We have embarked on a five week road trip. We will spend much of our time in northwestern Wyoming visiting Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks. We also plan to visit Colorado and New Mexico.

On this trip we decided to shorten our daily drive time and to spend more time enjoying our campgrounds along the way. Our first stop was at Abilene State Park just south of Abilene, Texas. The campground is heavily wooded and has a wonderful swimming pool built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.

An Orange Crowned Warbler at Abilene State Park

Our next stop was at the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area just north of Amarillo, Texas. Our campsite was set on a bluff overlooking Lake Meredith. The beautiful campground was free of charge and nearly deserted. Although it was hot when we arrived a dramatic thunderstorm soon blew in clearing the air and dropping the temperatures. In the morning we visited the Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, a source of colorful flint used by Native Americans throughout much of North America.

At Lake Meredith National Recreation Area

At The Alibates Flint Quarries 

Squash Blossom 

Alibates Flint tossed aside by workers hundreds of years ago

Yellow Bull Thistle

Collared Lizard

The following day we drove out of Texas, across the Oklahoma Panhandle and spent the night at John Martin Reservoir State Park in southeastern Colorado. The gate attendant said that we had reserved the best campsite in the park. Our campsite was in the shade of a towering tree just feet away from the edge of the lake. We fell asleep listening to the songs of Red-Winged Blackbirds. We spent the next night at Boyd Lake State Park in Loveland, Colorado. They were experiencing an early heat wave and the park was crowded. We spent most of our time in the air conditioned trailer and doing laundry.

Moonrise over John Martin Reservoir State Park 

Then next day we drove into Wyoming. The scenery has been spectacular since our first glimpse of the Snowy Range. We drove across the beautiful and sparsely populated rolling hills of southern Wyoming. We had no idea how amazing Sinks Canyon State Park in Lander, Wyoming was going to be. The park is set in a narrow canyon in the mountains on the outskirts of Lander. The Little Popo Agie River that runs through the park was in flood and filled the park with the sound of rushing water. One hillside of the canyon was rocky and steep. The other side was forested broken up by lush Alpine meadows. We hiked in the meadows, walked along the turbulent river and fell asleep to the sound of an uneasy mountain stream.

The Snowy Range

You'd think there would have been many customers

Sinks Canyon State Park and the Little Popo Agie River

Larkspur

Dandelions and Aspen

Wild Roses

Mule Deer

Alpine Meadow

It was gray and cool as we drove out of Lander and up into the mountains. By the time we reached the Togwotee Pass at over 9,000 feet the temperature had plummeted and the road was lined with snowfields. As we descended the other side of the pass we got our first views of the Grand Teton Mountain Range with its peaks hidden in storm clouds. We got a great campsite with a view of Lake Jackson and the Tetons. The day had turned rainy and cold. Overnight it snowed.

It was cold at the Togwotee Pass



Driving into Grand Tetons National Park