- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Winter Olympics
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
looking for some WA/OR/CA coast road trip advice
Posted on 12/28/22 at 4:32 pm
Posted on 12/28/22 at 4:32 pm
i'll be at the gorge amphitheater 7/7 & 7/8 for shows, can leave 1st thing in the morning on sun 7/9. i have to be in SF, CA by the afternoon of FRI 7/14. only requirements for stops on that road trip are that they be near on on the coast (never been there) and that we can do outdoor stuff.
i'd like to hit Mt Rainier NP & Olympic NP on the way. we've already been to portland, eugene, bend & crater lake NP.
something like this:
-stop at Mt Rainier on the way to Olympic from the Gorge; should i plan to spend the night there?
-then to Olympic...how many days/nites? three? whats a good attack plan there?
-then down the OR/CA coast to SF. I have no clue where to look at stopping to stay or play. Its 900 miles from olympic to SF, i'd like to break that up into 3 reasonable (6hr-ish) drive days. if thats not doable i can steal a day from olympic
help me out
i'd like to hit Mt Rainier NP & Olympic NP on the way. we've already been to portland, eugene, bend & crater lake NP.
something like this:
-stop at Mt Rainier on the way to Olympic from the Gorge; should i plan to spend the night there?
-then to Olympic...how many days/nites? three? whats a good attack plan there?
-then down the OR/CA coast to SF. I have no clue where to look at stopping to stay or play. Its 900 miles from olympic to SF, i'd like to break that up into 3 reasonable (6hr-ish) drive days. if thats not doable i can steal a day from olympic
help me out
6
Posted on 12/28/22 at 4:35 pm to cgrand
alternatively...
i could spend another couple nights in WA, return the rental in SEA, and fly to SF. i wont need a car in SF. in that scenario maybe i could go to North Cascades NP as well. just depends on whether that's "better" than the OR/CA coast, or if that long arse drive is even doable while having fun
i could spend another couple nights in WA, return the rental in SEA, and fly to SF. i wont need a car in SF. in that scenario maybe i could go to North Cascades NP as well. just depends on whether that's "better" than the OR/CA coast, or if that long arse drive is even doable while having fun
This post was edited on 12/28/22 at 5:28 pm
Posted on 12/28/22 at 8:40 pm to cgrand
It's not all that close to the coast, but I'd definitely try to take the time to spend a few hours at Crater Lake on the 12th or 13th.
Posted on 12/28/22 at 9:56 pm to cgrand
As you know it depends on what you really want to see but …
You can head north from the Gorge through Wenatchee and there is some cool hiking and biking on the east side of the Cascades. North Cascades needs a day to see. Olympic has the 3 distinct areas so I’d say 3 day’s minimum. We did 2 last year and skipped the mountain part (we live in Colorado).
Rainier all depends on the weather. If it’s clear it’s great, if not you can’t see the mountain. I’d recommend at least a full day for Rainier if not two.
Haven’t done much of Oregon coast but what I’ve seen is great. In California the Humboldt area has the awesome Redwoods and ferns. Plus some great oyster spots a little north of the city.
There is no wrong answer here
You can head north from the Gorge through Wenatchee and there is some cool hiking and biking on the east side of the Cascades. North Cascades needs a day to see. Olympic has the 3 distinct areas so I’d say 3 day’s minimum. We did 2 last year and skipped the mountain part (we live in Colorado).
Rainier all depends on the weather. If it’s clear it’s great, if not you can’t see the mountain. I’d recommend at least a full day for Rainier if not two.
Haven’t done much of Oregon coast but what I’ve seen is great. In California the Humboldt area has the awesome Redwoods and ferns. Plus some great oyster spots a little north of the city.
There is no wrong answer here
Posted on 12/28/22 at 9:57 pm to cgrand
Stop in Pacific City, OR on the way up
Posted on 12/28/22 at 10:46 pm to cgrand
My wife and I recently did SF to Seattle in 8 days and I think we did a little over 1500 miles. We thrive doing that sort of thing but it can be exhausting for a lot of people. If you’re looking to check out Rainier and Olympic then you’re honestly just better off staying in Seattle and nearby areas so that you have plenty of time to do explore. A lot of those areas were shut down due to snow when we visited last May so unfortunately I don’t have much to provide for the parks.
I’ve been to the west coast 4 times now and there are only a handful of places I think are truly unique along the coast between Seattle and SF so I don’t think you’re missing out on a ton if you decide against the long road trip.
I’ve been to the west coast 4 times now and there are only a handful of places I think are truly unique along the coast between Seattle and SF so I don’t think you’re missing out on a ton if you decide against the long road trip.
Posted on 12/29/22 at 7:26 am to cgrand
Go to Redwoods NP and see the elk herd. Then hike fern canyon (they filmed part of the Ewok scene from the original Star Wars there). Look under logs for banana slugs!
The lighthouse and beach in Trinidad are cool as well.
Avenue of the Giants in the redwoods.
Cresent City you can see whales often.
The lighthouse and beach in Trinidad are cool as well.
Avenue of the Giants in the redwoods.
Cresent City you can see whales often.
