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powerbook867 · Aug 27, 2006, 01:56 PM

End of September, I have 7 days that are mine. No commitments, no true plan, local family is visiting family out of state and it will just be me, my camping gear, my hiking boots and my photography gear.

I was thinking seriously about going to the Badlands in S. Dakota, but am a little concerned about going out solo to a place so remote/desolate. While the idea is still on the table, my internal debate rages on. So, that leaves me almost at square one with where I should head. I am located in Kansas City and am open to almost any picturesque drive/hike as long as there are campgrounds or a park that allows camping readily nearby. I planned the trip on the idea I was going to the Badlands so water will be brought with me and I will not require an open fire to cook (got a multi fuel stove to boil water for freeze dried meals).

I have an SUV and am looking forward to a drive, but I'm probably going to restrict the drive to < 1000 miles from KC. Yellowstone is a little over a 1000 miles, Utah salt flats is about the same and the Badlands are still an option...I have been hiking a lot and did quite a bit of camping growing up and was also in the Army so I have outdoors experience. I do have a handheld GPS.

I am not looking for comments about whether I should go out alone. I know the risks and also know that while it is not recomended, I have done it in the past on multiple occasions and have greatly enjoyed the solitude.

I also want to dedicate the entire trip to my photography. I want to capture this trip and work on my skills and take some pictures that are very scenic...

So, where to go?

I am open to any and all suggestions as long as they are no further than about 1k miles form KC...

mitchell_pgh · Aug 27, 2006, 02:14 PM

I would hike the AT if you haven't already.

Drive to Pennsylvania and drop off your car... from there, take the train to DC... and then to Harpers Ferry. I would then hike from Harpers Ferry back to your car in PA. I've been wanting to do it for some time...

Other than that, you are limited to a loop...

CharlesS · Aug 27, 2006, 02:25 PM

If you end up driving to South Dakota from Kansas City, you'll end up going north on I-29, then west on I-90 when you get to Sioux Falls. My recommendation to you, although it's not related to your ultimate goal of going on a hike, is one the way north, right after crossing the South Dakota border, you should make a stop in Vermillion, SD and check out the National Music Museum. It's one of the great landmarks in SD that no one knows about. If you have any interest in historical musical instruments at all, you should take just a little time out to see it. It's one of the great music museums of the world, and it's in South Dakota of all places.

What is the National Music Museum?
Great Museums: National Music Museum
Vermillion, South Dakota - National Music Museum

Anyway, the Badlands and the Black Hills should have a lot of great places to hike through. I think there are a lot of hiking trails in the Black Hills that should be beautiful.

CaseCom · 02:46 PM

End of September is peak fall color season in northeastern Minnesota, a beautiful area any time of year. Many camping and hiking options along the North Shore of Lake Superior, along the Gunflint Trail heading inland from Grand Marais into the Superior National Forest, and there's the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Voyageurs National Park if you really want to get away from it all. Autumn in Minnesota is my favorite time of year -- dress warmly though!

Discover New Territory
Superior National Forest- Welcome!
Voyageurs National Park - Voyageurs National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais, Minnesota, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Canoe Trips and Canoe Outfitters, Cross-country Ski and Snowmobile Trails

Hop on I-35 north -- 550 miles later you're in Duluth. Just wave to me as you drive past the Twin CIties.

powerbook867 · Aug 27, 2006, 04:06 PM

Thanks for all the info guys! Keep it coming!

I'm going through the sites now...

G4ME · Aug 27, 2006, 09:02 PM

north east baby, do the AT from MT Washington to mt Katahdin

enough said

Mithras · Aug 28, 2006, 03:37 AM

Southern Utah for the win.
most of the parks (canyonlands, arches, zion, the pariah river) are permitted, but for just 1 person you can probably find a spot pretty easily.

i keep going back and never tire of it. and of course, the slot canyons are photography manna...

CaseCom · Sep 15, 2006, 05:06 PM

Don't know what you decided, but you might want to cross the Gunflint Trail off your list ...

