This week’s photo challenge is the last, but certainly not least, of our July guest challenges. Janet writes, “As a photographer, I love showing the viewers something they’ve missed, whether because they’re in a hurry…” You can read her entire challenge post here. Her post focuses on the details, the things you might have missed on a small scale. If you’re into macros, which I enjoy, I know you’ll love her take on the challenge.
For my own take on the challenge, instead of going small and enlarging, I’m going big on “Overlooked” from a traveler’s perspective. For example, my opening photo features a view of Lake Coeur d’Alene in Idaho. If you drive I-90 through Idaho, you’ll see the lake from the perspective of the Interstate traveler, but you’ll see only a fraction of the lake. That road on the right of the lake is the Coeur d’Alene Scenic Byway will bring you many more views of the beautiful lake that Interstate drivers overlook.
A short hike on an easy trail brings you to the Rogue River Gorge Viewpoint. There are many views of the Rogue River along the Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway and includes a stop at Crater Lake National Park. Travelers along I-5 in Oregon will miss the beautiful views along the river.
Travelers along I-84 in northwestern Oregon have an opportunity to eschew the Interstate for 286 miles (460 km) by taking the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway. The highway can be entered or exited at Baker, and a few miles east of The Dalles. Yes, it will take longer than the 3 hours you’d spend on the Interstate between these two cities, but you’ll enjoy the views you would have otherwise overlooked.
Travelers on I-94 west of Bismarck will miss the many quaint views of rural North Dakota. The Sunflower Inn is located in Almont, a stop along the Old Red Old 10 Scenic Byway. The hotel was built in 1906 and has been updated to include plumbing and electricity. Six bedrooms, a kitchen, and a laundry are available for guests.
Flaming Gorge is one of the most beautiful natural wonders in the west and we nearly missed it. Travelers on I-80 in southern Wyoming can consider a detour south to the Flaming Gorge-Uintas Scenic Byway. As you can see by the guard rail in this image, views like the panoramic image above are plentiful at the pull-offs along the byway.
The Grand Tetons are the usual photographic attraction along the Teton Scenic Byway. Our last visit there marred the mountain views, however, with smoke from Canadian wildfires. We were fortunate, though to travel the scenic byway in October at the peak of fall colors.
Back to Oregon and I-84, the Columbia Gorge boasts a scenic highway instead of a byway. There are many beautiful views, though, that can be overlooked if you don’t exit the Interstate. The historic Columbia River Highway has many stops with short hikes to waterfalls like Multnomah and Bridal Veil.
Travelers from the east planning to go to Yellowstone can stay on I-90 in Montana to Livingston, then turn south to the park entrance near Gardiner. If it’s not winter, and you don’t mind beautiful mountain views on roads high above the tree line, I’d recommend Highway 212 out of Laurel. You’ll be traveling the Beartooth Highway and enter Yellowstone at the Grand Loop Road by Tower Junction. The road closes in the winter and may close due to early or late-season snowfalls.
Travelers on U.S. 550 between Ouray and Silverton will find themselves on Colorado’s famed Million Dollar Highway. The highway is known for its breathtaking views of the San Juan Mountains, as well as its narrow roads and steep drop-offs. Originally built in 1883, the road was so expensive to build that it was said to cost a million dollars a mile, certainly a princely sum in the 1880s.
Travelers on I-5 going north through Portland Oregon and Seattle Washington will miss two scenic byways. I mentioned the Columbia River Gorge as a worthy trip, but when you get to the Dalles, the best way to get to Seattle from there is to take U.S. 97, the Yakima Scenic Byway. It follows the Yakima River Canyon on a 25-mile (40 km) stretch of highway that runs between Yakima and Ellensburg in central Washington state. There are beautiful steep cliffs rising up to 2,000 feet (610 m) on either side. The region, before there was a highway was traveled for centuries by Native Americans on the river, then in 1885, Northern Pacific built a rail line. Finally, in 1923, Washington Highway 821 was completed. The image above features a view of all three modes of transportation through the steep valley cliffs.
Thanks to Janet for allowing me to “bend” her theme Overlooked a bit to feature a few of the many views that are overlooked when you choose to take the Interstate highways across this great country of ours. Thanks also to Dan, Dawn, Philo, and Ritva for giving the Lens-Artists team a summer break and for providing their take on the Lens-Artists Challenge.
Next week the team is back, fresh and relaxed from our break starting with Ann-Christine. If you’d like to join in but aren’t sure how to get started with your own challenge response post, check here for details.
John Steiner
Journeys with Johnbo 
Love these scenic clicks!
Love the The Sunflower Inn.
Thank you so much for the details.
Glad you enjoyed the views, Philo!
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Such beautiful, beautiful vistas, John!
Thanks, Dries. I live in a beautiful part of the world… as do you!
