Overlanding Trip: Colorado to Washington

A pandemic Overland trip to visit family and explore what's open.

In the middle of the COVID Pandemic in 2020, I needed to get away and go see my brother that lives in Washington - it had been a couple of years since I went to see him. What better way to shake off the frustration of a shut down economy and social isolation, than an overlanding trip of epic proportions.

The route on the way to Washington was through Wyoming, I was more focused on making the best time possible

Originally I had planned on flying to Washington to use some airline points I had been holding in reserve. At the last minute I cancelled my airline ticket and packed up the Subaru Outback. I hit the road with with a focus on making the best time possible to my bother's house, planning to drive non-stop using a route through the state of Wyoming. I was still able to snap a few photos on the way.

A lot of water caused lots of disruption

Once I made it to WA we were able to get outdoors a couple times while I was staying there. My brother and I really wanted to explore Rainer National Park, but due to the wet weather causing some mud slides at the time, we did not get to see very much of the park. We explored the best we could. A lot of water caused lots of disruption to our plans that day, but we made the best of it. We headed back toward town and found a few cool things to take photos of.

The next adventure in WA was a day hike to Twin Falls

The next adventure in Washington was a day hike to Twin Falls. This was a really great little hike. We went with friends that had kids as young as five years old with us. So it was not a really difficult hike. There were some steep parts and lots of people. If you decide to try this hike expect crowds because it's an easy hike with some great views.

After a great visit with family, it was time to head home...taking the long route

After a great visit with family, it was time to head home...taking the long route. I stopped a couple of places on the way back home: Oregon, Salt Lake City, Moab, and Monuments National Park.

I was blown away the diversity of the natural beauty that I was able to see over the course of just a few days.

I caught Monuments National Park at sunset Golden Hour. I found myself just standing in one spot, turning around and around as the picture before me changed with each passing minute. It was a stretch of about 40 minutes of beauty that took away my breathe over and over as I rotated my view around my roadside stop.

I can't wait to get back to this part of the country.

This has been one of the best trips I have ever had. I can't wait to get back to this part of the country. Before this trip, I never thought of the desert as beautiful, but after this trip I will never think of the desert the same and I want another opportunity to explore it more.