Need advice-Early June Oregon Coast, Columbia River Gorge, Crater Lake
Apr 24th, 2017, 04:30 AM
#1
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Need advice-Early June Oregon Coast, Columbia River Gorge, Crater Lake
My husband and I will be heading to Oregon after visiting Yosemite and Redwoods, We will have 9 days to explore Oregon and will be heading home from Portland. I am not sure how many days to allow for the coast, Columbia River Gorge and if we have time for Crater Lake.
Apr 24th, 2017, 05:05 AM
#2
Crater Lake is a very long detour from the redwoods and coast, and owing to an especially snowy winter in the Sierras and Cascades, in early June the full rim road will not be open and there will still be a lot of snow on the ground. https://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/conditions.htm I would save Crater Lake for a later visit.
With nine days I'd do a rough allocation of three days on the coast (go all the way up to Cape Disappointment at the mouth of the Columbia River) followed by three days in Portland and three in the Gorge, based at Hood River. Use one of the Portland days to visit the wine district in the northern Willamette Valley.
In the Gorge, use one of the days to explore the Hood River Valley including a visit to Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood (where they'll still be skiing) and another to travel east out to Maryhill, for a visit to the Maryhill Museum and Stonehenge memorial.
With nine days I'd do a rough allocation of three days on the coast (go all the way up to Cape Disappointment at the mouth of the Columbia River) followed by three days in Portland and three in the Gorge, based at Hood River. Use one of the Portland days to visit the wine district in the northern Willamette Valley.
In the Gorge, use one of the days to explore the Hood River Valley including a visit to Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood (where they'll still be skiing) and another to travel east out to Maryhill, for a visit to the Maryhill Museum and Stonehenge memorial.
Apr 24th, 2017, 07:20 AM
#5
Which Redwoods? You do not have to drive all the way north to see good Coast Redwoods.
If you have your heart set on seeing Crater Lake, take the Coast Starlight overnight from Emeryville or Sacramento to Klamath Falls and rent a car (1 day). The south entrance of Crater Lake is open 24/7 at least 350 days a year.
I have gone on a ranger led snowshoe hike from the lodge.
Return the car to K-Falls and then take the Coast Starlight to Portland.
The Coast Starlight leaves Sacramento about midnight and arrives in KFS about 8AM.
If you have your heart set on seeing Crater Lake, take the Coast Starlight overnight from Emeryville or Sacramento to Klamath Falls and rent a car (1 day). The south entrance of Crater Lake is open 24/7 at least 350 days a year.
I have gone on a ranger led snowshoe hike from the lodge.
Return the car to K-Falls and then take the Coast Starlight to Portland.
The Coast Starlight leaves Sacramento about midnight and arrives in KFS about 8AM.
Apr 24th, 2017, 07:41 AM
#6
Note Tom has never met a train he didn't love. YMMV.
Inland destinations, the redwoods and the Oregon coast aren't especially compatible. You don't want to spend your time zigzagging through mountains.
My suggested extension through the Columbia Gorge to Maryhill is exactly the sort of inland option I'd suggest. Because the mountains block the rain, the landscape east of Hood River changes dramatically from green/wet to arid/red rocks/sagebrush over a remarkably short distance. Look at the Maryhill Museum's website - http://www.maryhillmuseum.org/ - and take a "drive" along the eastern Gorge using Google's "street view" option - https://goo.gl/maps/SfeSjH216DK2 - including a view from Stonehenge, not far from the museum - https://goo.gl/maps/ZWa5FVByMXz
I'd also saw that you're visiting Yosemite before heading north. That's pretty "inland," but I'd also suggest you spend some time exploring the gold rush country along CA Hwy 49 between Yosemite and I-80 (or farther). At that time of year the landscape in the Sierra foothills is magical, the towns incredibly historic and picturesque, and the driving is a joy.
Inland destinations, the redwoods and the Oregon coast aren't especially compatible. You don't want to spend your time zigzagging through mountains.
My suggested extension through the Columbia Gorge to Maryhill is exactly the sort of inland option I'd suggest. Because the mountains block the rain, the landscape east of Hood River changes dramatically from green/wet to arid/red rocks/sagebrush over a remarkably short distance. Look at the Maryhill Museum's website - http://www.maryhillmuseum.org/ - and take a "drive" along the eastern Gorge using Google's "street view" option - https://goo.gl/maps/SfeSjH216DK2 - including a view from Stonehenge, not far from the museum - https://goo.gl/maps/ZWa5FVByMXz
I'd also saw that you're visiting Yosemite before heading north. That's pretty "inland," but I'd also suggest you spend some time exploring the gold rush country along CA Hwy 49 between Yosemite and I-80 (or farther). At that time of year the landscape in the Sierra foothills is magical, the towns incredibly historic and picturesque, and the driving is a joy.
