. Unfortunately, adorable puppies aren’t allowed on National Park hiking trails, which hampers us a little nowadays. For folks without a dog in tow, there are oodles of hikes and alpine lakes and mountain views all around Many Glacier. What a jewel it is!

Many Glacier Hotel viewed across Swiftcurrent Lake in Glacier National Park Montana

Looking back across Swiftcurrent Lake at Many Glacier Hotel.

The restaurant hadn’t yet opened for the season when we visited, so we didn’t have a chance to check it out. But many tables are situated next to big windows that look out on the lake, and the server I talked to assured me the food was really good. Sounds awesome! It is on our list for next time!

Subscribe
Never miss a post — it’s free!

More info about Glacier National Park and Many Glacier:

Glacier National Park
Camping inside Glacier National Park
Details about each campground inside Glacier NP – including current status (full/closed/etc.)
Campgrounds and RV Parks outside the Park – Zoom out on the map for Two Medicine, St. Mary & Many Glacier to the north
Many Glacier Hotel
Dining at the Many Glacier Hotel
Map showing Many Glacier Entrance and the Hotel

Other blog posts from Waterton-Glacier National Park in Montana and Alberta, Canada:

Our most recent posts:

Wildflowers in Wyoming – Spring Showers Bring Spectacular July Flowers!! 07/13/18
Beartooth Highway Scenic Drive – Dazzling All American Road – WOW!! 07/06/18
4th of July in Cody, Wyoming – The Cody Stampede Parade! 07/04/18
RVing Central Montana – Great Falls, Cool Coffee & Amish Buggies 06/29/18
East Glacier Scenic Drive – Treasures OUTSIDE Glacier National Park 06/15/18

More of our Latest Posts are in the MENU. New to this site? Visit RVers Start Here to find where we keep all the good stuff and check out our GEAR STORE!!

<-Previous || Next->

East Glacier Scenic Drive – Treasures OUTSIDE Glacier National Park

Posted on June 15, 2018 by Roads Less Traveled

June 2018 – America’s stunning National Parks get all the press, but sometimes the drive towards them is almost as beautiful. As we made our way to the eastern side of Glacier National Park in Montana via US-2, the image of a mountain reflecting in a pond caught our eye.

Mountain reflections in a lake at Glacier National Park Montana-min

US-2 is a beautiful drive. These pretty reflections made us stop.

We just had to pull over for a closer look. The day was a big gloomy but the landscape was lovely.

RV trip to the east side of Glacier National Park in Montana-min

The wildflowers were beginning to bloom, a perfect foreground for these snow capped peaks.

Wildflowers and mountains Glacier National Park Montana RV trip-min

Pretty wildflowers were in bloom!

Huge snows last winter and a bunch of rain this spring has made all of the rivers and streams in Montana swell almost beyond the riverbanks, and there are waterfalls, big and small, everywhere.

Waterfall Glacier National Park Montana RV trip-min

Hopping back in our rig, we drove alongside the eastern side of Glacier National Park on US-89, and the scenery got better and better.

Mountain views east Glacier National Park scenic drive in an RV-min

Spectacular views east of Glacier National Park.

Big rigs can’t drive the narrow and twisting Route 49 that goes to the Two Medicine entrance of Glacier National Park. Instead, we had to route through the town of Browning, but the views we saw as we headed north towards Saint Mary were fabulous.

Scenic Drive east Glacier National Park Montana RV trip-min

Suddenly the U-shaped valleys of Glacier National Park that were carved by glaciers eons ago came into view. Again, we had to pull over, if only to get a shot of our rig in such a setting!

Snowy mountains east Glacier National Park scenic drive in an RV-min

Rounded valleys carved by glaciers come into view.

RV trip east Glacier National Park Montana-min

Upper St. Mary Lake is located inside Glacier National Park, and we loved exploring it two years ago, but Lower St. Mary Lake is located outside of the Park, and pullouts along the road offered some fabulous views too.

Lower St Mary Lake Glacier National Park Montana RV trip-min

Lower St. Mary Lake outside Glacier National Park

When the sun is out, St. Mary Lake is a rich and luscious shade of blue, but on this overcast day the air was perfectly still and the mountains were able to check out their reflections in the silvery water.

Lupines blooming at St Mary Lake Montana-min

Lupines were blooming on the hillsides.

Reflections St. Mary Lake Glacier National Park Montana-min

St. Mary Lake can be a vivid blue with waves twinkling in the sun, but we caught it on a pensive, reflective day.

