travelfan1

I'm in the beginning stages of planning a trip and trying to determine how much time/days to allow a drive starting around La Conner, over Rt. 20, visit Winthrop, Leavenworth, continuing down to Rt. 14 for the Columbia River scenic route, to Mt. Rainier and ending in Olympic National Park.

Would it be out of the question to drive from La Conner to Leavenworth, via Rt. 20 with a visit to Winthrop, in one day...overnighting in Leavenworth?

For those who've been there..is it worth it to go out of the way to travel on Rt. 14/Columbia River or should I head directly to Mt. Rainier from Leavenworth?

Would 5 nights be sufficient, 1 night in Leavenworth, 2 nights between there and Mt. Rainier, 3 nights Olympic Nat'l Park, or should I allow more time?

Any recommendations for anything I missed along this route?

Thanks in advance.

travelfan1

Clearly it's too early for math...that would be 6 nights?

NWWanderer

Rather than spending 2 nights between Leavenworth and Mt Rainier (where were you thinking?), I'd spend a night in Winthrop, then Leavenworth, then a night near Mt Rainier. And yes, 3 nights in ONP is good--were you thinking all in one place (in which case I'd say the Pt Angeles area) or dividing it up, say, 1 night at Lk Quinault and the other 2 near Pt Angeles?

travelfan1

NW - Thanks for the suggestions. I had originally thought of spending the night in Winthrop and then thought maybe I could make it to Leavenworth in the same day.

Haven't decided yet where to stay in Olympic...I just know I want to see the coast and the rain forest.

Should I forgo Rt. 14/Columbia River and head straight to Mt. Rainier from Leavenworth?

Thanks.

Gardyloo

I think your route is okay. The LaConner - Winthrop - Leavenworth day will be long but not back-breaking.

I assume (and would suggest) that you return from Leavenworth back to US 97 and then south to the river. It's a great drive. I'd overnight near Goldendale or The Dalles, and be sure to visit the Maryhill Museum just west of the US 97/SR 14 junction on the Washington side. If time permits either that night or the next morning, try to visit the Klickitat Gorge near White Salmon - an under-visited highlight of the region.

The next night I'd suggest McMenamin's Edgefield in Troutdale; you can take your time exploring the Gorge (WA side to Cascade Locks, then OR side via historic highway) and then have numerous bevvies and hit a movie at the Edgefield to chill out (http://www.mcmenamins.com).

From Troutdale it's an easy ride up to Mt. Rainier (you could also squeeze in Mt. St. Helens for a quick look-see) and then the next day over US 12 (and/or SR 6) to the coast and north up to Quinault or Hoh, or all the way to Forks if need be. (Alternatively you could stop someplace around Ocean Shores - plenty of accommodation) and make the next day the big one for rain forest and beach viewing - Hoh Valley, Ruby Beach, etc. - and end up around Lake Crescent or Port Angeles for the night, then the next day you could go up to Hurricane Ridge or run out to Cape Flattery, etc.

It's a full week but an enjoyable one. You don't say when this will be, so be mindful of snow conditions in the mountains or rainy season on the coast - always have a backup plan.

NWWanderer

I guess it would be helpful to know if you're a hiker or not. If so, there's no way you'll want to rush through the N Cascades hwy to make it all the way to Leavenworth in a day.

I'm not as big a fan of the 97 south/Rt 14 west route as Gardyloo so I'd go straight from Leavenworth to Mt Rainier, personally and err towards more time in fewer spots (save the gorge for a trip to OR). It does provide a contrast though.

travelfan1

Long distance strenuous hikes no....couple of miles okay....we're in our mid 50's and starting to feel it!

Trip will be very end of June or beginning of July.

And as a novice photographer I want to see everything and would love to include a trip through The Palouse. How are the lavender fields this early in the summer?

Gardyloo

The lavender fields are mainly on the north coast of the Olympic Peninsula, around Sequim and Dungeness.

The Palouse is wheat country, and in June/July it will look like amber waves of grain, or maybe a little yellow-green in places. The eye-popping time for the Palouse is April, when the new wheat makes the landscape look like Ireland on its best day ever - amazing.

In June/July the weather in the main parts of the Palouse tends to be hot as a pistol.

Gardyloo

Meant to add this - http://www.lavenderfestival.com/

NWWanderer

Presumably this is for next year then? Hopefully the snow levels won't be as high next year, as you'd be out of luck for hiking in the mountains now--there's still 10 ft of snow up at Paradise. Usually things are melted out by early July but not this year. The later you can come though, the better, for hiking.