sludick

And just from a time perspective - we left Crater Lake in the morning (after breakfast, gift shopping, and a drive around the crater), stopped at Lava Lands, went to the Visitors Center and walked up to the fire tower, visited the Obsidian Fields, walked to the top of that glass mountain, drove around there a bit, etc., and were still in Bend by mid afternoon. It was not a long difficult driving day at all.

Since it was broken up, I am thinking the only longish drive was from Crater Lake to Lava Fields - maybe 2 hours. From there to Bend was maybe half hour.

We could have done the Lava Tube that day, but it was closed -so went the next day. Do check to find what days they are open, and plan accordingly.

Gardyloo

To clarify the Grants Pass/coast/redwood thing, if you're coming from Crater Lake, US 199 between Grants Pass and Crescent City is really the only available route between Interstate 5 and the southern Oregon coast. There are a couple of unpaved roads that snake through the Coast Range, but US 199 is both interesting and direct. Note that partway between Grants Pass and Crescent City you'll pass the Oregon Caves. While not internationally renowned, the caves are still pretty cool. You hit the major redwoods, specifically the Jedidiah Smith State Park, around ten miles before the junction with US 101.

Tomsd

Since I grew up close to some of the most beauituful hardwood forests in the world - I am a bit blase about making a big effort to get down to Jedidiah Smith park, and since you have already seen some big trees, suggest you spend more time appreciating the Oregon Coast, Lakes and Crescent Peaks.

sludick

While I love Muir Woods, in my opinion it just doesn't hold a candle to Jedediah Smith or Redwoods Natl Park. With Muir being so close to SF, it gets a lot of traffic, with dust, ground impaction, noise, etc. Just an hour's stopover at Jedediah to look at the cool ferny forest floor and enjoy the quiet splendor will be well worthwhile.

http://www.google.com/search?q=jeded...w=1600&bih=635

Tomsd

And the Maryhill Museum is interesting (first saw it in the early 50's while on a family trip to visit an Uncle up in Yakima http://www.maryhillmuseum.org/About_Us/history.html )

IMO - The Dalles isn't any great shakes and would return to Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood to spend the evening.

Gardyloo

Since I grew up close to some of the most beauituful hardwood forests in the world - I am a bit blase about making a big effort to get down to Jedidiah Smith park, and since you have already seen some big trees, suggest you spend more time appreciating the Oregon Coast, Lakes and Crescent Peaks.

See? Diversity of opinion.

By contrast, my view is that there are a lot of gorgeous, rocky coastlines in the world, with the UK having way more than its fair share (South Devon, Cornwall, North Wales, the Western Highlands, et al.) Or the Aussies would say the Great Ocean Road is equally spectacular, and they'd be right. (Or the Californians would point to Big Sur and not be far off.)

The coastal redwood forests, however, really don't have a European peer. The OP was originally talking about Olympic National Park, where the likes of the Hoh or Quinault Valley rainforests are pretty doggone amazing, but if there's no time for ONP (and there isn't) then I'd say a few groves of the big trees plus the southern Oregon coast, is a fair exchange.

Tomsd

And yes, there are differences of opinion about how to enjoy driving around/visiting Oregon - with so many beautiful places to visit. Here some pics of beautiful forests in Central (Bend) and Southern Oregon:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/centraloregon/about-forest

http://www.fs.usda.gov/centraloregon

http://tinyurl.com/79sg73w

Near my hometown of Klamath Falls -- by beaucolic Spring Creek: Collier Park. http://www.collierloggingmuseum.org/ http://www.collierloggingmuseum.org/springcreek.html

And the Fremont-Winema Forest: http://www.fs.usda.gov/fremont-winema

You could also stay at a beautiful resort - a former "Dude" ranch (it really was a big cattle ranch once) - the Running Y Resort - where the first 9 of the Arnold Palmer designed golf course plays along 30 mile long Klamath Lake and the back nine goes through the trees. http://www.runningy.com/

Or you could go to the quiet little Lake of the Woods, where they also have some great fishing. http://www.lakeofthewoodsresort.com/

So many choices - so little time.