Lower St Mary Lake reflections near Glacier National Park on RV trip-min

The water was like glass.

The most famous part of Glacier National Park is the Going to the Sun Road that traverses the park via Logan Pass between the east and west sides. This road is so high that it is buried in snow well into the Spring, and the risk of avalanches keeps the road closed until mid to late June (or even early July!).

Mountain reflections Lower St Mary Lake near Glacier National Park on RV trip-min

The east side of Glacier National Park may be its more beautiful side.

For Park visitors that arrive early in the season, like we did, the views outside the Park are almost as stunning as the Going to the Sun Road, and there’s very little traffic.

Lower St Mary Lake reflections near Glacier National Park Montana-min

US-89 runs through the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, and some lucky souls have homes overlooking the lake. We spotted one on the far shore. How cool!

Reflections Lower St Mary Lake Glacier National Park Montana-min

Out in the pastures we saw some horses romping around too. Beautiful!

Horses running near Glacier National Park Montana-min

Horses ran free in a nearby pasture.

Our goal this year was to visit Many Glacier, one of the most spectacular spots in Glacier National Park and a place we had never visited before. As we anticipated, our photos from there will fill an entire upcoming blog post! Once we finished our visit, we were back out on glorious US-89 once again heading south, this time with sunshine.

Mountain views east of Glacier National Park Montana on an RV trip-min

At one pullout a dirt road beckoned us to take a walk towards the mountains.

Trekking down a road towards Glacier National Park Montana-min

Buddy leads us into the mountain views.

Stream and mountain views Glacier National Park Montana-min

A river runs through it.

The wildflowers were blossoming in all their glory.

In the past, we have searched high and low for fields of wildflowers to photograph, often with little success. But it seems that the best way to find anything super special in this life is not to go looking for it! Here we were soaking in the awe-inspiring mountain views when we discovered we were surrounded by fields of wildflowers.

Glacier National Park mountains with wildflowers-min

Mountains and wildflowers.

Buddy posed by some flowers for a pic.

The flowers inside Glacier National Park might be more plentiful and the mountains might be taller and craggier than what we saw on this special scenic drive outside the Park, but it was pretty darn gorgeous.

Wildflowers and views of Glacier National Park Montana-min

Wildflowers east of Glacier National Park on Montana RV trip-min

For RVers heading to Glacier National Park, the trek from the more heavily visited west side to the less visited east side is a 100 mile trip. But despite the extra miles it is well worth doing, not just for the majestic scenery inside the Park at Two Medicine, St. Mary and Many Glacier, but for the eye-popping views you’ll see on the way there and back!

RV trip to the east side of Glacier National Park Montana at St Mary Lake-min

US-89 is easy to drive with a big rig and there are lots of large pullouts where you can stop and savor the view.

Please note that there was construction on US-89 when we drove it in June 2018. We experienced long delays as a pilot car led groups of vehicles through the lengthy construction zone. Hopefully next year the road improvements will be finished and it will be a breeze to drive!

Subscribe
Never miss a post — it’s free!

Glacier National Park Entrances on the East Side:

More info about the eastern side of Glacier National Park:

Going to the Sun Road info and past open/closing dates
RV Parks and Campgrounds on Glacier’s East Side – RV Park Reviews
RV Parks and Campgrounds near St. Mary – Allstays
Map of our route – Zoom in and out

Other blog posts from Waterton-Glacier National Park:

PLUS – All of our blog posts from Montana
PLUS – Links to all our visits to the National Parks

Our most recent posts:

Wildflowers in Wyoming – Spring Showers Bring Spectacular July Flowers!! 07/13/18
Beartooth Highway Scenic Drive – Dazzling All American Road – WOW!! 07/06/18
4th of July in Cody, Wyoming – The Cody Stampede Parade! 07/04/18
RVing Central Montana – Great Falls, Cool Coffee & Amish Buggies 06/29/18
Glacier National Park’s “Many Glacier” – Crown of the Continent! 06/22/18

More of our Latest Posts are in the MENU. New to this site? Visit RVers Start Here to find where we keep all the good stuff and check out our GEAR STORE!!

<-Previous || Next->

Montana Road Trip – Wildflowers, Bison, a Mission Church + Good Eats!

Posted on June 8, 2018 by Roads Less Traveled

June 2018 – We recently visited our friends Bob and Donna Lea in western Montana, and they took us on a wonderful daylong road trip into the wildflowers and mountains that lie between Missoula and Flathead Lake.

