Daydreamer

Have been numerous times to your fair corner of the world & LOVE the Pac NW.
We tend to repeat the San Juans, regularly, as find them so restorative.
Have a few extra days while driving there to add in either something
new & unexplored by us,
or perhaps repeat an area we haven't been to much...
or at least, never in May.

Areas under consideration to shake it up? I'll share below.

Areas we adore but probably will skip this time include the Olympic
Peninsula/Hurricane Ridge & Oregon coast due to time constraints.
(can easily spend a whole week along the Coast...really in
either gorgeous area)

We have just enough time to add in a little 2-night 'addendum' to the
end of our 20th Anniversary trip...
or while making our way northward.

Thought about Oregon Caves (never been)...the McKenzie River area, etc.
Have done Nor Cal a lot, too...just driving through...but alas, have never done
that cutover.
But will have our dog 'on board' so since she can't visit the Caves...
or Crater Lake's or Caves Lodge (we love old park lodges!)...
we think we'll most likely save these areas for another time.
(when she's left behind)

Saw Crater Lake (very briefly just before dusk 20+ yrs ago)
So haven't really 'done' it either. (to say the least)

Loved the Umpqua River w/its many spectacularly situated waterfalls
& aquamarine color. That was a fun & new discovery just 2 yrs ago!!
Can you help us find another? (equally 'worthy') ;-)

Enjoyed a stay or two, as well, along the Rogue, but near the Gold Beach end.
And Heceta Head. (harder to do now w/the pup)
Didn't get to do the dunes much for hiking. (near Florence & Reedsport...
& that area still tempts) Thinking rhodies might be nice along the Coast.

Oregonians, we've also even made it Silver Falls State Park another time,
the covered bridges area near Cottage Grove, as well as the Columbia Gorge
a couple of times, en route to Canada...
and did a Mt Hood 'fruit' loop by way of Hood River - but again, exceedingly quickly...
plus, Ashland for a brief sleepover.

What are we missing??
Have also driven down through Bend along the eastern side of the state & weren't all that 'taken' at the time, and were there once for a family get-together, too...and saw its nice High Desert Museum, etc. Think we were just bothered by the drive down the eastern side of the state perhaps due to feeling like we couldn't see much
from the road, particularly...but again, that was driving straight south....
and *not* by way of any cutover passes. (and yes, I know getting out of the car is
essential, but just sharing that the drive itself, down that hwy
was particularly frustrating, is all)

Is Santiam Pass something to consider this time of year?
Cascade Lakes? Sisters?
If so, could you share your picks, if time limited?

And Washingtonians...
is Mt Baker worth it this time of year,
or would the upper reaches still be closed, & places like Artists Point
*far* better left for July/Aug? (have never been)

We *have* done Bellingham, however
& Whidbey Island. And of course, Victoria. (yes, I know...
*not* Washington) ;-)

We *have* also seen N Cascades once,
w/a loop through Leavenworth & Winthrop...still was snowed in,
even in early July.

Is it completely too early now for a drive thru *that* Nat'l Park?
(we know it is, for hiking, at least)

And if not, do you prefer the drive from the west
or east?

Are other passes in Wash, particulary 'fetching' in late May?
Or again, best kept til later?

Same with Ranier?
Enjoyed it once MANY moons ago, in early July.
Still too early now, we're thinking?

Also have seen Mt St Helens.

What are we missing?
Anything you'd say is high time to add?
Or do you think one of these areas we've been to in summer, maybe
eons ago...
is well worth another visit?

Thanks so much! Just would like a little mountain or riparian sightseeing
to bookend our island days.

Otherwise, will just hurry northward to Salt Spring, B.C. perhaps, with the 2-3 days
we have left. (but have also been there before)
Thanks again!!
An ardent admirer of the NW

happytrailstoyou

There is a lot to read here. If you gave us a list of what you have seen, it would be easier to figure out what you are missing.

