A Local's Guide To Three Classic Western Road Trips

Above, a sunrise view of Monument Valley's Mittens and Merrick Butte. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In case you haven't heard, summer began last evening.

Now that we're in summertime, it is time to think about where to go during the vacation season.

Cowboys and Indians Magazine has posted some great suggestions in the form of the local's guide to three classic western road trips. 

They start with:

If you’re like us, at some point this summer you’ll be loading the truck and getting out of town. The wide-open byways of the West are one of the best places to find the freedom, adventure, and sense of discovery that can only come from that great American tradition, the road trip.

This country would be a lot better off if we all got out a little more, met some different folks, went to some new places. And like Louis L’Amour, we believe the magic of any trip lies in the journey.

That’s why we’ve partnered with Off the Beaten Path, a Bozeman, Montana, travel service, to bring you this local’s guide to three classic Western road trips. Each begins and ends in a terrific destination, but we’re not going to talk about them. We're focused on the in-between. The road there. The stops, the people, the history that you encounter along the way. That’s what you always remember most.

We promise we’re sharing some great recommendations, but please use this guide as a rough plan. Stop at places that aren’t on the itinerary. If you feel the urge, go ahead, pull in. See where that side road takes you. And remember, sometimes you find the best stuff by getting a little lost.

To read more, go here.