A fast-moving wildfire in northeastern Minnesota is expected to sweep across the Gunflint Trail, threatening homes and resorts, at about 5 p.m. today, fire officials said this afternoon. Cook County sheriff Mark Falk ordered an evacuation at about 1:30 p.m. today of a 10-mile stretch of the Gunflint Trail, which is threatened by the Famine Lake fire.

The fire started on Sept. 8 and was just less than one-fifth of a square mile Thursday until strong winds in the afternoon "caused that fire and another one nearby to just blow up," said Carson Berglund, a spokesman for the Minnesota Wildfire Information Center.

Falk ordered an evacuation of residents and resorts about two-thirds of the way up the 60-mile trail from Grand Marais, between Gunflint Narrows Road on the west and County Road 92 on the east, said a spokeswoman for the sheriff's department.

Fast-moving wildfire causes evacuation of Gunflint Trail

KeriVit · Sep 15, 2006, 10:51 PM

Definitely New England.

Kitschy · Sep 16, 2006, 09:29 AM

It's under 400 miles from Kansas City to Talihina, Oklahoma. Talihina is located in the heart of a remote and beautiful mountain range of Southeastern Oklahoma called the Ouachita Mountains (WASH-it-ah). Yes, there are mountains in Oklahoma. Talihina also marks the starting point of the Ouachita National Forest and the Ouachita National Trail. This trail was recently ranked the 3rd best in length and solitude. With peaks as high as an elevation of 2,600+ feet and as low as 200, you get quite a variety of terrain. This is by far the most beautiful and remote area of Oklahoma for sure, and arguably the region. It is very reminiscent of The Smoky Mountains. Although the majority of the trail and the national forest spill into Western Arkansas and end in Little Rock, in my opinion the most scenic areas and the most varied terrain are found in Oklahoma (I've seen both sides). Between 50 and 60 miles of the trail is located in Oklahoma. Here are a few links for you to check out...

First, some pictures that I've taken on trips to the Ouachitas:
The Ouachita Mountains

Here's the Ouachita National Forest home page:
USDA Forest Service - Ouachita National Forest

Here's information on State Highway 1 which follows the trail somewhat, shows some local areas of interest, some photos and is designated as a Scenic Byway:
Talimena Scenic Drive in Oklahoma and Arkansas

That should get you started. Just do a google search for Ouachita National Trail and you should have plenty of reviews and information. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask!

Cody Dawg · Sep 17, 2006, 01:00 AM

If you're in Kansas City why does your "Location" say Upstate New York?

Footy · Sep 17, 2006, 02:32 AM

Your just north of some beautiful country in southern Missouri!

powerbook867 · Sep 17, 2006, 02:08 PM

Kitschy, thanks for the info!! I think that we may have a winner with the Ouachita Mountains...still researching right to the end!

Cody Dawg..I re-lo'd to KC about 6 months ago and haven't updated my profile...been busy with work and photography stuff...

Mithras · Sep 17, 2006, 08:11 PM

Oh, man, if you're not going to the Southwest you're missing out!
956 miles to Moab, Utah, and the drive itself would be memorable & gorgeous.

It's the difference between "lovely" or "pacific" on the one hand, and "awesome" or "stupendous" on the other... My wife is from Oklahoma, and with all due respect: I've been to some pleasant places (admittedly not the Ouachita), but at best it's merely sweet, rather than awe-inspiring.

Here, a sample of the kind of landscape photography you can do in southeast Utah:

Coyote Buttes

Buckskin Gulch

Canyonlands National Park

Arches National Park

----
All the lobbying aside, I'm sure you'll have a great time wherever you go! Have fun!

BRussell · Sep 17, 2006, 08:36 PM

Hey mithras, my sister owns some property in the four corners area down there, and they're trying to convince me to get some too. (They're in Colorado and we're in Montana.) Looks beautiful, but I've never been there despite living out West for 7 years. After seeing some of those pictures, I'm going to have to think seriously about it.