HTtY

tomfuller

My suggested route through Oregon: Turn off I-5 in Weed CA.
Drive north on US 97 through K-Falls to the small town of Crescent. Turn left at the Shell station and go 10 miles west to the south end of the Cascade Lakes Highway. From that intersection it is 70 miles to Bend. You will pass several lakes and Mount Bachelor. You may drive past some snow at the edge of the road, but the highway is open.
Once you get to Bend, drive back south on US 97 about 7 miles to see the Lavalands Visitor Center. You can also drive up to the top of Lava Butte with a pass from the gatekeeper.
When you leave you will go south on a new road past the Lava River Cave which is also worth a stop. If you don't have enough light you can rent a lantern there.
Spend a night in Bend before heading over the Santiam Pass.
There is probably some sow left at the HooDoo ski slope. You could also go over the McKenzie Pass out of Sisters and stop at the Dee Wright Observatory at the top of the pass.
There is a hot spring resort (Belknap) near McKenzie Bridge.
You have still missed the eastern half of Oregon including the Blue Mountains.

POlson

How about a few nights at Salish Lodge - visit the falls, hike Mount Si, relax/spa, enjoy the "famous" breakfasts.

Daydreamer

Thank you for the ideas!
And sorry for not listing where I'd been vs. using a different format.

McKenzie Pass also open?

Would everyone wait on Crater Lake
'til more of it, is open...
esp. since our dog is with us? (our leaning is to wait)
Can't believe we haven't seen it in 24 yrs...and even then,
just got an evening glimpse, as I'd heard it was worth
at least seeing. (and we weren't even supposed to be
going that direction, but slipped it in on a super short
trip)


Re: Salish...that is one spot, we did finally 'splurge' & do
prob for our 15th Anniv, in fact. Was neat!
Had an other-worldly ethereal mist rising effect driving in,
that remains a beautiful memory. (as it had *just* rained...
but was evaporating)

We almost never fly, but did that time, so it seemed easy for a 1st night from Seattle.
Did not hike Mt Si, however. Not sure why.

Haven't done enough hiking...other than a fave on the Olympic Coast that's about 9 miles...which I forget the name of.
(3 miles out on a boardwalk...3 miles up a beach...and then back on a different boardwalk...Ozette maybe?)

I agree...we've seen little of E. Oregon. (and Wash)
Think it's due to so loving all the green in the NW ...
so we gravitate more westerly...as like to extend Spring-like conditions, as Calif turns brown by May, generally.
(even NorCal)

Thanks again!

Fodorite018

I would hold off on Crater Lake until you can come sometime between early July and mid September. That way you can do the rim road and the boat ride. There is a trolley there now that can take you on the rim drive.

McKenzie Pass does not open until around July, so that is not an option.

Mt Si is a nice hike. So is the one you mention (the cape alava loop) on Olympic Peninsula.

Eastern OR and WA are great. Just depends on what you want to do/see. You do have to drive further for things, but it is worth it, especially in OR if you are into hiking at all. The Wallowas are fantastic, but again, for hiking, I would wait into summer more for that. We backpack over there.

Gardyloo

If Salt Spring Island is your ultimate destination, then some areas of E. Oregon or Washington (or BC) are going to be huge detours - probably more than you could add in a "couple of days."

However, if there was time, I'd head to the Pend Orielle country between Spokane and the Canadian border, then continue over the border into the Kootenay country around Nelson BC.

The extreme NE corner of Washington is nothing short of marvelous - pine forest and blue-blue "pothole" lakes surrounded by low granite cliffs, stunning "old west" scenery abounding, and some very interesting little towns, such as Metaline Falls (WA.) Nelson BC (where the film "Roxanne" was filmed) is gorgeous, and the Kootenay mountains and lakes surrounding it are heavenly. Then BC Hwy 3 from Nelson west to Hope (thence Vancouver) is among the most beautiful roads we've ever traveled.

BUT, a glance at a map will show you it's quite a distance from the Gulf Islands, so with just a couple of days extra, I'd be inclined to skip it - it needs to be savored, not rushed.

As to the Oregon Caves, just my personal view, but a big Meh. US 199 from Crescent City to Grants Pass is okay (some good redwood groves just outside Crescent City) but IMO not worth a detour. If you haven't taken it previously, the road to take from US 101 (coast) to I-5 is Oregon Hwy 38, which offers some potential wildlife sighting near Reedsport, then passes through the lovely Umpqua River canyon. Fast and pretty.

