Mt Rushmore Denver Taos Vacation Planning
Mar 10, 2019 08:48:36 #
Mar 10, 2019 08:58:10 #
They do have a planned event in the evening, with lights, at Mt. Rushmore. We thought it was worth the trip back. I don't know about leaving lenses at home. I use a Nikon P 900 so..... But you will enjoy the area.
Mar 10, 2019 09:08:02 #
On your way to Taos, the most spectacular route for roadside photography is south on route 91 from Copper Mountain, past the Climax molybdenum mine, the mining town of Leadville, south on US 24 past the Collegiate Peaks and Buena Vista to Poncha Springs and then into the San Louis Valley. Continuing south on 285, turn south-southeast onto the longest straight stretch of highway in the US - Colorado 17. This takes you past the Sangre de Cristo mountains on the East (left) and the broad valley to the South and West. The Great Sand Dunes National Park is a great opportunity for any photographer. Continuing south, 285 will take you almost all the way to Taos.
Mar 10, 2019 09:31:01 #
kenievans wrote:
First I would like to say that yes I have done my ... (show quote)
I think you will be disappointed in your choice of lenses when you are up in the hot air balloon. For everything else, I agree with your choices. I say this because the one and only time I was in a hot air balloon, all I had was a Nikon D5000 and 2 kit lenses, an 18-55 & 55-200. I changed lenses in the balloon, but wanted more reach. Right after that, I bought my first new lens, an 18-300 and it has stayed on the D5000 ever since!
Hope this helps.
Edit: I agree with others: Take your 70-300
Mar 10, 2019 10:02:52 #
dglueck
Loc: Rochester, NY
Did Rushmore and Devil's Tower among other things in September. The Rushmore National Monument itself is well done; the town is very touristy (ex. see Bigfoot). Devil's Tower is very cool. Take the hike around it. Also position yourself for sunrise/sunset. If you're nearby the Badlands is also worth visiting.
Mar 10, 2019 10:14:05 #
kenievans
Loc: Dallas
Thank you all for the great information! This is my first big trip with my camera and I appreciate the assistance. Looks like I have some great choices. I wish I had the time to do them all but we will squeeze in as many as we can. Thankfully my wife is reasonably tolerant of my hobby. I am excited and can't wait to hit the road!
Mar 10, 2019 10:40:25 #
Having been in that area several times, be sure to have your 70-300mm lens in addition to your 18-135mm. Be sure to drive through the Badlands and Custer State Park. Devils Tower is worth the time being you are close anyway.
Mar 10, 2019 10:42:43 #
kenievans wrote:
Thank you all for the great information! This is my first big trip with my camera and I appreciate the assistance. Looks like I have some great choices. I wish I had the time to do them all but we will squeeze in as many as we can. Thankfully my wife is reasonably tolerant of my hobby. I am excited and can't wait to hit the road!
I am late to the discussion, but I agree with the suggestions of places to visit near Mt. Rushmore — Custer State Park, Crazy Horse, Devils Tower, etc. I live near Denver and can make a couple of additional suggestions. First, if you are heading west from Denver on I-70, a great view can be found at the Genesee overlook, which has the added benefit of a herd of bison. A bridge at the exit frames the continental divide. Great anytime, but especially around sunset.
If you are headed south to Taos through Colorado Springs, the Garden of the Gods is a must-visit, angular red-rock formations with Pikes Peak in the background.
So much to see on your trip. Have fun!
Mar 10, 2019 10:55:30 #
Spearfish Canyon is definitely worth it. Devils Tower is beautiful. Custer State Park is a must. Enjoy! I'll be in that area for a week in May.
Mar 10, 2019 11:04:08 #
There is so much to see in the Black Hills, Custer State Park, The Badlands, Spearfish Canyon and Devils Tower and all of it beautiful. Then in Cheyenne the old Historic Plains hotel is in downtown. The rooms have a cowboy theme to them. Not much to see in Cheyenne in my opinion. There is a great place outside of town to eat though. It is called "The Bunkhouse Bar & Grill" It is out in the middle of nowhere on Happy Jack road probably 6 to 8 miles outside of Cheyenne. They have a couple of rusted old Model T trucks at the entrance and some old buckboard wagons. They even have a place to tie up your horses. The food is good also. Whatever you do stay away from I-25 going into Denver in the middle of the afternoon. You will be stuck in traffic until all your grandchildren are grown up. Sounds like a great trip.
Mar 10, 2019 11:37:58 #
Mar 10, 2019 11:48:08 #
kenievans wrote:
First I would like to say that yes I have done my ... (show quote)
The Wild Animal Sanctuary North of Denver on I-76. 720 acres with 500+ animals mostly carnivores that have been rescued/confiscated from deplorable conditions.
https://www.facebook.com/TheWildAnimalSanctuary/videos/vb.44130834484/10155794726364485/?type=2&theater
1-1/2 mile elevated walkway over 10 to 20 acre enclosures. Subjects will be between 30 feet to half mile away.
Mar 10, 2019 12:09:52 #
olddutch
Loc: Beloit, Wisconsin
If I remember the "Wind Caves" National park in Custer County, South Dakota
DescriptionWind Cave National Park is in the southwestern corner of South Dakota. It's known for the vast, underground Wind Cave, with chambers like the Post Office and the Elks Room. Many of the cave’s walls are rich in honeycomb-shaped calcite formations known as boxwork. The park's prairie and pine forests are home to bison, elk and pronghorn antelopes. Trails include Rankin Ridge, with views of the Black Hills.
Address: South Dakota
Hours:
Open 24 hours
Established: January 9, 1903
Management: National Park Service
Phone: (605) 745-4600
Did you know: Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument are also in the Black Hills region. encyclopedia.com
My Daughter, myself and 84 year old Mother took the tour and it was very much worthwhile..
DescriptionWind Cave National Park is in the southwestern corner of South Dakota. It's known for the vast, underground Wind Cave, with chambers like the Post Office and the Elks Room. Many of the cave’s walls are rich in honeycomb-shaped calcite formations known as boxwork. The park's prairie and pine forests are home to bison, elk and pronghorn antelopes. Trails include Rankin Ridge, with views of the Black Hills.
Address: South Dakota
Hours:
Open 24 hours
Established: January 9, 1903
Management: National Park Service
Phone: (605) 745-4600
Did you know: Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument are also in the Black Hills region. encyclopedia.com
My Daughter, myself and 84 year old Mother took the tour and it was very much worthwhile..
Mar 10, 2019 12:19:48 #
Boomer Jim
Loc: Newcastle Okla
In Taos be sure to go to Taos Pueblo. Also, if you are interested in museums and history, Los Alamos is only a short drive (Google maps shows 65 miles). If you do go to Los Alamos, be sure to swing by the loop through White Rock and go to the White Rock Overlook. It looks down on the Rio Grande river.
Los Alamos has two good museums. The Bradbury Science Museum and the Los Alamos History Museum.
Los Alamos has two good museums. The Bradbury Science Museum and the Los Alamos History Museum.
Mar 10, 2019 13:20:56 #
Another option in the Denver area if you want to see bison, is Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. There are over 150 bison, 500 deer, many species of birds, and at the time you are coming through there should be nesting bald eagles. https://www.fws.gov/refuge/rocky_mountain_arsenal/ The arsenal was considered for a long time the most contaminated area in the world because of all chemical weapon research done there during WWII and the Cold War.
I would venture to say if you are driving, take every lens you have, just because.
I would venture to say if you are driving, take every lens you have, just because.
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