old man 88 Loc: Palmview, TX when not on road

You must have read my mind, this is awesome area of the USA

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

Check a website called roadtrippers.com. You can map out your route and it will give you interesting places to visit that you may add to your trip, then print the agenda out for a guide along the way.

twowindsbear

A toad is a smaller vehicle that is towed behind a motorhome

AnnaZ Loc: SW Wis.

Oh. Sorry for the confusion.

SonyBug

Also spelled "towed" as in towed vehicle. A motorhomers term.

Redrock51 Loc: Utah

[quote=GoldwingerTX]Planning a trip thru the western states starting May 1, 2017 lasting 4 to 5 months.

Will be leaving from Junction, TX (South Llano River State Park)

Any western state except CA, then just north of Sacramento.

I want to see and photo HBs, Song birds, Hawks, Owls, don’t care for Shore birds.

I will be traveling in a Motorhome w/toad, so I can stop almost anywhere.

Any Great places you know of Please share with me.

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Here's a link to a great web site for exploring Utah. I live here and we are all complaining that the design of this website is bringing too many tourists to our favorite Utah escapes. It does help with decision making when planning a trip. Five months should be long enough for you to explore every trail in the west. Have fun!

https://www.visitutah.com/places-to-go/most-visited-parks/the-mighty-5

woodworkerman Loc: PA to FL

Look up Lassen Volcanic National Park. Every "kind" of volcano (none active) is in that park. Beautiful scenery. Lots of birds in the sky. Lots of vantage points to set up a camera.

ShutterJournalsMedia Loc: trump tower

Pacific NW is a paradise for photography. Lived over 30 years here and carry my camera with me everywhere I go yet still haven't even scratched the surface. Lush rain forests west of the cascades, high desert cowboy country to the East. Snow-capped mountain ranges, breathtaking seaside vistas, wooded trails, elk and bird protected refuges. You could spend your whole trip here and not see one tenth! I suggest: Sauvie Island (protected bird nesting areas for snow geese, blue heron) 20-miles west of Portland; Oregon Coast Hwy 1 (from The California/Oregon border to Port Townsend, WA for undeveloped, jaw-dropping shots of the most awesome stretch of seaside views in America. Important to note that Oregon law prohibits privatization of beachfront property unlike every other state with ocean bordered land. Coastline dotted with small fishing villages and A stretch of Arabian desert-like sand in the Oregon dunes); Olympic Nat'l Forest (Mt Rainier and more); Columbia Valley (eastern Oregon and Washington wine country, stunning); Mahler Wildlife Refuge in SE Oregon (1-million acre wildlife refuge, Steen Mountain which is the strangest mountain I've ever seen with its many gorges and the elusive Kiger Mustangs, the only actually wild running Conquistador horses brought over from the Spanish to defeat the Aztecs and stayed to win the west. If you can find them, you just might see a stallion thundering up a vista with his band of mares and yearlings trailed behind them a mile-long cloud of prairie dust). There's more wildlife, glacial-topped mountains, waterfalls and towering Doug Fir and Cedar forestland in Oregon and Washington than the rest of America combined. Then there's untouched and undiscovered Idaho! Enjoy.

SonyBug

In 2009 I took a 10,000 mile trip from Nashville in a huge circle and hit over 30 NP and NF's. Took 25,000 shots and missed much of it. Just got the highlights. There is a short version of NP's that is a circle trip laid out for bus trips in the '30s. Just buy a book of the NPs, lay out a route and stay off the interstates. Take back roads and byways, you will not need much directions, just a sense of adventure. I can't even begin to describe the awesomeness of the West. Look at my site, www.kasnick.com from a regular browser, won't work on tablets. There are about 800 pictures of "I was there". Not great art, but a good travelogue.

kchamber4

Bosque Del Apache outside of Socorro, NM is a bird sanctuary and part of the Rio Grande Flyway. Bear River Sanctuary just North of Ogden, UT near Tremonton, UT right along side I-15. For landscapes, Zion, Bryce, and the Grand Canyon. Don't forget Yellowstone, great animal shots as well. Kodachrome Basin in Southern Utah along with the Coral Pink Sand Dunes near Kanab, UT. Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Monument Valley, Rocky Mountain National Park, anywhere in the Cascades, but don't miss Crater Lake. Ft. Beck National Wildlife Preserve in Montana along with Flathead Lake, and Glacier National Park. While there, slip over into Canada and see Lake Louise and Banif (sp?) National Parks. I could continue, but this is a nice start for 3 months

woodworkerman Loc: PA to FL

Since I retired from full time work in 2007 and went to part time, my wife and I have traveled the all of the lower 48 and driven at least 75,000 miles. Our favorite part of the US is Ohio and westward, especially the Rockies and westward. The desert southwest is beautiful and important to see, but I wouldn't want to live there. The mountainous part of southern CA is beautiful, and San Francisco is a "must" to see at least once. The best food is at Boudin's Restaurant (Origin of Sourdough bread) and The Stinking Rose (a Garlic restaurant). But going north of SF up the coast gets you in the redwoods, and at Crescent City, there is a trip thru the redwoods on a dirt road that is "breathtaking." On the south side of Crescent City, take Elk Valley Road or Humboldt Road to Howland Hill Road. This will take you into the Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park. The dirt road is 1 lane, with passing spots. You will drive between mammoth redwoods and may have to pull in your side mirrors to get thru if you are in a truck. (No motorhomes will fit.) There are places to park and walk out thru the trees and see even larger redwoods. We have been there 5 or 6 times and are still in awe. And driving from SF up to Crescent City you are almost guaranteed of seeing elk and other wild life. The Pacific Northwest is beautiful, especially the Olympic Peninsula. And take a ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria, Canada (passport necessary). In Victoria, go to the Butchart Gardens, possibly the most beautiful garden you will ever see. TONS of photos there, alone. Have a great trip.

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

There is soooooooooooo much more to see in the 4 courners area than the Durango/Silverton trip - Monument Valley a few hours away.

gary robertson Loc: Now living in Sandpont Idaho, from So. Cal

Come to North Idaho and you will not be sorry. Bring a fly rod!

gary robertson Loc: Now living in Sandpont Idaho, from So. Cal

Come to North Idaho and you will not be sorry. Bring a fly rod!

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

ROTFLMAO - There is so much good/excellent fly fishing in most all the western states he has to pass through before getting to your area his casting arm will be worn to a stub by then - just kidding as I do remember the great fishing I had up there when I lived in Wallace, ID.