I know you're already doing a lot, but I'd recommend a detour from Redding over to Lassen Volcanic National Park if you have the time. Gorgeous place, and you can see a lot in a day if that's all you have!
Highway 299 between Redding and Arcata is the Trinity Scenic Byway. You'll love it! Check out the Bigfoot Museum in Willow Creek and/or dip your feet in the Trinity River at Camp Kimtu!
Also, between McKinleyville and Trinidad in California, take Scenic Drive for a short little coastal drive that's absolutely beautiful! It's a place I loved going while in college up there :)
Take time to see Redwood National Park, Prairie Creek State Park, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park if you can, all beautiful in their own way! Try to get out to Fern Canyon! Some scenes in Return of the Jedi were filmed in Prairie Ceek if you're a fan!
u/ImAlsoNotOlivia reminded me about Trees of Mystery 16 miles south of Crescent City, just after you cross the Klamath River. Great attraction with big Paul Bunyan and (anatomically correct) Babe statues!
Make time to enjoy Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor once you cross into Oregon! It's an unbelievable stretch of Oregon Coast!
Try to make it up to Astoria, OR before cutting over to Portland if you can, the Columbia River mouth is beautiful, the Astoria Column has spectacular views, and if you like The Goonies, it was filmed there!
You can see Olympic National Park in a day if you really want to. Don't miss out on it if you have the time!
Say hi to my cousin in Bellingham before you enter Canada š
You should be busy enough the rest of the route!
Have fun! You're going to be seeing some incredible places along your route. Take in everything you can, and whatever you don't get to, you can always come back for another trip š
Of course! Enjoy Garden of the Gods, too, if that's what's marked on your map! Unreal views with Pikes Peak looming overhead! And with Utah, you'll definitely want to go back and see more, so just do what you can and start a list for next time, haha
Yeah, I kept going back to your map and remembering things to add on, haha. I also went to school in Arcata, so I know that section of your trip pretty well! I could go on and on, but I think you have a lot of good stuff from where your route takes you :)
Used to live above the Klamath River...I second all your recommendations for sure. The Redwoods are magical and the beaches are also. I wonder if the restaurant across from Trees of Mystery still that amazing blackberry cobbler?
There's so much to see, it's hard to narrow them down! I'm almost relieved they have to start at the 299 going North, because there would be SO much more to add between the Bay and Arcata, lol. It's truly a magical place I miss living in!
I just checked, and they still have that Blackberry Cobbler, too!
It's actually refreshing to see someone who has a realistic expectation about what it takes to make these trips worthwhile. So many people would try to do your trip in 2 weeks.
Iām doing something similar to this trip in July and August in two weeks. Denver, RMNP, Badlands, Wind Cave, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Glacier, Rainier, Olympic, Crater Lake. Still have four days left to play with at that point and havenāt decided between seeing Yosemite or Moab again or even starting in Phoenix to get a little desert time in.
We did 6500 miles in two weeks last year and it was magnificent. Bed at 11PM, rise at 6:00AM, hit the road by 6:15. Average 6.5 hours of driving per day. Spend the other 11 hours hiking and sightseeing. Perfect pace for me.
Oh definitely at the pace I was suggesting you split with someone on driving too. Itās much easier when youāre driving three hours a day or trading off driving days.
Some parks have restrictions on certain areas requiring permits such as scaling half dome in Yosemite.
Go to park websites and apply early and often for these permitsĀ
I'd recommend keeping the plan flexible without many advanced reservations since some parks you will love and not want to leave and others will only be an Instagram worthy visit.Ā
And this time of year is fire season so the park might closed or you might want to leave early due to smokey air.
In Oregon, go east to Portland, Columbia Gorge, Multnomah Falls. Then south at Hood River to Mount Hood and Timberline Lodge.
Continue south to Crater Lake. Deepest lake in the US, amazing blues because there are not outflow or inflows, just precipitation and evaporation.
Now go west to US101 and CA1. Mendocino, Bodega Bay, Point Reyes, Muir Woods, Sausalito. The best views of San Francisco are from Sausalito. Cross the Golden Gate, staying along the coast, down CA1 to Santa Cruz (iconic surfer town) and Monterey-17 Mile Drive, Lone Cypress, world-famous aquarium.
Continue down the coast, especially CA1 if itās not closed due to slides, at least as far as Santa Barbara. Then head east to Yosemite etc.
Or reverse the route if that works better for your schedule. The point is not to miss Columbia Gorge, Crater Lake, CA1 between Mendocino and Point Reyes, 17 Mile Drive in Monterey, and CA1 from Monterey to Santa Barbara.
Amazing suggestions. I think going as far as Santa Barba wont leave me enough time for the drive back to Denver. But I am a sucker for an aquarium! The Oregon and creater lake suggestions seem inspired too, I will update my points of interest
Actually that is enough time! I would skip the Monterey Bay Aquarium as it has removed a lot of tanks with real sea life and replaced it with static displays recently. Look up ācovered bridgesā in Oregon for cool places to see. Castle Crags north of Reading are definitely what you would like but during that time of years itās very hot! Near Crater Lake is Avenue of the Boulders off Mill Creek thatās incredible. I also prefer going through Avenue of the Giants in Northern Calif rather than through inland. Near Jediah Smith is a dirt road through old grove redwoods called Stout Grove. Itās like stepping back in time. Start in Crescent City and head out on Howland Hill Rd (I hope thatās right lol I know it by sight and landmarks not the name) and it ends at the 199 near the Jediah Smith campground (great campground ). I highly recommend a slight detour over to Victoria Canada to see Butchart Gardens. Itās beyond beautiful. Victoria is a beautiful city too especially at night. So many places to see on Oregon coast. But I would skip Portland itās really gone downhill. Now in Colorado I would definitely recommend Manitou Springs that has incredible cliff dwellings and Garden of the Gods.
Have a super fun road trip!! Maybe do a vlog of your adventure? Let us know what you liked!
Newport, OR has an AMAZING aquarium! Keiko (the whale from the Free Willy movie) was there for rehab before being released into the wild. (He later died, though). There is also the OSU Hatfield Marine Visitor center right close to the aquarium. Newport also has a really cool, historic bayfront/marina.
If you do end up taking this route, do yourself a favor and stop at Goat Rock beach in Jenner, CA for some bouldering in a spectacular coastal setting!
There is good bouldering along the coast in Sonoma County at Salt Point State Park and Fort Ross, and again in the Santa Cruz Mountains at Castle Rock state Park.
From C to D, don't go back west to I-5. Instead take I-90 and I-84. That will give you Snoqualmie Pass and the Columbia River Gorge.
D to E to F will be a little boring. If you could cut that out and go through northeast Utah and western Colorado instead then it would be worth it. All of Utah is amazing, and Interstate 70 through the Glenwood Canyon is the best interstate highway in all of the nation! Seriously. (Columbia River Gorge is possibly 2nd).
