Ok, so after my previous two posts my trip is finally booked and it is spread out in this order...
The first two nights (July 28th-29th) we will be in the del norte coast redwoods. I have tried to look online for some scenic hikes in the area, but I am sure I will find something regardless. Are there any particular spots in this area that are must see? Obviously it cannot be too different around with the towering trees, just looking for perhaps a unique spot to photograph.
The next two nights we will be camped out at cape lookout state park in Oregon. My plans are to head down to cape kiwanda for either sunrise or sunset (I'm thinking sunset) and perhaps the following day a drive up to hug point or ecola state park. I want to make the most of my trip and would appreciate suggestions on which would be a must see and if it is worth a sunrise shoot (weather permitting)?
From Oregon, we will be camping for two nights at cougar rock campground in mount rainier (taking a gamble of sorts) and will hope for at least a few nice patches of wildflowers. I have done some research and cannot decide on where to photograph for sunrises and sunsets (again weather permitting). I would like to see some of the alpine lakes and of course the dramatic vistas.
Our last major stop will be two nights on the Olympic coast at mora campground. My intentions are to shoot the coast for a sunrise and sunset, and hope the following day or vice versa is overcast/light rain to photograph the hoh rainforest. I'm torn whether to visit rialto beach for its close proximity or spend more time on second beach, two places that are pretty heavily photographed, but this trip really isn't just for myself so Icons are fine for me. What locations would you suggest to shoot in this region?
Our return home will involve a possible stop at crater lake and or somewhere between the eastern sierras so that will just be a quick stop/shoot.
Hopefully this will be my last post so I don't have to bother again. Perhaps someone can give me some updates as well closer to the end of the month for wildflowers at any of these locations. Thank you and I appreciate any suggestions.
Peter, sunrises on the coast are usually a non-event since muntains or hills hug the coastline so morning light on the beach is usually not that great in my experience. Go for the sunsets. Also be prepared for a thick marine layer this time of year especially in the AM and sometimes all day.
There is still a ton of snow in the higher elevations and wildflowers will most likely be late this year. But Indian Paint Brush is looking really fresh right now around 3000 ft. Many of theAlpine lakes will have snow or a least be hard to get to.
That may sound a little negative but there's a lot to do and see in MRNP and the Olympics this time of year. Why not check out the Columbia Gorge with the heavy snow pack the flow should still be awesome and still pretty green.
Posted by Peter Coskun on July 6, 2012 at 10:18 PM
I figured sunrises wouldn't be my first choice, but I have seen stunning sunrise images from the Oregon coast, albeit they all had spectacular cloud cover and light to back it up. Unfortunately, we won't be visiting the gorge. With the amount of ground we are covering in eight days it was hard to figure out a way to jam that into the trip.
My experience with the PNW coast is that it is always fighting a marine layer, morning fog, plain blue skies, or heavy overcast, except when it isn't. By that, I mean that you always take your chances and need to be prepared for blah. But, the only way to catch those moments when things fall into place is to be there when they do.
The trail that leads out to Cape Lookout, (drive south from the campground a short ways) actually has a good view or two not too far in that looks southeast and might work well for sunrise. The classic view looking at Cannon Beach from Ecola can also be a good sunrise location. With the sun pretty far north now you might do the best at Cape Kiwanda since its classic views look north instead of south. You can set up with a northwest view for sunset or a northeast view for sunrise.
My suspicion is that Rainier will depend on how the snow is when you get there. Maybe avalanche lilies will be rolling?
I'm less familiar with the other areas, so hopefully others can chime in.
Hopefully you have great success; I'm really looking forward to seeing your results!
As far as Rainier goes Peter, the avalanche and glacier lilies should be in bloom in the meadows at least when you're up there. They follow the retreating snow, and poke right through the snow sometimes as well!
Here's a shot I took at Paradise in early July several years ago. I wish I had something better than a point and shoot at the time!
Thanks John, I will probably try a few coastal sunrises just in case, but I'm more likely to shoot them at sunset.
Joe thanks for the image, I know a few years ago the wildflowers were really nice at the end of July beginning of August, so I'm just hoping there are some and that until my trip it stays quite sunny and warm to melt the snow. I guess I won't really know until I get there, but I figured there are some of you on this forum that visit these areas and might be able to give me more updates closer to the end of the month.
Posted by Greg Vaughn on July 11, 2012 at 11:23 AM
Suggestions for the Redwoods: Fern Canyon and Gold Bluffs Beach at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Also the old road just north of that park for some huge old trees. Damnation Creek Trail near Del Norte is good. Stout Grove across river from Jed Smith State Park and Simpson Grove across the hwy from Jed Smith are both excellent for big trees. Ladybird Johnson Grove further south has a nice loop trail.
From Del Norte to Cape Lookout is a long haul with a lot of great scenery in between. I hope you plan at least the short detour off Hwy 101 to Face Rock State Wayside at Bandon Beach. Best sea stacks on the Oregon coast.
The view from Ecola Point can sometimes be good at sunrise, and the view is south so you may get good light on the coast before the late pm sun sinks into the fog bank that often sits just offshore in summer. If you have nothing but heavy fog at Ecola, there is a nice hike up to the headland from the parking lot at Indian Beach (end of the road at Ecola State Park).