Scenic views driving Montana back roads on an RV trip-min

We saw some wonderful pastoral scenery on a day trip in western Montana.

The scenery on the drive was delightful, with snow capped mountains and pretty farms dotting the landscape.

After we’d drive on lovely back roads for a little while, we pulled into the Windmill Village Bakery in Ravalli for a cup of coffee and some freshly made pastries.

Windmill Village Bakery Ravalli Montana RV trip-min

Windmill Village Bakery is known for fresh made donuts.

This cute little roadside bakery is known for its fresh donuts, which are made right behind the counter, and for its beautiful patio that overlooks a small pond and windmill.

Out back there is a patio overlooking a pond with a windmill.

With our tummies happily full, we made our way to the National Bison Range. Managed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service, this land is part of the National Wildlife Refuge System and is a refuge for 350-500 buffalo that was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908.

National Bison Range in Montana RV trip-min

The National Bison Range has buffalo and a whole lot more!

Other animals also call the refuge home, and when we arrived we saw an enormous stack of elk antlers. Elk naturally shed their antlers each year, and these antlers were collected at the range.

Antler pile National Bison Range Montana RV trip-min

A pile of shed elk antlers greeted us at the Visitors Center.

There is a loop drive that meanders through the refuge, and as we drove into the park we climbed quite high up in the hills and had a great view of the Flathead River.

River view National Bison Range RV trip-min

The loop drive took us high up for a view of the Flathead River.

The scenic drive is a gravel road, but it is easy to drive in a passenger car.

Winding road National Bison Range Montana RV trip-min

The ribbon of road is gravel and easily driven.

We arrived just after the peak of wildflower season, but there were still lots of beautiful flowers in bloom blanketing the hillsides. We walked on a trail through the vast beds of flowers and spotted some wild photographers sitting among them!

Photographing wildflowers National Bison Range Montana-min

Photographers were enjoying quiet moments with the wildflowers.

A trio of photographers.
The peak for wildflowers in the BIson Range is mid-May but they were still lovely two weeks later.

The flowers were so thick and so colorful that we vowed we will return another year to experience this place during the peak in mid-May.

Spring wildflowers National Bison Range in Montana-min

Spring wildflower National Bison Range Montana RV trip-min

Of course, flowers don’t follow the Gregorian Calendar too closely, so we’ll call ahead to see how the flowers are doing before visiting!

Lupine in bloom National Bison Range Montana-min

As we were strolling and crouching between the flowers to get their pics, Bob pointed out the Bitterroot flower. This beautiful pink flower is the namesake of the Bitterroot Valley.

Bitterroot flower National Bison Range Montana-min

Bitterroot flowers used to be very common in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley!

This seemed like a fantastic place to get a selfie. Of course, nowadays our selfies include a certain furry person, and sometimes it takes more than one shot to get it right. In the first pic he let out a big yawn. Luckily we got another!

Selfie with puppy yawning at the National Bison Range in Montana-min

What a great spot for a selfie. Oops, Buddy was yawning!

Selfie with puppy at the National Bison Range in Montana-min

That’s better.

Montana had a ton of snow this past winter and loads of rain in the spring too, so the rolling hills were lush and green.

Montana rolling hills National Bison Range-min

Rolling green hills of Montana.

We were very surprised to learn that the very flat valley below us was once the bottom of a huge lake that reached from the mountains we were standing on to the mountains in the distance.

Mountain views National Bison Range Montana RV trip-min

At one time a lake filled the valley between the mountains.

Just like driving through parts of Arizona and Utah that were once covered with an inland sea where you feel like you are driving on the bottom of an ocean with tall islands sticking up around you, it was easy to imagine a huge glacial lake with waves lapping the sides of these mountains. The lake came up about two-thirds of the height of the mountains.

Snowcapped mountains and valley National Bison Range Montana RV trip-min

Looking down at the ancient lake bottom.

We had been enjoying the wildflowers and the beautiful views, but the buffalo herd was apparently on break that day. We did see two sauntering by the car at one point but couldn’t get our cameras going fast enough to get a photo. However, near the end of our drive we saw a lone buffalo in the distance.

A lone bison National Bison Range Montana RV trip-min

A solitary bison.

By now we were ready for another scenic snack so we stopped at the Ninepipes Lodge which has a wonderful outdoor patio overlooking a pond with mountains in the distance.

Views at Ninepipes Lodge on Montana RV trip-min

We had a fabulous view for lunch from the patio at Ninepipes Lodge.