Apr 24th, 2017, 07:41 AM
#7
tom -- you outdo yourself. 
Amtrak really REALLY does need to pay you.
And how does that help someone who has 9 days to explore Oregon? The OP states they are visiting YNP and the redwoods before heading up to Oregon.
mdma2 >>Are there any inland stops/detours that you would suggest?
Amtrak really REALLY does need to pay you.
And how does that help someone who has 9 days to explore Oregon? The OP states they are visiting YNP and the redwoods before heading up to Oregon.
mdma2 >>Are there any inland stops/detours that you would suggest?
Apr 24th, 2017, 08:58 AM
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Just to throw it out there....
Assuming you're coming up US 101, you could take US 199 from Crescent City to Grants Pass, then SRs 234 and 62 on up to Crater Lake's Rim Village. Return to the coast on either SR 42 if planning an overnight in Bandon, or SR 138/38 if continuing north to Florence or Yachats. Worse case, being that Crater Lake's west rim drive and north entrance/exit are still closed, that route would add 5 +/- hours of drive time vs. continuing on up the coast on US 101.
You should probably also plan to spend a night near Crater Lake, giving yourselves a wider window of time to see it (in the case of lousy weather). I'd take that night from the Hood River or Portland stays in Gardyloo's suggested itinerary. Six days/nights in the Portland area (Hood River is only an hour away) seems excessive in a nine day Oregon itinerary, and trading one for a chance to see Crater Lake is I think a good trade-off.
Between SR 42 and 138/38, I'd choose 42. IMO, Bandon is one of the nicest towns on the Oregon coast, has some of most dramatic beaches, and sets you up for a drive-by visit of Shore Acres State Park: https://tinyurl.com/mmx44gr.
Assuming you're coming up US 101, you could take US 199 from Crescent City to Grants Pass, then SRs 234 and 62 on up to Crater Lake's Rim Village. Return to the coast on either SR 42 if planning an overnight in Bandon, or SR 138/38 if continuing north to Florence or Yachats. Worse case, being that Crater Lake's west rim drive and north entrance/exit are still closed, that route would add 5 +/- hours of drive time vs. continuing on up the coast on US 101.
You should probably also plan to spend a night near Crater Lake, giving yourselves a wider window of time to see it (in the case of lousy weather). I'd take that night from the Hood River or Portland stays in Gardyloo's suggested itinerary. Six days/nights in the Portland area (Hood River is only an hour away) seems excessive in a nine day Oregon itinerary, and trading one for a chance to see Crater Lake is I think a good trade-off.
Between SR 42 and 138/38, I'd choose 42. IMO, Bandon is one of the nicest towns on the Oregon coast, has some of most dramatic beaches, and sets you up for a drive-by visit of Shore Acres State Park: https://tinyurl.com/mmx44gr.
Apr 24th, 2017, 12:17 PM
#9
Depending on where your rental car is based and where you turn it in, you could be in for a rude shock with the drop fee.
If you continued on the Coast Starlight to Eugene, you could add the Willamette Valley and a section of the Oregon Coast to Crater Lake. The Starlight arrives in Eugene about 12:30PM.
If what you want to see is big Coast Redwoods, just head across the GG bridge and see Muir Woods.
As for Amtrak paying me, next month DW and I are riding the California Zephyr in roomette from Winnemucca NV to Chicago on Amtrak Guest Rewards points. I'm paying for the Business Class seats overnight from Chicago to Erie PA.
If you continued on the Coast Starlight to Eugene, you could add the Willamette Valley and a section of the Oregon Coast to Crater Lake. The Starlight arrives in Eugene about 12:30PM.
If what you want to see is big Coast Redwoods, just head across the GG bridge and see Muir Woods.
As for Amtrak paying me, next month DW and I are riding the California Zephyr in roomette from Winnemucca NV to Chicago on Amtrak Guest Rewards points. I'm paying for the Business Class seats overnight from Chicago to Erie PA.
Apr 27th, 2017, 04:11 AM
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Thank you! I think we'll leave Crater Lake open as a destination and check whether the north and west entrances are open once we embark on our trip.
If we remain on 101, where would you suggest we plan on stopping along the way to Cape Disappointment? We depart from PDX on a late flight,we will use that last day to see Portland. How much time would be adequate for the Gorge to Hood River?
If we remain on 101, where would you suggest we plan on stopping along the way to Cape Disappointment? We depart from PDX on a late flight,we will use that last day to see Portland. How much time would be adequate for the Gorge to Hood River?
Apr 27th, 2017, 05:26 AM
#13
If we remain on 101, where would you suggest we plan on stopping along the way to Cape Disappointment?
