Bay Area north to Vancouver, please give ideas

[norcal_camper]

I had posted awhile back about taking a month and doing a grand tour that would head north from the Bay Area through Oregon, Washington, east through Idaho, Montana, then south through Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, then back into southern California all in a month. I was quickly advised that it was unrealistic to do all the sights in that amount of time and to break it up into 2 or more smaller trips.

So, I'm now concentrating on Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and just over the border into Vancouver, Canada. I'll be doing this in a 25 foot travel trailer with a slide out queen bed and 3 bunk beds, and pulling it with a Toyota Tundra Crew-max It will be myself, my wife, my 2 daughters(ages 13 & 14) and my son (age 7) and our 1-1/2 year old golden retriever. We're looking at doing this trip in June of 2016 so we've got plenty of time to plan an awesome trip.

We are a fairly adventuresome family and would enjoy activities like white-water rafting, zip-lining, biking, or cave exploring. We'd like to visit my parents in Redding, Ca either on the way up or back or both. We are figuring on 3 weeks to do this trip. Please help us plan a route and activities that we shouldn't miss to make this a trip of a lifetime. Not sure my girls are going to be willing to spend this kind of time with old mom and dad much as they get older.

[myredracer]

I'd defintely do hwy 97 in one direction and the Oregon Coast in the other. We're taking 97 south on a trip to Reno next month (and back up the coast). Lots of CGs along 97 to choose from, slower paced than I-5, more scenery to see. Sounds like you will be on 97 for part of it.

If going up to Wa., I'd put a visit to Mt. St. Helens on the list (south side). Mt. Ranier is a nice drive up on a clear day. Leavenworth would be a nice place to visit if you get up that way, and then west towards Seattle over Stevens Pass. (Stay away from Seattle 'cuz traffic is ugly) A trip on a Wa. state ferry is a must-do if you can.

A Portland resident told me a couple of months ago that a drive along the Columbia River Gorge between Portland and The Dalles is a great trip. I can't recall exactly what he said, but there is zip-lining, bungee jumping or hang-gliding there somewhere.

If it happens to be anywhere near your route, Howard Prairie Lake CG between Medford and Klammath Falls is nice. It's in Rogue River National Forest. Been there twice now.

[norcal_camper]

So based on the replies, I've cut the Canadian boarder crossing off our list of things to do. We'll be sticking to Oregon and Washington for this trip. Our plan so far is to drop our dog off at my parents house in Redding, Ca. We'll visit and spend the night then drive to Central Point, OR the next morning. We plan to do the zip lines there, spend the night, then head north to Crater Lake. Probably spend only 1 night near there then keep north towards Bend, Or. We'd like to do some river rafting while in the area. Deschutes river perhaps? That's about as far as I've planned so far. The general route will be up through the center of Oregon and Washington, then back down the coast into California. Please feel free to recommend any must see things that might fall on or near our intended route. Thanks.

[myredracer]

Crossing the border just to get into Vancouver, towing what you have, is not a great idea. There are few CGs in the metro Vancouver area and all are packed in the summer. I would only do this if you intended to head up the Fraser Valley to Chilliwack or further to around Hope. There are a number of good CGs around Chilliwack.

I would wait until another time when your specific destination is BC. In that case I would go to the Olympic Peninsula and take the ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria on Vancouver Island. Then head up the Island to Comox, take the ferry over to Powell River on the Sunshine Coast and make your way down to Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver. From there you could head into Vancouver, up the Fraser Vally, go back to Vancouver Island or head into the Interior via Whistler to Pemberton. This route has beautiful sites and scenery and takes you around the protected waters of Georgia Straight. The fares on BC Ferries are quite high though, esp. if towing an RV.

[norcal_camper]

All good stuff so far. Its discouraging to keep hearing that I don't have enough time, even though I've drastically cut down the miles and sights from my original idea. I'm thinking now that crossing the Canadian boarder may not be a good idea. Last time I did that, no passport was required. I'm told now that its close to $100/person! That's a $500 expense I'd rather avoid and use the money towards other activities along the way. I'll do some more research and check the links provided and come up with something that encompasses N. Cal, Oregon, and Washington.

[Billinwoodland]

norcal camper wrote:
I had posted awhile back about taking a month and doing a grand tour that would head north from the Bay Area through Oregon, Washington, east through Idaho, Montana, then south through Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, then back into southern California all in a month. I was quickly advised that it was unrealistic to do all the sights in that amount of time and to break it up into 2 or more smaller trips.

