Looking for ideas for a good scenic route from Yellowstone down to Grand Junction, Co. Heading out west in a few weeks with the wife for our first long distance road trip out of Michigan. Will be seeing Sturgis, Beartooth Pass, Yellowstone, Tetons, and then down towards the Million Dollar Hwy. and then up to Salida for a wedding on August 8th.

 

Not sure if it would be out of your way much, but the Ten Sleep Canyon road (hwy 16) from Buffalo, Wy. on I-90 to Ten Sleep, Wy. is a fantastic route. Just did it 2 weeks ago...

 

I was just in Moab two weeks ago and Yellowstone last year. For me, the US89 south of Jackson WY is a very scenic ride south until you get to Logan UT. In my opinion, going east is going to be fairly dead and not too interesting. Stay south to Ogden and then head on I84 east (it actually goes southeast). It hooks into I80. Don't go east but rather go "west" (again, here, I80 actually goes south). Stay on it for about 20 miles until you get to US40, through Park City and Heber. Here, you have a choice. You can stay on US 40 or head southwest, down to Provo. I went through Provo and just south of Provo is US 6 which goes up a scenic canyon, eventually taking you to Price UT. Stay on US 6 until it get you to I70, which is a straight shot into Grand Junction.

There may be a more direct route but you asked for scenic. If you go below 6000 feet in elevation, the territory south into Utah is not too interesting (and man was it HOT!!!). I enjoyed Ogden to Provo by bypassing Salt Lake City and I hear the traffic is bad there.

 

rock springs thru flaming gorge down to vernal, utah is a nice ride. there are roads on both sides of the gorge--supposedly the west side is the prettiest...i rode the east side and it was nice.