Planning the Great West Coast trip

paulj wrote:
Regarding the `Yosemite NP, Lassen Volcanic NP, Redwood NP` segment:

Lassen is unique as a recent volcano, though Crater Lake and Rainier might considered equivalents.

But the direct route from Lassen to the coastal Redwoods is 299, which is mountainous. The latest thread talked about it being closed due to a landslide. It probably is open now, but be warned. CA20 further south is the easiest route from the Central Valley to the coast highways. So you might want to skip Lassen.

I'm not sure how Crater Lake or Ranier are equivalent to Lassen Volcanic. Lassen is all about volcanoes and the associated geothermal features: mud pots, hot springs and so on. Ranier is all about the mountain itself, and Crater Lake is about the lake. That lake was formed by a volcanic eruption but we didn't see any mud pots etc last time we were there.

They are all great parks but they are all different parks too.

And thinking of Lassen, several people recommend Lava Beds NM which is close by. Looking at a map I see a NM that I'm never heard of: Cascade-Siskiyou NM just over the OR line. I don't know anything about it.

OK looking at their webpage it looks like it was created by Clinton in 2000 to preserve biodiversity. Mainly a hiking in the forest park is what a quick glance tells me.

I would not skip Lassen we really enjoyed the park, it has a very low number of visitors and a very good CG with all pull thru sites. Looking at the map again it almost makes more sense to go north from Lassen to Crater Lake and then cut west to the coast. Take Hwy 62 SW out of the park, take the interstate north for a short distance to Grant's Pass and then get Hwy 199 to Redwood City.