Southern California National Parks & Monuments

Palm Springs as seen from Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument

From the 50 State Visitors Guide :

Cal. Penal Code Effective July 1, 2021  §§290 through 294

Cal. Penal Code §§ 3003, 3003.5.   Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 6608.5

Registration Triggers and Deadlines:

All registrants must register within 5 working days of coming into the state. §290.011; updates also within 5 working days.  §§290(b), 290.013.  Those working in the state for 14 days or for more than 30 days in a calendar year must register. §290.002.  Those who “regularly reside” at a temporary or permanent residence must register “regardless of the number of days or nights spent here.” §290.010.

Transients must reregister every 30 days. §290.011.

Residency/Presence and Other Restrictions:

Presence restriction:  Registrants may not enter schools without permission.  §626.81. Parolees with convictions involving minors under 14 may not enter parks without permission. §3053.8.  May not enter daycare or place for dependent adult if conviction involved dependent adult. §653c. 

Residence restriction: 2,000 ft. of schools and parks.  §3003.5(b).  NOTE: this statute was declared unconstitutional as applied to certain parolees by In re Taylor, 60 Cal. 4th 1019 (2015) and is only applied by the state to parolees having Static 99 scores of 4 or more.  However, local governments may enforce this statute or local ordinances.

Few local governments have more restrictive requirements, not because there is a state pre-emption but because ACSOL aggressively sues & overturns them.

Duration & updates:

Lifetime. Petition to remove: T1 – 10 yrs. T2 – 20 yrs. SVPs update every 90 days; all others update annually. §290.012.

NOTE:  Per Rolfe Survey, visiting registrants are placed on state’s website and not removed. However, per ACSOL staff, procedure available for removal from registry after departure.

Maxing out California – Sept.-Oct. 2026

For registered visitors, California is better than most. All registrants must register within five working days of coming into the state. §290.011. Notice the statute says “within five working days.” If this was any other state I’d warn you that means the fifth working day will trigger their registration requirement, so in reality you only get four working days. However, ACSOL assures me you get all five days AND there is no problem adding the weekends on either side of said five working days (as with most states, you should always assume that partial days count).

Also, there appears to be no limit per month or year, so if you do include a weekend, and leave California for one Working Day (and two nights), you can re-start the clock.

California has very few local ordinances or regulations more restrictive than state law. However, in this case that’s not because they have any state pre-emption. Rather, it’s because ACSOL aggressively sues & overturns them. Therefore, you can travel in California mostly without fear of unknowingly tripping over some local land mine.

The timing of my 2026 California travel was entirely dictated by the ACSOL Los Angeles Conference, which took place Fri.-Sat. Oct. 2-3.  I previously learned the hard way that the October week after the conference was already too late in the season for Yosemite – everything was closed and I got snowed on.  This time I went to Yosemite first, before the end of September, most things were open and the trams were running, and I didn’t freeze to death.

I also gave myself enough time to see most of what I wanted, and that meant maxing out California’s hospitality.  I entered the state on a Sunday and left the following Sunday, consuming three of the four weekend days on either side of a five day work week.

Sunday #1 – Death Valley National Park, Homeland of the Timbisha Shoshone

See my Shoshone Nations post.  On my way out I stopped at the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center in Lone Tree, where I picked up a brochure called Campgrounds of Inyo County which I used to find a campground in Inyo National Forest.  “Inyo County – The other side of California.”

Working Days 1&2 – Yosemite National Park

I entered Yosemite from the east on Tioga Road.  The spectacular view here is Olmsted Point, from which you can see Half Dome.  As I went through Tioga Pass it snowed and hailed (but not too much).  By lunchtime I was in Yosemite Valley.

Half Dome from Olmsted Point                  Fall color in the Yosemite Valley

In hindsight, I should have just parked at Yosemite Village, gotten on the on-off tram bus that makes all the stops anyway, and knocked out as many stops as I could that afternoon.  Instead I clung to my car and fought for parking everywhere I went.  It was only on the second day that I got on the tram to fill in the last few stops that I realized my previous mistake.

Tunnel View of Yosemite Valley

Be advised – All campgrounds anywhere near the Yosemite south entrance were full even on a weeknight this late in the season, and the few remaining motel rooms in the tourist town of Oakhurst were $250-300 per night.  Fresno is 40 miles away but the rooms were $100.

