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donn0128
Nov 20, 2013Explorer II
Of course you will need to spend $$$ for non resident angling licenses for everyone. Cascade Lakes Hwy is a fantastic area, but most of the small lakes will require a small boat for good access, many also require fly fishing only. As for camping, most are National Forest camp grounds and rather small and cramped for a MH. Instead, plan to camp at Tumalo or Lapine State Parks and drive up to the lakes for the day. Around bend, that is along US97 you will find Collier State Park and their neat logging museum, The High Desert Museum, numerous lava tubes and caves that are available to explore. East of Bend is the Pine Mountain Observatory, which is open many evenings for visits. Also west of Sisters about 15 miles is the Metolious River. This river boils out of the ground at about 45 degrees a full fledged river. There is a nice paved path to the head waters. At the Camp Sherman store you wan stand on the bridge and see some really big trout. The river is probably one of the primere fly fishing only rivers in Oregon. Most of the camp grounds were originally built by the CCC in the 30's. Reminents are still visible in some places. There is also a nice fish hatchery on the river worth visiting. Also west of Sisters on the old Mckenzie hwy (not for RV's) is a great lava field and at the top is a nice lava observatory with portals for many of the Cascades. Continuing to the Mckenzie river you can find some nice hot springs to soak in. Some free, some you have to pay. From here you can follow the highway back east toward Central Oregon visiting a really pretty water fall, the head waters of the McKenzie river and back over toward Sisters. It is not really a long drive and you can visit everything and still have a easy drive back to camp. From here you can follow US97 to Redmond and take the road toward Prineville. Picking up US26 east. Through the John Day fossil beds where you can actually collect fossils. Then on to the town of John Day where you could visit the historic Chinese pharmacy. At Bates Junction take the scenic highway toward the Sumpter valley and the hugh dredge sitting in the middle of a creek. Down the hwy toward Baker City and the Oregon trail interpretative center where you can walk the ruts left by the many thousands of wagons heading west. From here you can take I84 east and if you have time jog up to Yellowstone Park. Coming out of Yellowstone at the North entrance to I90, Toward Custer Battlefield, the Bkacl hills and Mt Rushmore. That should take up most of your time with a dead head blast home.
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