One question - have you explored the "Sunshine Coast" north of Vancouver? A short ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay will take you to this lovely area of little towns, farmers markets... it's very picturesque and a bit under the radar for most visitors to BC. You could head to Powell River, then take the ferry over to Vancouver Island, then back down to Crofton for a ferry to Salt Spring.

tomfuller

The Cascade Lakes Highway is open all the way from Crescent Cutoff road to Bend. The McKenzie Pass has one lane open all the way through so that it is open to bicycles and pedestrians. They let it melt and open to car traffic when both lanes are clear.
It may or may not be open by Memorial day weekend. Last year it opened June 21 but we have had less snow this winter.
If you decide to bypass Bend, you can go over Rt. 58 and stop to see Salt Creek Falls. The waterfall is the second highest in Oregon and you view it from the top.
The nearby Salt Creek Tunnel is closed nights Mon-Thur from 8PM to 6AM for construction.

5alive

<We have just enough time to add in a little 2-night 'addendum' to the end of our 20th Anniversary trip...
or while making our way northward.>

This isn't very much time. It sounds like you are driving from perhaps California/Nevada up to the San Juans?

In May, the Ashland area tends to be sunnier than further north. Many things to do in the area. Often forgotten is cute little Jacksonville almost next door.

Or head to the Columbia Gorge, as you go East it also tends to be sunnier. Explore some new hikes; there are so many to choose.

mtm

Would LOVE to do NE Wash/Nelson, BC or the Sunshine Coast, but alas, only have 4 nites from leaving Mendocino to when we need to arrive on SJ Island, for a place pre-booked.
Have almost decided to scrap re-seeing SaltSpring for old times' sake.

Have seen Nelson, briefly & Sunshine C, but AGES ago.
Sigh..,
Just saw posting that Crater Lake opened its northern entrance the earliest in decades.
Can't do much w/the pup & no boats...
But is it worth it to incorporate into a drive if making way up towards Sisters area & then...
Who knows to where?

All the way to Hood & back west on the Col Gorge? Have done but ALWAYS rushed, so surely have more falls to see or hike....
Thx again!! Btw, at end of trip after the islands, may have time for a 1 extra nite dalliance.
So perhaps Ranier then as make way back to Nor Cal.
Just wonder when it's various entrances open....

sunbum1944

I think just seeing Crater Lake is worth the drive- especially on a beautiful day. WOW!

The drive from Crater Lake to Sisters is not very dramatic as all you see is trees. Sisters is a cute little town, fun to wander around. I like to stay in the Metolius area when I go- not far from Sisters. Beautiful little river, walking trails along the banks- its one of my favorite spots in Oregon.
There are some very nice cabins to stay in at Camp Sherman- or some more rustic ones as well.

Across the road from the Metolius area is Black Butte Ranch- large resort with great views of the Three Sisters. You can rent bikes, golf, do some fine dining.

Another nice place to visit close by is the Lodge at Suttle Lake- gorgeous - easy trail around the lake for hiking.

I do love the Bend area too- I usually stay at SunRiver Resort- great biking trails, kayaking, rafting ( although since you are coming in May it would likely be too cold for water sports)- There is a nice waterfall hike close by- the Deschutes River Trail -

If you go to Sisters, you could continue on to Eugene via the McKenzie Hwy- lots of beuatiful stops- Clear Lake ( has a hiking trail around the lake) , Sahalie Falls ( has hiking trail along the beautiful McKenzie River)
Stop for a soak at Belknap Hotsprings- beautiful grounds with more walking trails. The hot springs are in enclosed pools and for a fee, you can use even if not staying there.

Enjoy

sunbum1944

You don't mention a budget - but if you want to experience something high end- take a look at this place close to Bend

http://www.brasada.com

tomfuller

You can now enter Crater Lake NP by way of the south entrance off Rt. 62 and go on the west side of the lake and come out the north entrance onto Rt. 138. It is only 90 miles from the north entrance to Bend.
There is still some snow but it is still worth seeing.

5alive

Sunbum, do you know anyone who's been on the trail rides there? Always looking for new ones for my horse fan.

sunbum1944

5alive- sorry don't know anyone who has done the trail rides

tomfuller

The trail rides at Sunriver are very popular. The stables are near the airport and the Deschutes River. http://www.sunriver-resort.com/orego...-vacations.php
If you fly into the Sunriver airport there are rental cars available.

Fodorite018

We have done the trail rides at Sunriver. They are ok, not bad but not fantastic. They do try to match up the right horses with each person though, so that is nice.

5alive

Thanks, that is consistent with what I've heard. I was just curious about how scenic the Brasada route would be.