 

Batchelor & Three Graces                                            Grizzly Giant

Working Day 2 – I took the tram to Mariposa Grove and walked the trail as far as Grizzly Giant.  This was my first time!  Many of the displays along the way are attributed to something called the Traditionally Associated Tribes of Yosemite.  Sounds like a committee.

Working Day 3 – Sequoia National Park, with a dash of Kings Canyon

Silly me – I thought I could do both of these parks in one day.  After getting a park map at the SR 180 Entrance, the first thing you come to is the road to Kings Canyon.  First stop on that road – General Grant Tree & Grove.  BTW, Gen’l Grant is not the big Sequoia by the parking lot. He’s most of the way around the loop trail.

General Grant                                            Kings Canyon

By the time I was done with that it was obvious I’d never get to Roads End where all the Kings Canyon good stuff is and back by midday.  I got no further than Bayden Cavern where I had to turn back. 

General Sherman

Again, leaving only one afternoon for Sequoia National Park meant skipping a few things, but I got a good introduction and enjoyed it a lot.  Main stops I got to:  Lost Grove, General Sherman Tree.  Big Trees Trail is this national park’s nature trail, it’s easy and terrific!  See photos.  Park across the street from the Giant Forest Museum and follow the paved trail.  Didn’t get to see Giant Forest :-( 

Big Trees Trail

That night I camped at state recreation area near Portersville.  Next time I’ll know enough to allow at least two days for two parks.

Working Days 4&5 and Saturday – ACSOL 2026 Los Angeles Conference

Great Conference and I was the Domestic Travel speaker.

Sunday #2 – Escape from California

I stayed over at the conference hotel the Saturday night after the ACSOL conference, so my only obligation to the State of California on Sunday was to leave.  As it happens, I was in Arizona by early afternoon.

Previous visits:

Mojave National Preserve

I spent a morning exploring the south half of Mojave National Preserve.  A think many people’s first impression might be, this is a desert so it must be pretty much the same everywhere, but that’s not true.  Unfortunately Mitchell Caverns was closed for the season, but other areas such as Kelso Depot and Hole in the Wall Visitors Center were open.

Sand dune field in Mojave National Preserve

Four days later I visited the north half of Mojave Reserve on the return leg of my California trip when I passed by on I-15.  In this area there are cinder cones and a large sand dune field.

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park

On a previous visit I entered California as early as possible on a Thursday morning. I wanted to have as much time as possible that day to take in Joshua Tree National Park – which I did and thoroughly enjoyed.

Bruce Hossfield, Atwo Zee Registered Traveler

 Utah's National Parks & Monuments

The Grotto, as seen from Angel's Landing Trail, Zion National Park

From the 50 State Visitors Guide :

Utah Code Ann.  2025

§§77-41-101 through 77-41-112; Utah. Code Ann. §§77-27-21.7 thru 77-27-21.9; U.A.C. §§R251-110-1 thru  R251-110-5  §§ 53-29-101 thru 53-29-405. (Utah reorganized its whole code in 2025)

Registration Triggers and Deadlines:

“Sex Offender” is defined to include any out-of-state SO who is in Utah for more than 10 days in any 12 month period. § 53-29-202.

Visitors must register “within 10 days of entering the state, regardless of the offender’s length of stay.”  § 53-29-304. 

Updates required within 3 business days.

Residency/Presence and Other Restrictions:

Presence restriction: May not be on premises of a day care, preschool or school; public, HOA or condo swimming pool; public, HOA or condo park or playground.  Exceptions for access to schools when carrying out “necessary parental responsibilities” and day care center or preschool when in building for other purposes. § 53-29-306

Residence restriction: w/in 1,000 ft. of victim, with exceptions. May not be on premises of a day care, preschool or school; public, HOA or condo swimming pool; public, HOA or condo park or playground.  Exceptions for access to schools when carrying out “necessary parental responsibilities” and day care center or preschool when in building for other purposes. § 53-29-306.

“Sex Offender in Presence of Child Law:”  Registrants w/ convictions involving minors under 14 years old cannot invite the minor to accompany him or her absent parental consent, with exceptions.  § 53-29-307. Updated Aug. 2026.

Because “Sex Offender” is defined to include only out-of-state SO’s in Utah for more than 10 days in a 12 month period (see Registration Triggers & Deadlines at left), visitors not meeting this definition would, in theory, not be required to register & thus not subject to these restrictions during their visit. However, this theory remains untested.