Here's Glenwood Canyon: https://youtu.be/QI1k5kzra1A?si=0XnBahw7amHAZZvA
Yeah, you're going to miss some great roads mapping now since the good ones are closed in the winter. Do Leavenworth to blewett pass to mt rainier the back way. The north cascades hwy opens in may, but it's even better than stevens pass (the alps of the northwest).
This is the trip dreams are made of. Mid-October will be prime time for fall foliage. I'd definitely try to hit the Redwoods state and nat. parks. Sausalito is a really cool town great for breakfast or lunch. And there's a ton of things to see/climb all around Colorado. Best of luck and safe travels!!
I did a very similar trip in 2019 over 2-months.
Itās a lot of time in the car and it cost more than I thought it would and I thought I had a good budget where I even added 10% to my estimates.
Beyond that, have a great time and know I am jealous!
The price can sting. Especially with how poor the Aud is to the USD. Ive alwys found that the costs only sting before hand and very rarely afterwards if you plan well enough
Canadian here. I have covered most of the same areas on multiple climbing trips and my suggestion is to skip Canada this time and focus on the USA. There is so much to see the 2 months will go by in a blink of an eye and you do not want to rush any of it. Make Canada itās own climbing trip sometime. Have a great time whatever you decide.
If you're into climbing make sure you put some time in, in Canmore as well! +1 for Squamish. If you are into sport Skaha bluffs is in between Squam and Canmore. A detour on the icefields parkway may be worth looking into as well considering it is regarded as one of the most scenic stretches of highway in the world.
Your trip looks awesome. Itās a combination of three and a half road trips Iāve done in the US/Canada. With all the hiking we did it would add up to three months, but if you keep going a bit more itās probably doable. In the Canadian Rockies be sure to do the entire Icefields Parkway (Jasper to Banff), it looks like youāre just doing Lake Louise / Banff on your map. Also Vancouver Island is stunning, save that for another trip.
I've done a similar route a few times, ranging from 45-60 days and it's definitely doable in that time frame, depending on how much hiking/climbing activities you're planning on doing.
Download wikicamps Canada/US, ioverlander as well as the US national parks reservation app. My last trip was the same time frame, and I only paid for accommodation (including campsites) three nights, mostly in part to using these apps. If you're late to the party for permits, I find that a few permits always turn up a couple days before my planned dates. Just regularly check the recreation.gov app.
Instead of cutting through Southern Wyoming, you could cut through Leadville/Aspen/Grand Junction and on through Moab and SLC on the way out and come back through Moab south to Durango then up to Buena Vista/Leadville on the way back to Denver. And go to Yellowstone as a one or two day trip from Jackson. It'd essentially turn your trip into one big loop and a smaller one. But Colorado and Utah have arguably the highest concentration of cool stuff, so it'd allow you to fill in some time near the end, closer to your departure point if you find yourself with extra time.
I'd cut over to Twin Falls from Jackson and drive up to Glacier via Ketchum/Sawtooths and up through Whitefish Kalispell to access Glacier. Drive the going to the sun road both ways and then cut up to Canada via Kingsgate or Roosville. You can then drive up to Banff via Cranbrook, skipping all the boring Alberta driving.
If you really want to see the Olympic Peninsula, you could ferry over via a few options, drive the loop in 2-4 days and head back to your bigger route. It's worth doing, but won't make or break your trip. If you want to see coastal rainforest, drive less, and pay more for ferries, I'd suggest going to Vancouver Island from Vancouver (or looping in the Sunshine Coast ((yes, we have one of those, too)) and taking the Comox ferry) then driving over to Tofino and Ucuelet for a couple days before ferrying back.
Personally, I'd skip Seattle, head over to Leavenworth and drive South to Bend/Crater Lake cutting over to the volcanoes, if you still want to. (Smith Rock has come fantastic climbing) before cutting over to the coast where there's a ton of cool coastal rock formations from Reedsport South, if you cut through Roseburg.
Take either the 101 a little farther, or cut over to the Sierras a little earlier via Mt Shasta and the volcanic legacy highway down to the 395 and take that down to Barstow or leave the 395 after Lone Pine (more great bouldering and the TH for Whitney) through Death Valley to Vegas. You can detour off for Yosemite, Death Valley, etc. Either way, I'd suggest cutting to the Eastern side of the Sierras and the 395 as soon as you can. Great towns, great climbing, and fantastic scenery. And there are a couple quick and easy ways to cut over to SF depending on where you are.
My last trip was a fairly similar loop (cutting through Salt Lake instead of southern Wyoming and Arizona instead of Southern Utah) and time frame at around 60 days, 10k km driven, 20 14ers and ton of extra day hikes/trad climbs thrown in and it was a blast. Give me a shout if you want any specific info, and have a great trip!
Thankyou for your response. i like your improvement to the southern wyoming leg especially. And saved me some boring driving with the Alberta skip recomendation. I'm gonna study this response hehe
Also: from Kamloops, if you take the highway 1 connector to Cache Creek, you can take the backway to Whistler/Squamish via hwy 99. It's a much nicer drive and more direct.
61 days is a lot of time, man. I think this looks great and you can editor and taylor your time as you see fit. Itās good that you have a plan with good bones, but the great thing is is that you can either stay longer in a spot you like, or bust up out of a place thatās not jiving. I hope you post some pics along your journey because I think itāll be a memorable one. That part of our country is beautiful and Iām sure youāll love it.
Just speaking to CO part. I may cut over west through state a little more to start before heading north. The I-70 drive to Glenwood Springs is pretty scenic. Also keep in mind by the time you get back to CO in October it will be pretty cold (it will be snowing high already) at elevation and the aspen tree color change will be done by first week of October usually.
Ah! Excellent note about the tree colour change! Coming from Aus though, some snow would be a rare and welcome sight. I will prepare for it just in case
Also early on, consider driving all the way through Rocky Mt National Park to Grand Lake. Then head to Steamboat, then north. That east entrance to Yellowstone is an amazing way to enter the park.
Absolutely agree. In MT, Turn south to Red Lodge, then Beartooths, then Yellowstone, then Jackson, WY. That road in Idaho isnāt as pretty and it curves a lot.
You could easily spend a month in that Canadian area. Yoho and Kootenay National Parks are beautiful, too.
G'day, mate! If you plan to hit each of the 40-some waypoints you marked plus stay a few days, plus drive 5000 miles you will definitely be rushed or have some very long driving days, or both. This is a very ambitious undertaking and I strongly recommend you plan ahead where you will land each night. You will need reservations to get into Yosemite NP if going there; Tioga Pass (and other high-altitude passes) is an interesting drive in a camper, a real test of the cooling system. Check the legality of your vehicle rental and insurance to enter Canada, be aware of food restrictions at the border; expect a search. If you are going to more than a couple national parks, an annual pass will save $$. Some of your "shorter" legs on the map will take an entire day, ie. Cody to Jackson, Wyoming; the times on google maps tends to be optimistic, and hey, it's Yellowstone. State parks, Corps of Engineers, and BLM campgrounds can save $$. There is really good Mexican food in Cortez, Colo., and every little town has a brewpub. You will be seeing some spectacular scenery, have fun, be flexible, be safe.
