Hey Preston,

http://itunes.apple.com/hn/podcast/rocky-mountain-national-park/id320931554

This is a Rocky Mountain podcast which I believe is appropriate to Estes.

James

Thanks, James.

Anyone have ideas of places near Vegas for the beginning of August?? Not a great time to be going, but I am attending a dear friend's wedding.

James

James:

Lots of options, but it will definitely be hot !!!

North Rim of Grand Canyon - 275 miles
Zion National Park 160 Miles
Death Valley NP - 150 miles (But you been there & done that often)
http://www.grandcanyonskywalk.com/ -120 miles (This gets my vote)
Valley of Fire State Park -55 miles (Not for the faint hearted in August)

Jim

Hey Jim,

Thanks for the reply. The heat is what is really worrying me. I have been pretty much to all of those places (except the skywalk, and I really need to do Grand Canyon again). I had thought perhaps of doing some slot canyons, but the idea of being oven baked is just not my idea of fun. :P

I guess I was wondering if there are any relatively close 'high altitude' places around Las Vegas which will be a bit cooler. Steve Kossack was telling me that last week it was 94 degrees. Yuck...and July is going to be a lot hotter. :P

James

James:

Looks like the Canyon is your best option. The elevation at the North Rim is over 8,000 feet. Even in August, daytime highs run around mid to high 70's. It even gets chilly enough to need a jacket at night or for early morning sunrise shoots. The South Rim is about 8-10 degrees warmer.

There are some mountains within an hour or two's drive from Vegas, like Red Rock Canyon & Desert NWR, but I am not familiar with them. I do know that August is not a good time for migratory birds in this part of the country.

Jim

I lived in Boulder for 15 years and had a very good friend that lived in Estes, visited often and also events there. I LOVE Estes. I never did it but I think you can have a meal at the Stanley Hotel and just a visit is worth the time. The view from the deck is stunning, especially if you can hit it at sunset. Maybe worth staying overnight there? I am not a big "shopper" but love the shops in Estes, being lots of gem and minerals, fossils, antiques, art galleries, food treats and the usual touristy stuff. Beware though, you will have tons of tourists to fight your way through any summer days. But still would be worth at least 1/2 to one full day in town.

You can do "the big loop, which takes you all the way through RMNP over Trail Ridge Rd, down past Grand Lake and Lake Granby on the west side, a long drive but you'll get your fill of the big mountains.

One of my favorite things in the region was to go to the hot springs pools in Eldorado Springs, west of Denver on I-70. Beautiful drive through steep canyon to get there.

Diana

And as I think someone mentioned, Arches and Canyonlands is only about 5 hrs from Denver, definitely worth visiting if you've not seen those landscapes in person.

oops, sorry, not Eldorado Springs (which is south of Boulder), I meant to say Glenwood Springs...

James:

How about this one? 130 miles

http://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/snow-canyon

Jim