scenic roads.

dipbait

dipbait

Joined
Feb 9, 2008
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I like to camp and hike, but my hikes are getting shorter and camping confined to car camping because of blood sugar problems. Blood sugar yoyos up and down . I am not diabetic though.:confused:

My family has taken three real good vacations the last two years. The wife and I immensely enjoy looking at scenery from a vehicle while the boy plays video games. I will get out and hike short trails , five miles or less. I really liked the Beartooth highway, that road going through Glacier was stunning. Hwy 12 through Utah was like going back in time.Been too the Badlands, the Blackhills, Yellowstone, the Tetons and the Smokys

I dont know where my next vacation will take me. So Im asking you, my outdoor loving buddies . What are the most scenic roads you've been on? and best campgrounds youve visited?
 
Joshua Tree National Monument, California
Mount Desert Island, Maine
Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Jeff
 
Upper Peninsula of Michigan is only a one day drive for me. Ill look into that.
 
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Jds1 Im all excited about the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I think I can make a three day weekend trip out of that. Already been talking to the wife about it.
 
hoh rainforest
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoh_Rainforest
then on up to neah bay.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neah_Bay,_Washington
the trail at cape flattery is a must do
http://www.northolympic.com/capeflatterytrail/
then head east along juan de fuca strait
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Juan_de_Fuca
which brings you to olympic national park
http://www.olympic.national-park.com/
if you feel like traveling further you can take the ferry across the strait from port angeles to vancouver island(dont forget yr passport)
http://www.victoriaexpress.com/
 
The Sea to Sky highway north of Vancouver, BC, is a fantastic drive, with views across Howe's Sound to the West and mountains directly to the East. As a bonus, it takes you past some excellent hiking spots around Squamish and further north towards Whistler. The road is winding and the speed limit is relatively low, which makes for an interesting combination of driving and sightseeing.

A few photos from a recent trip:

DSCF2668.jpg


DSCF2677.jpg


Here's a view of the same scenery, taken from a higher vantage point. Quite the vista, eh?

DSCF2729.jpg


All the best,

- Mike
 
dipbait said:
Jds1 Im all excited about the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I think I can make a three day weekend trip out of that. Already been talking to the wife about it.
Click to expand...

Some points of interest to consider:

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
Keweenaw Peninsula to Copper Harbor
Bark River Knife & Tool Factory :D

Jeff
 
Blue ridge parkway is kinda nice, especially when the rhododendrons are blooming, plus you can divy off and come by my place for a beer.
 
Nothing...... anywhere on the planet..... comes close:

The Cabot Trail. Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
4656484370_13fc87e8db.jpg
 
Bigblue17 said:
Nothing...... anywhere on the planet..... comes close:

The Cabot Trail. Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
4656484370_13fc87e8db.jpg
Click to expand...

Don't know about that my friend.


Hwy 101 is a great drive. Don't know about Cali and Washington but the Oregon stretch is pretty nice. Nehalem Falls campground is a pretty nice place and just about 20 minutes from the main hwy.
 
Joezilla said:
Blue ridge parkway is kinda nice, especially when the rhododendrons are blooming, plus you can divy off and come by my place for a beer.
Click to expand...

as a fellow NC'ian ill agree to this and also fall is a great time to go.. the best campgound is near Helton Creek only a few miles off the parkway. the campground is somewhat primitive. it does have a bathroom and shower.. cold shower :D.. they have hot water but its a small tank.. but its nestled way back in the woods on a long long dirt road along side the helton creek.. you can fish the creek for trout. i love it there. no traffic, no noise other than nature.. awesome
 
dipbait said:
I like to camp and hike, but my hikes are getting shorter and camping confined to car camping because of blood sugar problems. Blood sugar yoyos up and down . I am not diabetic though.:confused:

My family has taken three real good vacations the last two years. The wife and I immensely enjoy looking at scenery from a vehicle while the boy plays video games. I will get out and hike short trails , five miles or less. I really liked the Beartooth highway, that road going through Glacier was stunning. Hwy 12 through Utah was like going back in time.Been too the Badlands, the Blackhills, Yellowstone, the Tetons and the Smokys

I dont know where my next vacation will take me. So Im asking you, my outdoor loving buddies . What are the most scenic roads you've been on? and best campgrounds youve visited?
Click to expand...

I somehow missed this but I gotta tell you... get on youtube and check out Idaho Highway 55. Gnarly canyon driving along the North Fork of the Payette, one of the premiere whitewater kayaking/creeking rivers in the world. Lots of cool bars, restaraunts and camping spots along the way. High mountain lakes, plenty of amazing day hikes.... I'm actually going to be camping out in that canyon this weekend. You get to see some cool old mining and ranching ghost towns and crystal clear high mountain lakes-plenty of elk, bears (haven't seen one on 55 yet though) even moose. Foxes galore and it cuts through one of the most densely populated mountain lion regions in the country. National Geo did a population density map of lions in the US and there's a big black hole over Idaho because they can't estimate the population it's so big. Cool pine squirrels too, they're a thick dark brown color with perfectly white feet and underbellies. You can start from Boise, go up the canyon through Cascade, Donelly and McCall (all of which are backcountry adventure hot spots) and then hook up on Warren Wagon road to go to Riggins, the whitewater hole and gateway to northern Idaho. From there you can drive the length of Hells Canyon, the deepest gorge in the country at 7600 feet average, with the Snake River running below you. You can literally do everything-fishing, hunting, backpacking, sit in hot springs, get hammered at Vigilante's (the local rancher and backcountry bum watering hole) or Salmon River Brewery (the best porter and bleu cheese elk burger you'll ever eat). You should google all this stuff and see the images, I really can't describe it in person-I gotta run to the VA office but I'll try to find and upload pictures tonight.
 
Joezilla said:
Blue ridge parkway is kinda nice, especially when the rhododendrons are blooming, plus you can divy off and come by my place for a beer.
Click to expand...

I'll ditto that-I biked the Blue Ridge mountains at 16 with my dad. Some... interesting folks, but the magnolia and sassafras groves are pretty amazing. A very green subtropical mountainous area. Very pretty.
 
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