I'm taking a two-week photo trip next week along the California/Oregon Coast and on up to the Olympic Peninsula in WA. I've been this way before and I know there are too many photo ops to cover in one trip, but I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for "must get to sites?" I'll be in Port Townsend for a day and at Lake Quinault for 2-3 days. I have a brother who lives on Mount Rainer so that's also on my itinerary. At the moment, I have some medical limitations that keep me from doing strenuous hikes, but I can still do the simple ones. I just love the Pacific Northwest. Think I'll need bigger flash cards.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
Johnnie
Posted by Jeremy Cram on August 16, 2007 at 12:19 PM
Hello
I have been to Port Townsend and I think the lighthouse is pretty cool. Salt Creek point just west of Port Angeles is also cool.
As far as the Oregon coast I'd recommend the book "The photographers guide to the Oregon Coast" by David Middleton and Rod Barbee. The book breaks down the whole coast well I think and makes it easy to figure for all activity levels.
Don't miss Bandon, OR. In fact I recommend the Sunset Motel for an overnight stay. It is perched on the bluff above the beach with great access and view. I think Bandon is the most photogenic place on the Oregon Coast.
http://www.sunsetmotel.com/
I would suggest the Beaches along the WA coast on your way to Quinault Lake, especially Ruby Beach. While at Quinault Lk be sure to take the loop road. There are a couple waterfalls just off the road and the Elk are in the area most mornings.
Posted by Sean Watson on August 17, 2007 at 1:08 PM
When you're staying at Quinault, I'd head out to the beaches for sunset and stick to the lake in the morning. For beaches, Ruby Beach is pretty awesome; Second beach will also blow you away (not Beach 2 which is nice but not in the same league as Second beach). Ruby beach has a parking lot on the bluff above it; for Second, it's a few mile flat hike to get there then a slight climb down to the beach.
The wildlife around Lake Quniault is pretty amazing. We've seen elk, otters, coyotes, eagles, and grouse while driving around the lake in the early morning.
I haven't done much around Pt Townsend. If you get more onto the northern Olympic peninsula, you'll want to check out Hurricane Ridge (probably at sunset but sunrise would work too) or Deer Park if you're in a car you don't mind taking on a 17 mile dirt road. Dungeness Spit is also worth the trip.
There, now you've got hoplessly too much to do in a few days.
Sean
Posted by Mike Stovall on August 17, 2007 at 5:53 PM
If you travel from CA to OR along 101, the Redwood Forest-Harris Beach State Park--Bandon trip packs a lot of scenery into a relatively short stretch of road. Both Harris Beach (Near Rainbow Rock) and Bandon (near Face Rock) have a lot of sea stacks and rugged coastline.
Big, big ditto on Craig Sullivan's suggestion for Bandon, OR, and the motel. In Olympic NP there are a couple of trails near the visitors centers on Hurricane Ridge and Hoh Rainforest that are easy. (I'm not a big hiker either!) Also, I found the Sol Duc Trail pretty easy to do, too, and it's a beautiful rainforest walk (it will be raining! or misting, or something!). See Ruby Beach, too, south of Forks. If you can stand the expense of an exquisite meal, take time to savor dinner at The Ark restaurant on the Long Beach peninsula on southern WA coast. Ft. Canby SP at the mouth of the Columbia River just south of Long Beach, on the WA side, is great, too. And that's probably way too much to do on one trip. Sad, you'll have to come back.
You guys are awesome! I'm taking my 15 year-old grandson, Brandon, on this trip. I've raised him and he's been borrowing and sharing my SLR's since he was 11. He has his own camera for this trip, so he's pretty excited. He kept saying that we needed to stop in Bandon because it was so close to his name. After reading all your suggestions, I agree. We plan to spend a night at the Sunset Motel. I've taken several trips in the past to Port Townsend because we tried to buy a home and business there several years ago. We had a less-than reliable real estate agent and it didn't work out, but Port Townsend remains close to my heart. I've spent lots of time on Mt.Rainer, but haven't done more than drive through the Olympic Peninsula, so I'm grateful for all the suggestions. I'll be busy this weekend mapping all of them out. I'm leaving the Jeep at home with my husband and taking the comfy "travel" car. I'm not sure it can handle the 17 mile dirt road (but I'm tempted). It'll be interesting to see how many of your suggestions I can pack into this trip. I'm grateful for all of them. Thanks.
Discussion
7 repliesAny suggestions are appreciated.
Johnnie
I have been to Port Townsend and I think the lighthouse is pretty cool. Salt Creek point just west of Port Angeles is also cool.
As far as the Oregon coast I'd recommend the book "The photographers guide to the Oregon Coast" by David Middleton and Rod Barbee. The book breaks down the whole coast well I think and makes it easy to figure for all activity levels.
Have fun
http://www.sunsetmotel.com/
The wildlife around Lake Quniault is pretty amazing. We've seen elk, otters, coyotes, eagles, and grouse while driving around the lake in the early morning.
I haven't done much around Pt Townsend. If you get more onto the northern Olympic peninsula, you'll want to check out Hurricane Ridge (probably at sunset but sunrise would work too) or Deer Park if you're in a car you don't mind taking on a 17 mile dirt road. Dungeness Spit is also worth the trip.
There, now you've got hoplessly too much to do in a few days.
Sean
I need more time there!
Johnnie