Cascade Mountains, Crater Lake, Mt. Ranier
Hi--we are trying to plan a trip from Minnesota to Mt. Ranier, through the Cascades and down to Crater Lake NP. and home again. I've heard that the Cascades are beautiful and the area around Bend OR i...
Forum Discussion
Do not attempt to take a long rig over Chinook Pass as there are several sharp hairpin turns and steep downhills on the west side. I have ridden and driven over it many times as my Grandparents lived in Yakima. Grandpa was the person that got Chinook Pass built where it is.
I would go to Spokane and then take US 2 west to Wa 174 and then to Grand Coulee Dam and over to the Columbia at Bridgeport. From there I'd take 97 south to Lake Chelan,Wenatchee and US 2 to Levanworth. After that,I'd backtrack a few miles and catch 97 south to Ellensburg,Yakima, then US 12 over White Pass to Packwood or Morton as there are several campgrounds along that route. An awesome day trip would be to go up to Mt Rainier at Paradise and the take the Stevens Canyon road to 103,south back to your campground for a loop trip. From there, US 12 to I-5 and south to Castle Rock and Wa 504 into Mt. St. Helens. Nice campgrounds at the highway. Next would be south to Portland, I'd spend a day in Portland, lot's of great places to see and awesome restaurants. Good place to stay just off of I-5,Jantzen Beach RV park and another one on I-84. Now,here is where you have to make a descion, up over 26 over the shoulder of Mt Hood or up the river to Hood River and they are both awesome trips. Again south on 97 to Bend,great little town and from there down to Or 138 and up to Diamond and Crater Lakes. From Crater Lake,I would head for K Falls and take 139 to Susanville and south to Reno and I-80.
I would go to Spokane and then take US 2 west to Wa 174 and then to Grand Coulee Dam and over to the Columbia at Bridgeport. From there I'd take 97 south to Lake Chelan,Wenatchee and US 2 to Levanworth. After that,I'd backtrack a few miles and catch 97 south to Ellensburg,Yakima, then US 12 over White Pass to Packwood or Morton as there are several campgrounds along that route. An awesome day trip would be to go up to Mt Rainier at Paradise and the take the Stevens Canyon road to 103,south back to your campground for a loop trip. From there, US 12 to I-5 and south to Castle Rock and Wa 504 into Mt. St. Helens. Nice campgrounds at the highway. Next would be south to Portland, I'd spend a day in Portland, lot's of great places to see and awesome restaurants. Good place to stay just off of I-5,Jantzen Beach RV park and another one on I-84. Now,here is where you have to make a descion, up over 26 over the shoulder of Mt Hood or up the river to Hood River and they are both awesome trips. Again south on 97 to Bend,great little town and from there down to Or 138 and up to Diamond and Crater Lakes. From Crater Lake,I would head for K Falls and take 139 to Susanville and south to Reno and I-80.