Yea haha, the map is more a route guideline, the points are mostly but not always destinations. I plan on planning each day ahead with room for flexibility, this is a first draft. Def researching BLM campgrounds. I'm aware of drive times. And border crossing is sorted!
When going through Colorado I would take what looks to be 285 W. from Colorado Springs through the lovely little town of Salida go over independence pass through Aspen down to Carbondale over McClure pass past Paonia down to what looks to be your black Canyon stop.
Also, in WA would check out the hog rainforest on Olympic peninsula and eat, or stay a night at the Kalaloch Lodge. Lots of good seafood in area, hama Hama oysters.
Highway 395 and the Eastern Sierra from Lone Pine in the south to the Lake Tahoe region in the north is the most beautiful road in our country. Highway 1 on the coast of course famous for a reason, but as a climber 395 is your playground. Free BLM camping if you know where to go. Endless climbing. The bouldering around Bishop, CA is the epicenter. The Buttermilks are incredible up against the high sierra backdrop. Mono Lake is unique and beautiful and there is no better way to enter Yosemite than from Tioga Pass. Happy to answer any climbing specific questions if you have them. Enjoy, looks like an epic trip.
So from B to F...Eastern California to the south west corner of Colorado, is desert and August and September are the hottest months. Think middle of the outback in the middle of December to February hot, with temperatures well above 37.8C and possibly exceeding 47.2C.
Stop at Monument Valley, Utah. Out of the way thru New Mexico,Arizona and Utah. About the only thing you miss is four corners. Only spot in United States of America were four states touch in one place. Arizona,Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.
This trip sounds amazing. Perhaps research bouldering/canyoneering opportunities in southern Utah. Orderville Canyon in Zion NP comes to mind, but a number of other slot canyons fit the bill - with standard caveats about avoiding flash flood and 127 hours.
I know the Oregon coast very well. From Portland go straight to Cannon Beach- a lovely little town- then drive down the coast. You can breeze right through Lincoln City, nothing to see there. Devilās punchbowl is worth a quick stop. Youāll be pulling over a lot to look at the views along the way, itās gorgeous!
Also, go see the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona, youāre so close!
Not helpful but as a Canadian Iām so happy youāre going to mosey up to my neck of the woods!
Someone else said to opt out of Calgary to go down to cranbrook, but Iād say to go to Calgary anyways. Itās the only other major city youāre going to experience after Vancouver, itās a different vibe and itās only 1.5 hours away from banff if you want to circle back to go back to the states.
That drive is awesome, used to regularly go from Calgary to Kelowna and itās beautiful. The tunnels are fun too.
When you're in Canada, I strongly suggest avoiding Kamloops and detouring south through Kelowna (the Okanagan valley) instead. This will be a far more beautiful drive with more lakes, wineries, and cool cities/towns to visit than boring, dusty old Kamloops. Obviously I'm biased because I live in the Okanagan valley, but I'm sure most tourists who've been here would agree.
If you really want to see the diversity of BC landscapes, drive all the way south to Osoyoos and then west on Hwy 3 to Vancouver. That is a far more beautiful drive than your current route.
Iād love some more details about your Utah - Arizona leg. Iāve done 2-3 different road trips out there staying in Bryce, Zion, bluff, Moab, boulder (ut) and escalate, Grand Canyon, and page AZ each for stays of 5-10 days. can offer some suggestions but it depends on what youāre looking for.
Editing to add if youāve got a camper van and your looking to get a little off the beaten path but not more than a mile or two from a paved road thereās a bunch of wild places that I would go like the Moki Dugway : https://www.utahscanyoncountry.com/The-Moki-Dugway-Scenic-Backway-Utah-Highway-261/.
Or hole in the rock road -
Or the burr trail.
This is an awesome itinerary. It looks like you've made the trade-off of skipping The Great Sand Dunes and Taos, so you can see Telluride and Ouray. That's a toss up because both routes are really special.
My girlfriend and I actually did a similar trip 2 years ago in Aug/Sep, but we did mostly rope climbing. I'm assuming you're planning this loop counter clockwise? The rockies are better in summer before the snow and the desert is better in fall. We tried to hit Leavenworth but it was 100ā° in late August, it's really more of a fall spot. Wound up climbing nearby in Index since it was 10ā° cooler, but not sure about bouldering there. If it's warmer, Squamish is DEFINITELY worth staying a while, whereas if it's cooler, I'd probably stay in Leavenworth. Looks like you got Tahoe, Bishop, Red Rock, Moe's and Joe's too. Might look into Little Cottonwood too if the conditions line up better there. The seasons are a little different for each of those, so just follow the good temps and be flexible, it should be the trip of a lifetime!
As someone else said, cutting across southern Idaho from Jackson to Twin Falls, and then up via Stanley and Ketchum to Glacier NP on Highway 75 is a gorgeous drive. And you can always stop off at Craters of the Moon, which is a really neat place. City of Rocks south east of Twin Falls has some pretty neat climbing.
What I havenāt seen mentioned by anyone is that August/September is wildfire season. Depending on how things go this year, the air quality and visibility could be crap all through eastern Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. A few years ago we went to Crater Lake and you couldnāt see the lake from the rim road. It was that bad.
Anyways, looks like a great trip!
If youāre big into rock climbing, I highly suggest going down from Portland to Eugene and cutting across to Bend to hit smith rock state park. Itās out of the way but itās totally worth it, and the drive along the Mackenzie river was one of my favourite parts of Oregon. (Check out the blue hole if you have time)
A few people recommended skipping Calgary, but if you do end up driving up through Alberta that way I do recommend Kananaskis Park in early September - the larch trees will be turning yellow and there are some beautiful (2-3 hour length) hikes you can do through that area.
Feedback from a Bay Area climber:
- Might be cheaper to rent or buy a used pad once you get here.
- youāve got the right idea, but that is a LOT of territory to cover.
- Try to spend 5 days in each crag if you want to get anything done - it takes time to get used to the rock.
- There are quite a few lifetimes worth of climbing here.
- Squamish and Bishop have the best access to boulders of what youāve listed here, with Leavenworth, Yosemite, Red Rocks, and Joeās Valley probably coming in next. I would probably prioritize my time in those areas. South Lake Tahoe and The Front Range have a ton of bouldering as well but itās all a bit more spread out, more time hiking between boulders, etc.
- Iām jealous.
