Northern Utah & Yellowstone8 night self drive tour
Day 1: Salt Lake City
Arrive into Salt Lake City and transfer to your hotel. Settle in and try and stay awake to battle the jetlag.
Day 2: Salt Lake City
Your first stop this morning must be Temple Square, the spiritual centre of the city. Take a free missionary guided tour to learn about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints first-hand, view the exterior of Salt Lake Temple and stroll through the pristine gardens. Head to the mountainside to visit Red Butte Gardens and the Natural History Museum of Utah, the perfect combination with great views over the city. During spring the gardens are full of colour and aromas. Next door the museum displays an incredible selection of dinosaur bones and living creatures of today. Try and coincide your arrival to visit on a Thursday to watch the amazing Tabernacle Choir rehearsing.
2 nights – Salt Lake City
Day 3: To Logan (82 miles)
Today, head north to the ‘Caribbean of the Rockies’ - Bear Lake. This 20-mile freshwater lake is a haven for water sports enthusiasts - water ski, kayak, paddleboarding or scuba diving in the brilliantly blue waters. If you prefer dry land then enjoy a stroll or cycle to admire the scenery, or simply relax on the sandy shores. In the afternoon, enjoy the scenery along Logan Canyon Scenic Byway, stop in Brigham City for a tour of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge or Golden Spike National Historic Site.
1 night – Logan or Garden City
Day 4: To West Yellowstone (293 miles)
Your journey to West Yellowstone will take you via steaming Lava Hot Springs, near McCammon, where you can enjoy a relaxing dip. In the forests of eastern Idaho make a stop at thundering Upper and Lower Mesa Falls before arriving in West Yellowstone.
Day 5: Yellowstone National Park
Get an early start for the nation’s first national park, Yellowstone - best known for the geysers, hot springs and mud pots that make it one of the most active geothermal areas on the planet. The awe-inspiring landscape covers 3,000 square miles with over 10,000 thermal features and hundreds of animal species. Popular sites include Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone Lake, Old Faithful, Midway Geyser Basin, Norris Geyser Basin, Lamar and Hayden Valleys and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with its inspirational view of Lower Falls.
2 nights – West Yellowstone
Day 6: To Jackson (81 miles)
Enjoy a further day in this magnificent park, perhaps visiting the south of the park and the erupting geysers at Old Faithful, before entering Grand Teton National Park, which is dominated by the majestic Tetons, part of the famed Rocky Mountains. Drive the 42-mile Scenic Loop through the park to take in breathtaking views. On the edge of the park is the ‘cosmopolitan western’ town of Jackson, featuring wooden sidewalks, elk antler arches and shops that range from chic to traditional. Tonight make sure you saddle up at Jackson’s Million Dollar Cowboy bar – the bar stools are real life saddles!
1 night – Jackson
Day 7: To Vernal (306 miles)
Take the scenic drive back into Utah today, visiting Killpecker Sand Dunes to discover Native America rock art and unique rock formations. Next stop is Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, with its deep channels carved into rugged landscapes and a 91 mile long reservoir. This is a scenic playground for boating, fishing, rafting, or biking. One of the must-sees is Flaming Gorge dam which rises 502 feet above the Green River. Continue to Vernal for the night.
Day 8: Dinosaur National Monument (213 miles)
Take the short drive to Dinosaur National Monument to see over 1,500 dinosaur fossils in an exposed cliff face inside the Quarry Exhibit Hall. To experience a wild western landscape head to Rainbow Park and Island Park, a less developed area providing acres of open space to roam, and to view the Fremont petroglyphs at McKee Springs.
2 nights– Vernal
Day 9: To Salt Lake City (172 miles)
Travel back to Salt Lake City, time permitting visit the Olympic Legacy Park, in Park City. Take a tour of the site where many of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games’ events took place, ride the world’s steepest zip-line, brave a 70-mph bobsled ride, and watch freestyle aerial displays before heading back to the airport in time for your onward flight.