There’s an indoor dining room too, but the weather was just perfect to sit outside. The fish and chips was terrific, and we got a kick out of the gift shop too!

Dining room view Ninepipes Lodge Montana-min

The indoor dining room was beautiful, but we liked being outside on the deck.

The gift shop had lots of goodies.

Our final stop for the day was at St. Ignatius Mission Church. This church was built in 1891.

St. Ignatius Mission Montana with wooden sign-min

St. Ignatius Mission was built in 1891.

We explored the pretty interior of this Catholic church.

The mission is very ornate inside with elaborate paintings on every nook and cranny. There are 58 paintings in all, each one painted by Brother Joseph Carignano.

Inside the St. Ignactius Mission Montana-min

The church walls are decorated with 58 different paintings.

Inside the St Ignatius Mission in Montana-min

Church services are still offered here.

The paintings have been meticulously restored and are vibrant and colorful.

Alter in the St. Ignatius Mission in Montana-min

Interior of the St. Ignatius Mission in Montana-min

Detail painting from the Interior of the St. Ignatius Mission in Montana-min

Almost all the paintings have been lovingly restored. Just a few remain to be done.

If you are taking your RV to Montana and are looking for a scenic drive with some unique places to see that are not necessarily the headliners in the tourist literature, the National Bison Range and St. Ignatius Mission are well worth a visit, and you’ll find tasty eats in a beautiful setting at both the Windmill Village Bakery and at the Ninepipes Lodge!

What a beautiful day in a pretty state!

Subscribe
Never miss a post — it’s free!

More info about these places:

Windmill Village Bakery
National Bison Range
Ninepipes Lodge
St. Ignatius Mission and more info here
Locations of these places – Zoom in and zoom out

Related Posts:

Our most recent posts:

Wildflowers in Wyoming – Spring Showers Bring Spectacular July Flowers!! 07/13/18
Beartooth Highway Scenic Drive – Dazzling All American Road – WOW!! 07/06/18
4th of July in Cody, Wyoming – The Cody Stampede Parade! 07/04/18
RVing Central Montana – Great Falls, Cool Coffee & Amish Buggies 06/29/18
Glacier National Park’s “Many Glacier” – Crown of the Continent! 06/22/18

More of our Latest Posts are in the MENU. New to this site? Visit RVers Start Here to find where we keep all the good stuff and check out our GEAR STORE!!

<-Previous || Next->

RVing Wyoming – Lakes, Mountains and Waterfalls

Posted on June 1, 2018 by Roads Less Traveled

May 2018 – Wyoming is best known for the eye-popping beauty of its National Parks on the western side of the state. Both Yellowstone and Grand Teton blew us away with easy to see herds of big animals, and seeing Jenny Lake glittering in the middle of the towering snow-capped Tetons is an image we will always cherish.

But when we took our RV across the northern part of Wyoming recently, we found some wonderful lakes, mountains and waterfalls that are less well known just a bit off the beaten path.

Cliffs on the shore of Keyhole State Park on RV camping trip to Wyoming-min

Keyhole Reservoir, Wyoming

Keyhole Reservoir is a horseshoe shaped body of water that is lined with rocky cliffs, and we had a ball strolling on the hiking trails along the shore and taking pics as we walked.

Rock cliffs at Keyhole State Park Wyoming RV trip-min

The steep rock cliffs on the water’s edge were an unexpected surprise.

Even though it was early Spring, there were lots of boats out on the water. There were pleasure boats zipping around and there were fishermen slowly trolling and reeling in the catch of the day.

Boating at Keyhole State Park Wyoming RV camping trip-min

Lots of boaters were out on the lake.

We were within earshot of the fishermen drifting past in their boats, and we called out to the guys in one boat. We had seen fish jumping clear out of the water in a small cove nearby, and sure enough, these fishermen had a big fish to show off for us before they threw it back in the water.

Fishing at Keyhole State Park on Wyoming RV trip-min

Buddy looks down at the fishermen below.

Fishing at Keyhole Reservoir Wyoming-min

Nice catch!

Around the lake signs of Spring appeared in patches here and there on the ground in beautiful sprays of purple flowers.

Wildflowers in rural Wyoming RV trip-min

Spring is here!

But having flowers on the ground didn’t guarantee sun in the sky, and the sky was overcast for most of the day! Finally, in the late afternoon, the sun made an appearance just above the horizon and cast a yellow glow across the cliffs.

Steep rock cliffs Keyhole State Park Wyoming RV trip-min

The landscape took on a glorious golden glow in the late afternoon.

