2-week road trip from San Jose, CA to Seattle in August -- advice?
Dec 4th, 2012, 10:45 PM
#21
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To elaborate on the good advice from TomFuller, there is not a direct route from Gold Beach over to Crater Lake. This is due to the topography.
Basically, you need to go clear back south to Crescent City in California to catch Hwy 199, or you need to go up to Reedsport for Hwy 38.
Sidenote: In general, a GPS in the Northwest is a good thing, but in this southwestern corner of the state there have been issues. Sometimes the GPS wants to route people onto Forest Service roads, perhaps with a 3-foot high clearance. The Oregon Caves website has posted a warning about this. In one winter situation a person died after being directed onto a Forest Service road and then getting stuck in snow.
Basically, you need to go clear back south to Crescent City in California to catch Hwy 199, or you need to go up to Reedsport for Hwy 38.
Sidenote: In general, a GPS in the Northwest is a good thing, but in this southwestern corner of the state there have been issues. Sometimes the GPS wants to route people onto Forest Service roads, perhaps with a 3-foot high clearance. The Oregon Caves website has posted a warning about this. In one winter situation a person died after being directed onto a Forest Service road and then getting stuck in snow.
Dec 5th, 2012, 03:58 AM
#22
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Actually - there is a great way you could drive some of the Oregon Coast and also get over to Crater Lake.
Head up the coast from Gold Beach toward Bandon - an hour or so - which has some of the best golf courses in the world at renowned Bandon Dunes (and great salt water taffy in the cute little downtown area).
From there - you could head inland along route 42 (Coquille/Myrtle Point) over to Roseburg - or head up the coast another hour or so - to Reedsport - and then turn inland - along the mighty Umpqua River (big enough at the mouth for large ships to navigate upriver).
This way would take you past a beautiful Elk Preserve (one of my favorite spots - viewing the majestic Roosevelt Elk) - and also some wineries - eventually taking 138 over/down to Southerlin, just north of Roseburg. http://gonw.about.com/od/mapsor/ig/O...-Coast-Map.htm
From Roseburg - head inland/east along 138/the Umpqua river - to Diamond Lake and then to Crater Lake - an especially scenic drive, with some waterfalls and even covered bridges along the way? http://traveloregon.com/trip-ideas/s...-umpqua-river/ and http://byways.org/explore/byways/2147/travel.html and http://byways.org/explore/byways/2147/itinerary/62580
Head up the coast from Gold Beach toward Bandon - an hour or so - which has some of the best golf courses in the world at renowned Bandon Dunes (and great salt water taffy in the cute little downtown area).
From there - you could head inland along route 42 (Coquille/Myrtle Point) over to Roseburg - or head up the coast another hour or so - to Reedsport - and then turn inland - along the mighty Umpqua River (big enough at the mouth for large ships to navigate upriver).
This way would take you past a beautiful Elk Preserve (one of my favorite spots - viewing the majestic Roosevelt Elk) - and also some wineries - eventually taking 138 over/down to Southerlin, just north of Roseburg. http://gonw.about.com/od/mapsor/ig/O...-Coast-Map.htm
From Roseburg - head inland/east along 138/the Umpqua river - to Diamond Lake and then to Crater Lake - an especially scenic drive, with some waterfalls and even covered bridges along the way? http://traveloregon.com/trip-ideas/s...-umpqua-river/ and http://byways.org/explore/byways/2147/travel.html and http://byways.org/explore/byways/2147/itinerary/62580
Dec 5th, 2012, 01:21 PM
#23
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Actually, 5alive, there is a magnificent road that runs from Gold Beach to Agness to Galice, alongside the wild and scenic portion of the Rogue, also called Bear Camp Road.
http://oregonmotorcyclist.com/ridepage.php?page=fr23
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=260817
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_Camp_Road
Breathtaking
http://oregonmotorcyclist.com/ridepage.php?page=fr23
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=260817
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_Camp_Road
Breathtaking
Dec 5th, 2012, 02:51 PM
#26
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just to whet your appetite
http://photos.oregonlive.com/photo-e...photo-11947777
http://photos.oregonlive.com/photo-e...photo-11947777
Dec 5th, 2012, 06:56 PM
#27
Just to set the record straight, James Kim (prodigy of CNET) died in Big Windy Gulch 6 years ago this week. The road from Galice to Agness is paved about 200 yards past the fork in the road. One fork (left has the word Coast and an arrow).
The fork to the right has dead end painted on the road. The dead end of the right road is about 20 miles back in the wilderness. The Kim family could not see anything on the road because of snow on the road. Mr Kim made the fatal decision to try to go down to the Rogue River and go upstream to Galice.
If you ever get in such a fix, walk back the road that you drove in on. Mrs. Kim waved an umbrella at a helicopter pilot that was searching for the family. She kept her 2 girls alive by nursing them both even though one was 4 years old.
The road to Agness is used by vehicles shuttling people and boats back from float trips down the Rogue.
I hiked down to the south side of the Rogue to find a geocache about a month before Mr. Kim died about a mile upstream.
The fork to the right has dead end painted on the road. The dead end of the right road is about 20 miles back in the wilderness. The Kim family could not see anything on the road because of snow on the road. Mr Kim made the fatal decision to try to go down to the Rogue River and go upstream to Galice.
If you ever get in such a fix, walk back the road that you drove in on. Mrs. Kim waved an umbrella at a helicopter pilot that was searching for the family. She kept her 2 girls alive by nursing them both even though one was 4 years old.
