Summer Road trip (Portland, Bend, Redwood: how much, school, camping)

[collint]

hello all i currently live out here in iowa in the good ol midwest. I'm trying to plan a trip out to california to take a Trip up the PCH from sacramento all the way through Oregon, and Washington. Reason why i've chosen sacramento as my starting point is that i have family in southern california and have already seen much of the PCH around there.
Anyways I was wondering if anybody knew of some good places to stop along the way to take pictures at or visit? I'm also using this trip as a way to look at places i might wanna move to once i'm done with school.

[Bendite]

One beginning might be taking I-5 north from Sacramento and getting on Hwy 97 at Weed. See Crater Lake, drive up to Bend, continue up 97 to the Columbia River Gorge, head west to Portland, from there up to Seattle and take the coast all the way back to Calif. There are many possibilities depending on your interests and how much time you have

[collint]

I'm hoping to take an extended weekend and do this

[Bendite]

Originally Posted by collint

I'm hoping to take an extended weekend and do this

Then you'll need to reduce your vision a bit. Can't really see anything on three or four days' trip and get all the way up to Washington and back. It's about 6 hours from Sacramento just to Bend.

[collint]

ok so maybe i'll take a week off lol

[Nell Plotts]

To include WA in your trip... all you will have time to see is the stripe in the road. As some would say out here, a bun burner.

Bendite's suggestion is do-able in a week so long as you have weekends available.

Consider starting this trip from PDX.

[Terryj]

If you want to take the Pacific Coast Hiway, I would suggest I-5 north to Redding and then hwy 299 west to Eureka, this will connect you with hwy 101. Going north on 101 you'll go through the Redwoods which is always nice. You can continue north on 101 along the Oregon coast, which there is allot to see also, into Washington. Hwy 101 goes north through Washington and around the Olympic National Forest, which is the only rainforest in North America. It might take longer than a week, if your going to stop and enjoy the sights along the way.

[mikemorrow]

I'm a backpacker and I'll tell you that you wont see much by car. But I do have an overnight stop for you (if youre camping). Along 101 stop by Winchesterbay, OR. It is a nice stop to eat and see the bay. Then go north though Reedsport, nothing to see there. Go another 5 miles to the top of a hill, turn left on Sparrow park road. Drive to the end of the road....beach......free camping. And good people from all over the states. You can party or just chill. If you want to take a trail there is one just 1/2 mile up the road that takes you to a very nice lake. Once again you can camp there for free. There are alot of little known spots on the Oregon coast if you know where to turn. Just find a road that leads to the ocean. In Oregon the beach is public. Take it slow. And dont worry if you find someplace and just stay there for a day or two. Plans are made to change. And trust me you will not see much driving for one week. Relax, chill, and make the most of your trip. Even if you dont travel as far as you would like. It will be there next time.

And if you plan to make this stop email me. I'll be happy to help in anyway I can. If I'm not out finding another lake to drink and fish out of.

God, me, being from Iowa, this place just ROCKS!!! Ya, I'm from Belle Plaine, IA. Just west of CR

[mdvaden]

Originally Posted by Terryj

Olympic National Forest, which is the only rainforest in North America. It might take longer than a week, if your going to stop and enjoy the sights along the way.

The redwood below is in the rainforest of north CA. The Grove of Titans.

collint...

What mikemorrow posted is true in many cases. But I will assume for the sake of adventure that you plan to stretch your legs a bit.

There are some nice views up the CA coast. The town of Trinidad has some nice scenery. And the lagoons along the highway up near the redwoods are pretty nice looking.

Redwoods - avenue of the giants of course. But don't miss parks like Jedediah Smith redwoods.

I think that at Hy. 199, it's worth driving west along the Smith River for at least 30 minutes. Scenic even from an auto.

[seashelly]

Originally Posted by mikemorrow

Along 101 stop by Winchesterbay, OR. It is a nice stop to eat and see the bay. Then go north though Reedsport, nothing to see there. .....

Wait, there is something to see just outside Reedsport on Highway 38 -- the Elk Viewing Area.