OR/WA Loop June/July

[jukes]

Trying to narrow down our route and stops. 3 to 4 weeks. Thanks so far to replies of my previous post (David etc)

Family of 5 (3 boys age 5,12,14) will be in 30ft Travel Trailer so we need suitable roads, Campgrounds are pretty much everywhere but special recommendations appreciated.
Starting point is home, Santa Cruz, CA. Ending in Seattle and back down to home. Prefer a loop where we don't back track too much.

Thinking to start with the inland route. and back down the coastal.

Would like some stops to be for a few days, so we aren't driving all the time. Can sit and enjoy the campground and scenery and maybe some fishing.

Prefer to drive no more than 4 hours but if nothing worth stopping for can do longer days.

Ideas so far:
Stop somewhere about 4 or so hours from home?!?!
Crater Lake,
Bend,
Mt. Hood/Columbia Gorge area. Is there a central point here to spend a few days? I see there is a year around activities place on Mt hood kids could enjoy? And then fishing in the Gorge lake?
Then Portland few days.
Seattle few days, campgrounds seem to be outside the city and some may have Ferry access to the city? ??
Would it be crazy to visit the Cascades?
Olympic NP - a good campground to base ourselves to explore for 2/3 days?
Then down the Coast, where to stop next?
Could go inland a little if coastal route becomes difficult for travel trailer or not too exciting. I heard WA coast not as amazing as OR.
Oregon Dunes NP - 2 or 3 days...
Then OR/CA border??
Humboldt Giant Redwoods??? although we have them here, are they more outstanding there?
Then Mendocino (is it boring for kids and a bit fancy) or /Ft Bragg?
then home, probably not Highway 1 have done it from Point Reyes to Santa Cruz before?

There's alot to see and reading the guide book has me stopping a thousand times ha ha, have i missed out anything major? We like easy hikes/walks, good local food (fish or veg no meat), cheap ethnic food. Nice natural scenic campgrounds, wildlife, husband likes fishing (not on a boat), unusual or quirky towns, people watching,cool music festivals. We aren't into wine, art galleries, crazy busy places.

Roads to take, stops to make?

Thank you!!

[profdant139]

If you hit Crater Lake during a real heat wave, try to save some time for a hike down to the lake and a swim -- bring your suit! (The trailhead is at Cleetwood Cove, I think.) Swimming in that indigo water is amazing -- the sun streams down all around you through the water, illuminating it in a bright blue-purple halo. The camera can't capture it (especially from shore), but this is our attempt at doing so:


Click For Full-Size Image.

Just to emphasize the point, we have gone swimming in a lot of beautiful water -- in Hawaii and Costa Rica, in lakes and creeks in the Sierra, in La Jolla, etc. But this was far and away the most astonishing place to swim we've ever seen.

The water is very cold, but it is not unbearable -- maybe in the high 50s during the warmest part of the summer.

[ORbiker]

jukes wrote:
Thanks everyone, trying to break it down by each stop. One question, we plan to leave Mid June, is this too early for Crater Lake, would we be better to actually head up the coast and return back down inland? Or does it not really matter?
So, I really like the idea of the Lassen NP as our first stop- see Bumpass Hell, and then up to the Lava Beds. and then to Bend.
Part of me wonders if we should just concentrate on Northern CA and Oregon and not WA too, although Portland which we'd like to stop near, is only 3hrs from Seattle which then makes me want to visit Olympic NP.
Or just save WA for a diff trip! We will have 4 weeks maximum.

I was a Crater Lake Ski Patroller for 12 years.

Crater Lake Conditions

Crater Lake info

If I was given the choice to take someone to Crater Lake in mid June or mid July, I would do mid July it would be mid July and not on a weekend. I would have reservations for the A.M. Departure / Half -Day Wizard Island Trip
. After the boat ride and hike on the Wizard Island, I would continue clockwise around the lake.
Make the trip an all day event and have dinner down at Mazama Village at the Annie Creek Restaurant or if you can afford it, at the Crater Lake Lodge Dining Room.

Good luck with your planning, KEN

[profdant139]

jukes, having taken several overly-ambitious trips with my kids (about 30 years ago!), I would err on the side of shorter driving days, more "kids fooling around outside" time. If that means do Washington next year, great!

Enjoy these years with them -- it goes so fast.

[RedRollingRoadb]

As for Crater Lake at that time of year you should be able to get up to the lodge and at least see the lake. The south access road is open all year for the most part. You may be able to take some of the rim drive around the lake. You can watch the website for the lake and get updates then decide. I have also been there in mid August and woke to a couple of inches of snow too.

Collier State Park makes for a fine day trip up to the lodge. Like the others have said the logging museum is worth it if any of you like old iron. It is self-guided and the price is right. My then 10 year old grandson became a fair logger while we were there on summer.

Another place is to see is the Lava Lands and the lava cave, about a mile plus walk into it. Worth it too.

