Northern CA thru Oregon and Washington

[redwingfans]

My DW and I will be traveling north from the SF, wanting to stay along the coast. Then on up through Oregon and Washington along the coast before we turn east along the northern border states. We will be leaving SF in early May. I will do a separate posting for the northern states. Would any of you like to share your ideas for Boondocking and/or Dry Camping along the west coast? We know that ocean front locations are few and far between so we do do not expect to receive many of those. Our class B can get into some pretty rough places, and we are not limited by time. Thanks in advance. Happy Travels,

[clikrf8]

We found one boondocking site along the Oregon Coast by driving up a logging road. Not gonna tell where, though. Also, there are some free campsites in the Tillamook Forest: http://www.oregon.gov/odf/tillamookstateforest/pages/campgrounds.aspx

Just drive up any road that heads into the hills along a river and you can find something. We asked some locals about camping at a boat launch that was posted no camping and they said it was strictly enforced. We drove further up the road. Some launch sites are not posted so we camped at them.

The state parks along the Oregon Coast are very nice, though and offer free showers. Beverly Beach does offer sites without hookups and you are really close to the beach. There are a few USFS
campgrounds which are more basic and cheaper.

Have fun. We are headed there in the latter part of May after exploring the East side.

[redwingfans]

mockturtle wrote:
I use this site and use it in my GPS: http://www.ultimatecampgrounds.com/uc/index.php It includes all public campgrounds as well as dispersed camping.

Thank you so much for this link, I really love the fact that id does NOT include private campgrounds. This site is wonderful!!

[redwingfans]

profdant139 wrote:
If you are going to Crater Lake, there is some great boondocking just north of the lake in the national forest. Depending on the season, you may need mosquito juice, though. Please don't ask me how I know that.

I checked out our pictures, WOW you have found some very wonderful places. I really am interested in finding the picture you labeled August, 2010, north of Crater Lake. I know it must be a really special find for you, but are you willing to share some directions, PM me if you need to keep it a little more private. Thanks,

[SwanInWA]

We also love Cape Blanco State Park in Port Orford, Oregon. Not nearly as small and secluded as Gold Bluffs Beach, but a beautiful, first-come first-served park with several woodsy, secluded sites, some with peek-a-boo views of the ocean. Cool lighthouse tour as well as a historic house tours and a pioneer cemetery. Several miles of hiking/horse trails that lead to spectacular beach/bluff views.

[SwanInWA]

Gold Bluffs Beach Campground in Orick, CA. Part of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park -- located about six miles off Hwy 101. Right on the beach. First-come, first-served. AMAZING beach walking, awesome sunsets, great hiking trails near by, secluded, pet-friendly. Great elk and wildlife viewing. Solar showers, no hook-ups. No trailers, no vehicles over 24 ft. in length. One of the highlight of our coastal vacation last June. Fantastic!

[Ramblin__Ralph]

Last year I took the OR/WA coast on my annual trip to MT. I almost always stay in USFS/BLM/State Parks. A map of all my campsites is here. Click on the marker for a campsite and you'll get a description. For some pictures and GPS coordinates you can check my main webpage for that year here.

Have fun!

[mockturtle]

The state parks in WA are horribly expensive. In Olympic National Park there are several nice options, all of which are very popular. My favorite is Kalaloch, which is on the ocean.



There are also some nice NFS parks on the peninsula, like Seal Rock on Hood Canal, near Brinnon.

[garyhaupt]

redwingfans..when I say food, I am thinking of all of the funky joints and fresh things to buy, cook and eat. I don't eat at the chains places, not ever. You can find fresh oysters and crabs all over the place. I have a fave memory, Going south out of Florence, just before the bridge, driving by a bar at 9am, it's got a sandwich board sign...oysters on the 1/2 shell..and it's open. In I go...I don't care...1/2 dozen oysters and a good beer, is good anytime! Port Orchard has a great food place down on the pier. But really...there are so many.

The best suggestion I can make is to just cruise around and take every side road you can find, thru towns.

Washington, as has been mentioned, Ilwaco is the town closest to Cape Disappointment. As you drive into and thru town, a stop light with signs to the park. Ignore that...go left right at the corner. Follow the road. Cut about 5/7 miles off the run to the Park. Disappointment is a pretty neat spot with the Jetty running out a long ways and the beach for combing. If you are wanting the best spot ever...reserve or claim 167 (167 first) or 168. There is a path right at the campsite that is maybe 20 paces to the beach. You get the sounds..the wind...and not to far to drag back your finds. These are both tent/primitive sites. No power. Shower just down the paved road tho.

When you head north up the Washington coast..it's..uhmmm...ahem, not 'wonderful' on the southern portion. Carry on up to Aberdeen and follow the signs for 101 northbound. Over the bridge and looking for #109, Hoquiam. Carry on up to Pacific Beach St park. You will need to make a reservation. It's the only Wa park on ON the beach. It is parking lot camping, for the most part but geeez, it is so fabulous.