Duration & updates:

Lifetime. Petition 10 years.  Updates every 6 mo. §77-41-105.

From the FORMER & LONG-TERM Registrants Guide :

Out-of-state offenders are “required to register on the registry for the time period required by the external jurisdiction …”  § 53-29-203  Updated Aug. 2026

“… if … that jurisdiction's registration period … is greater than the registration period required [in Utah].” Removed 5/3/23

Therefore presumably if you are NO LONGER required to register in your state, you are off the hook in UT

Most recent visit – September 2026

Nine Days in Utah: October 2024

My most recent visit to Utah was like a seven day “greatest hits” version of my nine day 2024 visit.  However, Utah has completely reorganized its criminal code since then and made a few changes, so I am reposting my previous visit with updates you should be aware of. 

Compared to other states, Utah’s restrictions on registered visitors are about average.  Yes it does have presence restrictions, including the usual boogeymen such as day care centers, schools, public, HOA or condo swimming pools, public, HOA or condo parks & playgrounds. With the exception of public parks, I assume that, like me, you have no interest in visiting any of these places on your visit to Utah. Notice that the list includes “public, HOA or condo swimming pools” but not the pool at any hotel you may be staying at.  Recent changes highlighted.

Here’s the truly sad news: What used to say “community parks” now says “public, HOA or condo parks.”  I used to say “community parks” didn’t include state parks, but “public, HOA or condo parks” definitely includes state parks.  That’s sad because Utah has some great state parks, a couple of which I visited in 2024 but now am banished from.  Fortunately, as in other states, national parks and forests are “out of their jurisdiction,” and those are the best of everything.

Because the term “Sex Offender” is defined by statute to include only out-of-state registrants in Utah for more than 10 days in a 12 month period (see Registration Triggers & Deadlines), visitors not meeting this definition would, in theory, not be required to register & thus not subject to these restrictions during their visit. Admittedly, however, this theory remains untested and I’m not going to be the one to test it.  Still, you get ten days in-state per calendar year without ever having to test it. Most registered visitors should have littleto worry about. Just remember, all partial days are going to count toward the 10 day total, including your entry and exit days.

Utah has some of the most stunningly beautiful natural wonders of any state in the union. I had been there two years earlier, and also the year before I went to prison. That first time I went specifically because I had no idea whether I’d ever be able to come back. Now that I have my chance I can never resist the chance to go back.

This time I spent over a week in Utah, and chose the first week of October. I spent an entire day at each park, arriving as early as possible (i.e. about 6:30 am) and breaking off around 3:00 pm to head for my next campground.  The weather that week was perfect, yet it was still a so-called “shoulder season” when the parks were less crowded than at the summer peak. 

Arches National Park – Days 1-2

Whether you are coming from the east or west, I urge you to skip the main access highway US 191 and go in the back way which is State Rd 128 – it runs along the Colorado River through some of the most magnificent canyons you will ever see. Plus there are many campgrounds and on the first week of October there were plenty of sites available. However, DO NOT think you’re going to find any last minute food or supplies at the exit or anywhere else on this road because it doesn’t exist. Stock up ahead of time or wait until you get to Moab.

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park

Of Utah’s Big 5 National Parks Arches is my 2nd favorite (sorry, Zion is even better). It is truly a wonderland and this time I went to places I’d never been to before e.g. Devil’s Garden (Wow!). Then there’s Delicate Arch, Fiery Furnace, Balanced Rock, and of course Park Avenue and the Courthouse Towers.

Every American should see these great wonders before you die.

Canyonlands National Park – Day 3

Canyonlands is a huge park that encompasses the confluence of the Colorado River and Green River. The northern section, called Island in the Sky, is accessed from US 191 via State Rd 313 which is much closer to civilization than the southern Needles section. Because of that remoteness I’d never been to The Needles before, but this time I camped as close to that park entrance as I could – not realizing that because this remoteness I could have gone to the Squaw Flat campground inside the park which was half-empty.

Grandview Point, Canyonlands

It turns out while The Needles can be seen in the distance from the park road, you can’t actually go explore them without at least a 2 day backpacking commitment and I’m too old for that.  There are a couple of canyon views in this section too but they don’t hold a candle to the overlooks from Island in the Sky, where I also was able to spend a few hours before heading off to my next campground.

