For a day that started with a wrong turn, it was pretty good – we saw some aspens in their fall glory, stood on the Oregon Trail, and arrived at Grand Teton National Park.
Leaving Cheyenne, we had planned to take a scenic route that would lead us to Independence Rock. Instead of the road that led us north, we ended up on a road going south, and by the time we figured it out, it made more sense to keep on going than to turn back. We wound up going down into Colorado then back up into Wyoming and ended up at Rawlins. It was a beautiful drive and in the end, we weren't too late getting to our final destination.
From Rawlins, we headed up 287 to 220 to go to Independence Rock. As history enthusiasts, this was pretty high on our to-do list and I'm glad we did. Independence Rock was a landmark for those traveling the Oregon Trail. The hope was to be at that point in time to celebrate Independence Day and to ensure getting through the mountains before the winter weather set in. Many emigrants carved their names into the rocks – most are worn away from years of the elements but we spotted a few. It's hard to imagine leaving the world as you know it to set out on wagon for a new life.
There were a couple more stops related to Oregon Trail landmarks – Devil's Gate, and Split Rock. We also stopped at Martin Cove – named for the family who created the hand carts that many Mormon emigrants used to travel west. We spoke with a very nice volunteer there who showed us the markers that marked the Oregon/California/Mormon/Pony Express trail. We stood where those wagons once traveled. A real highlight.
From there, it was time to make tracks for Grand Teton National Park. We followed 287 all the way to the park, arriving before sunset. Checked into our room then went back to the Lodge for some dinner. On the back patio, lots of folks were gathered to watch sunset over the Tetons. We watched for a while then had a bite to eat at the Pioneer Grill, then called it a day. It will be nice to be in one spot for a few days!
We did see some smoke from forest fires in Colorado and in Wyoming. The Tetons are not clear at all, and I can imagine that many folks are quite disappointed. While I wish it were clearer, I'm just too happy to be here to let it bother me. Who knows? Maybe one day we'll be back.
A few pics from the day:
 |
| Fall Beauty |
 |
| North Platte River |
 |
| Independence Rock |
 |
| Oregon Trail Marker |
 |
| Sunset on the Tetons |
I'm really enjoying following along on your trip blog :)
ReplyDeleteBy the way, your pic "Fall Beauty" is a beauty. I think autumn - when the leaves change color - is the most beautiful time of year.