sheilab973

Hoping someone might be able to help me plan a 9 day driving trip from Portland, including Seattle for the last 2 days (we want to do a city tour day 7, and have Boeing museum/baseball tickets for day 8). We want to see the Columbia River Valley, Mt. Hood, and the Oregon Coast, including Astoria/Cape Disappointment, then Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helen's in Washington. But not sure how to map it out.

Anyone ever done this trip or have suggestions?

Not interested in wineries/beer tours or the like -- mostly love national parks, state parks, etc.

Thanks!

Gardyloo

One possibility -

Day
1 Columbia Gorge/Mt. Hood
2 Columbia Gorge/Mt. Hood
3 To Cannon Beach, Ecola State Park
4 To Deception Pass AM, then Longview PM
5 Mt. St. Helens, PM to near Rainier
6 Mt. Rainier, PM to Seattle
7 Seattle
8 Seattle
9 Seattle

After Cape Disappointment, follow the north shore of the Columbia River back to I-5 at Longview; spend the night somewhere near the road to Mt. St. Helens - Longview, Castle Rock etc. The next day, up to Johnston Ridge, then back down and up to Paradise on Mt. Rainer (and nearby lakes on Stevens Canyon Rd.) then on to Seattle. Map - https://goo.gl/maps/7Wmlf

Bobmrg

Deception Pass between Cannon Beach and Longview and back in a morning?? I don't think so. You have mixed something up, or mis-named something.

Gardyloo

Yeah, my bad. Deception Pass. Cape Disappointment.

sheilab973

thanks for your responses -- much appreciated

regarding Columbia Gorge...is it more scenic on the Oregon or the Washington side? Which should we take?

also..my sense is that ONP is not a possibility this trip -- do you agree?

thanks!

happytrailstoyou

The Columbia River Gorge is most scenic on the Historic Columbia River Highway (Oregon side) and when driving WA-14 (Washington side). I find it is impossible to appreciate the beauty and grandeur of the gorge while driving at high speeds with trucks on I-84.

If you want to include the Olympic Peninsula, this is a possible itinerary:

Days 1-3: Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood, Cannon Beach, and Ecola State Park.
4 Cape Disappointment, Lake Quinault, Ruby Beach - Forks WA for the night
5 La Push, Rialto Beach, Lake Crescent, Marymere Falls, Hurricane Ridge - Port Angeles for the night
6 Seattle - on Bainbridge ferry for Seattle skyline views
7 Seattle (Mt. Rainier as day trip from Seattle)
8 Seattle (Boeing Tour, Baseball Game)
9

By including the Olympic National Park I have sacrificed Mt. Saint Helens, but the result is, I believe, a more inclusive and satisfying itinerary.

HTtY

Gardyloo

I like HTtY's itinerary although I would swap Marymere Falls and possibly the beaches on day 5 for the Hoh valley rain forest, in particular the Hall of Mosses walk. You will have seen plenty of waterfalls in the Columbia Gorge, and the Hoh rain forest is something that shouldn't be missed.

sheilab973

thanks so much for taking the time to reply!

do others agree that Olympic National Park is a better choice than Mt. St. Helens? Never having been there, I have no idea!

happytrailstoyou

Olympic National Park is many things, whereas Mt. Saint Helens is one thing. MSH was an awesome place to visit in the first few years after it blew its top--the destruction was fresh and spectacular. It is still interesting, but after 35 years it isn't the fascinating experience it once was.

The Hoh Rain Forest is a 2-hour round trip drive from Highway 101. The Quinault Rain Forest, near Lake Quinault, is much more accessible, and you will pass through a rain forest if you take the delightful, beautiful and easy hike to Marymere Falls.

HTtY

sheilab973

thank you! I've made my itinerary and it looks great!

sheilab973

Yikes! Saddened to hear about the fires in Washington state. We plan to leave NJ July 16th for the trip cited above which includes Olympic National Park and Seattle.

Any advice?

eroz

I may have missed it, but have you already visited Portland? I think overall your plan looks good but if you've never been to Portland I'd take 1 night from the Gorge and stay downtown.

Bobmrg

sheilab973, go to http://www.nps.gov/olym/index.htm and click on Park Alerts. The fire is far away from the usual ONP attractions, and if I am not mistaken, one needs a permit to backpack into that area anyway.

Gardyloo

The fire situation should have no bearing on your plans.