Posted on 12/29/22 at 7:41 am to dualed
that’s the way I’m leaning...stay in WA and fly to SF. I spent the evening looking at an atlas while watching the pels game and I’m not seeing how making that drive in three days is possible without doing nothing but driving
the downside of that is I REALLY want to see NorCal and the redwoods/etc. but we can do a separate trip for that and spend a week in that area. Gotta save something for later I guess
thanks all
the downside of that is I REALLY want to see NorCal and the redwoods/etc. but we can do a separate trip for that and spend a week in that area. Gotta save something for later I guess
thanks all
Posted on 12/29/22 at 1:56 pm to cgrand
i miscalculated days and i have two days to get from stanley ID to the gorge in WA. its a 9-10 hr drive, i want to stop 1/2 way.
i can go thru boise & up 84 or up 95 as far north as spokane.
anyone got a cool place to stop for the night between the two?
i can go thru boise & up 84 or up 95 as far north as spokane.
anyone got a cool place to stop for the night between the two?
Posted on 12/29/22 at 9:58 pm to cgrand
Definitely take a trip to see the redwoods when you ca . Avenue of the Giants is a must and we also stopped to do some trails in Redwood National Park. When I first started driving alongside the trees it was a bit intimidating because of how they dwarf you in size.
The best part of our recent trip was kayaking in the ocean in Mendocino with a local guide. You’re out there battling swells and kayaking through sea caves and passing up sea lions resting on the rock outcrops. California is so beautiful man.
The best part of our recent trip was kayaking in the ocean in Mendocino with a local guide. You’re out there battling swells and kayaking through sea caves and passing up sea lions resting on the rock outcrops. California is so beautiful man.
Posted on 12/29/22 at 10:03 pm to dualed
yeah northern CA is a place I want to see all of. I don’t want to half arse it.
pretty much settled on flying from Seattle to SF for this trip which gets me 2 nites at North Cascades and 3 nights at Olympic. That’s after 4 nights in Boulder, 2 in Stanley and 2 at the Gorge and ending with 3 in SF. That’s a good trip
pretty much settled on flying from Seattle to SF for this trip which gets me 2 nites at North Cascades and 3 nights at Olympic. That’s after 4 nights in Boulder, 2 in Stanley and 2 at the Gorge and ending with 3 in SF. That’s a good trip
Posted on 1/2/23 at 4:02 pm to cgrand
Keep in mind that very little of North Cascades NP is accessible by car. But it can be easily viewed from a car by driving the North Cascades Highway (SR-20) and also from the Mt. Baker area at the Picture Lake area at the end of SR-542. That’s where those famous Mt. Shuksan pictures are taken from.
If is a mild spring and warm June, then Mt. Rainier may be a must see as it would perfectly time with the alpine wildflower season. If a warm spring, the Sunrise Area is a must visit that time of year. So would be the Lake Mowich area to do a hike to Tolmie Peak or Spray Park (or both if in good shape).
Whether the spring weather has been good or bad, the areas between Longmire and Ohanapecosh is always good. If a poor spring, snow will still be easily accessible at the Paradise area. Lots of good quick stops with short hikes along that drive such as Narada Falls, at Paradise, Reflection Lakes, and Silver Falls / Grove of the Patriarchs. For a longer hike, visit Comet Falls.
Olympic National Park is great, but huge, with most of the park inaccessible by car. Some of the must see highlights that can be easily accessed by car are Hurricane Ridge, the LaPush area beaches and Rialto Beach, Hoh Rainforest, and Ruby Beach.
If is a mild spring and warm June, then Mt. Rainier may be a must see as it would perfectly time with the alpine wildflower season. If a warm spring, the Sunrise Area is a must visit that time of year. So would be the Lake Mowich area to do a hike to Tolmie Peak or Spray Park (or both if in good shape).
Whether the spring weather has been good or bad, the areas between Longmire and Ohanapecosh is always good. If a poor spring, snow will still be easily accessible at the Paradise area. Lots of good quick stops with short hikes along that drive such as Narada Falls, at Paradise, Reflection Lakes, and Silver Falls / Grove of the Patriarchs. For a longer hike, visit Comet Falls.
Olympic National Park is great, but huge, with most of the park inaccessible by car. Some of the must see highlights that can be easily accessed by car are Hurricane Ridge, the LaPush area beaches and Rialto Beach, Hoh Rainforest, and Ruby Beach.
Posted on 1/2/23 at 5:35 pm to Snoop Dawg
Sunset Golden Gate boat ride from Sausalito is highly recommend if you have a partner with.
The drive around/near Mt Tamalpais is pretty cool. Muir Woods also.
The drive around/near Mt Tamalpais is pretty cool. Muir Woods also.
Posted on 1/3/23 at 4:18 pm to cgrand
quote:
the downside of that is I REALLY want to see NorCal and the redwoods/etc.
There's an area in Mt. Ranier NP called the Grove of the Patriarchs with some gigantic tress in a fern forest. It's not quite the same as Redwoods NP but it can at least scratch that itch. And its easy to access via car and an easy hike.
I would definitely hit Mt. Ranier for a full day. It's really pretty in summer when all the wildflowers are blooming. Go to the Paradise Inn and hike one of the loop trails there. Really stunning scenery.
I also like the North Cascades and the Mt. Baker area. The latter is easier for hikes because you drive up the top. A lot of the best views in the North Cascades require some long, steep hikes to get to.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News