Golden hour Keyhole State Park rock cliffs RV camping trip in Wyoming-min

Keyhole State Park Wyoming RV trip shee rock cliffs-min

The next morning we awoke to a wonderfully mystical layer of fog.

Keyhole State Park RV trip - stone cliffs with fog-min

Foggy morning Keyhole State Park RV trip-min

About 120 miles west of Keyhole State Park we found Lake De Smet. The water was mirror-calm and the eerie light of an impending rain storm made for some beautiful reflections.

Cloudy sky reflections De Smet Lake Wyoming RV trip-min

A wonderful moodiness sets in at Lake De Smet, Wyoming.

De Smet Lake State Park RV camping in Wyoming-min

No rock cliffs here, but lots of wonderful reflections.

There were a few fishing boats on the lake and quite a few birds were out fishing too.

De Smet Lake Wyoming RV camping trip-min

A cormorant takes off.

And the fishing went on until dark!

A fisherman keeps fishing even as the sun sets around him!

Around the lake and in nearby gardens, we found some lovely flowers blooming.

Bleeding heart flowers in Spring in Wyoming-min

Bleeding hearts.

Lupine with rain water droplets on each petal-min

Lupine glisten with droplets of rain.

We had taken I-90 to get between Keyhole State Park and Lake De Smet, but on the next leg of our journey we traveled on the fabulous Big Horn Scenic Byway that crosses the Big Horn mountains between Sheridan and Ten Sleep on US-14.

Scenic drive on RV trip in rural Wyoming-min

We headed out on the Big Horn Scenic Byway.

What a great drive! We had been a little concerned about tackling all the hairpin turns and steep climbs at the beginning of the Big Horn Scenic Byway, but they are big sweeping gentle turns that are easy with a big rig, and the gradients are not difficult if you have a strong tow vehicle or motorhome engine.

Wyoming Big Horn Mountains scenic drive Route 14 RV trip-min

Parts of the Big Horn Scenic Byway passed between towering rock walls.

We loved the rolling hills and views as we climbed, but it was the waterfalls that really got our attention. We noticed one as we rounded a bend and quickly pulled over to hike down a berm to get a few pics.

Waterfall in Big Horn Mountains RV trip-min

When we spotted a waterfall we quickly pulled over.

This first waterfall was like a warmup for the magnificent waterfalls we found at around the midpoint of the Big Horn Scenic Byway at Shell Falls. These falls have been beautifully developed to allow visitors to view the falls and surrounding canyon from many viewpoints.

Shell Falls Big Horn Mountains RV trip Wyoming-min

Shell Falls, Big Horn Scenic Byway, Wyoming

There are several levels of walkways at beautiful Shell Falls

The sound of the falls was a thunderous and never ending roar.

Waterfall at Shell Falls Big Horn Mountains Wyoming RV trip-min

What a rush!

Shell Falls waterfall RV trip in Wyoming BIg Horn Mountains-min

Hear me roar!

I imagine that later in the summer season the falls are a little more tame, but with the snow melt in the mountains filling the streams leading here, the volume of water was enormous.

Shell Falls waterfall Big Horn Mountains RV trip in Wyoming-min

Shell Falls Canyon Wyoming RV camping trip-min

Looking deep down into the canyon.

We had driven the southern scenic drive across the Big Horn mountains along US-16 last year after spending time in the charming town of Buffalo, and it was lovely, but this northern route via US-14 has quite a few jaw-dropping moments that make it particularly stunning.

After we left Shell Falls, the mountains closed in around us in sheer rock cliffs and then slowly subsided as we descended into the town of Ten Sleep.

Big Horn Mountains scenic drive Route 14 Wyoming RV trip-min

Views on the Big Horn Scenic Byway in Wyoming.

If you are traveling through northern Wyoming with your RV, a stop at Lake De Smet or Keyhole Reservoir makes for a delightful waterfront excursion, and the Big Horn Scenic Byway is an exhilarating drive that is very doable with an RV. Just keep your eyes on the road because the views will knock your socks off!

RV camping trip to Wyoming Big Horn Mountains-min

Subscribe
Never miss a post — it’s free!

