Dog Friendly 9 Western National Parks Loop Tour

“Everyone needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body & soul.”
John Muir

Wednesday, August 24, 2016, marked our first PAWTRIP together, A Loop Tour of 9 Western National Parks, and what was to become the first of many EPIC Adventures for the CODY DOG and CAROLE PAWTRIPPING DUO.

Our route started in Oregon, and headed south to Northern California, through Nevada, across Southern Utah, Up through Colorado, across Wyoming, and Idaho, then back to Oregon, visiting: CRATER LAKE, YOSEMITE, ZION, BRYCE CANYON, CAPITOL REEF, CANYONLANDS, ARCHES, GRAND TETON, and YELLOWSTONE National Parks, with additional stops at State Parks, National Forests and Monuments, as well as visits with Family and Friends along the way.

DAY 1  Wednesday – PORTLAND to YREKA, CA

“Which way did they go, Which way did they go?” (Excited Panting and Tail Wags)

“And We’re off like a Herd of Carole & CODY’S,” at 7:30 a.m. on our first PAW TRIP, taking the I-5 South, ignoring GPS prompts to turn off  until we hit Roseburg/138E, then following the glittering waters of the Umqua River to CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK.

“YIPPEE, SKIPPY,” we got to use our Lifetime National Parks (NP) Pass for the first time!

Through the Entrance to the Park, map in hand, we drove along the east rim of Crater Lake, stopping at turnouts to take pictures of the Lake and surrounding landscape,

NOTE: Dogs, That means, the CODESTER, are only allowed in certain areas and trails at Crater Lake National Park.  Click Here for PETS at CRATER LAKE information.

PAW TRIPPING DUO at CRATER LAKE

VIEWS FROM TURNOUTS – CRATER LAKE, MOUNTAINS and VIDAE FALLS

From Crater Lake we took the 62 rejoining the I-5 at Medford, then up and over the Siskiyous to Yreka, CA.

As we headed over the mountains into California the CODY DOG “was howling and a growling and a sniff’in the air”…FOREST FIRE!, FOREST FIRE! “DANGER CODY BRECK, DANGER!” The mountainside was on Fire and fast approaching Yreka…AND (dramatic pause) OUR HOTEL!…SCARY!  (People just a few blocks away were told to pack up and evacuate.)

We arrived in Yreka, CA around 5pm (a 9.5 hour day) after driving 473 miles.

Our bags stayed packed by the door in case we needed to HighTAIL it out of there!

Overnight at the Dog Friendly BEST WESTERN MINER’S INN in Yreka, CA

DAY 2, 3 & 4 Thursday-Saturday – TRACY, CA

For several days, we had a nice visit with our Swenson relatives in Tracy, CA, and Carole attended a friend’s wedding in Diablo, CA.

DAY 5 Sunday – TRACY to YOSEMITE, and BISHOP, CA

Today we said goodbye to our Aunt and Uncle (Tail wags and Licks for all)…got gas at Costco, and we’re “on the road once more” to our 2nd National Park, YOSEMITE, taking the 120 up and into the park (NP PASS or FEE REQUIRED)

A nice lady from New Zealand took this picture of us with half dome in the distance

…then down into the tourist-packed Valley we drove, Carole pulling over wherever she could find a spot, jumping out and taking pictures, while yours truly, The CODY DOG, sat patiently in the car taking in the Views!… and BOW WOWZA what Views! Feast your eyes on:

EL CAPITAN

CATHEDRAL ROCKS

HALF DOME

MEADOW
Then up and out of the Valley we went, through the Tioga Pass, stopping for more photos, before continuing down a NAIL BITING stretch of road to the 395, and from there a straight shot to our night’s lodging in Bishop, CA.

ALONG TIOGA PASS

HALF DOME from OLMSTEAD POINT

JUNE LAKE

LEMBERT DOME

BISHOP on the Horizon

OVERNIGHT at the Dog Friendly COMFORT INN, Bishop, CA

DAY 6 Monday – BISHOP, CA to LAS VEGAS, NV

Boy, did this CODY DOG sleep like a log last night!…and was rarin’ to go this morning!

Carole got turned around heading out of town in the wrong direction but finally gave in to using GPS.

The 168 was a rollercoaster ride of dips, and turns, climbing, leveling off, then descending through the Inyo National Forest and Bristle Cone Pines…before finally connecting with the 266, an open range with a long stretch of road as far as the eye could see…across a couple of cattle guards, and all of a sudden, we’re in NEVADA.

…A turn onto the 95 highway, through Death Valley, and we arrived in North Las Vegas just in time for Happy Hour at our friends the Alvarez’s. Believe me, after that Amusement Park Ride, The CODESTER was ready for a Drink…and so was CAROLE!

BEAUJO & CODY

DAY 7 Tuesday – LAS VEGAS Day Trip to MT CHARLESTON, SPRING MOUNTAINS and RED ROCK CANYON.