Glorious vistas John – well worth a “twist” of the theme! Loved them all, especially Bridal veil. When we were there a few years back it was pretty much a trickle. We never know how nature is going to treat us! Your image of the Flaming Gorge is spectacular!
Thanks, Tina! We love to take those scenic byways! Flaming Gorge doesn’t take bad pictures. >grin<
Loved this! Travelling with others is often the only way I do! The beartooth highway is in my country. We live in Laurel and travel 212 often. Going over the Beartooth Pass is beautiful, but brings out a lot of anxiety in me…steep switchbacks!
It is a scary drive in some places, for sure. But its beauty is worth the journey.
I love all of these “overlooked” scenery. Thank you! Maybe someday I will drive through that beautiful part of the country again.
It is well worth the trip, my friend! There is beautiful scenery throughout the great northwest!
The Teton Scenic Byway is certainly my favorite here because I don’t see fall colors as such in my town.
We were lucky to capture fall colors when we were there because the mountain images we captured weren’t all that great through the haze.
Thanks, Hammad!
Thanks, JS. My wonderful wife and I celebrated our anniversary one year by staying in Coeur d’Alene. We drove on the scenic byway and were simply compelled to stop at points along the way in order to take in the views.
While we were there we even had a realtor show us some condos on the lake, but were not really in a position to buy a second home and weren’t prepared at that time to move from where we were living. Recent actions by the Idaho state government have left me far less likely to return.
I can see why people are attracted to staying at a resort by the lake. It is beautifully scenic!
I loved your take on this theme! When we do a US road trip we often prefer to follow your Scenic Byways rather than Interstates 🙂 In WA for instance we took the Yakima Scenic Byway that you recommend above, while we found some beautiful byways in NM in particular. Your lovely shots tempt me to explore more in the future!
Thanks, Sarah. Our fall trip this year will be less traveled on scenic byways, so it will be unusual in that regard. We are planning on focusing more on destinations, but you can bet there will be side roads as well, especially in the southeast where we have spent relatively little time in comparison to our westerly travels.
I’m glad you enjoyed my take on the theme!
That sounds interesting, I’ll look forward to seeing posts about that trip 🙂
John, you have some marvelous photos for this week. 😀 😀
Thanks, Cee!
Breathtaking photos, John! There is so much beauty out there. Thanks for bringing these places to our attention.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed my images of places that can be easily overlooked. 🙂
Great images John! Loved your tours of the byways. Thursday is a long time to wait for your posts on the challenge, but well worth it!!!
Thanks, Anne. I guess I like to keep the suspense high. 😜
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I’m pretty sure you’ll know I loved all of these, John, because they’re the scenery I want to overlook as often as possible. One of the things I liked about the theme was the possibility of this sort of take and as usual, you did it beautifully. I’ve been on the Million Dollar Highway and it’s a bit hairy. The driver should be only overlooking the road and, depending which way you’re going, the passenger might be gripping the seat tightly while looking. 🙂
janet
Boy, are you right about the driver watching the road. The same is true about the Beartooth Highway.
Scenic byways? What a fantastic way to showcase overlook, or what NOT to overlook. Great photos and reminders to take the roads less traveled. Flaming Gorge looks fantastic. And hopefully the million dollar highway is on our list for next year.
Thanks, Donna. I know you will enjoy the views.
This is a wonderful take on, John – scenic byways and great views. Of course it had to be you who lead us along the overlooked panoramas. It is hard to pick a favourite here, but the Flaming Gorge is indeed flaming in my eyes!
Flaming Gorge is truly spectacular!
Very!
John, love your images from these overlooked Scenic Byways. So many people don’t take the time to see the out of the way places that they pass by on their way to a destination. We enjoy taking the back roads on road trips.
I had a similar idea for my response to the challenge. It’s not finished yet. I hope you don’t mind!
Not at all! Looking forward to seeing it.
They are well worth the extra travel time. Thanks!
I’ve been lucky to have seen some of these gorgeous places but Bear Tooth Pass to enter Yellowstone was the first time I saw flowers blooming in mounds of snow🩷
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Cool! Must have been quite a sight!
Beautiful landscape photos depicting the theme perfectly. During our RV travels, a visit to Flaming Gorge was high on our list but somehow we never made it there. Thanks for the scenic tour.
You are welcome. You will have to put it on your future travel list!
Gorgeous byways that might be overlooked, but definitely shouldn’t be! You’ve captured wonderful national treasures, John. A great case for driving the smaller byways not highways. 🙂
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Excellent take on, John! Wonderful to enjoy these sceneries through your beautiful photos. Love this tour. 🙂
Thanks, Amy!
I’ve driven by several of your featured sites. I liked your pictures of Bridal Veil Falls and the Beartooth Highway, John. Beartooth Highway is one of my favorite drives.
Thanks! I love traveling the byways of this big country.
Dreamy locations, beautifully captured. John this post is an invitation to the American outdoors. I wish I could make it.
Thanks, Sofia!
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