Pacific Northwest

SCENIC OREGON COAST
CAVE JUNCTION, OREGON
REDWOODS NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA
CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK, OREGON
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, OREGON
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK, WASHINGTON
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, WASHINGTON
MOUNT ST. HELENS NATIONAL MONUMENT, WASHINGTON
PORTLAND, OREGON

Summary

Lush forests, rocky coastlines, starfish-filled tide pools, giant sand dunes, glorious wild-flower meadows, alpine lakes, hot springs, a dormant volcano, an auto ferry, and treehouse resort are among the features of this amazing adventure. New York City notwithstanding, it doesn't get much hipper than the northwestern U.S. But wait, there's more! You also get: "coffee shacks" around every corner to keep you adequately caffeinated as you enjoy all the sights and sounds! 

Trip Tic

For: Families, Couples    Travel Days: 13*    Mileage: 1,650    Car Hours: 34 hours (two 5+ hour days)    Temps: 55-75° F  

Route Maps

Itinerary Outline

Southern Loop

• Arrive Portland International Airport, Portland, Oregon
• Lodging: Embassy Suites Airport

• Drive 4.0 miles from Portland to Florence, Oregon via Route 101, choosing among the following stops along the way:
• Tillamook Cheese Factory
• Cape Kiwanda (great beach, rocky tide pools, and lunch options) 
• Cascade Head Trail, a not-to-be-missed 5-6 mile roundtrip hike offering amazing coastal views (you could abbreviate by stopping at once you achieve the meadows and their views to the south)
• Cape Perpetua (ocean overlooks, tide pools, water churns/spouts)
• Lodging in Florence: Best Western Pier Point Inn

• Drive 3.5 hours from Florence to Cave Junction, Oregon stopping for a short hike at Oregon Dunes NRA along the way
• Lodging: Out and About Treesort (we stayed in Pleasantree!)

• Spend the morning on the Treesort's ziplines
• Drive 1.25 hours to hike a trail in Redwood National Park in California
• On the way back to the Treesort, stop at It's a Burl in Kirbyville to shop (or windowshop) for interesting wood carvings

• Drive 2.5 hours from Cave Junction to Crater Lake National Park, stopping en route for a 0.5 mile hike at the Rogue River Gorge Viewpoint in the Rogue River National Forest
• Spend the afternoon in Crater Lake NP hiking one of our all-time favorite hikes: the 1.7 mile Annie Creek Canyon loop
• Lodging: Crater Lake Lodge (dine here too)

• Drive 5.0 hours from Crater Lake NP to the Welches, (consider including Route 19, the Aufderleide Memorial Scenic Drive, in your route) enjoying the view of forests and Mount Hood. Along the way, stop for a 0.6 mile hike to Watson Falls in the Central Cascades/Umpqua River Valley, and, for a thrill that might potentially include naked hippies, a dip in the Umpqua Hot Springs
• Lodging: The Resort at the Mountain

Begin Northern Loop

• Breakfast on awesome huckleberry pancakes at the Huckleberry Inn in nearby Government Camp before getting on the road... head east out town to pick up Route 35 North to Route 30 West, a lovely 1.0+ hour historic scenic drive along the Columbia River that passes numerous water falls
• Stop briefly at the Bonneville Dam Fish Ladder and Hatchery  for a tour
• Continue on via major highways for another 3.75 hours to Olympic National Park
• Lodging: Lake Quinault Lodge

• Drive 45 minutes northwest on Route 101 from Lake Quinault Lodge to Beach Number 4 for excellent tide pool exploration
• Continue on Route 101 for another 20-ish miles to the Hoh Rain Forest for a short hike of the 0.8 Hall of Mosses Trail
• Leave the rain forest, returning to Route 101 for the town of Forks to pick up Twilight souvenirs
• Continue on Route 101 for another hour to Elwhh for a 2.5 hour River Rafting trip
• Lodging: Lake Crescent Lodge

• Drive 1.75 hours from Lake Crescent Lodge to take the Kingston Auto Ferry to Edmonds to drive 30 minutes to Seattle
• Sightsee in Seattle: the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, the Olympic Sculpture Park
• Lodging: Westin Seattle

• More sightseeing! Seattle Waterfront, Seattle Great Wheel, Wing Luke Asian Museum, Uwajimaya (Japanese super market and bookstore)
• Lodging: Westin Seattle

• Drive 1.5 hours from Seattle to Mount Rainier National Park
• Hike 5 mile Skyline Trail for amazing vistas and beautiful alpine flowers (alternative trail options abound)
• Lodging: Paradise Inn

• Drive 2.0 hours from Mount Rainier NP to Mt. Saint Helens Volcano National Monument to the Observatory 
• Drive 1.5 hours to Portland, Oregon
• As time and interest permits, sightsee and shop at the Japanese Garden, Powell's Books, and Voodoo Donuts' original location
• Lodging: McMenamin's Kennedy School (dine and see a movie here too!)

• Depart via the Portland International Airport

*Alternative Abbreviated Itinerary

• Fly into Portland and head southeast to the Hood River area (Bonneville Dam, The Welches, Bridal Veil, Government Camp) and fill 2 days with hiking, shopping, kite surfing, etc.
• Drive north to Mount St. Helen's (it's a long way in and out, but a cool thing to see if you're in the "neighborhood")
• Continue northwest to Olympic National Park, staying at Lake Quinault Lodge on the southwest side of the park and spend 2 days hiking, swimming in the lovely but cold lake, eating in the lodge, visiting beaches and tide pools, exploring rafting/kayaking options, etc.
• Head west to Seattle, staying for several days to enjoy the food and shopping, and to get out into the Puget Sound or San Juan Islands
• Drive south to Mr. Rainier National Park and stay for 1 day to take in the beautiful wildflower meadows on the steep hillside hikes
• Drive south to Portland and spend 2 days adventuring in the city before flying home

Related Resources