150 Years of Yellowstone & 50 Years of Friendships
In 1972, Yellowstone National Park celebrated 100 years as the first national park in the world. For a group of Old Faithful Inn employees arriving from around the country, it would be the beginning of a bond that would go well beyond Yellowstone’s centennial summer.
Heading West Along the Oregon Trail
For adventurers who are also history buffs, following along the iconic Oregon Trail is the perfect summer road trip. Take a journey back in time and retrace the steps of the early settlers of the American West.
Cirque of the Towers – A Wind River Range Gem
While the trip up Wyoming Highway 191 is one of the American West classics, traveling through the marvelous scenery and abundant wildlife zones of the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park, you’ll want to budget some extra time to add the phenomenal Wind River Range into your next trip.
Where in the West Should I Go? • 52 Places to Visit in 2022
From cities and towns to national parks and lesser-known landscapes, this inaugural special section has your 2022 travel through the West covered! We’ve curated a list of 52 places to visit this year – four in each of the 13 states we cover. If you travel at a breakneck pace, that’s one a week. Let this guide serve as inspiration and enjoy the West!
Redwoods, River Fun and Small-Town Charm Await on Sonoma’s Bohemian Highway
Wine may be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Sonoma. While you’ll find plenty of excellent wineries in the county’s Russian River Valley, this rural region boasts many other delights, especially along the scenic Bohemian Highway.
Feel the Heat in Death Valley and Alabama Hills
Few people would choose to visit Death Valley in the summertime. After all, it’s the hottest and driest place in North America. Yet, with proper planning, it can be a fantastic trip.
Wasatch Wandering: The Lesser-Known Side of Utah
Those who explore Utah in the warmer months can also discover green valleys lush with wildflowers, beautiful fresh lakes surrounded by dramatic peaks and alpine forests with wildlife wandering through the trees.
Why Can’t the Public Access the West’s Biggest Waterfall?
Willamette Falls, the West’s biggest waterfall, is surpassed in the U.S. only by Niagara. It would astound anyone who saw it — if they could see it. But for a century now, industrial structures have blocked access to this natural wonder.
The Colorado Stream Case That Could Revolutionize River Access
From a river-access standpoint, Colorado is among the West’s oddest states. Federal law dictates that the beds of “navigable” rivers — waterways once used as highways for commerce — belong to the states.
BLM Opens Trail at Headwaters Forest Reserve
The Bureau of Land Management has opened the South Side Trail, a winding route that parallels the Elk River in the Headwaters Forest Reserve, located near Arcata, California.
See Inside Lake Powell’s Glen Canyon Dam
Glen Canyon Dam was built primarily to store excess Colorado River water during wet years, so it could be released during dry spells and used to generate power. Now, with aridification depriving the river of those excess flows, both functions are imperiled.
Road Trip Playlists
We’ve put together four 12-song playlists for you, totaling nearly three hours of music – perfect timing for trips from Reno to Napa Valley, Portland to Bend or Santa Fe to Gallup.
New Albums Perfect for a Western Road Trip
Have a listen to these 10 new albums perfect for a Western road trip. From Willie Nelson and Bonnie Raitt to releases from Kehlani and Warpaint.
Films & Books to Inspire Your Road Trip
Aside from actually getting out on the road, or maybe planning a trip, a good movie or book to get you amped up is not too shabby of a time either.
The Silence is Deafening
A painting of Yellowstone National Park by Joel Patience.
Dead Horse Point
A poem from Moab, Utah, by Wendy Gist.
King of the Range
A photograph taken by Jamie Johnston in Hartsel, Colorado, on Feb. 6.