Boulder, Utah
(435) 691-1241
(307) 733-4261
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Boulder, Utah |
Jackson Hole, Wyoming | |||
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(435) 691-1241 |
(307) 733-4261 |
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About Earth Tours | Guides | Learn a little something along the way |  |
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TOURS Southern
Utah |
FAQs NW Wyoming Questions How do you get to Jackson Hole? Best seasons for Teton or Yellowstone trips? Weather? Clothes and equipment? What else is there to do in the area? Insects and other pests? Lodging in Jackson Hole? Restaurants in Jackson Hole? Southern Utah Questions How do you get to Boulder, Utah? Can you guide me on a backpacking trip? Best seasons for southern Utah trips? Weather? Clothes and equipment? Insects and other pests? Lodging in Boulder? Restaurants in Boulder? Alcohol in Utah? NW Wyoming Questions How do you get to Jackson Hole? The Jackson Hole airport has jet service from Delta Airlines (via Salt Lake City), United Airlines (via Denver or Boston), and American Airlines (via Chicago or Dallas/Ft. Worth). It is less expensive to fly into Salt Lake City (270 miles away) or Idaho Falls (90 miles away) and rent a car. Go to www.mapquest.com for maps and directions.  Best seasons for Teton or Yellowstone trips? June through September is the prime time for visiting Jackson Hole and the surrounding area. July and August are our warmest months, but are also the main tourist season. September is my favorite time in Jackson Hole with golden aspen groves contrasting with adjacent coniferous forests and orange cottonwoods lining the rivers and streams – the elk are bugling (breeding season), so wildlife is especially wonderful. May and October can be nice, but rain or snow are more likely (I’m not kidding). With our high elevation (over 6000’), our winters are six-months long, more or less – the skiing is great but everything is buried under snow and most of the roads into the parks are closed. Earth Tours leads trips from mid June through September – if you are interested in other dates, please inquire to see if a special trip can be arranged. Weather? With our high elevation, summer days are warm and nights are cool. Snow is possible in early June and late September (snow has been recorded in every month of the year! - but is unlikely in the summer). In July and August, local afternoon thunderstorms are common, but typically are brief and thrilling. For more information on Jackson Hole climate and weather, go to http://www.mountainweather.com/. Here is their list of normal temperatures and precipitation:
Last Updated on 11/9/99 By Jim Woodmencey Email: jwoodmen@wyoming.com Clothes and equipment? *Hat with good brim for sun protection *Outdoor clothing/Warm layers (fleece jacket and windbreaker). Shorts are nice on hot days. When traveling in the mountains, one should hope for the best, but expect the worst (good idea to take extra clothes). *Swimsuit for Chico Hot Springs (two-day Yellowstone adventure) *Light raingear *Shoes suitable for walking (for Top of the World hike, shoes should be adequate for long hike on mountain trails) *Water bottle *Sunglasses *Sunscreen (more UV at high elevations) *Insect repellent *Daypack *Any medical prescriptions you might need. OPTIONAL – Camera, video camera, extra film or memory cards, binoculars and/or spotting scope. What else is there to do in the area? Jackson Hole has a lot to offer. Outdoor recreation possibilities seem endless: sightseeing, hiking, backpacking, whitewater rafting and scenic float trips, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, hunting, mountaineering and rock climbing, horseback riding, rodeo, glider flights over the Tetons, hot-air balloon rides, golf, paragliding, alpine slide, tram rides, bird watching, wildlife tours, wildflowers… Jackson has lots of art galleries, excellent restaurants, concert performances, and shopping opportunities. For information, talk with the concierge at your hotel or go to http://www.jacksonhole.com/activities/summer_index.html. We recommend that you schedule an Earth Tours trip(s) during one of the first days of your vacation, so you can best enjoy the scenery and natural wonders as you continue your adventures. Insects and other pests? Biting insects usually aren’t much of a problem. In wet areas, mosquitoes can occur, so it is a good idea to carry insect repellant. Grizzly bears and black bears