Today our friends Grace, Fred and Beaujo took us on a wonderful scenic drive to MT CHARLESTON, the SPRINGS MOUNTAINS, and RED ROCK CANYON north of Las Vegas. And, then treated us to lunch on the patio of the dog-friendly LAZY DOG RESTAURANT and BAR back in town.

….”just think It only reached 104 degrees today,” PANTED CODY DOG in his FUR COAT!!!

MT. CHARLESTON, GRACE, FRED, BEAUJO ALVAREZ

RED ROCK CANYON

SPRING MOUNTAINS

DAY 8 Wednesday – LAS VEGAS to ZION NP and BRYCE CANYON NP

Up at the Crack of Dawn…It’s a Travel Day!  We Pick Aunt Stacey up at the Airport and The CODY DOG is Ecstatic,  Greeting her with Loud Barking and Tail Wags.

Then we head out of town to  VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK (FEE) …a hidden gem off the 15 outside of Las Vegas, making  our first stop, on the way to ZION and BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARKS in UTAH!

VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK (Fee)

UTAH! BOW WOWZA!

ZION…(NP PASS OR FEE REQUIRED)

Our Most Incredible day comes to an end at BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK (NP PASS or FEE REQUIRED,) where we eat a late dinner outside on the deck of the dog friendly VALHALLA PIZZERIA AND COFFEE SHOP at the Lodge at Bryce Canyon...followed by a walk out to the Canyon rim under the Utah night sky…We’ll definitely be back in the morning…

OVERNIGHT at the Dog Friendly BEST WESTERN PLUS RUBY’S INN.

DAY 9 Thursday – BRYCE to MOAB, UT

As they say, ‘Pictures are worth a thousand words!” After we pack up the car, We head back to BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK…where we once again walk out to the Canyon rim from the Lodge..this time in Daylight!

 BRYCE CANYON (NP PASS or FEE REQUIRED)

..then on we go, continuing along the highway, driving through…
GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE NATIONAL MONUMENT

…CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK

….and finally late afternoon reaching
ARCHES NATIONAL PARK (NP PASS or FEE REQUIRED)

…Our 9-hour day comes to a Spectacular end with an Exclamation Point and MAGIC LOOT, A MOAB SUNSET.

OVERNIGHT at the dog friendly SLEEP INN in Moab, UT

DAY 10 Friday – MOAB, UT to ERIE, CO

Before leaving Utah, we make one last stop at DEAD HORSE POINT STATE PARK(FEE).. A MUST-SEE, overlooking CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK!

Then it’s LONGMONT, COLORADO, “Here we Come!” taking…

Colorado’s “BILLION DOLLAR HIGHWAY”
OVERNIGHT in a hotel that will remain nameless because it was awful!

DAYS 11 & 12 Saturday, Sunday – LONGMONT, CO

Today we Took Aunt Stacey to the Denver Airport to Fly back to Orange County.  We’ll miss you!

And, Carole attends a Swenson Family Wedding.

The Dog Friendly restaurants we ate at in LONGMONT while we were in town:  SNARF’s (Great Sandwiches!) seating at outdoor picnic tables, and Dinner on the front porch of the PUMPHOUSE BREWERY !  Both Great Places!

DAY 13  Monday – ERIE, CO to JACKSON HOLE WY

The GRAND TETONS and YELLOWSTONE are Calling and we must go, leaving Longmont, CO at 7:30 a.m., traveling across miles of golden plains,  stretching as far as the eye can see into the fathomless Wyoming sky, arriving in Jackson Hole, WY at 4:30 p.m., 500 miles later… It’s time for the CODESTER To Hit The Sack! LONG DAY!

OVERNIGHT at the Dog Friendly SNOW KING LODGE, Jackson Hole, WY (they had a special rate, plus a $50 pet fee, YIKES, so we are only staying here 1 night)

DAY 14 Tuesday – GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK (NP PASS or FEE REQUIRED)Let the GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK adventure begin! BREATHTAKING mountains with photo ops at every turn – from the North Entrance we take the inside route, to the Yellowstone entrance, then back along the 191 to Jackson Hole.

BTW (By the Way) The CODY DOG was a big hit with the foreign tourists and happily posed for photos at Jenny Lake! – “Say, TREATS!”

PAWTRIPPING DUO GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK

GRAND TETONS & JENNY LAKE

…And, Lo and Behold…..what did the  CODY DOG see on the drive back to town…

(Follow the bouncing ball 🎾 )

🎶”OH, GIVE ME A HOME WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM, WHERE THE DEER AND THE CODY DOG PLAY…”

OVERNIGHT at the Dog Friendly 49er INN & SUITES, Jackson Hole, WY

DAY 15 Tuesday – GRAND TETON & YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARKS (NP PASS or FEE REQUIRED)

Today we’re on our way to YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK ,  entering from the South and looping Clockwise, West to East, then back through the Tetons to Jackson Hole.

…Our First stop is OLD FAITHFUL where we “Hurry up and Wait!” In the DOG AREA, biding our time for almost an hour…when Finally, “THAR SHE BLOWS,” SPECTACULAR!