Along the 50 mile road to The Needles you will also pass the famous Newspaper Rock petroglyphs. WOW!

Like the Grand Canyon, all of the main canyon views are from above.  Unlike the Grand Canyon, there are no guided horse treks to get you to the bottom of the canyons. You’re on your own if you want to explore the remote areas of the park.

NOTE:  I have visited Dead Horse Point State Park in the past and it’s really spectacular, but now the State of Utah has made it illegal for us to go.

Capital Reef National Park – Day 4

I imagine you have not heard of Capital Reef – but you should have. It’s truly spectacular.  When I visited in October 2024 the entire scenic road and visitors center were completely ripped up with construction, but guess what?  Tadahhh !! Construction is now complete and in 2026 I was able to drive that scenic drive to the most remote areas you can get to by car. 

Left - Panoramic view of Capital Reef, which is one of the steps in the Grand Staircase

Right - Grand Wash, one of the many canyons

Capital Reef has within it a preserved historic town named Fruita. Yes it has a blacksmith shop and a fruit pie shop, but it’s really not that great.  There are viewpoints and trails extending from State Rd 24 so I hiked part of the Cohab Canyon trail and it was beautiful. 

West of Capital Reef on State Rd. 24, be sure to stop at Red Canyon. It’s well worth your time.

Grand Staircase / Route 12 Corridor – Day 5

The Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument is vast and remote. If you’re a backpacker or have an ATV you can go exploring, but otherwise you’re restricted to the highways that skirt the edges of it, like US 89 to the south and Historic Route 12 which is just about the only route from Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon.  

Escalante Petrified Forest

The good news / sad news about Historic Route 12 is there’s plenty to see and in the past I have tried  to go to new places every time.  The very sad news is that many of these places are in state parks, but now the State of Utah has made it illegal for us to go.

On past trips I visited Anasazi State Park & Museum (very interesting) and camped at Kodachrome Basin St. Pk. which is named after the colorful landscape.  I hiked at Escalante Petrified Forest State Park and saw petrified tree trunks.  But all that’s been stolen from us now because the Utah legislature is filled with dickheads.

Bryce Canyon National Park – also Day 5

Bryce Canyon is all about the hoodoos – those otherworldly spires that made this canyon famous. There have to be millions of them. And for me, therein lies the problem.  Much like you sometimes hear people say the Grand Canyon is “just a big hole in the ground,” I have to admit my attitude toward hoodoos is, “you seen one hoodoo, you seen ’em all.” 

Bryce Canyon

Bryce has one main road from the entrance to the far south end of the park.  There are many viewpoints and they are very beautiful but they all look the same to me.  You can remain in the Bryce Amphitheater area and end your tour at Bryce Point, but on this trip I drove all the way down to the end of the road at Rainbow Point hoping for a little variety but no, it’s just more hoodoos.

However, out on Route 12 east of the park entrance you will find Mossy Cave and waterfalls, which is about a one mile hike, very cool and something I’d never seen before.

Zion National Park – Days 6 & 7

Zion is my favorite national park and on this trip I allowed two days for it. What makes Zion so unique is that, unlike the Grand Canyon, or Canyonlands, or Bryce, the entry to Zion National Park takes you straight into the mouth of the most spectacular canyon you will ever see (my opinion), the Virgin River which flows through the canyon nourishes a forested canyon floor filled with wildlife, and there are such a variety of things to see!

Zion Canyon as seen from a rocky overlook on the Emerald Pools trail

On this trip one week into October I was able to find parking at the Visitor Center as long as I got there by 7:00 am. The weather was good, the park was crowded, and the bus trams were still in operation until the end of the month. The main nature trail is at Temple of Sinawava.  Also get off at The Grotto, Court of the Patriarchs, and Emerald Pools. Then the Zion – Mt. Carmel Highway takes you up the switchbacks to the WPA Project tunnel, Canyon overlook and spectacular views.

People hiking up the river canyon at the Temple of Sinawava. I didn't do that.

