West coast national park road trip
Nov 14th, 2011, 07:47 AM
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West coast national park road trip
My wife and I have the whole month of june to travel. Last year we did the same. We went to yellowstone, grand teton, grand canyon, and all of the big national parks in Utah. This year we would like to do as many of the west coast parks as we can. Starting maybe in olympic natl park. We camp so if you can recommend good campgrounds that would be great. I was thinking of ending the trip in the channel islands. Or maybe the other way around. And would like to see as much as we can in between. Please keep in mind National Parks. Thankyou all for your recommendations.
Nov 14th, 2011, 08:09 AM
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If you are going in June, I would suggest you start at the southern end and go north.
Parks I would consider would be, not necessarily in order and I know some are inland but they're nice, so go if you haven't been there:
Mojave
Death Valley
Sequoia/Kings Canyon
Yosemite
Channel Islands
Point Reyes
Redwood
Crater Lake
Mt. St. Helens
Olympic
and aome more that I can't remember, but I wouldn't limit myself to NP's as there are great state parks along the route too.
Parks I would consider would be, not necessarily in order and I know some are inland but they're nice, so go if you haven't been there:
Mojave
Death Valley
Sequoia/Kings Canyon
Yosemite
Channel Islands
Point Reyes
Redwood
Crater Lake
Mt. St. Helens
Olympic
and aome more that I can't remember, but I wouldn't limit myself to NP's as there are great state parks along the route too.
Nov 14th, 2011, 08:23 AM
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I suggest you include Lassen Volcanic National Park in N. California. Fascinating thermal walks and a great hike on a good trail to the summit:
http://www.nps.gov/lavo/index.htm
http://www.nps.gov/lavo/index.htm
Nov 14th, 2011, 08:30 AM
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These sets might give you some ideas of what to see. Most of the pictures are geo-tagged:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7624514508361/
There is a book which I still use, and which is still valid for the most part, that lists <b>all</b> the campgrounds in the western U.S., western Canada and Mexico. Unfortunately it is no longer published, but maybe you can find a used copy somewhere. It is the Allstate Motor Club <u>RV Park & Campground Directory 1991</u>.
I still use it to find National Forest campgrounds which I generally prefer to National Park or State Park campgrounds.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7624514508361/
There is a book which I still use, and which is still valid for the most part, that lists <b>all</b> the campgrounds in the western U.S., western Canada and Mexico. Unfortunately it is no longer published, but maybe you can find a used copy somewhere. It is the Allstate Motor Club <u>RV Park & Campground Directory 1991</u>.
I still use it to find National Forest campgrounds which I generally prefer to National Park or State Park campgrounds.
Nov 14th, 2011, 08:53 AM
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Sorry about the post with a symbol. Im new to fodors and the whole posting thing. Thankyou all for your suggestions. I definetly like the Natl. Forest ideas. And am open to see any state parks. Please keep the ideas coming. And again thankyou all.
Nov 14th, 2011, 11:51 AM
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Nov 14th, 2011, 12:05 PM
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There are a lot of GREAT state parks in California you should not miss!!!!!
Big Basin (Or one of the other parks in the Santa Cruz Mountains)
New Brighton or Sunset or Manressa in Santa Cruz county for ocean side camping.
I am just going to mention these few because I am from Santa Cruz and know them well but there are hundreds.
One in Oregon I found worthy is Silver Falls State Park.
Big Basin (Or one of the other parks in the Santa Cruz Mountains)
New Brighton or Sunset or Manressa in Santa Cruz county for ocean side camping.
I am just going to mention these few because I am from Santa Cruz and know them well but there are hundreds.
One in Oregon I found worthy is Silver Falls State Park.
Nov 14th, 2011, 12:44 PM
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You might be a little early, even at the end of June, for Lassen and Crater Lake. The roads might not be fully open.
Would be a little early for some things in Olympic, Mount Rainier, and North Cascades too.
While we enjoyed Big Basin for a few hours, I don't know that I would go out of my way again for it.
Is there any chance of moving this more into July or is June what you have to work with? Probably the earlier to Yosemite the better(for the valley anyway).
In Oregon, you would also want to include Columbia River Gorge and some of the coast. Perhaps Silver Falls state park. We love love Portland--Stumptown Roasters and Powells Bookstore. I would include Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens as well. We were in Oregon for 2 weeks a couple of years ago and loved it.