….then on past
GEYSER BASIN

with a stop at FISHHOLE and GIBBON FALLS

Past MAMMOTH HOTSPRINGS

…and along the Eastside

DEER and BIG HORN SHEEP
…the GRAND CANYON OF YELLOWSTONE, LOWER YELLOWSTONE FALLS, YELLOWSTONE LAKE, and ELK
…Then back through THE GRAND TETONS to JACKSON HOLE where we luck out when we see…

PRONGHORN, ELK, and yet another GLORIOUS SUNSET,

…all on this INCREDIBLE 12.5 hour day

OVERNIGHT at the Dog Friendly 49er INN & SUITES, Jackson Hole, WY

DAY 16 Wednesday – JACKSON HOLE TO TWIN FALLS, ID
Today we say Goodbye to the GRAND TETONS and head Up over the mountains, and through farmlands, to Twin Falls, IDAHO…and our friend’s the Ashenbreners!

WELCOME TO IDAHO
SNAKE RIVER, CODY DOG and STELLA DOG

DAY 17 Thursday – Twin Falls, ID to Oregon

And, it’s…🎵OREGON, “Here we come, Right back where we started from…” “There’s No Place Like Home!”

COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE

THANK YOU CODY
FOR THIS PAWTRIP OF A LIFETIME!!!
YOU’RE FOREVER IN MY HEART,
I WILL LOVE YOU ALWAYS!

WHOEVER HAS KNOWN THE MOUNTAINS

Whoever has known the Mountains,
The Forests, the sky and the sea,
Warmth of the friendly camp fire,
Strength of the winds that blow free;
The color and fragrance of meadows,
The lilt of a sudden song,
His are the gifts worth having,
Treasures to last a life long,
These are the treasures worth having
Shining, enduring and strong.

Whoever has climbed to the hilltops
And called all the stars by name,
Who loves balsam odors of summer
And the silver singing of rain;
Oh, life will be always adventure
Though his trails may take him afar,
And warmth and friendship and laughter
He’ll find ‘neath the gypsy star,
Oh, all the gifts of the wide world
Wait under the gypsy star.

R.A.B – H. W. B.

ITINERARY

DAY 1 Wednesday – Portland, OR to Yreka, CA STOPS

• Crater Lake National Park
• Best Western Miner’s Inn – 122 E. Miner Street, Yreka, CA

DAY 2-4 Thursday-Saturday – Yreka, CA to Tracy, CA STOPS

• Visit with Family

DAY 5 Sunday – Tracy, CA to Bishop, CA STOPS

• Yosemite National Park
• Comfort Inn – 805 N. Main Street, Bishop, CA

DAY 6 Monday – Bishop, CA to North Las Vegas, NV STOPS

• Visit with friends

DAY 7 Tuesday – Mt. Charleston, Red Rock Canyon, Springs Mtns Drive

• Mt. Charleston
• Red Rock Canyon
• Springs Mountains
• Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar – 1725 Festival Plaza, Ste a2, Las Vegas, NV

DAY 8 Wednesday – North Las Vegas, NV to Bryce Canyon National Park STOPS

• Valley of Fire State Park, Overton, NV
• Zion National Park, UT
• Bryce National Park, UT
• Valhalla Pizzeria and Coffee Shop, The Lodge at Bryce Canyon – Bryce Canyon National Park, Bryce, UT
• Ruby’s Best Western – 26 South Main St., Bryce, UT

DAY 9 Thursday – Bryce Canyon to Moab, UT STOPS

• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
• Capitol Reef National Park
• Canyonlands National Park
• Arches National Park
• Sleep Inn – 1051 S. Main St, Moab, UT

DAY 10 Friday – Moab, UT to Longmont, CO STOPS

• Dead Horse Point State Park – Hwy 313, Moab, UT
• Overnight Hotel – Not Named

DAY 11-12 Saturday, Sunday – Longmont, CO

• Snarfs – 2130 Mountain View Ave, Longmont, CO
• Pumphouse Brewery – 540 Main Street, Longmont, CO

DAY 13 Monday – Longmont to Jackson Hole, WY

• Snow King Lodge – 400 E. Snow King Ave, Jackson Hole, WY

DAY 14 Tuesday – Grand Teton National Park

• Grand Teton National Park
• Comfort Suites 49er – 330 W. Pearl St., Jackson Hole, WY

DAY 15 Wednesday – Yellowstone National Park

• Yellowstone National Park
  • Old Faithful
  • Geyser Basin
  • Fishhole & Gibbon Falls
  • Mammoth Hotsprings
  • Yellowstone Falls
  • Yellowstone Lake
• Grand Tetons National Park
• Comfort Suites 49er – 330 W. Pearl St., Jackson Hole, WY

DAY 16 Thursday – Jackson Hole, WY to Twin Falls, ID

DAY 17 Friday – Twin Falls, ID to Portland, Oregon