We leave Grand Teton behind and head south through Jackson and over Teton Pass, stopping for Snake River views and California Trail history along the way. The day ends with a quiet night at Smoky Mountain Campground as we make our way toward Castle Rock State Park. We leave Gros Ventre Campground and say goodbye to Grand Teton National Park as we begin heading south toward Castle Rock State Park in southern Idaho. The drive takes us through Jackson, Wyoming, over Teton Pass, and into a quieter stretch of road filled with wide-open landscapes and layered history. Along the way, we stop at a scenic overlook with sweeping views of the Snake River and pause at several historic markers tied to the California Trail, reflecting on the people who once traveled this same route under very different circumstances. These brief roadside stops add depth to an otherwise relaxed travel day, blending scenery with story. The day wraps up at Smoky Mountain Campground, where we settle in for a one-night stay before continuing on. This episode serves as the transition between parks and destinations — a reflective travel day that bridges the Tetons and what’s ahead at Castle Rock State Park.

We finally explore Castle Rocks State Park—hiking quiet trails, wandering among towering rock formations, viewing pictographs, visiting a stocked pond, and learning the history behind prairie schooner wagons left on the landscape. A calm, reflective end to the day. This episode picks up where the previous day left off as we finally explore Castle Rocks State Park in southern Idaho. After splitting this filming day into two videos, this one is all about slowing down and wandering through the park itself. We spend time hiking along the trails, weaving between the striking rock formations that give Castle Rocks its name, stopping often to take in the quiet and scale of the landscape. Along the way, we visit pictographs etched into the rock, pausing to appreciate their history and presence in this rugged place. We also check out a stocked pond within the park, a peaceful stop surrounded by open views and wildlife sounds, before continuing on to explore remnants of westward travel. Prairie schooner wagons sit out on the landscape, paired with interpretive signs that help tell the story of the emigrants who once passed through this area along historic routes. It’s an day of exploration, history, and reflection—closing out our time in Castle Rocks before the journey continues.

On our way south, we stop at City of Rocks National Reserve to explore Camp Rock and Register Rock, reading pioneer inscriptions and reflecting on the Indigenous and emigrant history etched into the stone. A quiet, thoughtful pause before the road continues. In this episode, we leave Castle Rocks State Park and begin heading south with the ultimate goal of reaching Great Basin National Park. Along the way, we stop at City of Rocks National Reserve, and the day naturally slows as the history of the place takes center stage. We explore several key sites within the reserve, including Camp Rock and Register Rock, where emigrants once carved their names while traveling west. Standing among the towering granite formations, we take time to read the inscriptions, walk the surrounding areas, and reflect on the pioneers who passed through—as well as the Indigenous peoples who lived on and moved through this land long before westward expansion. Rather than rushing through, this episode lingers on the feeling of the place: quiet, massive stone, and the weight of human stories etched into the landscape. The video ends at Register Rock, just before we depart City of Rocks, setting up the continuation of the journey in the next episode.

A bumpy dirt road, no coffee in sight, and tiny towns flashing by as we cross northwest Utah toward Great Basin National Park. We land an incredible campsite, then head toward Weaver Peak to film CampVue and catch our first jaw-dropping views. In this episode, we finally leave City of Rocks National Reserve and begin the long push toward Great Basin National Park. The route takes us along sometimes bumpy dirt roads, cutting across the northwest corner of Utah through wide-open country and tiny towns that seem to disappear as quickly as they appear. With no luck finding coffee in Almo before setting off, the search for caffeine becomes a running joke as we roll through near-empty stretches of road, soaking in the quiet and isolation of this part of the West. It’s a travel day defined by movement, small moments, and the humor that comes from unmet expectations. We eventually arrive at our campground near Great Basin National Park and quickly realize we may have landed one of the best campsites of the entire 2025 CampVue Northern Tour. After getting set up, we head out toward Weaver Peak to continue filming for CampVue, where we’re rewarded with our first real glimpse of the stunning landscape that defines this region. This episode marks the transition from travel to discovery, setting the stage for what’s to come in Great Basin.