If all you have is June then I would probably start out in LA, head up HWY stopping at Channel Islands(camp there and possibly kayak), Hearst Castle, McWay Falls, Point Lobos, San Francisco, Pt. Reyes, Yosemite, Sequoia, and then back to LA. If you have time you could add Joshua Tree or Death Valley. Those would be getting pretty darn hot by June though. I think just the California or the Oregon/Washington would better than trying to do them all at once.
Would be a little early for some things in Olympic, Mount Rainier, and North Cascades too.
While we enjoyed Big Basin for a few hours, I don't know that I would go out of my way again for it.
Is there any chance of moving this more into July or is June what you have to work with? Probably the earlier to Yosemite the better(for the valley anyway).
In Oregon, you would also want to include Columbia River Gorge and some of the coast. Perhaps Silver Falls state park. We love love Portland--Stumptown Roasters and Powells Bookstore. I would include Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens as well. We were in Oregon for 2 weeks a couple of years ago and loved it.
If all you have is June then I would probably start out in LA, head up HWY stopping at Channel Islands(camp there and possibly kayak), Hearst Castle, McWay Falls, Point Lobos, San Francisco, Pt. Reyes, Yosemite, Sequoia, and then back to LA. If you have time you could add Joshua Tree or Death Valley. Those would be getting pretty darn hot by June though. I think just the California or the Oregon/Washington would better than trying to do them all at once.
Nov 16th, 2011, 09:47 AM
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Agree with BarbAnn. Newberry has an obsidian mountain def worth checking out. If you are into volcanoes or geology there is a new volcano highway scenic drive that takes you through the Cascades of NE California and Oregon. http://www.volcaniclegacybyway.org/volcan.html
NE California is very pretty and the least visited part of the state. The drive will take you through some great parks. Shasta, Lassen, Lava Beds, Medicine Lake, Crater Lake, Newberry, Crack in the Earth, Hole in the Ground, Sisters, Mount Hood, Mount Everest and more.
NE California is very pretty and the least visited part of the state. The drive will take you through some great parks. Shasta, Lassen, Lava Beds, Medicine Lake, Crater Lake, Newberry, Crack in the Earth, Hole in the Ground, Sisters, Mount Hood, Mount Everest and more.
Nov 16th, 2011, 03:29 PM
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Fooey - worked on post and the computer jammed up.
Anyhow - for Oregon, where I am from - recommend you consider getting up to the gorgeous Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood - where you can swim in the heated pool and watch the ski teams training during the summer up on the glacier. see http://www.timberlinelodge.com/
On the way - you could go out the Columbia River/Gorge from Portland and take the frontage road past 7 waterfalls, including Multnoma - the longest drop of water in the state.
From there - you could go down 97 through Bend and the classic Newberry volcanic park with the mountain of obsedian and then to one of the 7 natural wonders of the world - Crater Lake. see: http://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm
From there - you could take the Umpqua river out to the coast - or head on down to beautiful Lake of the Woods http://www.lakeofthewoodsresort.com/ - with a marvelous view of the perfectly shaped cinder cone volcano known at Mt. McGloughlin. My niece climbed that as a 14 year old with her fellow girl scouts.
Or - you could go out the Rogue River valley to the coast and maybe take a jet boat ride back up the river at Gold Coast.
Anyhow - for Oregon, where I am from - recommend you consider getting up to the gorgeous Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood - where you can swim in the heated pool and watch the ski teams training during the summer up on the glacier. see http://www.timberlinelodge.com/
On the way - you could go out the Columbia River/Gorge from Portland and take the frontage road past 7 waterfalls, including Multnoma - the longest drop of water in the state.
From there - you could go down 97 through Bend and the classic Newberry volcanic park with the mountain of obsedian and then to one of the 7 natural wonders of the world - Crater Lake. see: http://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm
From there - you could take the Umpqua river out to the coast - or head on down to beautiful Lake of the Woods http://www.lakeofthewoodsresort.com/ - with a marvelous view of the perfectly shaped cinder cone volcano known at Mt. McGloughlin. My niece climbed that as a 14 year old with her fellow girl scouts.
Or - you could go out the Rogue River valley to the coast and maybe take a jet boat ride back up the river at Gold Coast.
Nov 16th, 2011, 03:30 PM
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For the glass ceiling coffee shop/dining room - which looks up Multnoma falls - see: http://www.multnomahfallslodge.com/
Nov 16th, 2011, 03:31 PM
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And for one of the Jet Boat companies at Gold Beach: http://www.roguejets.com/
Nov 16th, 2011, 05:02 PM
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www.hellgate.com is another good jet boat(it is inland and we really enjoyed it).