More info about these places:

Other blog posts from our RV travels in Wyoming:

Our most recent posts:

Wildflowers in Wyoming – Spring Showers Bring Spectacular July Flowers!! 07/13/18
Beartooth Highway Scenic Drive – Dazzling All American Road – WOW!! 07/06/18
4th of July in Cody, Wyoming – The Cody Stampede Parade! 07/04/18
RVing Central Montana – Great Falls, Cool Coffee & Amish Buggies 06/29/18
Glacier National Park’s “Many Glacier” – Crown of the Continent! 06/22/18

More of our Latest Posts are in the MENU. New to this site? Visit RVers Start Here to find where we keep all the good stuff and check out our GEAR STORE!!

<-Previous || Next->

Bear Lake, Utah – A Turquoise Paradise in Snowy Mountains

Posted on May 11, 2018 by Roads Less Traveled

April 2018 – Bear Lake is a stunning lake in northern Utah that shimmers in gorgeous shades of turquoise, and the drive to get there via Logan Pass is truly dramatic.

Scenic drive towards Logan Utah RV trip-min

Heading north towards Logan Pass and Bear Lake we drove into this view – Wow!

In late April the mountains behind the pretty farmlands were still covered with snow.

Logan Utah scenery on RV trip to Bear Lake-min

Beautiful scenery on the way to Bear Lake.

Farmhouses and snowcapped mountains RV trip Logan Utah-min

As we crested the summit of Logan Pass, it started to get foggy, and the snow crept close to the road. Soon we were driving between snow drifts.

Logan Pass Utah with snow on RV trip-min

Approaching the summit of Logan Pass fog rolled in and we saw more and more snow.

Snow on RV trip over Logan Pass Utah_-min

Snow drifts and fog at the top of Logan Pass!

So, when we descended the far side of the pass and the fog began to lift and the snow vanished, it was a fabulous shock when Bear Lake suddenly burst into view. Wow!!

Bear Lake Utah first view on RV trip over Logan Pass-min

After all that snowy scenery, the bright blue of Bear Lake was a wonderful suprise.

As the sun and clouds played hide and seek, the lake changed shades of aquamarine and a rich blue.

Turquoise water Bear Lake Utah RV camping trip-min

Caribbean turquoise in the Rockies!

Bear Lake is immensely popular in the summertime, and the communities along the shore are filled with ice cream shops and burger joints. But when we were there it felt like we had the lake to ourselves. The village of Laketown at the south end of the lake was really quiet and none of the summertime shops were open.

Bear Lake Utah RV camping trip reflections-min

The reflections of snowy mountains shimmer on the surface of Bear Lake.

Long after a solitary boat passes, waves ripple in towards shore.

There were a few fishing boats out on the water, and a kayak paddled by a family of ducks.

Kayaking with ducks at Bear Lake Utah-min

The ducks were unusual looking.

Now THAT’s a hairdo!!

We heard the haunting cry of loons and then spotted them floating around on the lake.

We heard the loons first and then saw them drift past.

Loon shakes feathers out Bear Lake Utah-min

A loon shakes the water out of his feathers.

One day we drove around the lake and marveled at the beauty. Farms and occasional homes grace the shore.

The drive around Bear Lake was beautiful

Waterfront living with the cows grazing out back… Wow!

One house really caught our eye. It was the home from the nursery rhyme about the old woman who lived in a shoe! We stopped and took a long look and noticed that the walls were painted with murals of nursery rhymes. Jack’s Beanstalk ran right up the back of the shoe!

Shoe fairy tale house Bear Lake Utah-min

“There was an old woman who lived in a shoe…” Who knew she lived on Bear Lake in Utah?!

Farm and ranch land runs right down to the shore of Bear Lake, and as we drove with the windows down Buddy hung out the window to get a good look at the cows we passed.

Puppy in truck checks out cow at Bear Lake Utah-min

Buddy checks out a cow…

Puppy looks at cow at Bear Lake Utah on RV trip-min

…and leans over for a better look!

Early spring can bring some crazy weather, and the lake was quite rough at times. We loved the jade green hues in the curl of the waves.

Rough waves Bear Lake Utah RV camping trip-min

The color in each wave just before it broke was delicious.

As the sun set, the sky lit up over the mountains.

Sunset on RV camping trip to Bear Lake Utah-min

The sky was on fire at sunset.

Mark put his camera down on the ground to capture a dramatic image of waves breaking on the shore with the sun setting behind the mountains. When we looked at it later we both said, “No need to go Iceland for a shot like this… We’ve got it all right here in Utah!”

Wow!

Where we had fire in the sky with a bright orange sunset one night, on another afternoon the day slipped away into pastel shades of pink, peach and lavender that reflected in the undulating water.

Shades of pink, peach and lavender in the sky and on the water.

