A collection of the best Mountain West travel stories featured in The Statesider US Travel Newsletter: Colorado | Idaho | Montana | Nevada | Utah | Western Dakotas | Wyoming
Also see: Pacific Northwest, Southwest, Midwest
Colorado Travel Stories
Road Trips: As Ryan Ver Berkmoes finds in this story that follows US 50 from California to Kansas, the things that we don’t see from America’s past are things we’re in danger of forgetting. Read this Statesider Original Story
Boulder: Documenting climate change through maps, art, and scientific visualizations in a new exhibit at the University of Colorado’s Earth Sciences & Map Library.
Defying Gravity: Uphill skiing: it’s a movement. Rachel Walker, Sierra Magazine
Idaho Travel Stories
River Adventure: Rafting Idaho’s desert river named for lost Hawaiians is an adventure — and a link to the state’s past. Dove Henry, Idaho Statesman
Montana Travel Stories
Mystery, Montana: Why are so many crime writers inspired by this big empty state? Chad Dundass, Crime Reads
Native Rodeo: For the more than 400 federally unrecognized Native American tribes in the US, rodeos have become important communal spaces. Eli Imadali, The Guardian
Glacier National Park: Every year, before the cars start crawling over the Going to the Sun Road, an underground group of cyclists gets there first. Cassidy Randall, Adventure Journal
American Prairie: The story of the decades-long project to build the 3.2-million-acre American Prairie Reserve and the perils of rewilding ranchland with ranchers still on it. Aaron Teasdale, Sierra Magazine
Yellowstone: Bison graze so fiercely that they force the plants they feed on to produce new growth. Native Americans are leading efforts to bring back the species that help create spring. Ed Yong, The Atlantic
Sanctuary of the Pines: Autostraddle’s Outsiders issue celebrates the outdoors from a refreshing selection of voices, including this story where Molly Priddy finds a friend in Montana — in 1920. Molly Priddy, Autostraddle
Nevada Travel Stories
Road Trips: On the Loneliest Road in America, the things that we don’t see from America’s past are things we’re in danger of forgetting. Read this Statesider Original Story
Cowboy Poetry: Late nights and bright lights at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. The diner dinner that launched The Statesider. Read more about the late-night breakfast that launched The Statesider…
Benvenuti Nella Falsa Venezia: The real Venice has gondoliers and too much water, thanks to climate change. Fake Venice has gondoliers and not nearly enough water, thanks to climate change (and human hubris). Alexandra Marvar, The Believer
Area 51: A raid of the famously mysterious facility was planned online, canceled, then people came anyway. Of the 2 million who RSVPed, only 100 showed up. One got arrested for peeing. We just told you the whole story. Ed Komenda, Reno Gazette Journal
Utah Travel Stories
The Point of Inspiration: Winter at Bryce Canyon: the crowds are long gone, and there’s plenty of space for reflection. For Andrew Evans and his father, it’s a chance to sort through family history and embrace a shared love of photography. Come along for the journey in this Statesider Original
Once There Was a Canyon: Paddling Lake Powell, a lake where a river used to be — and, while the history is regrettable, it’s not all bad. Brendan Leonard, Outside
Asleep in the Trembling Giant: What it’s like to go to bed in the largest organism on Earth. Yes, “in.” Leath Tonino, Outside
Utah Parks: Was Utah’s tourism campaign to attract visitors to its national parks too effective? How did Utah’s parks get so crowded? Mark Sundeen, Outside
The Cabin: Is wanderlust about running from something or toward something? In this beautifully written story, one world traveler finds the answer in a pine-scented cabin in remote southern Utah. Lavinia Spalding, Longreads
Mountain Biking Utah: Getting lost on a mountain bike in Edward Abbey territory — on purpose. Christopher Solomon, Outside
Utah Rocks: Wake up, sheeple. With so many amazing rock formations in canyon country, why is everyone obsessed with the Wave? Melanie Haiken, Sierra Magazine
Western Dakotas Travel Stories
A Monument to What, Exactly? When the Crazy Horse Memorial ® is completed, it will be the largest sculpture in the history of the world — a memorial to a man renowned for his humility. Who is it really for? Brooke Jarvis, The New Yorker
Dark Skies: Where is the closest spot for great stargazing? Check this interactive map of light pollution. Hey, wait a sec… What’s that spot in western North Dakota that’s nearly as bright as Chicago? lightpollutionmap.info
Oh, it’s this: A Mysterious Patch Of Light Shows Up In The North Dakota Dark. Robert Krulwich, NPR
Wyoming Travel Stories
Yellowstone: Bison graze so fiercely that they force the plants they feed on to produce new growth. Native Americans are leading efforts to bring back the species that help create spring. Ed Yong, The Atlantic