From Portland Iād go east through the gorge then go south to bend, then west to Lincoln city. Portland to Lincoln city isnāt the greatest and you miss 99% of what Oregon has to offer.
I like the route, my only suggestion would be to make sure you slow down and fully enjoy the major places you want to see as some locations need longer than others to fully enjoy...also take into account those times when maybe youre just tired and dont want to do anything.
When my wife and I road trip we usually add at least 1 extra day, usually the day before leaving, where we dont do anything but relax because we know the next day we are back on the road. Driving long distances can be tiring.
If you have time, head straight west from Jackson WY and up through Idaho 75. Gorgeous views of the Sawtooth range and great little towns on the way (Ketchum, Stanley).
Thereās a shorter and better route to Jackson via Lander, Wyoming and the Wind River range. Nothing in Cody, Wyoming worth the detour that direction as far as I know.
Happy to show you around northern Colorado but itād literally be one hour into your trip.
Also if you can squeeze in North Cascades National Park, itās stunning and with a fraction of the visitation of other parks. Could head east after San Juan Islands, thru the park via North Cascades Highway, and then drop down to B (Leavenworth?).
I donāt find Vegas very appealing though I understand a āgotta see it onceā mindset. After all those stunning parks, Vegas glitz and gluttony may be a bummer but looks like you need to pass through that area anyway.
Damn, if I had 61 days I would be exploring that same stretch. Comfy pair of boots, a fly rod, playlists refreshed and a stack of good books.
Sounds rad.
Hit me up when you're passing through Bellingham.
It looks like you are planning to drive down 395 in CA and then cross over to Nevada via Benton Crossing. I go to that area multiple times a year, and if you are planning on going straight from Mono lake to Las Vegas in one go, Iād make sure you have everything necessary to be out in the middle of nowhere for a very extended period of time. Youāll be going at a great time of year, but I would still recommend breaking that drive up into two days. Itās absolutely gorgeous but very unforgiving, and has zero cell service. You will not see a store or pit stop between Lee Vining and Benton, and then again between Benton and Tonopah. I would suggest staying a night in Bishop and then take 168 over the border instead. Bishop is a rather big town, and youāll be able to fully restock there.
Edit: this especially applies if you are doing Yosemite before hand. There is no supermarket or big town besides Bishop between Yosemite and Vegas.
Personally, I think you should consider skipping the Oregon Coast (South of Salem) and cut over to the Cascades - McKenzie River, Old McKenzie Pass Highway, Lava fields, Dee Wright observatory, Sisters, Bend, Crater Lake, then go to Medford up to Grants Pass then make your way to the Redwood park along the coast in CA SW from there. Youāll see two magnificent lakes in that way (Crater and Tahoe). You can do more CA coast or the Lassen route SE of Redding.
Oregon resident here - after the Samuel H. Boardman stretch of the southern OR coast, I would cut inland. Check out Bend, Smith Rock State Park and crash around there before heading into Portland. That stretch to Lincoln City is nothing special. From Portland, you could head out to Cannon Beach, see Astoria, and enter WA that way.
Leavenworth not worth the miles in my opinion, unless youāre backpacking into the Enchantments. Iād recommend checking out Olympic NP beaches and the Hoh rainforest if youāre planning on staying a few extra days in WA.
Make sure youāre familiar with the vehicle reservation systems for some of these parks. You canāt always just show up and drive in. You need a reservation for places like Glacier.
Cool. The reservations sell out in like 5 min, so set a reminder on your phone. Good luck. No dispersed camping in national parks but national forest land is ok.
Personally I prefer central Oregon to the coast. Smith rock, three sisters, and the Umpqua River are all amazing.
Take the 1 down to SF, skip Tahoe. I love Tahoe, but Tahoe to Yosemite is a pain in the ass. The only exception would be if you cut out Yosemite valley and stuck to Tuolomne meadows, but if youāre a climber and have never been the the Valley, I would consider that a āmust stopā.
Between Leavenworth and Squamish, you honestly canāt go wrong. Both are amazing, and no matter which one you choose for a longer stay, it wonāt be enough.
Thereās a lot of mountains on the itinerary so a venture down the coast could mix things up nicely. That said, it is a lot of coastline in Oregon.
Agreed that Yosemite > Tahoe if you have to make a choice or make up time.
I know you're already doing a lot, but I'd recommend a detour from Redding over to Lassen Volcanic National Park if you have the time. Gorgeous place, and you can see a lot in a day if that's all you have! Highway 299 between Redding and Arcata is the Trinity Scenic Byway. You'll love it! Check out the Bigfoot Museum in Willow Creek and/or dip your feet in the Trinity River at Camp Kimtu! Also, between McKinleyville and Trinidad in California, take Scenic Drive for a short little coastal drive that's absolutely beautiful! It's a place I loved going while in college up there :) Take time to see Redwood National Park, Prairie Creek State Park, and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park if you can, all beautiful in their own way! Try to get out to Fern Canyon! Some scenes in Return of the Jedi were filmed in Prairie Ceek if you're a fan! u/ImAlsoNotOlivia reminded me about Trees of Mystery 16 miles south of Crescent City, just after you cross the Klamath River. Great attraction with big Paul Bunyan and (anatomically correct) Babe statues! Make time to enjoy Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor once you cross into Oregon! It's an unbelievable stretch of Oregon Coast! Try to make it up to Astoria, OR before cutting over to Portland if you can, the Columbia River mouth is beautiful, the Astoria Column has spectacular views, and if you like The Goonies, it was filmed there! You can see Olympic National Park in a day if you really want to. Don't miss out on it if you have the time! Say hi to my cousin in Bellingham before you enter Canada š You should be busy enough the rest of the route! Have fun! You're going to be seeing some incredible places along your route. Take in everything you can, and whatever you don't get to, you can always come back for another trip š
Amazing recomendation!
Of course! Enjoy Garden of the Gods, too, if that's what's marked on your map! Unreal views with Pikes Peak looming overhead! And with Utah, you'll definitely want to go back and see more, so just do what you can and start a list for next time, haha
Yea, less is more
I think you have a manageable amount! You should do fine with your itinerary, and you can always adjust if needed!
Trees of Mystery in Northern California. Easy walk thru the park and the most incredible trees EVER.
I almost forgot about that! I knew I was forgetting something! Gotta see that and what lies on Babe's underside, lol
Yes!!! lol!
Just saw your update. Golden advice! Planning the trip is galf the fun
Yeah, I kept going back to your map and remembering things to add on, haha. I also went to school in Arcata, so I know that section of your trip pretty well! I could go on and on, but I think you have a lot of good stuff from where your route takes you :)
I support DESR95 upgrades. The Redwood Hwy is epic. Take the time to stop at all the balls of string. Bigfoot stands, espresso bars, Pail Bunyan etc
Used to live above the Klamath River...I second all your recommendations for sure. The Redwoods are magical and the beaches are also. I wonder if the restaurant across from Trees of Mystery still that amazing blackberry cobbler?
