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This article is listed under the category: Travel and Leisure

6 Things to Do in the Rocky Mountain West
Submitted By: David Urmann
Submitted: November 15, 2007
Word Count: 605

The Intermountain west is comprised of the states Mo.,Id.,Wy.,Co.,Nv.,Ut. Although all of these states are known for for their striking beauty there are a lot of aspects of this area that a lot of people do not often tour but are warrant a visit. If you have the time and inclination then visit these on your next trip..

1. Visit the Thermal Springs- This geological area has a large amount of thermal activity which has resulted in a a good number of bathing hot pools in these states. Springs are as developed or as primitive as one likes. For those that prefer the rustic then White Sulfur Springs Hotel has the best pool and motel for you. Those that like more of a spa feel, check out some of the ones that Colorado has to offer.

2. Search for Petraglyphs- The archaic peoples of the Intermountain west were very artistic, and a great deal of there 4000-year old art can remains even today, painted on rocks across the region. For those that just want a taste, Fremont State Park in Utah has a interesting trail and museum, for those that like hiking Grand Gulch in Utah is a delightful place to explore.

3. Visit the Smaller National Recreation Areas- If you have not visited Glacier Park, then by all means you should visit there first, but for those of you that have already done the most popular parks in the region you might think about visiting the underestimated ones. Cumulatively, these states have over fifty National sites, and many of the state have exemplarystate and local park systems as well.

4. Drop by the Regional Museums (as well as the most popular ones)- Many of the most interesting museums are those that are in the middle of nowhere, like the city museum in Three Forks, Montana in which the local citizenry gathered paraphernalia from their area spanning a 100 years. Of course, some of the bigger museums are worth visiting as well, such as the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody just outside Yellowstone Park. This museum has five separate galleries which cover some aspect of the west such as Western Art or Modern Western Art.

5. Enjoy Heavenly Powder- Everyone knows that good weather activities abound in the Intermountain West, but we also have the best snow around. For those of you that are not interested in trying snowboarding, you should consider cross-country. Sun Valley, Idaho has great trails an addition top pick is the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in Montana.

6. Explore an Alpine Lake this summer� The mountain ranges of the west are full of beautiful alpine lakes. A lot of them are frequently visited but a few of the most most interesting are off the primary route of most travelers and frequently require a rewarding hike to reach. One of our top choices is Lost Lake in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. This lake is enclosed by tall cliffs and picturesque mountains that were formed by glacier ice. The Wind River mountains are known for backpacking and camping opportunities. Another fantastic place to visit in the Wind River Mountains is Lonsome Lake in the Cirque of the Towers area in the southern half of the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming.

As you can see, there are a number of things that you should try to do in the mountain west, beyond the old car tour. Any of the above itineraries will not only be exciting and fun but will provide you with many great pictures for years to come.  David Urmann