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Recently I read an article listing some of the most scenic U.S. routes. What caught my interest was the views they were raving about weren't the ones from cars or trains but the magnificent views one gets from the air. Of course things like weather, time of day and the always critical side of the plane you're seated on, do have a dramatic impact on your sightseeing experience. But as anyone who's ever looked out a plane window knows, some routes are just beautiful.
A few standout routes
Salt Lake City to L.A.-Wasatch Mountains, Zion National Park, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam
Left
Kalispell, Mont, to Missoula, Mont.-Flatland Lake, Mission Mountains, Swan Valley, Continental Divide
Left
L.A. to Chicago, N.Y. or Denver-The Grand Canyon, Lake Mead, Lake Powell, Mounument Valley San Juan Mountains. If weather pushes you north you'll be looking down on southern Utah, Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks, Grand Staircase-EScalante National Monument
Right
I take the LAX-ORD route a lot and this flight path tends to deviate. So I would say either side is great after all it's kinda hard to miss the Grand Canyon.
Salt Lake to Jackson, Wyo.- Bear Lake and five mountains ranges. Wasatch, Uintas, Gros Ventre, Wind Rivers and Tetons
Right
Las Vegas to Bay Area- Sierra Neveda. Yosmite National Park if you're on the right, those on the left have to settle for John Muir Wilderness.
Right
Seattle to Anchorage- route follows the British Columbia coast, look down on the Srtrait of Georgia, Queen Charlotte Sound, moutains, glaciers and rainforests.
Right
L.A. to Seattle, Sacramento-Sierra Nevada, Yosemite Valley, Half Dome and Lake Tahoe.
Right
Bozeman, Mont, to Seattle- Bitterroot Mountains Cascades National Park
Either side- Non-rev dream
Honolulu to Hilo- Molokai, Maui, beaches, waterfalls, volcanoes and occasionally an erupting volcano.
This is one of those routes that require the critical side switch in mid flight. Trust me I know, I didn't and almost missed an erupting volcano. Lucky for me the "tour guide" gave everybody the heads up. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
Left-Right
L.A. to Reno- Yosemite's Half Dome, Lake Tahoe.
Left
While the chances of a non-rev getting a window seat on the premium side aren't the greatest, it's always good to be prepared. After all knowing when to stretch your legs might net you a view of an erupting volcano; it did for me.
Coyne
It would appear many of the U.S. scenic air routes involve L.A., coincidence?? [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Keep'em flying
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Migflanker,
The last time I flew from SFO to CLT I had my atlas. I was able to see several National parks, including Bryce and Zion. It was clear enough that I traced the interstates all the way to Georgia where it became cloudy.
I love flying over the big Mississippi, it always gives me a thrill to match up a city with the atlas.
I see that most are west coast based. I would add flying over the Great Lakes. Up the east coast from Florida to Boston, picking out all the main cities from DCA, BWI, PHL, NYC and finally the Capes of Mass.
My most favorite window flight is one on the evening of July 4th. Every little town has fireworks. Plus the upside down view has a beauty of its own.
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