In my view the nicest towns on the Oregon coast are (south to north) Bandon, Yachats and Cannon Beach (although it's my least favorite of the three - too touristy to me but most people love it.) I also like Astoria and the little town of Ilwaco in Washington, next to Cape Disappointment. But other towns are quite nice - Florence, Newport, Depoe Bay...
We depart from PDX on a late flight,we will use that last day to see Portland. How much time would be adequate for the Gorge to Hood River?
You can spend as little as a couple of hours visiting the Gorge, or a couple of days. There are several waterfalls at the roadside, all of them different; a couple of viewpoints with stunning vistas, the Hood River Valley is worth touring around, or transiting for a visit to Mt. Hood - all of which could take two or three days. But if all you want to do is a fly-by of Multnomah Falls and maybe a stop at the Vista House, then it can be done in an afternoon.
If we head to Crater Lake from Crescent City and rejoin 101 in Bandon, are we missing many highlights of the southern Oregon Coast.
If you head from Crescent City inland to Crater Lake then rejoin the coast at Bandon, you'll have missed the first 60 or 70 miles of the south coast, which IMO is the most scenic part of the entire thing.
If you're that keen to roll the dice on Crater Lake, then head up to Bandon and cut east from there, through Roseburg, to Crater Lake. Then after the lake, head north on US 97 to Mt. Hood and/or the Gorge, and enter Portland from the east. If you add a day to the Portland/Gorge part of the trip, use it to head out to Ecola State Park (at Cannon Beach) and/or Cape Disappointment, this skipping the central Oregon coast. That way you'd see both the north and south ends of the coast, which are quite scenic, although you'd be missing the central part.
In my view the nicest towns on the Oregon coast are (south to north) Bandon, Yachats and Cannon Beach (although it's my least favorite of the three - too touristy to me but most people love it.) I also like Astoria and the little town of Ilwaco in Washington, next to Cape Disappointment. But other towns are quite nice - Florence, Newport, Depoe Bay...
We depart from PDX on a late flight,we will use that last day to see Portland. How much time would be adequate for the Gorge to Hood River?
You can spend as little as a couple of hours visiting the Gorge, or a couple of days. There are several waterfalls at the roadside, all of them different; a couple of viewpoints with stunning vistas, the Hood River Valley is worth touring around, or transiting for a visit to Mt. Hood - all of which could take two or three days. But if all you want to do is a fly-by of Multnomah Falls and maybe a stop at the Vista House, then it can be done in an afternoon.
If we head to Crater Lake from Crescent City and rejoin 101 in Bandon, are we missing many highlights of the southern Oregon Coast.
If you head from Crescent City inland to Crater Lake then rejoin the coast at Bandon, you'll have missed the first 60 or 70 miles of the south coast, which IMO is the most scenic part of the entire thing.
If you're that keen to roll the dice on Crater Lake, then head up to Bandon and cut east from there, through Roseburg, to Crater Lake. Then after the lake, head north on US 97 to Mt. Hood and/or the Gorge, and enter Portland from the east. If you add a day to the Portland/Gorge part of the trip, use it to head out to Ecola State Park (at Cannon Beach) and/or Cape Disappointment, this skipping the central Oregon coast. That way you'd see both the north and south ends of the coast, which are quite scenic, although you'd be missing the central part.
Apr 27th, 2017, 08:56 AM
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While I'd agree that section of the south coast is arguably the "most" scenic, it doesn't seem quite as accessible as central and northern sections. Bandon and Shore Acres are considered south coast, so you could at least get a good taste of it.
The entire coastline is gorgeous though, so if you're intent on seeing all of it, you might experience the traveler's equivalent of the law of diminishing returns; that is, what would ordinarily elicit a big WOW!! on the north coast, might be a bit less impressive because you've already seen similar scenes on the south or central coast. So I'd encourage Gardyloo's suggestion of routing yourselves from Crater Lake north through "central" Oregon, maybe even spending a night or two in the Bend area.
The entire coastline is gorgeous though, so if you're intent on seeing all of it, you might experience the traveler's equivalent of the law of diminishing returns; that is, what would ordinarily elicit a big WOW!! on the north coast, might be a bit less impressive because you've already seen similar scenes on the south or central coast. So I'd encourage Gardyloo's suggestion of routing yourselves from Crater Lake north through "central" Oregon, maybe even spending a night or two in the Bend area.
Apr 27th, 2017, 10:12 AM
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US 97 (to which Gardyloo referred) runs right through Bend. It would take you past Smith Rock (near Redmond) to Madras, where you'd get on US 26 up Mt. Hood, then take a short detour to Timberline Lodge before taking hwy 35 to Hood River in the Columbia River Gorge.
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