So, I'm now concentrating on Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and just over the border into Vancouver, Canada. So, I'm now concentrating on Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and just over the border into Vancouver, Canada. I'll be doing this in a 25 foot travel trailer with a slide out queen bed and 3 bunk beds, and pulling it with a Toyota Tundra Crew-max It will be myself, my wife, my 2 daughters(ages 13 & 14) and my son (age 7) and our 1-1/2 year old golden retriever. We're looking at doing this trip in June of 2016 so we've got plenty of time to plan an awesome trip.

We are a fairly adventuresome family and would enjoy activities like white-water rafting, zip-lining, biking, or cave exploring. We'd like to visit my parents in Redding, Ca either on the way up or back or both. We are figuring on 3 weeks to do this trip. Please help us plan a route and activities that we shouldn't miss to make this a trip of a lifetime. Not sure my girls are going to be willing to spend this kind of time with old mom and dad much as they get older.

I think this is a more realistic journey in that amount of time. I have made that drive a few times. While there is still a ton to see, I like some of the previous suggestions for sites. You might add going over to Victoria Island. You can catch a ferry, and it is gorgeous. My wife and I spent two days seeing the sites in Victoria on our last trip there. IMHO July is the best month to be in BC (less weather).

[MaverickBBD]

Just how many miles a day do you wish to drive? You may be better off choosing base camps and see the sights from these.

[4runnerguy]

I don't think you have enough time to get all the way to Vancouver. That would be a lot of time driving with a lot of people plus a dog for that truck. Remember, every time you break camp and move, you lose an hour or more time that it takes to set up and tear down. Find a series of campsites and spend a couple of days at each. My ideas:

Stop and see your parents. From Redding, head to Lassen Volcanic NP. Hike to the top. Hike to Bumpass Hell - kind of like a miniature Yellowstone experience.

From Lassen head north to Lava Beds NM. Take some LED headlamps and explore the lava tubes there. Map of caves with descriptions With few exceptions, you are on your own to explore all these caves.

Then it's on to Crater Lake NP. Take the boat tour. Drive around the lake.

Off toward Bend. Camp at Newberry Crater. There are NFS CG's right in the bottom of the crater by the lakes. Sort of like camping at the bottom of Crater Lake. There's a lava flow composed of obsidian right off the road. In this area, there are lava tubes to explore. Lava Lands visitors center south of Bend has some interesting landscapes to explore. Like to mountain bike? Some fun trails out on the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway. Check out these options. We've never done it, but rafting on the Deschutes is supposed to be quite good.

From Bend head north to the Columbia River Gorge. Some great hiking trails to numerous waterfalls on the south side of the river. If you really are adventurers, hike/wade up Oneonta Gorge and Falls. Check out the Bonneville Fish Hatchery and dam/locks. Lots of opportunities here.

By this point, you are at least half way into your trip. If you really want to push it, head a little further north and explore Mt. St. Helens. Pretty awesome display of the power of nature.

But it's time to head back south. Go over to the Oregon Coast and work your way back on US 101. So much to see and do along the OR coast. Last time we went, we spent over two weeks playing just on the southern half of the OR coast. Grab some kites and play at Cannon Beach. Explore some of the lighthouses. Get a copy of the tide tables and explore the tidepools at low tide. Stop at the Tillamook Cheese Factory and get some ice cream. Sea Lions Caves. Oregon Dunes. Sea kayaking. Sunset Bay SP has a great bay to play in as the tides go in and out. Beachside SP is, as the name implies, right on the beach. Right down the road is Tillicum Beach NFS CG. Also right on the beach. US 101 isn't a speedway, so it takes some time to work your way down the coast. But you'll be stopping often to take pictures anyway (that's why I've routed this loop heading south along the coast - easier to get in and out of the scenic overlooks).

As you near California, consider camping at Harris Beach SP and exploring the northern CA redwoods from that excellent CG. Check out the Ossagon Trail for an amazing mountain bike experience. Yes, some road work too, but the ride through the redwoods and then down the coast is amazing.

By this point, you will have a few days left to get home. An overnight in Humboldt Redwoods SP gets you camping right among the huge trees.

I hope you follow the links I've given you. Each one lists many opportunities for adventure. For the loop I've given, Allison and I would typically budget six weeks, so you'll have to pick and choose. Can you go further, sure. But you're sacrificing outdoor activities for time staring at a windshield. Make this a fun trip and you'll eke out a few more years of camping with the kids. Make it a slog to see how far you can go and you might not get them too excited to go again.

[Janss]

There is so much to see between the Bay area and Vancouver. I'll just give you a few ideas. I suppose you'll want to drive up I-5 and back on 101 (or vice-versa).

Off I-5, there is Crater Lake, Columbia Gorge, Mount St. Helens, Mt. Ranier.

Over on 101 there is Olympic Nat'l Park, the whole Oregon coast, the Redwoods.

Here are a few websites that you might want to look at:
Oregon Caves
Jet Boat trip
Zip Line locations