Tomsd

BTW - we are not talking about great distances from say Crater Lake to Klamath Falls (an hour), to Ashland or Grants Pass (couple hours max?) - from Grants Pass to Jedediah State Park (hour plus?) - and from there to where you hit the 101 - to head back up to Gold Beach - an hour plus?

It's been so long since I was on the Grants Pass to Crescent City route I forget the particulars - but again, it's not that far - just a slower going type of driving through lovely country.

Gardyloo

Grants Pass to Crescent City is around two hours; say 90 min. to the Smith River and redwood groves. Crescent City to Brookings is around half an hour; another half hour to Gold Beach.

Tomsd

Do you need to go all the way into Crescent City - or is there a cutoff to head north on the 101?

Tomsd

If after seeing beautiful forests in Oregon - you still think you need a Coastal Redwoof "fix" - here is the area around Crescent City if you get that far. Just move the map/cursor around/in and out. http://tinyurl.com/6rn4ayv

happytrailstoyou

Thanks for your reply. With your comments in mind:

*I would spend one day in the Columbia River Gorge during which I would visit the waterfalls along the Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway and drive, on the Washington Highway 14, from Bingen (or Maryhill) to Washougal.
*I would visit the Willamette Valley on my way to the Oregon coast.
*I would explore the Oregon coast from Cape Perpetua (just south of Yachats) to Cannon Beach.
*From Cannon Beach I would drive to Quinault Lake Lodge in the Olympic National Park.

I don't know where on the Olympic Peninsula you would see orcas. I would book a whale watching tour that departs from Seattle: http://www.clippervacations.com/whalewatching/

I would visit Mt. Rainier on the return trip to Portland.

Suggested routing: Columbia River Gorge (1), Willamette Valley (1), Oregon Coast (2-3), Olympic Peninsula (2), Seattle for whale watching (2-3), Mt. Rainier and flight home (1),

Gardyloo

Do you need to go all the way into Crescent City - or is there a cutoff to head north on the 101?

No, the US 199/US 101 junction is a few miles north of Crescent City, so there's no need to go into town.

If the OP wants some bona fide American culture, cringe-provoking variety, they can do a drive-by of the Pelican Bay prison complex, not far from the junction. Pelican Bay is by all accounts the most maximum-security slammer in the US; it specializes in the kind of inmates that people make movies about.

Tomsd

LOL: Pelican Bay is the baddest? Maybe they can get taken hostage for a real adenture, eh?

LondonAlicat

Wow, this thread really kicked off some debate! Thanks again, everyone. I think I've come down to two itineraries.

The first is all Oregon, but I'm not going to take it as far south as Crescent City bit, as I just can't work out a way to include the redwoods bit without making too many long driving days. This would be something like:

Fri – pick up car, drive to Timberline Lodge via Hood River (2hrs10)
Sat – drive to Sunriver (2hrs50), night Diamond Stone cabin
Sun – day around Bend incl. lava tube and obsidian mountain, night Diamond Stone
Mon – drive to Crater Lake, night TBC (Crater Lake Resort full - any suggestions welcome!)
Tue – Crater Lake drive, night TBC
Wed – drive to Winchester Bay (3hrs20 - a bit long - any suggestions for how to resolve this?), night Salmon Harbour Landing Motel
Thu – day exploring coast, night Salmon Harbour Landing Motel
Fri – drive to Yachats (1hr30), night Ocean Cove Inn
Sat – drive to Newburg (2hrs50), night Deer Haven Farm
Sun – Willamette Valley wineries, night Deer Haven Farm
Mon – drive to airport, flight home

The second includes Washington, and is based on happytrailstoyou's suggestions but fitting in the northern part of Olympic NP, too, and whale-watching from Port Townsend:

