Dinosaur National Monument • Aspen CO • Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
The Maroon Bells near Aspen Colorado
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
The variety of this section of the tour is only enhanced by our visit to Dinosaur National Monument, a largely undiscovered gem (See the photos on the Northern Segment pages under the Options tab).
The central region visited by the Epic American West Tour features the town of Aspen in Western Colorado. Your hosts have lived in this area for a combined total of more than 60 years. Your lead driver has been transporting visitors in every imaginable mountain driving condition here for more than two decades.
Like Santa Fe NM, Aspen is a great town to simply wander and observe, and this will be another of our “unscheduled” stops where you can do exactly that - independent from the rest of the group. After the natural wonders of some of the places we will have just visited, this portion of the trip has more to do on the cultural side. Aspen is a beautiful town and area, and there are nearly unlimited things to do.
We will make special mention, in the category of natural beauty, of the Maroon Bells, which are touted as being the most photographed mountains in North America, though we have no idea how such a thing is determined. Regardless, we will almost undoubtedly take at least a portion of the group to see them.
When our guests fill out their Options form there is a section called “General Interests”, which is how we learn some of things you might like to do which are not specific to any particular destination. Between Vernal UT (Dinosaur National Monument) and Moab UT (Arches and Canyonlands National Parks), there is a five day period in which we will be providing for some of those General Interests.
There is no such thing as a substitute for the Grand Canyon, but for guests who join us for just the Northern Segment of the tour, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is an incredible alternative. It is so narrow, and so steep, and so deep, and so little-known, the surprise at first seeing it is a very special moment.
This segment of the trip also passes through Grand Junction CO, and for those guests who are on board for just the southern or northern segments of the tour, this will be the turnover point. We will have some special things for our complete tour guests to do while we sort things out at the airport.
Whether heading north or south, the next phase of the trip will swing back to an emphasis on geologic wonders and spectacular natural beauty.
