Cross Country Trip Advice Needed (E to W)

[J. Bloos]

Hi fellow OB members. I am planning a trip across the country. I will be leaving from Charlotte, NC with my final destination being Denver, CO. I plan to be on the road for about 5+- weeks and plan to leave sometime around the start of August. I have attached below a rough sketch of the route that I envision taking.

Goals/Intensions for this trip:

• Explore National Parks
• Go fly fishing
• Hiking
• Take lower level off-road trails to camp sites
• Backcountry boondocking
• Visit scenic/popular destinations in various states
• Visit friend in Tacoma, Washington who will be stationed out there
• Visit popular gyms across the states

I am looking for advise and suggestions from those who have traveled and explored through these states. Any suggestions as to what roads/trails/paths to take, scenic destinations/drives, great rivers for fishing, etc.? Any other suggestions, thoughts, and input I should consider as I continue planning this trip? Thank you in advance and I look forward to hearing your thoughts and suggestions!

 

[FishinCrzy]

I don't think you will have any problems finding sites to see and places to fish! I did a similar trip twenty years ago (doesn't seem that long?). There are some great resources for planning in the Routes forum section. I would say pick a few areas of interest and concentrate on them. Five weeks may not be long enough! There is a forum in Recreational Activities/Fly Fishing that may give you some ideas.
I fished the White River in Arkansas last October. The Ozarks were very scenic with lots of public land. Might be worth a look see on the way back as the weather seems a little hot at the moment. I would look for some serious elevation this time of year. I hope to do an extended western trip this time next year if the covids don't get me. I look forward to updates on your trip. I need ideas too. Charlotte is just up the road from Blythewood.

 

[J. Bloos]

I don't think you will have any problems finding sites to see and places to fish! I did a similar trip twenty years ago (doesn't seem that long?). There are some great resources for planning in the Routes forum section. I would say pick a few areas of interest and concentrate on them. Five weeks may not be long enough! There is a forum in Recreational Activities/Fly Fishing that may give you some ideas.
I fished the White River in Arkansas last October. The Ozarks were very scenic with lots of public land. Might be worth a look see on the way back as the weather seems a little hot at the moment. I would look for some serious elevation this time of year. I hope to do an extended western trip this time next year if the covids don't get me. I look forward to updates on your trip. I need ideas too. Charlotte is just up the road from Blythewood.

I appreciate the guidance and will certainly be looking through those forums for additional help! Will keep updated once my trip starts.

 

[Neal A. Tew]

I'm sure you've realized that some of the most famous 4WD roads in the country are right in your final approach to Denver....

 

[WaywardBound]

The phone app iOverlander will help out a lot with finding primitive campsites while out on the road. I can tell you right now that you won't find much in Iowa, Nebraska, or Southern MN, so heading to the Badlands and Black Hills in South Dakota is really the only priority destination along that section from Missouri/Illinois to the west...Shoshone Falls in Idaho is a place I've wanted to go see for a couple years now, and I'm hoping to make it there this October, along with a couple sections of Montana as well...Grand Tetons in Wyoming is supposed to be amazing, and probably less of a tourist destination than Yellowstone is...Moab is a must see for anyone, it's hands down my favorite place on Earth right now after going there twice last year...the Flaming Gorge area of the Utah and Wyoming borders is also gorgeous...