One thing you should know about Zion National Park is that camping and anything like an affordable motel room in the tourist town of Springdale are basically nonexistent, and I was visiting on a weekend. While on the tram a couple was bragging about how they had found a good affordable room – but that was in St. George, 50 miles away! I had managed to find a bed in a four-person bunkhouse in La Verkin, UT, “only” 25 miles away. Good news! Even on a weekend, it was off-season enough that the bunkhouse place was mostly empty and I had an entire bunkhouse with kitchen and bathroom to myself for $89 per night. Yey!  I returned there in 2026 after my day at Zion.

Bears Ears & Natural Bridges Nat. Mons. – Days 8 & 9

If you’ve never been to Utah you’ve probably never heard of either Bears Ears or Natural Bridges National Monuments.  If you choose to search for my blog post called A Medical Emergency While Traveling you’ll know why I was unable to do much more than drive past Bears Ears on this trip. But I have been there in the past and I can tell you it’s just as spectacular as everywhere else in Utah.

Newspaper Rock !

Together with Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Bears Ears actually surrounds Canyonlands Nat. Park – Newspaper Rock is in Bears Ears, not Canyonlands.  From there Bears Ears extends all the way south to the Navajo Nation (which includes southernmost Utah). Natural Bridges Nat. Mon. is much smaller and located entirely within Bears Ears.

There’s just so much in Utah. It never seems to end. 

Northern Utah: August 2025

In early August 2025 I traveled through northern Utah – a part of the state I had not seen before.  I entered Utah from Nevada on I-80, which means I was headed straight through the Bonneville Salt Flats.  Yes it was hot & white & flat & it seems to go on forever.  After that my primary objective was to find a campground in Uinta National Forest, east of Salt Lake City.

A nice shady rest area in the Bonneville Salt Flats

The next day my first stop was the Uintah and Ouray Nation Reservation.  Anyone conversant with Utah’s history should not be surprised that native people here have been robbed of their lands.  In this case the invaders pulled their usual trick of steeling back reservation lands whenever they found valuable resources there.  The agricultural lands on native lands seemed as prosperous as nearby lands – which isn’t too bad. 

The main anglo town, Roosevelt, seems to be booming!  Everything is recent, but on the original old street grid.  It’s also a university town.  Duchesne is also an anglo town but it’s a dump.  The native reservation town is Fort Duchesne, and that’s a dump too.

Dinosaur Nat. Mon. & Flaming Gorge Nat. Rec. Area

Dino display building at Dino Nat. Monument

My next stop that day was Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area in Ashley National Forest.  It’s mountainous and forested, it has all manner of recreation opportunities and lots on camping and lodging alternatives.  In hindsight I recommend going to Dinosaur National Monument, which can be done in an afternoon, and then heading up to the recreation area to stay overnight and recreating the next day.

As it was I had a campsite reservation at Dinosaur, which is desert-like.  Nevertheless that allowed me to see Dinosaur the next morning and I have to say it’s great!  Not only have they encased an entire hillside full of exposed fossils in a giant display building, but this national monument also does double duty as a major petroglyph site!  I heartily recommend it to everyone.

Bruce Hossfield, Atwo Zee Registered Traveler

 Colorado

Rocky Mountain National Park

From the 50 State Visitors Guide :

C.R.S. 2025  §§16-13-901 through 16-13-906

C.R.S. §§16-22-101 through 16-22-115

C.R.S. §§18-3-412.5 through 18-3-412.6; 8 C.R.R. 1507-24

AWA Compliant

Registration Triggers and Deadlines:

Initial registration and updates within 5 business days.  “Residence” means 14 consecutive days in any 30 day period. §16-22-105.

“Temporary Resident” includes present in Colorado more than 14 consecutive business days or 30 days per calendar year. §16-22-102(8)(c).

Transient registrants subject to annual registration must report every 3 mo. Transient registrants subject to quarterly registration must report monthly. §§16-22-105 through 16-22-108.

Residency/Presence and Other Restrictions:

No statewide restrictions.

Duration & updates:

Lifetime. Petition: 5 years. Quarterly registration for SVPs & out-of-state who register quarterly in state of convictions. Others register annually. §16-22-108

Most recent visit - September 2026

Petrified tree trunks at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Enjoy your Colorado vacation but don’t get the idea that it’s a state where you might want to live permanently.  Registration is lifetime no matter your tier or equivalent. The only good news is that for Tier 1 or equivalent you can petition for removal after five years.  But as with most other states, there’s never any guarantee of approval.