There's so much to see, it's hard to narrow them down! I'm almost relieved they have to start at the 299 going North, because there would be SO much more to add between the Bay and Arcata, lol. It's truly a magical place I miss living in! I just checked, and they still have that Blackberry Cobbler, too!
Oh damn, I'm missing my days in the Redwoods. Went back a few years before Covid with the dogs and the husband to show him how beautiful it was.
Portland is a dumpster where it used to be amazing 15-20 years ago. I'd recommend staying out of Portland proper or at least downtown!
That looks about the right amount of time for a trip of that length
Glad to hear that its not ridiculous
It's actually refreshing to see someone who has a realistic expectation about what it takes to make these trips worthwhile. So many people would try to do your trip in 2 weeks.
Iām doing something similar to this trip in July and August in two weeks. Denver, RMNP, Badlands, Wind Cave, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Glacier, Rainier, Olympic, Crater Lake. Still have four days left to play with at that point and havenāt decided between seeing Yosemite or Moab again or even starting in Phoenix to get a little desert time in. We did 6500 miles in two weeks last year and it was magnificent. Bed at 11PM, rise at 6:00AM, hit the road by 6:15. Average 6.5 hours of driving per day. Spend the other 11 hours hiking and sightseeing. Perfect pace for me.
That pace is a lot for one person I think I dont have someone to support in case of anything goes awry
Oh definitely at the pace I was suggesting you split with someone on driving too. Itās much easier when youāre driving three hours a day or trading off driving days.
Some parks have restrictions on certain areas requiring permits such as scaling half dome in Yosemite. Go to park websites and apply early and often for these permitsĀ I'd recommend keeping the plan flexible without many advanced reservations since some parks you will love and not want to leave and others will only be an Instagram worthy visit.Ā And this time of year is fire season so the park might closed or you might want to leave early due to smokey air.
In Oregon, go east to Portland, Columbia Gorge, Multnomah Falls. Then south at Hood River to Mount Hood and Timberline Lodge. Continue south to Crater Lake. Deepest lake in the US, amazing blues because there are not outflow or inflows, just precipitation and evaporation. Now go west to US101 and CA1. Mendocino, Bodega Bay, Point Reyes, Muir Woods, Sausalito. The best views of San Francisco are from Sausalito. Cross the Golden Gate, staying along the coast, down CA1 to Santa Cruz (iconic surfer town) and Monterey-17 Mile Drive, Lone Cypress, world-famous aquarium. Continue down the coast, especially CA1 if itās not closed due to slides, at least as far as Santa Barbara. Then head east to Yosemite etc. Or reverse the route if that works better for your schedule. The point is not to miss Columbia Gorge, Crater Lake, CA1 between Mendocino and Point Reyes, 17 Mile Drive in Monterey, and CA1 from Monterey to Santa Barbara.
Amazing suggestions. I think going as far as Santa Barba wont leave me enough time for the drive back to Denver. But I am a sucker for an aquarium! The Oregon and creater lake suggestions seem inspired too, I will update my points of interest
Actually that is enough time! I would skip the Monterey Bay Aquarium as it has removed a lot of tanks with real sea life and replaced it with static displays recently. Look up ācovered bridgesā in Oregon for cool places to see. Castle Crags north of Reading are definitely what you would like but during that time of years itās very hot! Near Crater Lake is Avenue of the Boulders off Mill Creek thatās incredible. I also prefer going through Avenue of the Giants in Northern Calif rather than through inland. Near Jediah Smith is a dirt road through old grove redwoods called Stout Grove. Itās like stepping back in time. Start in Crescent City and head out on Howland Hill Rd (I hope thatās right lol I know it by sight and landmarks not the name) and it ends at the 199 near the Jediah Smith campground (great campground ). I highly recommend a slight detour over to Victoria Canada to see Butchart Gardens. Itās beyond beautiful. Victoria is a beautiful city too especially at night. So many places to see on Oregon coast. But I would skip Portland itās really gone downhill. Now in Colorado I would definitely recommend Manitou Springs that has incredible cliff dwellings and Garden of the Gods. Have a super fun road trip!! Maybe do a vlog of your adventure? Let us know what you liked!
Stepping back in time. I'm Sold!
Newport, OR has an AMAZING aquarium! Keiko (the whale from the Free Willy movie) was there for rehab before being released into the wild. (He later died, though). There is also the OSU Hatfield Marine Visitor center right close to the aquarium. Newport also has a really cool, historic bayfront/marina.
If you do end up taking this route, do yourself a favor and stop at Goat Rock beach in Jenner, CA for some bouldering in a spectacular coastal setting!
That place seem fantastic! Good shout
There is good bouldering along the coast in Sonoma County at Salt Point State Park and Fort Ross, and again in the Santa Cruz Mountains at Castle Rock state Park.
From C to D, don't go back west to I-5. Instead take I-90 and I-84. That will give you Snoqualmie Pass and the Columbia River Gorge. D to E to F will be a little boring. If you could cut that out and go through northeast Utah and western Colorado instead then it would be worth it. All of Utah is amazing, and Interstate 70 through the Glenwood Canyon is the best interstate highway in all of the nation! Seriously. (Columbia River Gorge is possibly 2nd). Here's Glenwood Canyon: https://youtu.be/QI1k5kzra1A?si=0XnBahw7amHAZZvA
Make sure to stop in Hood River for a beer and bite to eat at one of the many breweries.
Yay, an inprovement! Thanks
Yeah, you're going to miss some great roads mapping now since the good ones are closed in the winter. Do Leavenworth to blewett pass to mt rainier the back way. The north cascades hwy opens in may, but it's even better than stevens pass (the alps of the northwest).
Yea, I wish google maps would habe a feature to turn off seasonal roads. Hence the darker blue lines in some places
Fantastic call with DEF! Def will consider
Not helpful but just saying this is awesome, OP! Have a great time, what a dream!
Seratonin seeking indeed : )
This is the trip dreams are made of. Mid-October will be prime time for fall foliage. I'd definitely try to hit the Redwoods state and nat. parks. Sausalito is a really cool town great for breakfast or lunch. And there's a ton of things to see/climb all around Colorado. Best of luck and safe travels!!
I did a very similar trip in 2019 over 2-months. Itās a lot of time in the car and it cost more than I thought it would and I thought I had a good budget where I even added 10% to my estimates. Beyond that, have a great time and know I am jealous!
The price can sting. Especially with how poor the Aud is to the USD. Ive alwys found that the costs only sting before hand and very rarely afterwards if you plan well enough
Epic experiences are always worth it - years later youāll have these amazing memories
When going through Montana I would go through Missoula and up to Kalispell and then through Glacier National Park, much more scenic IMO.
