Oregon trip planning

[Rot Box]

In mid August a friend (RME's turbohaulic) and our families are going to head to the Oregon coast!!! Holy crap I'm excited We plan on treking up 84 through Boise to Portland then up to Astoria. Once we reach Astoria we will head down the coast and end up in the Redwood forest then return home.

We will both be taking our DD 4x4 trucks, but we plan to camp out the majority of the time. The Columbia Gorge, Voodoo Donuts, tide pools, fresh sea food and lighthouses are all on the to see list as well as the Redwood Forest that I have yet to experience. I went to Oregon years ago with my family and we toured in a car this time I would really like to get off the beaten path (time permitting) and explore some of the back country.

I'm not really one to make plans, but I have a month to get everything together and could really use some ideas on what else to see while we are there. Any must see spots or points of interest along the way? Also if you know of any backroads along the way I'd really like to hear about them. Thanks a bunch!

Andrew

 

[Cody]

I'll have to look at my map, but there is a section of road between grants pass and ends at Crescen City, CA that travels through the redwoods, and is amazing.

We were overheating when we went through there and stopped to take a swim while the car cooled down. The river we swam in, how clear the water was, surrounded by giant trees with eagles overhead---easily one of the most amazing places I've been.

I've done that coast drive 2x's. If you make it further north, Victoria is also amazing.

 

[RockMonkey]

Yeah, I'd second Cody's thought of starting further North. We Started at Olympic National Forest at the North end of Washington, and drove the coast all the way down. We didn't really do much in the way of back roads along the coast although we did Mount Saint Helens and Mount Rainier on the way up. Both are awesome. We did a lot of touristing around the small towns and sampling the fresh seafood. It's a really great trip to take. I'd do it again in a heartbeat if there weren't so many other places I haven't been (or haven't been in a long time).

 

[Cody]

the last time we did this trip we headed through Reno, and camped at a lake called "almador", then through Lassen Volcanic NP, and hit the coast 100 miles or so south of Crescent City and drove north from there. That was bitchen too. REally, the best part is the Oregon/Washington section.

The spot I mentioned previously is off the PCH and really only practical if you're heading down from Oregon to do the N. Cal section of the 1 going south.

Watch out for the Trees of Mystery--and be sure to get a picture of yourself hanging from Babe's Big Blue Balls. You'll understand when you see it

 

[Erik d_lux]

When at Voodoo you HAVE to get the Bacon Maple. Best donut I have ever had in my life.

If you want to see some Portland area woodlands you can take HWY26 that takes you out to Astoria, but then take HWY6 around mile marker 48? Take that to aprox mile marker 26, which is the ODOT sand shed. You can drive for miles on those back roads and see a lot of the woods. You could easily get lost back there though. Let me know if that interests you can I can give you more exact directions.

If you go to Seaside, which is below Astoria, you could drive your rig on the beach and have campfires. You can do that anywhere else on the coast that I know of besides sand lake and you dont want to go there unless youre on a quad.

See the seals and downtown at Newport. Its pretty fun.

 

[RockMonkey]

See the seals and downtown at Newport. Its pretty fun.

Agreed. They are way fun to watch.

 

[TRNDRVR]

I've done the Oregon coast so many times I once knew every speed change from Newport all the way up to Astoria, in order.

The only thing I can recommend is that the Oregon State Parks ROCK!!!

I prefer the Yurts.

 

[1\4elliptic toy]

Lots of stuff to do around florence, Great seafood, stop in at the beachcomber for a frosty beverage. Air down the tires and explore oregon dunes state park just outside (south) of florence (rent a yurt here as well for the night in the park) Dont forget the sea lion caves north of florence. The "spruce goose" is at the airplane museum north of florence in Newport? I think.

 

[TRNDRVR]

The "spruce goose" is at the airplane museum north of florence in Newport? I think.

McMinnville, OR.

 

[TJDukit]

One of my favorite spots is Silver Falls state park, it's about and hour and a half south of Portland. It's not so much on the coast at that point but there are a whole bunch of water falls that you can see in one day. I worked up there for a week hiking around doing some trail maintenance. There's nothing better than getting paid to go hiking and back packing in the Northwest.

 

[Bear T]

Bring back a few dozen of the maple bacon donuts, I haven't had the chance to make it there to get one yet.