But for visitors, Colorado has some of the least punitive requirements of any state. Yes, it’s 14 consecutive business days (or 30 per year) to establish a temporary residence. With 2 weekends included that means at least 18 days total; more if there’s a holiday.

Colorado also has no statewide presence or residency restrictions, although you should still be careful because local restrictions are allowed under state law.

Roosevelt National Forest

I have passed through Colorado on my way to somewhere else several times, and each time I try to slow myself down to see some new part of the state.  This time I entered from Nebraska on I-76 but soon got off on SR 14 which took me through Pawnee National Grassland.  Yes a lot of the shortgrass prairie is preserved, but only by allowing a bunch of oil rigs to blot the view.  Further west, this retired city planner thinks Fort Collins is “so well planned you can’t find anything.”

Continuing west, SR 14 passes through Cache la Poudre Canyon in Roosevelt National Forest, where I camped for the night.  This is north of Rocky Mountain National Park.  The next morning I continued on SR 14 through the canyon and on to Arapaho National Forest and Wildlife Refuge, where the high meadows were in fall color – see photos:

 

Cache la Poudre Canyon                           Rocky Mountains high meadows

I continued west as far as Steamboat Springs but then south to I-70 so I could to Utah by nightfall – but remembering to stop for supplies in Grand Junction because one thing is for sure, once you enter Utah on I-70 there’s nothin’.

Colorado National Monument

I have stopped at Colorado National Monument on previous trips through Colorado. I had been there once before but it was a decades ago.  I remembered that it was beautiful, not far from the interstate, and has a scenic drive that only takes an hour or two depending on how much time you want to devote to it.  On all these counts, Colorado National Monument did not disappoint. On the minus side, it was pretty darned cold that day in late October.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

I have visited Black Canyon of the Gunnison twice in recent years. This is a truly stunning canyon, really one of the hidden jewels of the national park system. Gazing into it is like staring into the abyss.  Very impressive!  One thing I have to admit, however, is that because of the high altitude it’s a very cold place to camp! 

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

 Colorado scenic train rides: July 2023

If you have been reading my blogs you may know I’m a sucker for a scenic train ride.  The problem is that each one takes most of a day, so if I encounter one while traveling I have to decide between the train ride and anything else I may have intended to do that day.  So the entire purpose of this trip was to go on five Colorado scenic train rides in seven days and get it all out of my system (at least for this year).  Naturally I had to do advance research and make train reservations ahead of time.

Durango & Silverton Scenic RR

I should also say here that when I showed up to report travel at my local sheriff’s department with all my reservations in hand they let me get away with using those train dates and locations as my travel destinations instead of motels and campgrounds.  Of course, whether your local sheriff would be that accommodating is a separate question.

So here are a few comments on the scenic train rides:

Georgetown Loop Scenic Railroad

++ Lots of scenery packed into shortest least expensive ride. Get the mine tour (costs extra).

-- Too “family friendly” – themed playground, toy-heavy gift shop etc. made me paranoid.

Leadville Scenic Railroad

++ Lots of scenery packed into a “relatively inexpensive” ride.

-- Goes through a crappy part of Leadville going and returning; ride is “one-sided” i.e. all the scenery is on the left (downhill) side as your facing the front of the train.

Durango & Silverton Scenic Railroad

++ Most scenic, and the entire train turns around so anything you didn't see on the way up from your assigned seat you will see on the way back.

-- Expensive, box lunch was extra, tracks run alongside US 550 for about an hour each way, tracks poorly maintained so the train rocks a lot.

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

++ Very scenic and you are allowed to move around so you can see out of both sides of the train, price includes buffet lunch, tracks well-maintained.

-- Expensive, not as close to the scenery as others, goes through flat scrub for an hour after leaving town.

Pikes Peak Cog Railroad

++ Unique attraction and technology that takes you to the top of Pikes Peak.

-- Less scenery except from the top of Pikes Peak, assigned seating means you only get one view, buffet lunch at the top costs extra.

In between the train rides I also visited a few other places, including: Rocky Mountain National Park (spectacular and one day only just scratched the surface); Mesa Verde National Park (lots of ancient pueblos, cliff dwellings and petroglyphs – a real hidden gem of the National Park system); Great Sand Dunes National Park (a disappointment); Garden of the Gods (wow you’ve got to go!).

Cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park

Bruce Hossfield, Atwo Zee Registered Traveler