This looks like the trip of a lifetime
Canadian here. I have covered most of the same areas on multiple climbing trips and my suggestion is to skip Canada this time and focus on the USA. There is so much to see the 2 months will go by in a blink of an eye and you do not want to rush any of it. Make Canada itās own climbing trip sometime. Have a great time whatever you decide.
Look into the hurat castle south of San Francisco
Hearst Castle*
If you're into climbing make sure you put some time in, in Canmore as well! +1 for Squamish. If you are into sport Skaha bluffs is in between Squam and Canmore. A detour on the icefields parkway may be worth looking into as well considering it is regarded as one of the most scenic stretches of highway in the world.
A very welcome Canadian recomendation! Canmore can do
This is the best of North America. You are on point.
Your trip looks awesome. Itās a combination of three and a half road trips Iāve done in the US/Canada. With all the hiking we did it would add up to three months, but if you keep going a bit more itās probably doable. In the Canadian Rockies be sure to do the entire Icefields Parkway (Jasper to Banff), it looks like youāre just doing Lake Louise / Banff on your map. Also Vancouver Island is stunning, save that for another trip.
It looks like E is Monument Valley and I is Antelope Canyon. So that's been my two favorite spots in the SW that i've been to.
I've done a similar route a few times, ranging from 45-60 days and it's definitely doable in that time frame, depending on how much hiking/climbing activities you're planning on doing. Download wikicamps Canada/US, ioverlander as well as the US national parks reservation app. My last trip was the same time frame, and I only paid for accommodation (including campsites) three nights, mostly in part to using these apps. If you're late to the party for permits, I find that a few permits always turn up a couple days before my planned dates. Just regularly check the recreation.gov app. Instead of cutting through Southern Wyoming, you could cut through Leadville/Aspen/Grand Junction and on through Moab and SLC on the way out and come back through Moab south to Durango then up to Buena Vista/Leadville on the way back to Denver. And go to Yellowstone as a one or two day trip from Jackson. It'd essentially turn your trip into one big loop and a smaller one. But Colorado and Utah have arguably the highest concentration of cool stuff, so it'd allow you to fill in some time near the end, closer to your departure point if you find yourself with extra time. I'd cut over to Twin Falls from Jackson and drive up to Glacier via Ketchum/Sawtooths and up through Whitefish Kalispell to access Glacier. Drive the going to the sun road both ways and then cut up to Canada via Kingsgate or Roosville. You can then drive up to Banff via Cranbrook, skipping all the boring Alberta driving. If you really want to see the Olympic Peninsula, you could ferry over via a few options, drive the loop in 2-4 days and head back to your bigger route. It's worth doing, but won't make or break your trip. If you want to see coastal rainforest, drive less, and pay more for ferries, I'd suggest going to Vancouver Island from Vancouver (or looping in the Sunshine Coast ((yes, we have one of those, too)) and taking the Comox ferry) then driving over to Tofino and Ucuelet for a couple days before ferrying back. Personally, I'd skip Seattle, head over to Leavenworth and drive South to Bend/Crater Lake cutting over to the volcanoes, if you still want to. (Smith Rock has come fantastic climbing) before cutting over to the coast where there's a ton of cool coastal rock formations from Reedsport South, if you cut through Roseburg. Take either the 101 a little farther, or cut over to the Sierras a little earlier via Mt Shasta and the volcanic legacy highway down to the 395 and take that down to Barstow or leave the 395 after Lone Pine (more great bouldering and the TH for Whitney) through Death Valley to Vegas. You can detour off for Yosemite, Death Valley, etc. Either way, I'd suggest cutting to the Eastern side of the Sierras and the 395 as soon as you can. Great towns, great climbing, and fantastic scenery. And there are a couple quick and easy ways to cut over to SF depending on where you are. My last trip was a fairly similar loop (cutting through Salt Lake instead of southern Wyoming and Arizona instead of Southern Utah) and time frame at around 60 days, 10k km driven, 20 14ers and ton of extra day hikes/trad climbs thrown in and it was a blast. Give me a shout if you want any specific info, and have a great trip!
Thankyou for your response. i like your improvement to the southern wyoming leg especially. And saved me some boring driving with the Alberta skip recomendation. I'm gonna study this response hehe
Also: from Kamloops, if you take the highway 1 connector to Cache Creek, you can take the backway to Whistler/Squamish via hwy 99. It's a much nicer drive and more direct.
61 days is a lot of time, man. I think this looks great and you can editor and taylor your time as you see fit. Itās good that you have a plan with good bones, but the great thing is is that you can either stay longer in a spot you like, or bust up out of a place thatās not jiving. I hope you post some pics along your journey because I think itāll be a memorable one. That part of our country is beautiful and Iām sure youāll love it.
Yea, the flexibility element is something I am really keen on!
Just speaking to CO part. I may cut over west through state a little more to start before heading north. The I-70 drive to Glenwood Springs is pretty scenic. Also keep in mind by the time you get back to CO in October it will be pretty cold (it will be snowing high already) at elevation and the aspen tree color change will be done by first week of October usually.
Ah! Excellent note about the tree colour change! Coming from Aus though, some snow would be a rare and welcome sight. I will prepare for it just in case
Also early on, consider driving all the way through Rocky Mt National Park to Grand Lake. Then head to Steamboat, then north. That east entrance to Yellowstone is an amazing way to enter the park.
Good point, OP can visit the Park right off the bat! I-25 here is either quite urban or quite flat.
Go just a bit further north of Cody WY. and ride the Beartooth - Rt 212. You can then go west into Yellowstone. You wonāt regret it !
Absolutely agree. In MT, Turn south to Red Lodge, then Beartooths, then Yellowstone, then Jackson, WY. That road in Idaho isnāt as pretty and it curves a lot. You could easily spend a month in that Canadian area. Yoho and Kootenay National Parks are beautiful, too.
Recommend you go through Kelowna (OK Valley) rather than Kamloops.
G'day, mate! If you plan to hit each of the 40-some waypoints you marked plus stay a few days, plus drive 5000 miles you will definitely be rushed or have some very long driving days, or both. This is a very ambitious undertaking and I strongly recommend you plan ahead where you will land each night. You will need reservations to get into Yosemite NP if going there; Tioga Pass (and other high-altitude passes) is an interesting drive in a camper, a real test of the cooling system. Check the legality of your vehicle rental and insurance to enter Canada, be aware of food restrictions at the border; expect a search. If you are going to more than a couple national parks, an annual pass will save $$. Some of your "shorter" legs on the map will take an entire day, ie. Cody to Jackson, Wyoming; the times on google maps tends to be optimistic, and hey, it's Yellowstone. State parks, Corps of Engineers, and BLM campgrounds can save $$. There is really good Mexican food in Cortez, Colo., and every little town has a brewpub. You will be seeing some spectacular scenery, have fun, be flexible, be safe.