[jukes]

Thanks everyone, trying to break it down by each stop. One question, we plan to leave Mid June, is this too early for Crater Lake, would we be better to actually head up the coast and return back down inland? Or does it not really matter?
So, I really like the idea of the Lassen NP as our first stop- see Bumpass Hell, and then up to the Lava Beds. and then to Bend.
Part of me wonders if we should just concentrate on Northern CA and Oregon and not WA too, although Portland which we'd like to stop near, is only 3hrs from Seattle which then makes me want to visit Olympic NP.
Or just save WA for a diff trip! We will have 4 weeks maximum.

[TyroneandGladys]

Some thoughts. A great campground to stay at while exploring Crater Lake is Collier Memorial State Park and the outside logging museum at the park is great, Elwha Dam RV Park is a awesome park and great base camp for exploring the Oylmpic National Park and take the time to take the Cape Flattery Trail to the farthest West point in the Continental United States.
As far as Washington State Beaches go one of are all time favorite beach is Pacific Beach State Park.
In Oregon Oceanside Beachfront RV Resort, Coos Bay is also one our favorites, If you are traveling with a dog both of the beaches are dog friendly.
Check out Willitts KOA the kids would love this campground and you can splurge and book a site with your own personal hot tub.

[hotpepperkid]

Should be OK next year. Every thing that was burnable burned last year

[profdant139]

Mt. Lassen is pretty cool -- there is a hike through Bumpass Hell that the kids will like for sure.

Plenty to do at Mt. Rainier -- don't miss it, if at all possible.

If you live in Santa Cruz and you are pressed for time, I would take a pass on the North Coastal Redwoods. Yes, they are bigger than at Big Basin, for example. But I am not sure they will make much of an impression on the kids. (We go to both the Santa Cruz redwoods and the North Coast pretty often -- both areas are great.)

[4runnerguy]

Some suggestions based on the age of your kids (always my primary motivation when I answer).

Lava Beds NM in northern CA. Interesting CG. You can explore many of the lava tubes by yourself, no guide!. Take some headlamps and a backup flashlight. What boy doesn't like climbing around and exploring in a cave? Link to info on lava caves

Then up to Crater Lake. Then on to Bend and the Lava Lands area. Volcanic Vistas brochure another brochure For a different camping experience, check out some of the CG's in the bottom of Newberry Crater. Almost like camping on the shores of Crater Lake, as the sites are along the shore of the lakes at the bottom of the crater.

Near the Columbia River Gorge and Portland, we've stayed at Ainsworth SP. 40 FHU sites. But a big forest fire there a few months ago burned right near there. From what I can tell, the park escaped damage but many of the great trails to visit many of the falls were closed. You'll have to check when your departure date gets closer.

Mt. St. Helens is worth the drive off the Interstate.

Can't help you with Seattle as we try to avoid cities when we travel.

Near Port Angeles/Sequim, head up the Elwha River and hike an old road grade a couple of miles into Olympic Hot Springs. Take a couple of towels to dry off. Several natural ponds on the slopes across the river.

If everyone has a passport take the fast ferry from Port Angeles for a day at Victoria.

I am much less impressed with the highway along the WA coast compared to the OR coast. If time gets to be an issue, just head over to the coast from I-5 on US 30.

Along the coast, try visiting some of the lighthouses. If the kids want to explore the tidepools, get this brochure.

So many places to see and stay along the coast. If you like cheese and/or ice cream, don't miss the Tillamook Cheese factory. Looking for a good seafood restaurant? Check out the Waterfront Depot in Florence. Reservations strongly recommended. Sea Lions at Depot Bay.

Sunset Bay SP has a really interesting beach setting. Beachside SP and Tillicum NFS CG are almost right on the beach. Harris Beach SP in southern OR is a good base if you're wanting to explore the redwoods of the northern CA coast. Cheaper than the CA SP's.

If you can fit in, Burlington CG at Humboldt Redwoods SP is a really interesting setting. Tough for long rigs as the interior roads are tight.

[rr2254545]

bikendan wrote:
Better start making reservations now!
Campsites are getting more and more difficult to get, ESPECIALLY for the summer.
Even off-season campsites are requiring reservations for coastal and popular areas.

x2 I had problems getting May and June next year in the state parks on the Oregon Coast - staying mostly in commercial parks - I was trying for parks with sewer however

A few of the parks in Lincoln City will start taking reservations the first of next year -

[bikendan]

Better start making reservations now!
Campsites are getting more and more difficult to get, ESPECIALLY for the summer.
Even off-season campsites are requiring reservations for coastal and popular areas.

[WillT]

A good campground near Crater Lake with some first come sites and reservables is Farewell Bend.

[dennis1]

A list of places.
Oregon:
Newberry Vocanic Monument, La Pine, Oregon
Mount Hood Oregon, skiing, and ski bowl, fishing Trillium lake,
Columbia Gorge, Multnomah falls
Crater lake National Park. Open late
Newport Oregon, Ridleys Believe it or not, Oregon Coast Aquarium.
McMinville air museum (Spruce Goose)
Astoria, Fort Stevens bike riding.
Washington
Mt St Hellen’s Visitor Center
Mt Rainier hiking
Hoh Rain Forest

[ORbiker]

If the North entrance to Crater Lake is closed because of snow, you can still go in the South Entrance. If there still is snow, some roads will still be closed in the park but it will be beautiful with the snow and the BLUE Lake.

4th of July weekend 2017. (all roads open, but some road construction)