live in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem, but can be safely avoided (Keith carries bear spray when in bear country – like mace for tough hombres). Lodging in Jackson Hole? Being a tourist town, Jackson Hole has lots of fine accommodations, depending on how much you want to spend and where you prefer to stay. Staying at a guest ranch is a good option if you want a taste of the old West… Many but not all the hotels are listed in http://www.jacksonhole.com/lodging/index.html. A more complete listing of accommodations can be found at http://www.jacksonholechamber.com/vacationlodging.htm. Here are some suggestions: Amangani – http://www.amangani.com/. The finest hotel in the area is expensive but worth it if you’re wealthy. Jenny Lake Lodge – http://www.gtlc.com/lodgeJen.htm. A wonderful historic lodge at the foot of the Tetons Rusty Parrot Hotel – http://www.rustyparrot.com/. The best place to stay in Jackson Town Wort Hotel – worthotel.com - http://www.worthotel.com/. An historic hotel in Jackson Town Snow King – http://www.snowking.com/. A nice resort on the edge of Jackson Town Snake River Lodge and Spa – http://www.snakeriverlodge.com/. A nice resort located in Teton Village. Restaurants in Jackson Hole? Jackson Hole is unusual for a western town of its size in that it has several excellent restaurants. Many but not all the restaurants are listed in http://www.jacksonhole.com/lodging/index.html. A more complete listing of restaurants can be found at http://www.jacksonholechamber.com/vacationdining.htm. Here are my favorites: Dinner Old Yellowstone Garage – excellent authentic Italian Rendezvous Bistro Restaurant Terroir Snake River Grill The Teton Pines Lunch Cadillac Bar – sit in the bar and order a Billy Burger Choice Meats – great sandwiches and fruit drinks Pearl Street Bagels – fresh delicious bagels and great coffee New York City Sub Shop – fresh homemade bread, yummy… Breakfast Nora’s Fish Creek Inn Pearl Street Bagels – fresh and good, also great coffee Shades – eggs benedict Southern Utah Questions How do you get to Boulder, Utah? Boulder is a back of beyond place, but the highways leading there are excellent and pass through some of the most scenic landscapes in the world. It is located about 280 miles from Salt Lake City and 315 miles from Las Vegas, the closest major airports (5-6 hours drive). You can also take a commuter flight to St. George (about 195 miles away). From Salt Lake City, drive south on Interstate 15, exiting at Scipio (mile 188) on US Highway 50, take a short jog on US 89 to the Sigurd turnoff, then head east on Utah Highway 24 to Torrey, and finally drive south on Highway 12 – the most scenic highway in the known universe! From Las Vegas or St. George, drive northeast on Interstate 15, turn east on Utah Highway 9 - a scenic route through Zion National Park, turn north on US Highway 89, and then head east on Utah Highway 12 passing by Bryce Canyon National Park and Escalante. Go to www.mapquest.com for maps and directions. Also go to http://www.utah.com/maps/ for maps and information. Can you guide me on a backpacking trip? I do not outfit trips with tents, backpacks, and such, but would be happy to lead you on a backpacking trip if you have your own gear and food (I would be happy to help with cooking and camp duties, but won’t be your servant…). If you are interested in going on a weeklong trip that provides gear and meals, contact Escalante Canyon Outfitters at http://www.ecohike.com/. Best seasons for southern Utah trips? Spring and autumn are the ideal times to explore the redrock deserts of southern Utah. In March, the weather begins to warm up and can be very pleasant, but blustery winter weather is possible. By late March, northern people tiring of winter begin migrating into the sunny high desert, especially during spring break and Easter holidays. Late April and May are the peak times for wildflowers. The summer can be hot in southern Utah, but at over 6000’ elevation, Boulder is still quite pleasant – it is best to stay to higher elevations or wade along the perennial tributaries of the Escalante River. By September, the weather begins to cool off and a second bloom of wildflowers colors the desert while aspen groves on Boulder Mountain begin to turn golden. In October, cottonwoods lining the watercourses turn orange and gold, so the canyons are awash in color. This is my favorite time in the desert – water is plentiful and the brisk temperature are revitalizing. Winter is a