A month in the great northwest. What would you do?

[Denchiro]

I am taking the wife in our new Tiffin Allegro Open Road 36' from north Texas upwards toward Canada. We have a month. I'm thinking various spots in Colorado, Tetons/Yellowstone, Glacier and possibly Oregon and Washington. Want to stop and smell the roses along the way and not wear ourselves out. What do experienced travellers consider the must-sees? We love getting as close to nature as a 36' RV will allow and are not averse to dry camping. A little trout fishing is a serious consideration. Love national and state parks. Hate crowded RV/mobile home parks.

[Lauren]

Once again I agree with 4runner guy. And the repeated advice on this Forum....too much it too little time.

We have always divided ours into two parts - up Glacier / Banff way on one trip and the OR Coast / WA / Columbia River, etc on another. Throw in Yellowstone / Teton and you have a full trip on either. You could spend a month in CO. And UT has great spots also.

The journey is the destination in many respects.

[RVcrazy]

Please keep in mind that Oregon & Washington state parks book far ahead. They are wonderful, but you are getting a late start!

[profdant139]

I agree that you are trying to do too much in a month -- there is always next year!

But if you make it all the way out to Washington, don't miss Mt. Rainier:

[RedRocket204]

All this talk of Oregon and not a single mention of John Day Fossil Beds NP Painted Hills Unit. That should be a crime.

[noe-place]

We took an extended trip out west from Kentucky a few years back and one of the places I really wanted to see was Mt. St. Helens. It was completely socked in by clouds the day we were there and I never got to see it. If you care about seeing it check before driving up to the visitor center check and make sure it's clear up there. It's still a great stop though. I plan to go back but on a sunny day.

[4runnerguy]

Denchiro wrote:
I am taking the wife in our new Tiffin Allegro Open Road 36' from north Texas upwards toward Canada. We have a month. I'm thinking various spots in Colorado, Tetons/Yellowstone, Glacier and possibly Oregon and Washington. Want to stop and smell the roses along the way and not wear ourselves out.

IMHO, you've already listed enough places to visit to cover three months and still be rushed. A couple of years ago, we headed to OR from CO, spent 10 days on the southern OR coast, then a few days at Mt. St. Helens and the Columbia River Gorge, a few days at Mt. Rainier, a few days in the San Juan Islands and then home. That was a month from CO. And we'd been to some of these places before.

I guess what I'm saying is one month from north TX is out to OR and WA and home would by itself be a busy trip. To try to fit in Yellowstone, Colorado, and Glacier is too much for a one month trip. Or, conversely, head to Yellowstone/GT and Glacier for a full month and skip the Pacific NW altogether for this trip. For us, to "stop and smell the roses" means a week in Yellowstone and a week in Glacier at a minimum. With travel time and a few days at the Tetons and you've got your month used up.

I'd say pick one of those trips I've listed and then ask about places along your proposed path. Also, you might tell us when you are going. Some places are very busy during parts of the summer and probably don't have accommodations on such short notice. For instance, many of the nice NPS CG's in Yellowstone are mostly booked by now for the summer months.

Let us know what you're thinking about.

[rexlion]

After Crater Lake, Yosemite is a day's drive south. Plenty of places to see Redwoods in California.

[nina_70]

The OR COAST is wonderful...tons of fabulous state parks along the way with cute little towns, lighthouses, great beaches.

Also definitely Crater Lake...wonderful stop!

[Fishinghat]

I'm going to assume you're interested in mountains, lakes and lots of green. If that is the case, Banff Provincial Park would be on my short list. If you're really into boondocking, take the BC car ferry to Vancouver Island and drive out to the west coast to Ucluclet and/or up on the east coast to Campbell River. I'm sure there are other destinations on the island you would find interesting.

If you don't have that kind of exploring in mind, try the west coast of Washington around the Olympic Peninsula. It's more developed then Vancouver Island and a lot cheaper with no ferry costs. If you're into sightseeing, don't miss Mount Saint Helen's. Our federal government didn't spare any expense developing the park with a very impressive observatory.

[korbe]

The Forest Service Campgrounds provide all sorts of great outdoor experiences like fishing, hiking and just hanging out in the forests. Here is a link to Forest Service campground descriptions from a couple that visited in a Class C and they detail size and other limitations. I first do a search of the different National Forests in a particular area and go from there. Forest Camping Link

[1492]

Moved from Forum Technical Support

[seatowntraveler]

Hi there. I joined to give you a few ideas of some places to see in the NW. When you come up you should take the Oregon coast from about Reedsport to Astoria. It is amazing. Beach camping, sand dune rides, whale watching and fishing. Also the seafood is fresh as can be. Head along the Columbia river to Portland then head N for a stay around Mt Rainier. That Place is full of wonderment and beauty. Small hikes to amazing waterfalls. Wildlife with bear and elk are common Especially when you get up on to the Mt. There are great campsites at the base for Rv's. Cougar rock is a good one. You can head East on Hwy 12 towards Glacier/ Yellowstone. Just make sure you stop in Yakima for the best fruit in the country.You could also do the reverse route of the trip. Either way you will have a trip that most will envy. Have a great one.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

Mount St Helens
Crater Lake in Oregon is a must see.
Drop down to see the Redwoods if you have time.

[bob_nestor]

Crater Lake National Park and Silver Falls State Park are on my list this summer. The drive up River Rouge from the West into Crater lake offers a lot of spots to pull off the road, dry camp and fish. Have done Silver Falls a couple of times but never was able to get into Crater Lake due to the time of year I was there. It's usually closed due to snow until June.

The GF has never been to Oregon and I promised her a trip there this summer. We're doing the trip in July. I'll leave out of Dallas, pick her up in Denver and we're going out the old Oregon Trail down the Columbia River to Portland and on to Astoria, From there down the Pacific Coast Hiway a ways and then start back East to Silver Falls for some waterfall hiking. Then up the River Rouge to Crater Lake for a few days, then on to Salt Lake to cross back over the Continental Divide on I-70 back into Denver to drop her off and then back to Dallas (and work). I've done most of this trip in the past and it's well worth it. She should really enjoy the views, especially the Cascades.

[byways]

must see? Tetons/Yellowstone. Then, follow the Yellowstone River north through Montana, stopping along a million places to catch trout (minor exaggeration). Head NW to Glacier and lose your teeth from gasping at the drop dead beauty. While you're swearing you'll never return to Texas, enter the Promised Land of the Willamette Valley and trace the pioneer road. You're in for a treat.