You have to back track..to 101 and head north for the Olympic Peninsula. If you are going to do this, do it right and hang a left at 112, just before Port Angeles. I mean, ya gotta go to the most northwestern point in the Continental US, Cape Flattery. Most people don't go.

After all of this, you'll drive over to Port Townsend. Two great campgrounds..one at Fort Worden and the other across the ferry you'll be taking anyway, and if you are lucky, a waterfront spot at Fort Casey. If you do this, as you leave the ferry, you'll see direction for Oak Harbour to the right...don't do that. Turn left. That's where the cg ground access is, but if not staying there, just carry on. Cuts about 30 miles off the drive up to the highway at Coupeville. Then left and off we go again. That is now Wa #20. That will take you over the North cascades Highway. More awesomeness.
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I had forgotten a place...going up 101 towards Aberdeen, you will be passing thru South Bend, If you like fresh oysters..right across the street from the Museum, a nameless wooden faced bar on the river side? Fresh on the 1/2 shell and good Oregon beers.

Yes..you may have noted, that many of my fave things revolve around food and drink. Not excessively, for either, but, I do enjoy my opportunities.

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Gary Haupt

[JoeyM]

Redwingfans: The name of the campground on the Columbia River is Cape Dissapointment State Park. It is next to the fishing town of Ilwaco, WA. I was just there a few weeks ago, and it is quite nice. About 2.3 miles of beach and you can walk out almost to the end of the jetty and be as far SW as one can be in WA. You reach it from the south by crossing the Astoria bridge.

It's really tough finding inexpensive camping in WA state. In Ocean Shores you can stay free at the Quinalt Casino, at the north end of town. Zero amentities, but if you go to the south end and back up to to the berm you'd have a panoramic view of the surf. You need to register at the casino once you get there. There's a nice State Park at Grayland, one at Ocean City (1 mile from Quinalt Casino), and one further north at Pacific Beach. They fill up fast - here's a link to reserve: https://washington.goingtocamp.com/Home.aspx

Further north on hwy 101 is Kalaloch, check for "South Beach", it's only $12 (or maybe $10 per night) but no reservations as it is NPS. Incredible ocean views.

[redwingfans]

garyhaupt wrote:

Depending on you folk..there is no shortage of boondocking but you have to get good maps and look some miles inland. There is nothing on the coast at all, other than the odd hidy-hole. There are a couple..one I can think of...parking areas operated by local towns in Oregon, that allow for paid camping in the parking lot itself. It's pretty basic, but hey...right on the beach.

There is just no end of good places to explore. You really want to be able to just take your time. And, spitting distance from the Ca./Or. border is a outlet liquor store, if you imbibe, in Ca. Stop there. And, just for one night..plan on stopping..in fact, make a reservation, at the city owned campground in Brookings, Or. Ask for a front row spot. You will be putting me in your will.

Super foods to be found...oh man...now I wanna go too...

Are you heading into Washington too? There is really limited access to the Wa. coast but what there is is fabulous. Great state park right at the jetty on the Columbia and if you ARE going there, tell me and I'll give you the two primo site #'s in there.

Google maps are also the cats meow...being able to drive a road off into the weeds. Much of Oregon has a rich history of logging. Where there is logging, there are side roads.

Gary Haupt

Gary you seem to think a lot like my wife and I, we simple love finding that "hidy-hole", local campground/overnight parking at the beach, SUPER FOOD (would like to know more on this), camping on jetties (can you provide the name of the State Park on the Columbia?), oh logging side roads been there done that and will do it many more times. We will be taking our time on this part of the trip keep your ideas flowing. Happy Travels

[redwingfans]

Thanks for the ideas. we use BLM, National and State Forest and Parks a lot. We have not stayed in a private campground in years. Finding a local campground can some times be the real prize. We will be leaving the SF area in early May, and have 6 weeks to get back to Michigan.

We have traveled highway 1 as far north as Fort Bragg many times. From there north it will be a new experience for us. Points of interest along the way include the: Lake Shasta, specifically, Lower Salt Creek, CA Lost Coast - Kings Range National Conservation Area, BLM lands just north of the CA, OR border, city owned campground in Brookings OR will be asking for a front row spot. Crater Lake just north of the lake in the NF,OR State Parks and forest (still trying to digest the long list if you have a favorite let me know.) Still looking for ideas for Washington, do know that we want to go the the Olympic NF.
Keep the ideas coming. Thanks Again

[garyhaupt]

mockturtle wrote:
I use this site and use it in my GPS: http://www.ultimatecampgrounds.com/uc/index.php It includes all public campgrounds as well as dispersed camping.

Thanks for this.


Gary Haupt

[Roy_Lynne]

I remembered seeing some BLM land in Southern Oregon (BLM Coos Bay Area - Loon Lake Recreation Site) that had camping but even they want $18 dollars a night. I think if you want free sites you'll need to stay away from the coast. BUT saying that, there are a few pretty nice places for $20 and under.

[mockturtle]

I use this site and use it in my GPS: http://www.ultimatecampgrounds.com/uc/index.php It includes all public campgrounds as well as dispersed camping.