crapshoot - delightful if sunny, or potentially cold and snowy, but the snow melts rapidly at lower elevations and on south-facing slopes and the solitude is wonderful. If freezing temperatures persist, one can traverse across ice-filled potholes in slot canyons without getting wet feet. Weather? Spring (late March through May) – progressively warmer temperatures with chances of good weather improving. Windy in May with hot temperatures beginning at low elevations. Wildflowers blooming in late April and May. A wonderful time to explore the Escalante Canyons and Capitol Reef. Summer (June through mid September) – hot at lower elevations. In July through September, monsoonal moisture approaches from the south with threat of major thunderstorms. Good time to watch flash floods if you are lucky, but be careful when in slot canyons or exposed areas. Roads can be muddy to impassable after storms. Fall (September through November) – Cool brisk nights and very pleasant days. My favorite time to explore the Escalante Canyons and Capitol Reef. Winter (December through early March) – Can be snowy and cold (below zero is possible), but sunny days are a delight. I’ve wandered around in shorts in January without seeing another person at popular destinations. Roads can be muddy to impassable as snow melts. See Utah.com for climate data. Capitol Reef National Park = LOW ELEVATION:
Bryce Canyon National Park = HIGH ELEVATION
Clothes and equipment? *Hat with good brim for sun protection *Outdoor clothing/Warm layers (fleece jacket and windbreaker). Shorts are nice on hot days. Cotton or light nylon pants and long-sleeved shirt are good if biting flies are bothersome (late May to early September). When traveling in the high desert, one should hope for the best, but expect the worst (good idea to take extra clothes). *Swimsuit for splashing along streams. *Light raingear *Shoes suitable for hiking, lightweight wool socks are good idea *Shoes suitable for wading (for some hikes, old tennis shoes work well) *Water bottles – at least 2 quarts, more for longer hikes. *Sunglasses *Sunscreen (more UV at high elevations) *Insect repellent *Daypack (small one for negotiating slot canyons) *Small first aid kit with any medical prescriptions you might need. OPTIONAL – Camera, video camera, extra film or memory cards, binoculars and/or spotting scope. Insects and other pests? In dry areas, insects generally aren’t a problem. However, during the warm summer months, mosquitoes, gnats, and biting flies may occur along watercourses, particularly those frequented by cattle. Insect repellent (DEET) works well for the small bugs, but deer flies and horse flies seem undeterred by such poisons. I wear lightweight cotton (cooler) or nylon (dries quickly) pants and long-sleeved shirt for protection when assaulted by these pests. If unusually bad, a mesh headnet is helpful. However, your Earth Tours guide will suggest hikes that avoid such nuisances, unless you insist on exploring questionable destinations. Lodging in Boulder? Two nice motels are located in Boulder. The Boulder Mountain Lodge has first-rate accommodations with a view over an adjacent marsh that abounds with waterfowl and other birds. Pole’s Place has clean, comfortable rooms at fair prices. Lodging is also available at several motels in Escalante and Torrey, each about 30 miles from Boulder. Restaurants in Boulder? Located at the Boulder Mountain Lodge, the Hell’s Backbone Grill has excellent food made from fresh ingredients, some grown in the lodge’s garden. The Boulder Mesa Restaurant serves good home-cooked fare. The Burr Trail Café has good breakfasts, burgers, pizzas, and salads. Alcohol in Utah? Until recently in most of Utah, wine and spirits were not available by the drink or even at restaurants. Boulder just changed its liquor regulations, so beer and possibly wine are available in its restaurants. Beer (3.2 alcohol content) is available at a number of stores. If you want your own wine or liquor supply, you must purchase bottled liquor at a Utah State Liquor Store. Small stores with limited selections are located in Escalante (southwest of Boulder on Utah Highway 12) and Bicknell (west of Capitol Reef on Utah Highway 24). Salt Lake City liquor stores have very good selections of wine and spirits – worth a stop after you leave the airport before to head into the hinterland. St. George has a modest selection of wines topping out with a couple $40+ vintages. |
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