Road Trips

Summer 2014 is here! The time is right for you to think about getting out on some road trips! The United States is huge area for the Road Tripper. My expertise is in roads and forests of the Great Northwest. In today's post I will be discussing some of my favorites, as well as some great road systems around Oregon and Washington. A lot of attention goes into what I call, "Calendar Scenes". Oregon's "7 Wonders" (Mt. Hood, Oregon's Coast, Crater Lake, Painted Hills, Wallowas, Smith Rock, and Columbia Gorge), are quite spectacular and worth seeing, but we will focus on lesser known destinations around the Northwest. A great loop trip, complete with hots springs, desert and forest views, lots of cool history, tons of recreation, and just a chill drive is the, "Bend-Lakeview-Burns-Bend" route.

South from Bend, hit Hwy 31 out to Summer Lake and Paisley. Some cool country here. Views of Newberry Caldera, with the high desert stretching east. Stop at Fort Rock. Have lunch in Christmas Valley and head for Summer Lake Hot Springs. Paisley has some amazing camping along the Chewacan River. Lots to see in Lakeview as you turn east on the 140 road to Adel. Turn left and Northward on Hogback road heading to Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge. Stop and dig for Oregon Sun stone and head up to the incredible hot springs! Continue north on Rock Creek road 205 to French Glen. A birders paradise.At the 78 jct. head towards Crystal Crane Hot Springs for a swim (a large pond). Head west on Hwy 20, and find yourself back in Bend.  Don't be surprised at how friendly and relaxed people who live out here are. They love talking and will help anybody they can. Remember: things are different out here. You never know what your going to see, and that makes it even more of an adventure!

Washington's Olympic Peninsula is another Road Trip favorite! Doesn't matter which direction you come from, or which direction you travel here. Often, we enter Hwy 101 from I-5 and head up the east side of the peninsula, the Hood Canal, with a stop in Port Townsend. Then on to Sequim and Port Angles to the entrance of the National Park. We like heading Northwest here to Neah Bay on the Makah Reservation. Of course headed down the western side of the peninsula, you get spectacular beach access for about 60 miles! Did you know you can hike and camp on the Coast here? 73 miles of coastline is protected as wilderness, that is cool! Another favorite Road Trip is Hwy 101. The Oregon coast is spectacular. On a sunny day, our beaches rival any beach in the world! We love driving south into the Redwoods. Be sure to check out a little known spot/town called Shelter Cove. A premier surfing destination, also a very cool place to check out on your next road trip. The Smith river Hwy 199 out of Grants Pass is another good route into the Redwoods. The North Umqua Hwy 138 is another very cool drive. Hwy 46 out of Detroit, Oregon to Estacada, Oregon is another Hwy that borders the Brietenbush Divide and the Clackamas river. There is so many options here in the Great Northwest for Road Trips. If you can get the time, money, and resources to get out this summer, then do it! Road Trips are a way to see some great country, get some fresh perspectives, and stretch out the legs. Thanks for reading. Subscribe to my blog for more interesting story's. Have a great Summer!