Good day, all,
This will be a solo mission: I am planning to drive up from LA to Portland and back to LA sometime in April or May (closer to April) when the days are longer. I have about a 2 week time frame to do it in so my itinerary is quite flexible.
My course of action is as follows:
Drive like a freak up I-5 to Redding, stay one night. The next day drive from Redding to Crater Lake then on to Portland. Once I arrive in Portland my schedule is quite open. I wish to take in the city and surrounding areas: i.e. Columbia River Gorge, etc. I am bringing along my mountain bike so I can bike around the city, maybe some mellow city/mountain bike trails and perhaps even do some car/bike camping in the CR Gorge. I'm planning to allocate about 4-5 days or so in Portland. The reason for 5 days is so that I can spend time with my friend who lives in Portland.
After checking out Portland, I am planning to drive back down to LA via the Oregon coast. I am also bringing along a surfboard so I can surf some spots along the Oregon coast. Then, I am just gonna coast down PCH on my way back to LA.
Questions:
Is the weather favorable in early April?
Would it be possible to do a quick tour of Crater Lake and still make it to Portland in one day or would I have to take an additional day. Should I stop in another city other than Redding to make this more feasible? Is Crater Lake worth the extra day?
Is 4-5 days enough time to soak up everything Portland and CR Gorge has to offer?
Are there certain hotels that allow people to bring their bikes into the rooms?
What are the best places to stay along the Oregon coast hotel and/or camping wise? I saw this place called "beachcombers inn" in Gold Beach. Is the area a good place? Can you guys recommend other places or destinations that are nice enough to justify staying for 2 night?
I appreciate the feedback. Thank you.
Peter
Roundtrip driving from LA to Portland
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Suggest you leave at Oh-dark thirty to get out of LA ahead of the traffic and get a jump on getting to Redding.
From Redding to Crater Lake and on to Portland is doable - assuming the roads are open (snow).
You might also consider getting up to Timberline Lodge/Mt. Hood - and some people like to hike around Mt. Hood/ride around it.
As for hotels/motels being bike friendly - not sure that is an announced policy - or you try to get a room where you don't have to roll the bike past the front desk.
There is a beautiful park just south of Lincoln City - by Depoe Bay - Forgarty? or some such. It's just on the east side of the hiway but you can hike under the hiway to the beach - a short distance. http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_220.php
Oh - and as one who grew up in Klamath Falls, an hour away from Crater Lake - I never get tired of it's incredible blue beauty.
The rim roads around Crater Lake are typically closed until June; IIRC last year it was even later. There's presently around 5-6 feet of snow on the ground at the park HQ, and this hasn't been a very snowy winter so far. So frankly I would skip the Crater Lake detour and use the hours/days for something a bit more reliable in terms of access.
If it was me, I'd look at using that time to shoot past the western Gorge and head for a day into the Palouse in SE Washington State (around Dayton, say)_for astonishingly beautiful country in the spring. Sample picture: http://www.gowestusa.com/images/articles/palouse_country.jpg . Maybe even visit Palouse Falls: http://pixdaus.com/pics/1265612219lUQiG7s.jpg .
Also take a good couple of days for the Redwoods on your way back south. Fabulous at that time of year (if a bit drippy.)
During April expect snow at the south end of Crater Lake. Last week the road from the Park HDQ up to the lodge was closed due to the risk of avalanche. The north entrance will not be open before July 4. Plan another trip to see Crater Lake in the mid to late summer.
If your friend in Portland has a bike you could ride, consider taking the Coast Starlight to Portland and rent a car there.
I have seen 2 or 3 people surfing in Oregon. They all seem to wear a wetsuit.
Tomsd-I live 88 miles N of K-Falls still in Klamath County.
For our mid-winter break we are going to Coos Bay.
Only part of the road at Crater Lake will be open in April and May. If you go there, you will miss much of the reason for doing so.
In Portland, this place may let you take your bike to your room: https://www.acehotel.com/portland
You may want to spend two nights in the gorge. We like to stay at Hood River, but you may prefer the Edgefield: http://www.mcmenamins.com/54-edgefield-home
Hood River is a center for windsurfing and kiteboarding. In Hood River there are several services such as this: http://www.hoodriverwaterplay.com/
On the coast, we like to stay in Cannon Beach, Newport, Yachats, Bandon, and Brookings.
Oswald West State Park (10 miles south of Cannon Beach) attracts surfers: http://www.swellinfo.com/surf-forecast/oswald-west-state-park-oregon.html
HTTY