The road to Agness is used by vehicles shuttling people and boats back from float trips down the Rogue.
I hiked down to the south side of the Rogue to find a geocache about a month before Mr. Kim died about a mile upstream.
Dec 6th, 2012, 04:49 AM
#28
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Sad story - the tragedy of Kim.
Here is the story as told in Wikipedia - "Instead of returning to the exit, they consulted a highway map and picked a secondary route that skirted the Wild Rogue Wilderness, a remote area of southwestern Oregon."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Kim
Some local rescue experts (a high school friend of mine lives in the area and his dad was a long time State Trooper) - had a slightly different version of how the events unfolded (even though the "official report" - discounts this: "Because of Mr. Kim's background as a technology analyst, observers speculated that the family had used online mapping to find their route.")
and they very quietly criticized Kim for trying to press on - with his family - in a heavy snowstorm, on a strange road.
In any event - you will hopefully not encounter any heavy weather if you take this route.
Here is the story as told in Wikipedia - "Instead of returning to the exit, they consulted a highway map and picked a secondary route that skirted the Wild Rogue Wilderness, a remote area of southwestern Oregon."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Kim
Some local rescue experts (a high school friend of mine lives in the area and his dad was a long time State Trooper) - had a slightly different version of how the events unfolded (even though the "official report" - discounts this: "Because of Mr. Kim's background as a technology analyst, observers speculated that the family had used online mapping to find their route.")
and they very quietly criticized Kim for trying to press on - with his family - in a heavy snowstorm, on a strange road.
In any event - you will hopefully not encounter any heavy weather if you take this route.
Dec 6th, 2012, 09:05 AM
#29
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Bbq: I am aware of the route and that it is lovely, but given the mileage they will already be doing on this trip, I'm still not sure it's worth the extra time. You are right though: I should have said "good, or reasonably quick direct route." For several years my inlaws lived in Southern Oregon on the coast, and highly encouraged us to take 38 to 101 after their experiences. They at least did not think the alternatives were worth the time and stress.
From your Wikipedia site:
"It is a <i>paved, one-lane road with infrequent turnouts and a few gravel sections.</i> At both ends, the road quickly climbs up to the crest of the Coast Range, and the majority of the road is at high elevation on top of a long ridge."
Regarding the Kim example, it was a tragedy and no one wants to blame the family. The local reporting was that it was a GPS device that was to blame. Says something, doesn't it? Because of potential lawsuits, they kept not wanting to talk about it or give the brand name. I am well aware there is no snow in August. I hemmed and hawed about mentioning it, but felt it was something that should be in the record for people who stumble upon this thread later. I find the smiley face patronizing.
Regarding my other example, I talked to the staff a few years ago at Oregon Caves National Monument, and GPS is responsible for multiple attempts at reaching the Caves by a route through Forest Service Roads other than hwys 199/46. This route IS in places a near 3-foot clearance that the GPS services sent them on. If they did make it through, it took them perhaps 2 hours to go 10 miles. They then complained to the staff about the lack of road maintenance. Thus a comment was placed on the NPS website: http://www.nps.gov/orca/planyourvisit/directions.htm
I usually don't join these discussions because I disagree with the amount of driving that is encouraged on some of these threads for the West Coast. I think people would enjoy more if they would edit their trips a bit and decide which things they want most. I would encourage them to do the math on the mileage and confirm that's what they really want.
I started on this whole Fodors' membership in 2005 with a trip to Italy and was heavily influenced by the opinions of some of the people on the Europe board who were big believers in slow travel; see a place well and soak it in. I do recognize other people travel differently than me. Most of all, I apologize for the rather lengthy diversion to the Original Poster's Thread.
Best,
Five Alive
From your Wikipedia site:
"It is a <i>paved, one-lane road with infrequent turnouts and a few gravel sections.</i> At both ends, the road quickly climbs up to the crest of the Coast Range, and the majority of the road is at high elevation on top of a long ridge."
Regarding the Kim example, it was a tragedy and no one wants to blame the family. The local reporting was that it was a GPS device that was to blame. Says something, doesn't it? Because of potential lawsuits, they kept not wanting to talk about it or give the brand name. I am well aware there is no snow in August. I hemmed and hawed about mentioning it, but felt it was something that should be in the record for people who stumble upon this thread later. I find the smiley face patronizing.
Regarding my other example, I talked to the staff a few years ago at Oregon Caves National Monument, and GPS is responsible for multiple attempts at reaching the Caves by a route through Forest Service Roads other than hwys 199/46. This route IS in places a near 3-foot clearance that the GPS services sent them on. If they did make it through, it took them perhaps 2 hours to go 10 miles. They then complained to the staff about the lack of road maintenance. Thus a comment was placed on the NPS website: http://www.nps.gov/orca/planyourvisit/directions.htm
I usually don't join these discussions because I disagree with the amount of driving that is encouraged on some of these threads for the West Coast. I think people would enjoy more if they would edit their trips a bit and decide which things they want most. I would encourage them to do the math on the mileage and confirm that's what they really want.
I started on this whole Fodors' membership in 2005 with a trip to Italy and was heavily influenced by the opinions of some of the people on the Europe board who were big believers in slow travel; see a place well and soak it in. I do recognize other people travel differently than me. Most of all, I apologize for the rather lengthy diversion to the Original Poster's Thread.
Best,
Five Alive