Fri – pick up car, drive to Newberg via Columbia River Highway (2hrs50), night Deer Haven Farm
Sat – drive to Manzanita via more wineries (2hrs), night Eagle’s Nest vacation rental
Sun – exploring coast, night Eagle’s Nest
Mon – drive to Lake Quinault (3hrs10), night Lake Quinault Lodge
Tue – drive to Forks via Hoh Rainforest (2hrs45), night Huckleberry Lodge
Wed – drive to Port Townsend via Hurricaine Ridge
(3hrs), night Morgan Hill View Loft
Thu – whale-watching, night Morgan Hill View Loft
Fri – drive to Ashford (3hrs), night Stormking Resort
Sat – Mt Rainier, night Stormking Resort
Sun – drive to Castle Rock via Mt St Helens (3hrs20)
Mon - To airport (1hr)

I’m so grateful for all your help so far. We're planning to book this weekend, so any other thoughts on these two plans would be gratefully received. Any Washington specialists have any thoughts?

Gardyloo

You've really done your homework!

Of course these two itineraries are really apples and oranges. By not crossing the Cascades in the second itinerary, you won't get the "cowboy country" experience; on the other hand, the IMO Olympic National Park coastal strip is fully the equal of the best bits of the Oregon coast, only much more remote and wild feeling. You'll also get lots of exposure to the Puget Sound country in the second itinerary. So for what it's worth, my vote is for option no. 2.

Replacing the redwoods with the Quinault and Hoh rainforests is, in my mind, a fair exchange. One thing to note is that you're likely to encounter some Roosevelt elk in the Hoh Valley; in your OP you mentioned a desire to see wildlife, and here's your chance (along with some Orcas around the San Juans/Port Townsend.)

I'm not sure that I'd spend the time required to go into Mt. St. Helens given the rest of your itinerary (lots of mountain time including Mts. Hood and Rainier, plus Hurricane Ridge.) Instead, I'd probably just shoot for Portland on leaving Ashford, and maybe spend a relaxing afternoon and evening somewhere along the Columbia Gorge - maybe try the products from the winery, brewery, and distillery at McMenamin's Edgefield at Troutdale near the Portland airport. Walk through their gardens, hit some of the many pubs on the grounds, take in a (free) movie in the evening. It's a very relaxing place, full of funky art. Beats the bejeezus out of some schlunky motel in Castle Rock. http://www.mcmenamins.com/54-edgefield-home

Next day, the airport is a few minutes away, or if you've time, you could hit the Gorge Highway or even the above-mentioned Maryhill museum before taking wings.

Tomsd

For the Oregon experience - don't worry if you don't see the flat sagebrush country of Eastern Oregon. You can "cowboy" up another time

As for your first night around Crater Lake - nearby Diamond Lake is fine (easiest place from which to head toward the Coast the next day)- or you could drive to the cute college town of Ashland (Shakespeare festival/good restaurants)- whatever - which is about an hour and a half - maybe a bit more.

After seeing Crater Lake during the day - the 2nd night - I would suggest you head over toward the Oregon Coast to get part of that driving done - driving along the uber scenic North Fork of the Umpqua River (along 138 - scroll down here for the topo map http://www.ormtb.com/North_Umpqua/N_...s/N_Umpqua.htm ) -

and you could stay the night around Roseburg or Southerlin (maybe two hours from Crater Lake) - and also take in a winery around there - http://www.umpquavalleywineries.org/

or press on over to the Coast (another hour or so - maybe a bit more) and find a place there for the night.

We went by the Strobe winery - and there are others.

Tomsd

Fiddely Foo: Thought I had posted the Diamond Lake Lodge page: http://www.diamondlake.net/

Tomsd

And yes, my vote is for Oregon - but I would add - there is no guarantee you will spot whales when you go out of Port Townsend.

Tomsd

BTW - if you want a 100% guarantee of seeing Orcas/Killer Whales - come to Sea World here in San Diego and they will even do tricks for you!! The 90% or so chance you will see one out of Port Townsend sounds good - but you also never know how long you will see the resident pod, whatever.

We were lucky - as they followed along the Car Ferry for about 15-20 minutes when we came through the San Juans - and on the other side - lined up in a row - were dozens of private whale watching boats, who couldn't folow them.

They are magnificent beings.