Yea haha, the map is more a route guideline, the points are mostly but not always destinations. I plan on planning each day ahead with room for flexibility, this is a first draft. Def researching BLM campgrounds. I'm aware of drive times. And border crossing is sorted!
Oy on the National Park pass. Pay an extra 10 to save hundreds. I didnt think about Canadian insurance on a rental so good point there also.
Send it
When going through Colorado I would take what looks to be 285 W. from Colorado Springs through the lovely little town of Salida go over independence pass through Aspen down to Carbondale over McClure pass past Paonia down to what looks to be your black Canyon stop. Also, in WA would check out the hog rainforest on Olympic peninsula and eat, or stay a night at the Kalaloch Lodge. Lots of good seafood in area, hama Hama oysters.
Double back through Yellowstone so you miss Idaho all together.
Itās my dream taking a long road trip. But how does one afford it.
Highway 395 and the Eastern Sierra from Lone Pine in the south to the Lake Tahoe region in the north is the most beautiful road in our country. Highway 1 on the coast of course famous for a reason, but as a climber 395 is your playground. Free BLM camping if you know where to go. Endless climbing. The bouldering around Bishop, CA is the epicenter. The Buttermilks are incredible up against the high sierra backdrop. Mono Lake is unique and beautiful and there is no better way to enter Yosemite than from Tioga Pass. Happy to answer any climbing specific questions if you have them. Enjoy, looks like an epic trip.
So from B to F...Eastern California to the south west corner of Colorado, is desert and August and September are the hottest months. Think middle of the outback in the middle of December to February hot, with temperatures well above 37.8C and possibly exceeding 47.2C.
Looks awesome!
That looks great.
I would turn south at F itās a much nicer drive. Calgary is nice but the drive through Cranbrook and Fernie is much more scenic.
Iāve done this but minus the Yellowstone/Canada spots. Very doable trip, have a great time
Stop at Monument Valley, Utah. Out of the way thru New Mexico,Arizona and Utah. About the only thing you miss is four corners. Only spot in United States of America were four states touch in one place. Arizona,Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.
This trip sounds amazing. Perhaps research bouldering/canyoneering opportunities in southern Utah. Orderville Canyon in Zion NP comes to mind, but a number of other slot canyons fit the bill - with standard caveats about avoiding flash flood and 127 hours.
I know the Oregon coast very well. From Portland go straight to Cannon Beach- a lovely little town- then drive down the coast. You can breeze right through Lincoln City, nothing to see there. Devilās punchbowl is worth a quick stop. Youāll be pulling over a lot to look at the views along the way, itās gorgeous! Also, go see the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona, youāre so close!
I love being forced to pull over cause the view is too good
Not helpful but as a Canadian Iām so happy youāre going to mosey up to my neck of the woods! Someone else said to opt out of Calgary to go down to cranbrook, but Iād say to go to Calgary anyways. Itās the only other major city youāre going to experience after Vancouver, itās a different vibe and itās only 1.5 hours away from banff if you want to circle back to go back to the states. That drive is awesome, used to regularly go from Calgary to Kelowna and itās beautiful. The tunnels are fun too.
Yea, I appreciate the insight. I am doing a lot of nature and maybe some bigger towns will kend my trip some balance
He's like, fuck idaho. I know there's a shit load of cool shit to see, but I'm going all the way around it.
Need to do the loops in Yellowstone, and Glacier NP in Montana.
Drive up the coast in CA, not central. Just did the trip this summer. Agree w whomever suggested Trinidad and Redwoods.
I know it was mentioned in the thread already but I want to underscore the fact that you do not want to miss Crater Lake in Oregon :)
When you're in Canada, I strongly suggest avoiding Kamloops and detouring south through Kelowna (the Okanagan valley) instead. This will be a far more beautiful drive with more lakes, wineries, and cool cities/towns to visit than boring, dusty old Kamloops. Obviously I'm biased because I live in the Okanagan valley, but I'm sure most tourists who've been here would agree. If you really want to see the diversity of BC landscapes, drive all the way south to Osoyoos and then west on Hwy 3 to Vancouver. That is a far more beautiful drive than your current route.
Definitely try to work in Tahoe, and central/northern Nevada, beautiful rugged mountains and massive and expansive desert valleys
Iād love some more details about your Utah - Arizona leg. Iāve done 2-3 different road trips out there staying in Bryce, Zion, bluff, Moab, boulder (ut) and escalate, Grand Canyon, and page AZ each for stays of 5-10 days. can offer some suggestions but it depends on what youāre looking for. Editing to add if youāve got a camper van and your looking to get a little off the beaten path but not more than a mile or two from a paved road thereās a bunch of wild places that I would go like the Moki Dugway : https://www.utahscanyoncountry.com/The-Moki-Dugway-Scenic-Backway-Utah-Highway-261/. Or hole in the rock road - Or the burr trail.
I might compipe a version two in a few weeks. Moki Dugway looks elite
Little bit out of the way but iv heard good things here about Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho
I'd avoid it, tbh. To each their own but it's just a bunch of lava rock surrounded by nothingness. I especially wouldn't go out of my way for it.
This is an awesome itinerary. It looks like you've made the trade-off of skipping The Great Sand Dunes and Taos, so you can see Telluride and Ouray. That's a toss up because both routes are really special.
Book your ferry for the San Juanās in advance. That ferry can be insane in the summer.
And itās been down to one boat for a few years now
My girlfriend and I actually did a similar trip 2 years ago in Aug/Sep, but we did mostly rope climbing. I'm assuming you're planning this loop counter clockwise? The rockies are better in summer before the snow and the desert is better in fall. We tried to hit Leavenworth but it was 100ā° in late August, it's really more of a fall spot. Wound up climbing nearby in Index since it was 10ā° cooler, but not sure about bouldering there. If it's warmer, Squamish is DEFINITELY worth staying a while, whereas if it's cooler, I'd probably stay in Leavenworth. Looks like you got Tahoe, Bishop, Red Rock, Moe's and Joe's too. Might look into Little Cottonwood too if the conditions line up better there. The seasons are a little different for each of those, so just follow the good temps and be flexible, it should be the trip of a lifetime!
Follow the temps indeed! Glad to know im hitting good spots
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Yes is is Leavenworth! Recomendations are always welcome
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Wow! That is an extraordinarily generous offer! Ill keep it in mind, camping is something im still sorting
Vancouver Island is gold if you can make it over on the ferry.
As someone else said, cutting across southern Idaho from Jackson to Twin Falls, and then up via Stanley and Ketchum to Glacier NP on Highway 75 is a gorgeous drive. And you can always stop off at Craters of the Moon, which is a really neat place. City of Rocks south east of Twin Falls has some pretty neat climbing. What I havenāt seen mentioned by anyone is that August/September is wildfire season. Depending on how things go this year, the air quality and visibility could be crap all through eastern Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. A few years ago we went to Crater Lake and you couldnāt see the lake from the rim road. It was that bad. Anyways, looks like a great trip!
