Pre-convention tours

August 17:
South Platte River Route/Overland Trail
Two-wheel drive vehicles
Limit: 12 vehicles. CBs required for communication among vehicles.

Tour begins at 8:00 a.m. at the Colorado Welcome Center at Julesburg, I-76 Exit 180.
Highlights of this tour include:

Fort Sedgwick Museum, Depot Museum and the Old Ford Garage in Julesburg.
Historic sites along the Platte River Trail Loop
Lunch in Sterling
Fort Morgan Museum
Elbridge Gerry grave, near Kuner in Weld County

Julesburg, Colorado, where the tour begins, is approximately 175 miles from Loveland.
Lodging for the prior night is available in Julesburg and Big Springs, Nebraska.

Tour guide: Bill Petersen

August 17-18:
Cherokee Trail
Four-wheel drive vehicles with high clearance required.
Limit: 10 vehicles. CBs required.

>> THIS TOUR IS NOW SOLD OUT.

Tour begins at 6:30 a.m. at Cruel Jack's Truck Stop in Rock Springs, Wyoming, I-80 Exit 99
(Highway 191). Highlights of the first day include exceptional trail ruts, outstanding 1850 viewsheds, and the possibility of observing and filming wild horses.

Bring food for lunch, water and snacks for both days. There are no facilities between Rock
Springs and Baggs, Wyoming, where the group will arrive about 4:00 p.m. Limited cell phone coverage on the tour route. Overnight in either Encampment or Saratoga.

Second day begins with tour of the Grand Encampment Museum, followed by stops at rut sites along the trail route.

Many interesting photo opportunities on both days.

See note below regarding additional option for participants in this tour.

Tour guides: Terry del Bene, Chuck and Suzanne Hornbuckle, Tom McCutcheon,
Jack and Pat Fletcher.

August 17-18:
Overland Mail and Stage Route, 1862
Four-wheel drive vehicles with high clearance required.
Limit: 8 vehicles. CBs required.

Tour begins at 8:00 a.m. at the BLM office, 280 Highway 191, north of Rock Springs, Wyoming. Each vehicle must begin with a full tank of gas, as there are no facilities available on the tour
route until Rawlins, Wyoming. Bring food and water for the day.

Tour stops include Point of Rocks Stage Station, Register Rock, stage stations at Black Buttes,
Big Pond, Fort LaClede, Dug Springs and Duck Lake. Each station has its own colorful history. Permission has been obtained to cross private property (very rugged) to the Washakie Station ruins. Overnight at Rawlins.

Independent travel to Loveland on the second day. A suggested route will be provided, including directions to the former Elk Mountain station, various Cherokee Trail monuments and traces of
the trail, remnants of Fort Sanders, and sites of several stagecoach stations. The suggested
route then crosses into Colorado with stops at the Virginia Dale Station monument and a cabin
of historic interest in LaPorte.

See note below regarding additional option for participants in this tour.

Tour guides: Colleen Sievers, Bill and Gail Robinson.

August 16:
Additional option for participants in the two-day tours

Participants in the two-day tours are also invited to a special evening tour on August 16 at
6:00 p.m. to see the Rock Springs stage station, inscriptions on the rocks, and then on to the
sites of the Green River stage station and cemetery. Contact Bill and Gail Robinson to make arrangements for this tour (e-mail link below).

Tour guides: Bill and Gail Robinson