 

[snccoulter]

I say hit up the Redwood forest then take follow down to Arcata follow 299 east and hit Redding then follow 44 out to CA-36 to 395 and on up into South Lake Tahoe and play on the Rubicon. Then it is just a straight shot home. It is a beautiful drive through Northern CA

 

[Rot Box]

Great thanks for the ideas everyone!

I would really like to start farther North, but I'm limited to about 9 or 10 days I hade originally planned to head up through Glacier Park then over to Vancouver and down, but I don't think it's going to happen. If it was up to me I'd take the rest of my life off work and just explore the PNW... Oh well

Anyway am really toying with the idea of taking my dirtbike and hitting the dunes for a day. It takes up a lot of space, but this opportunity doesn't arise that often and it would be a ton of fun.

I'll have to look at my map, but there is a section of road between grants pass and ends at Crescen City, CA that travels through the redwoods, and is amazing.

I'll look into that for sure I have not seen the Redwoods yet so i have a feeling it will be quite an experience.

When at Voodoo you HAVE to get the Bacon Maple. Best donut I have ever had in my life.

If you want to see some Portland area woodlands. Let me know if that interests you can I can give you more exact directions.

If you go to Seaside, which is below Astoria, you could drive your rig on the beach and have campfires. See the seals and downtown at Newport. Its pretty fun.

Thanks. If I have time I'd really like to get into the forest area's. Once I get all this figured out I'll let you know on directions. The bacon maple and fruit loop donuts are on the list. And from what I can remember of the Seal caves they were incredible. I'll definatly get some pictures of that.

Lots of stuff to do around florence, Great seafood, stop in at the beachcomber for a frosty beverage. Air down the tires and explore oregon dunes state park just outside (south) of florence (rent a yurt here as well for the night in the park)

Frosty beverage?! I'm there

and play on the Rubicon.

I would love to, but my Dodge is mostly stock, and my family won't fit in the Toyota I need a 4runner!

 

[redneckbronco]

Theres a ton of stuff to see on the con and around the con in a stock dodge. If you do the Red Woods make sure to find Paul Bunyon and Babe, Ive got a pic somewhere of my kids and neices squeezin babes nuts lol

 

[TRNDRVR]

Frosty beverage?! I'm there

Rogue Ales Public House
748 SW Bay Blvd.
Newport, OR 97365

 

[OREGON85]

McMinnville, OR.

That's where I grew up. I even had prom under the wing of the Spruce Goose. If you come into McMinnville (from the coast and to the south) and you clever with a map it would be really cool to cut out half of hwy 18 and go by the Valley of the Giants, which is a cool old growth forest. The road is just south of Lincoln City and comes out on 18 between Lincoln city. There is also a really cool short about 4 mile hike to a water fall right in the area, but I can't remember what it is called. One your way back out make sure you go out Meadow Lake Road. This is a really neat drive over the coast range much less used roads with good camping along the river. It comes out between Pacific City and Tillamook.

The Coast Range is really neat but you'll be there in the middle of fire danger season and 95% of all trails will be closed, and even to drive any gravel road you have to carry a shovel and a fire extinguisher. The only open trails are in Browns Camp.

If you go to the dunes Winchester Bay is by far the best I've been to.

Make sure you eat a Mo's at least once. There are about half a dozen of them along the northern coast.

I'm jealous!

 

[Rot Box]

Thanks again everyone for the advise and ideas :greg:

Valley of Giants looks really cool. This trip is right around the corner is seems

My wife keeps telling me that if we find a town we like that we will just stay there for good. Mild climate, forest everywhere, the coast, mountains, all vegitation doesn't completely die in late June... How could I pass that up?!

 

[TJDukit]

Thanks again everyone for the advise and ideas :greg:

Valley of Giants looks really cool. This trip is right around the corner is seems

My wife keeps telling me that if we find a town we like that we will just stay there for good. Mild climate, forest everywhere, the coast, mountains, all vegitation doesn't completely die in late June... How could I pass that up?!

Not to mention that unless you live in the Portland or Medford areas there are no emmsions or saftey inspections in Oregon, they will let you drive anything as long as it's registered and insured.

 

[OREGON85]

If there is something so obvious that a cop would notice it just driving by they'll still get you, but your right its not nearly as bad.