On a few occasions the water was perfectly calm, and Buddy just loved wading out in it.

Bear Lake is incredibly photogenic, and we had a lot of fun just watching the lake transform before our eyes as we snapped pics here and there.

Mark is in his element taking photos from the shore.

In early Spring the weather varied from ideal sunny days to blustery cold days to freezing rainy days. For photography they were all sublime!

During the day we captured some wonderful images of seagulls landing in the water and taking off again. As night fell the birds all flew off to roost. A lone duck made his way across the water in the last light of sunset.

Duck swims at Sunset on RV trip to Bear Lake Utah-min

Good night, Bear Lake.

At night the sky was brilliantly clear. Before the moon rose, the stars were especially bright, and we loved seeing the stars of Orion before the constellation slipped over the far horizon.

Orion Constellation on RV trip to Bear Lake Utah-min

The stars of Orion (four outer ones and three in his belt across his waist) watch over the lake.

If you are traveling through northern Utah, Bear Lake is well worth visiting. The few campers we saw pre-season told stories of how lively and fun it is for families come mid-summer, but even if you get there a few months before or after the warm weather months, it is a great RV destination.

Subscribe
Never miss a post — it’s free!

More info about Bear Lake:

Other blog posts from Northern Utah:

Our most recent posts:

Wildflowers in Wyoming – Spring Showers Bring Spectacular July Flowers!! 07/13/18
Beartooth Highway Scenic Drive – Dazzling All American Road – WOW!! 07/06/18
4th of July in Cody, Wyoming – The Cody Stampede Parade! 07/04/18
RVing Central Montana – Great Falls, Cool Coffee & Amish Buggies 06/29/18
Glacier National Park’s “Many Glacier” – Crown of the Continent! 06/22/18

More of our Latest Posts are in the MENU. New to this site? Visit RVers Start Here to find where we keep all the good stuff and check out our GEAR STORE!!

<-Previous || Next->

Utah Back Roads – Lakeside RVing Near Salt Lake City

Posted on April 30, 2018 by Roads Less Traveled

April 2018 – We have been enjoying an RV travel theme of rivers and lakes since we first camped on the beach at Sand Hollow State Park in Utah six months ago. Over the winter we explored Arizona’s Salt River, Lake Pleasant, Canyon Lake, Lake Havasu, the shores of the Colorado River. In early Spring, as we traveled north, we stopped by Lake Mead and Gunlock State Park and then frozen Strawberry Reservoir in Utah.

Now, as we neared northern Utah, we were looking for a route around Salt Lake City that would avoid the traffic and high speeds of I-15. When we veered off to the east by Park City we got a fabulous view of Jordanelle Reservoir over our shoulders.

Our first lake sighting on this leg of our journey: Jordanelle Reservoir, home of Jordanelle State Park.

There is a state park campground there that we camped at years ago, but on this trip we slipped by and relished the view from a distance.

The 80 mile north-south stretch of greater Salt Lake City from Provo in the south through the heart of Salt Lake City and on to Ogden in the north is bounded on the east side by towering mountains and on the west by the Great Salt Lake.

This makes for a tight funnel of congestion, so we were delighted to find a back road route with almost no traffic to take us along the eastern side of these same mountains and skirt greater Salt Lake City all together. Life was so tranquil on this side of the mountains we’d never guess a huge metropolis lay on the other side of the snowy peaks!

Farm and ranch land in northern Utah-min

In this peaceful farmland it’s hard to believe we’re just outside Salt Lake City.

Our first stop at the shore of a lake was at Rockport Reservoir, home of Rockport State Park. We romped around at a few overlooks and beaches on the western shore and waved to the state park on the far side.

Rockport Reservoir Utah back roads RV trip-min

Rockport Reservoir, home of Rockport State Park.

A little further north we found the town of Coalville which has a fantastic Union Pacific Rails to Trails path that runs alongside the Echo Reservoir.

Union Pacific Rail Trail back roads Utah RV trip-min

The Union Pacific Rail Trail runs from Park City past Coalville to the Echo Reservoir.

The weather began to deteriorate as we continued north, making for some wonderful drama in the skies above the farmland.

Storm clouds over farm Utah back roads RV trip-min

Brewing storm clouds.

We arrived at Pineview Reservoir to find the sun playing with its shadows across the the mountains and the farm houses on the far shore.

Pineview Reservoir Huntsville Utah back road RV trip-min

Pineview Reservoir after a dusting of snow in the mountains.

Pineview Reservoir.

