Your Assignment, if you choose to accept it.

A fellow photographer and I are planning a trip to Moab in late October. Probably out and back on I-70 with a few short detours.

Your assignment, if you choose to accept it would be to inform us of some short side trips we might take to capture scenics, wildlife, waterfalls or any thing unusual or otherwise worthy on our travel. Figuring we have residents of each of the states we will be crossing I thought this would be a good place to request assistance. If the location is private or not to be disclosed feel free to send me an email at ozarksphotos at mac dot com.

Thanks in advance!

Hey Larry, here is one that I have not visited but I have heard great things about. Hanging Lake near Glenwood Springs, Colorado is on my list to do. It looks like it is easy to access from I-70. Maybe someone else has been there and can give you more information. Here is a link to some information: http://hike.mountainzone.com/hotw/co/hanging/index.html

Be sure and give us a report if you make it by there.

Three stops cross my mind as you cross Kansas on I-70. Rock City, Castle Rock, and Monument Rocks are all relatively close to I-70. I'm guessing no more than 40 minutes for any of them, and probably a little less. The Arikaree Breaks are north of Goodland. Wilson Lake, from which a couple of us have posted photos recently, is only a few miles north of I-70.

http://naturalkansas.org/nwks.htm for some northwest Kansas ideas.

Don't forget the giant prairie dog in western Kansas :).

Enjoy your trip.

Thanks for the great tips, please keep them coming.

Rob, Those places are on my list, great suggestions. What is a short side trip? 100 miles or 25 miles.

You're welcome. Ed, if you're asking my opinion a short side trip, then usually 30 min to an hour each way is short, preferably closer to 30 minutes. I check on mapquest, and I was pretty close on my distance guesses. Rock City and Castle Rock are both ~25 miles, and Monument Rocks ~30 miles. Most of the distance for Rock City and Monument Rocks is paved, but I'm pretty sure it is gravel/dirt all the way from Quinter to Castle Rock. A little more research shows that the Arikaree Breaks are a good hour north of I-70, a little farther than I thought.

I would second Rob's suggestions for sure.

Konza Prairie near Manhattan, KS if you want to stop for a short hike, you can shoot some from the highway into Manhattan from I-70, but that can be hit and miss for subjects. Pillsbury Crossing wouldn't be far either from I-70, but I would want to check on the water levels and fall color in October before I detoured off of I-70 just for that.

If you are interested in architecture and old Churches, the Cathedral on the Plains near Hays would be a quick stop: http://www.kansastravel.org/cathedralofheplains.htm . I've always thought that would make for some good infrared or black and white images shot in harsher light of midday.

If you decide to stop for anything in or around Manhattan, I would be happy to show you around.

Great information Rob, thanks.

And a very nice invitation Scott. I will let you know when the time gets closer and I have a better idea of our schedule.

Larry-

Let me play devils advocate here.

Don't stop at all. Canonball to Moab and spend all your time there.

Not that there is not neat stuff to see along I-70, but the scenery around Moab is so amazing, I think you would be better spending all your time there.

Konza looks like a neat area in Kansas, but you can weekend that from Springfield. I'd go straight for Moab and maximize my time there. Between Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, Dead Horse Point SP, the La Sal Mountains, Colorado River canyons, etc-there will be an overload of images to do in Moab.

My advice would be to camp up at Island in the Sky unit of Canyonlands for at least two nights. That gets you close to Mesa Arch (a must at dawn), Grandview (sunrise and sunset), Green River Overlook (both at sunrise and sunset), Aztec Butte (dayhike), and Dead Horse Point (sunrise).

Then you might consider going into Moab or Arches for a few days. Arches is worth another couple of days. I am sure you know the famous views like Delicate Arch and Wall Street. Also, drive the La Sal mountain Loop. Takes you to the high country. Late October might be past best fall color, but swing by Warner Lake as it is spectacular.

There is also the Needles unit of Canyonlands, the Colorado River, and countless other things to see.

And if you really want one thing to do along the way. Exit I-70 and take US 6 through Loveland Pass. That will give you some great mountain views and then bring you back to I-70 around Breckenridge.

You can see some images from all those areas in both my blog and my galleries on my website.

Have a great trip!!!

Thanks for the suggestions Darren. Certainly worth of consideration. I am not sure how many days I will be on this trip, may have to make it several more.

Please keep the suggestions/locations/tips coming.

Larry, There is also a hundred things to do within 2-3 hours of I-70.

Rocky Mountain NP
Maroon Bells
Elk Mountains
Colorado National Monument

On the way back you can drop down to US-50 through Pueblo and take in:

San Juans and/or Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Might add a few hours to your travel time back but give you a totally different look.

Thanks Ed. Going to be tough to pick from the ideas offered so far. Or maybe I ought to just make the trip a month long.

Keep them coming folks, I should have plenty of time to sort through them.