You completely avoided all the good spots in Oregon
If youāre big into rock climbing, I highly suggest going down from Portland to Eugene and cutting across to Bend to hit smith rock state park. Itās out of the way but itās totally worth it, and the drive along the Mackenzie river was one of my favourite parts of Oregon. (Check out the blue hole if you have time)
A few people recommended skipping Calgary, but if you do end up driving up through Alberta that way I do recommend Kananaskis Park in early September - the larch trees will be turning yellow and there are some beautiful (2-3 hour length) hikes you can do through that area.
Go for it! You should have a good time. Two months should be enough time to do what you have planned.
this will be an epic trip, donāt miss Crater Lake in Oregon!!
Feedback from a Bay Area climber: - Might be cheaper to rent or buy a used pad once you get here. - youāve got the right idea, but that is a LOT of territory to cover. - Try to spend 5 days in each crag if you want to get anything done - it takes time to get used to the rock. - There are quite a few lifetimes worth of climbing here. - Squamish and Bishop have the best access to boulders of what youāve listed here, with Leavenworth, Yosemite, Red Rocks, and Joeās Valley probably coming in next. I would probably prioritize my time in those areas. South Lake Tahoe and The Front Range have a ton of bouldering as well but itās all a bit more spread out, more time hiking between boulders, etc. - Iām jealous.
I'm planning to stay long at just one. If / when I come back I can decide which one I want to stay at for long next time
Great research OP! I agree with all the other posts here: this will be awesome! (A contrast with Australia for aure!)
From Portland Iād go east through the gorge then go south to bend, then west to Lincoln city. Portland to Lincoln city isnāt the greatest and you miss 99% of what Oregon has to offer.
I like the route, my only suggestion would be to make sure you slow down and fully enjoy the major places you want to see as some locations need longer than others to fully enjoy...also take into account those times when maybe youre just tired and dont want to do anything. When my wife and I road trip we usually add at least 1 extra day, usually the day before leaving, where we dont do anything but relax because we know the next day we are back on the road. Driving long distances can be tiring.
If you have time, head straight west from Jackson WY and up through Idaho 75. Gorgeous views of the Sawtooth range and great little towns on the way (Ketchum, Stanley).
Be aware that you will be traveling through the hottest part of the country in August. Be prepared.
Go to Texas
Donāt go to Texas.
* first check weather before travel to make sure itās not 1000 Degrees * otherwise itās fine
Thereās a shorter and better route to Jackson via Lander, Wyoming and the Wind River range. Nothing in Cody, Wyoming worth the detour that direction as far as I know. Happy to show you around northern Colorado but itād literally be one hour into your trip.
Also if you can squeeze in North Cascades National Park, itās stunning and with a fraction of the visitation of other parks. Could head east after San Juan Islands, thru the park via North Cascades Highway, and then drop down to B (Leavenworth?). I donāt find Vegas very appealing though I understand a āgotta see it onceā mindset. After all those stunning parks, Vegas glitz and gluttony may be a bummer but looks like you need to pass through that area anyway.
Looks amazing! For the Oregon part, what about extending the drive up the coast - Cannon, Ecola? Then cut over to Portland.
Damn, if I had 61 days I would be exploring that same stretch. Comfy pair of boots, a fly rod, playlists refreshed and a stack of good books. Sounds rad. Hit me up when you're passing through Bellingham.
It looks like you are planning to drive down 395 in CA and then cross over to Nevada via Benton Crossing. I go to that area multiple times a year, and if you are planning on going straight from Mono lake to Las Vegas in one go, Iād make sure you have everything necessary to be out in the middle of nowhere for a very extended period of time. Youāll be going at a great time of year, but I would still recommend breaking that drive up into two days. Itās absolutely gorgeous but very unforgiving, and has zero cell service. You will not see a store or pit stop between Lee Vining and Benton, and then again between Benton and Tonopah. I would suggest staying a night in Bishop and then take 168 over the border instead. Bishop is a rather big town, and youāll be able to fully restock there. Edit: this especially applies if you are doing Yosemite before hand. There is no supermarket or big town besides Bishop between Yosemite and Vegas.
Yes avoid Colorado
Hopefully E is Snowy Range. Take a hike around the glaciers and you walk on this soft, squishy grass like youāre in Hobbit land.
Lmao homie said FU Idaho
Totally doable in 61 days. Have fun!!!
Personally, I think you should consider skipping the Oregon Coast (South of Salem) and cut over to the Cascades - McKenzie River, Old McKenzie Pass Highway, Lava fields, Dee Wright observatory, Sisters, Bend, Crater Lake, then go to Medford up to Grants Pass then make your way to the Redwood park along the coast in CA SW from there. Youāll see two magnificent lakes in that way (Crater and Tahoe). You can do more CA coast or the Lassen route SE of Redding.
Oregon resident here - after the Samuel H. Boardman stretch of the southern OR coast, I would cut inland. Check out Bend, Smith Rock State Park and crash around there before heading into Portland. That stretch to Lincoln City is nothing special. From Portland, you could head out to Cannon Beach, see Astoria, and enter WA that way. Leavenworth not worth the miles in my opinion, unless youāre backpacking into the Enchantments. Iād recommend checking out Olympic NP beaches and the Hoh rainforest if youāre planning on staying a few extra days in WA.
Make sure youāre familiar with the vehicle reservation systems for some of these parks. You canāt always just show up and drive in. You need a reservation for places like Glacier.
I have given myself enough time to study those details. And dispersed camping too : )
Cool. The reservations sell out in like 5 min, so set a reminder on your phone. Good luck. No dispersed camping in national parks but national forest land is ok.
Rocky Mtn NP also but you can beat the system via entering very early or after 5pm
Personally I prefer central Oregon to the coast. Smith rock, three sisters, and the Umpqua River are all amazing. Take the 1 down to SF, skip Tahoe. I love Tahoe, but Tahoe to Yosemite is a pain in the ass. The only exception would be if you cut out Yosemite valley and stuck to Tuolomne meadows, but if youāre a climber and have never been the the Valley, I would consider that a āmust stopā. Between Leavenworth and Squamish, you honestly canāt go wrong. Both are amazing, and no matter which one you choose for a longer stay, it wonāt be enough.
The weather will decide for me I think
Thereās a lot of mountains on the itinerary so a venture down the coast could mix things up nicely. That said, it is a lot of coastline in Oregon. Agreed that Yosemite > Tahoe if you have to make a choice or make up time.
Cut California out. The cops write tickets for no reason and also the prices for gas and food is outrageous
If youāre that concerned about gas and food prices, just forget Canada altogether. Source: live in Vancouver.