A few miles north of Pineview Reservoir is the town of Eden, aptly named for its truly picturesque spot in a valley between three tall mountains that are now home to ski resorts. This has brought a trendiness and cuteness to the village that wa evident on every corner.

Yoga Tea and Espresso shop in Eden Utah on backroad RV trip-min

Yoga – Spa – Tea – Espresso – Gifts, all in a beautiful Victorian house.
Nearby ski resorts give the pastoral area around Eden a trendy vibe.

Cute log cabin shops in Eden Utah on a back roads RV trip-min

A circle of log cabins joined by a boardwalk has a cute boutique store in each one.

Behind the combination General Store and Mexican Cantina a fence around the outdoor eating area was made of snow skis, lest anyone forget that this area is a winter skiing paradise when they’re hanging out over beers in the summer sun.

Ski fence in Eden Utah on backroad RV trip-min

Ski country.

Despite the chill in the air, Spring was doing its best to get underway. In one garden beautiful hyacinths were beginning to blossom, and a robin was making the rounds looking for worms.

Hyacinth blooming in Eden Utah on back road RV trip-min

Spring is coming!

Spring robin Mantua Utah backroad RV trip-min

A robin reminds us that any snowfall we get should be pretty much the last of the season!

But Spring was playing hide-and-seek with Winter, and one morning we woke up to snow. It melted quickly on the ground but hung out long enough on our RV stairs for Buddy to make some paw prints and get a taste of snow.

Snow on our trailer’s steps capture some paw prints from our furry friend.

Then the skies cleared, and the dusting of snow on the mountains flanking Pineview Reservoir began to light up.

Snowy mountains Pineview Reservoir Huntsville Utah back roads RV trip-min

Pineview Reservoir reflects the mountains after the snowstorm.

As we continued north, following a meandering path, on two occasions our back roads RV trip took us over the mountains separating the Salt Lake and Ogden area from this bucolic wonderland. Fog and brightly lit low clouds hung in the valleys between the mountains as we crossed over in the morning.

Fog and snow on mountains near Ogden Utah on back roads RV trip-min

Clouds and fog light up in the morning sun.

We had gotten a very early start, and when we arrived in the village of Mantua it was a winter wonderland worthy of a Christmas card.

The village of Mantua was enchanting.

The town sits on the western shore of the small Mantua Reservoir, and we were delighted to find that there is a wide path that goes along its edge.

Mantua Reservoir in Utah with snow on mountains RV trip-min

An inviting path led us partway around the lake.

As we walked along the path the views ahead of us were just spectacular.

Snowcapped mountains Mantua Reservoir RV trip in Utah-min

How glorious to arrive on the morning after a Spring snowfall.

Thistle and Snowcapped mountains Mantua Reservoir RV trip in Utah-min

Horses ambled across a frosted pasture. What a pretty scene!

Farm by Mantua Reservoir on Utah RV trip-min

Fresh snow Mantua Reservoir RV trip in Utah-min

We had never heard of any of the towns or lakes on this back country route, but this particular morning in Mantua, strolling leisurely along the banks of the Mantua Reservoir, we felt like we were strolling through the pages of a picture book.

Mountain trail Mantua Reservoir Utah-min

A trail wanders up between the mountains.

We made our way back to the village and were mesmerized by the quaint views going in that direction too.

Sun and snow Mantua Reservoir RV trip in Utah-min

Mantua, Utah.

Fall color and snow Mantua Reservoir RV trip in Utah-min

Reminders of last Fall’s golden colors complemented the white snow and blue water.

As we’ve often said, getting off the Interstate and staying off it is our favorite way to travel with our RV. Some of these roads looked really small on the map, but once we were on them, the driving was easy and the scenery was eye-popping.

Subscribe
Never miss a post — it’s free!

More info about the things along this route:

Other back roads scenic drives in Utah:

Wonderful places to visit in Northern Utah

Our most recent posts:

Wildflowers in Wyoming – Spring Showers Bring Spectacular July Flowers!! 07/13/18
Beartooth Highway Scenic Drive – Dazzling All American Road – WOW!! 07/06/18
4th of July in Cody, Wyoming – The Cody Stampede Parade! 07/04/18
RVing Central Montana – Great Falls, Cool Coffee & Amish Buggies 06/29/18
Glacier National Park’s “Many Glacier” – Crown of the Continent! 06/22/18

More of our Latest Posts are in the MENU. New to this site? Visit RVers Start Here to find where we keep all the good stuff and check out our GEAR STORE!!

<-Previous || Next->