Ideas on the best way to navigate this route?

Old Apr 29th, 2012, 04:33 PM
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Ideas on the best way to navigate this route?

My best friend and I were thinking about flying into Portland in July, then drive down to Crater Lake, driving down to Lassen volcanic park in CA, then try to fit in the Redwood forest and drive back to Portland.
If anyone has any suggestions on how to best navigate this route or give advice on anything else we should see? We have ten days to make the trip.
Thank you!
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Old Apr 29th, 2012, 05:22 PM
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Sounds good to me. You might work in a stop at Oregon Caves National Monument. I would certainly drive the coast either on one direction. Mt Hood and Columbia River Gorge should be on your ideas list too. Silver Falls State Park is a good stop too. I hope you are spending a day or two in portland. The Rose Garden and Powell's Bookstore were are favorites there.

Are you camping or where do you plan on staying?
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Old Apr 29th, 2012, 05:45 PM
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As for what to see, it depends on your interests. Are you looking to hike, or just basic sightseeing? Are you looking for help finding lodging?

spiro--In another post, you stated you have not been to Silver Falls.
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Old Apr 29th, 2012, 07:38 PM
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Did a similar trip a few years ago, but didn't get past Crater Lake on the north end.
Can't suggest a route from Portland to Crater Lake, but the maps looks line I-5 to Eugene then SR 58 to US 97 to SR 138.

Leaving the park I found that going out SR 62 back t0 97 and then to Klamath Falls was a good route. From Klamath stayed on 97 to I-5 at Weed, CA and then take SR 89 south to Lassen.
For the Redwoods, go back to the coast via SR 44 to Redding and then SR 299 to Arcata on the CA coast. This is a long, winding road the follows the bends of the river. You'll likely see modern day golf miners along part of the Trinity River. The best Redwood groves are along US 101 between Trinidad and Crescent City.
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Old Apr 30th, 2012, 06:04 AM
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I love Portland! I am looking to do some hiking and sightseeing. I would like to do at least one night camping and stay in hotels. Thank for the help/suggestions.
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Old Apr 30th, 2012, 06:56 AM
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I haven't been to Silver Falls, it is high on my list when I return to the area though. I know from reading that it is a good stop though.
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Old Apr 30th, 2012, 07:23 AM
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Are you bringing camping gear with you?

How much hiking? I hate to make recommendations without knowing how many miles and how much elevation gain you are up for.
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Old Apr 30th, 2012, 07:31 AM
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Lava Beds National Monument is worth a visit between Crater Lake and Lassen. If camping I recommend the National Forest campground on Medicine Lake, which is at a higher elevation than the national Monument offering cooler temperatures at night.

There is a paved forest service road just south of Mt. Hood that goes south at least as far as OR126. From there I would go to Bend and approach Crater Lake from the north-east.
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Old May 2nd, 2012, 04:13 AM
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Are there particular trails that are recommended? Not looking for a particular mileage or elevation. We do have our own camping gear.
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Old May 2nd, 2012, 04:53 AM
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There are all kinds of hiking/trails around Mt. Hood - and I would recommend you consider "splurging" and stay a night at the fabled Timberline Lodge. http://www.timberlinelodge.com/

You could leave Portland - drive out the I-84 along the mighty Columbia River, stop at the Waterfalls along the way (half hour or so to Multnomah Falls - http://www.multnomahfallslodge.com/ where you can have coffee/lunch and look up through the glass roof) and then at Hood River (watch for windsurfers on the River)- turn south and enjoy driving toward Mt. Hood and then eventually taking 26? - and turning into the entrance to Timberline.

From there - you can see all the way down the Cascades to Bend Oregon (the Three Sisters, etc) and drive down 97 and check out some of the great lakes around Bend (camping possibilities abound all around - http://www.hikercentral.com/metros/13460.html (also look for two cute little lakes - one named Paulina - east of Bend/Sun River) - and also get to Crater Lake - which is in the county where I grew up - Klamath.

Here is the Crater Lake page and it's one of the 3 bluest lakes in the world (along with Lake Tahoe in the Sierras and Lake Baikal in Russia - which old volcanoes that imploded and their depth gives the Lakes their beautiful deep blue color). http://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm

From Crater Lake - you could drop down to Ashland (cute college town with a noted Shakespeare festival in the summer) and drive over to the Coast (take the Jet Boats at Gold Beach - at the mouth of the Rogue River) - or you could take the very scenic route along the Upper Rogue river branch - through Roseburg area - over to the Oregon Coast.

There are some big/giant Coastal Redwoods near Grants Pass (west of Ashland) - and you can also continue further down into Cal if you want to see more. Where I grew up - there were beautiful Redwood forests - which were harvested for the magnificent lumber - and they are tall and beautiful - but not as big as the Coastal Redwoods that get more moisture from the Fog/Marine layer.

Have a blast. Oregon is so beautiful.
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