At Mount Rainier National Park: You might find some wildflowers in the meadow at Longmire, as it is lower in elevation. Even if no flowers at Paradise, if the trails are clear hike up for the view to the Tatoosh Range (early or late light, not mid-day). Just about every photographer heads to Reflection Lake for the just-after-sunrise view of Rainier. The flowers usually come out in the Sunrise area a little before Paradise as it has good east and south sun exposure. It is a long haul from Cougar Rock CG, however, to make it for sunrise. You might try the White River Campground for a night to be closer. Another excellent view of the mountain at sunrise is from the Naches Loop Trail just above Tipsoo Lake on the east side of the park.
On the coast at Olympic National Park, I recommend first night at Second Beach, and if you get good stuff move to Rialto for the second night. Maybe try to be at Hoh Rainforest at dawn so that you have nice, soft light in the forest even if it's not overcast. In addition to Hall of Mosses Trail, the Hoh River Trail is excellent.
A stop at Crater Lake on the way south would not be a quick stop, since it is at least an hour off either I-5 or Hwy 97, the main north-south routes. The quickest access is the North Entrance via Hwy 97 and Hwy 138.
Have a great trip!
Posted by Peter Coskun on July 11, 2012 at 4:02 PM
Thanks for the suggestions Greg. I don't know if we will have too much time to venture off our plan. Bandon would be a nice stop, but I'm traveling with three non photographers so I have to pretty much limit what I can do photographically. All of our reservations are booked already so really no chance to stay at another campground. We are trying to stay in close proximity to these areas to cut down on even more driving. As far as crater lake, we will probably skip that and possibly make it down to proxy falls for a few hours and then drive into Cali and find someplace to camp before heading home. Still a bit off the way, but it is a place I would very much like to see.
Discussion
7 repliesThe first two nights (July 28th-29th) we will be in the del norte coast redwoods. I have tried to look online for some scenic hikes in the area, but I am sure I will find something regardless. Are there any particular spots in this area that are must see? Obviously it cannot be too different around with the towering trees, just looking for perhaps a unique spot to photograph.
The next two nights we will be camped out at cape lookout state park in Oregon. My plans are to head down to cape kiwanda for either sunrise or sunset (I'm thinking sunset) and perhaps the following day a drive up to hug point or ecola state park. I want to make the most of my trip and would appreciate suggestions on which would be a must see and if it is worth a sunrise shoot (weather permitting)?
From Oregon, we will be camping for two nights at cougar rock campground in mount rainier (taking a gamble of sorts) and will hope for at least a few nice patches of wildflowers. I have done some research and cannot decide on where to photograph for sunrises and sunsets (again weather permitting). I would like to see some of the alpine lakes and of course the dramatic vistas.
Our last major stop will be two nights on the Olympic coast at mora campground. My intentions are to shoot the coast for a sunrise and sunset, and hope the following day or vice versa is overcast/light rain to photograph the hoh rainforest. I'm torn whether to visit rialto beach for its close proximity or spend more time on second beach, two places that are pretty heavily photographed, but this trip really isn't just for myself so Icons are fine for me. What locations would you suggest to shoot in this region?
Our return home will involve a possible stop at crater lake and or somewhere between the eastern sierras so that will just be a quick stop/shoot.
Hopefully this will be my last post so I don't have to bother again. Perhaps someone can give me some updates as well closer to the end of the month for wildflowers at any of these locations. Thank you and I appreciate any suggestions.
There is still a ton of snow in the higher elevations and wildflowers will most likely be late this year. But Indian Paint Brush is looking really fresh right now around 3000 ft. Many of theAlpine lakes will have snow or a least be hard to get to.
That may sound a little negative but there's a lot to do and see in MRNP and the Olympics this time of year. Why not check out the Columbia Gorge with the heavy snow pack the flow should still be awesome and still pretty green.
The trail that leads out to Cape Lookout, (drive south from the campground a short ways) actually has a good view or two not too far in that looks southeast and might work well for sunrise. The classic view looking at Cannon Beach from Ecola can also be a good sunrise location. With the sun pretty far north now you might do the best at Cape Kiwanda since its classic views look north instead of south. You can set up with a northwest view for sunset or a northeast view for sunrise.
My suspicion is that Rainier will depend on how the snow is when you get there. Maybe avalanche lilies will be rolling?
I'm less familiar with the other areas, so hopefully others can chime in.
Hopefully you have great success; I'm really looking forward to seeing your results!
Here's a shot I took at Paradise in early July several years ago. I wish I had something better than a point and shoot at the time!
Joe thanks for the image, I know a few years ago the wildflowers were really nice at the end of July beginning of August, so I'm just hoping there are some and that until my trip it stays quite sunny and warm to melt the snow. I guess I won't really know until I get there, but I figured there are some of you on this forum that visit these areas and might be able to give me more updates closer to the end of the month.
From Del Norte to Cape Lookout is a long haul with a lot of great scenery in between. I hope you plan at least the short detour off Hwy 101 to Face Rock State Wayside at Bandon Beach. Best sea stacks on the Oregon coast.
The view from Ecola Point can sometimes be good at sunrise, and the view is south so you may get good light on the coast before the late pm sun sinks into the fog bank that often sits just offshore in summer. If you have nothing but heavy fog at Ecola, there is a nice hike up to the headland from the parking lot at Indian Beach (end of the road at Ecola State Park).
At Mount Rainier National Park: You might find some wildflowers in the meadow at Longmire, as it is lower in elevation. Even if no flowers at Paradise, if the trails are clear hike up for the view to the Tatoosh Range (early or late light, not mid-day). Just about every photographer heads to Reflection Lake for the just-after-sunrise view of Rainier. The flowers usually come out in the Sunrise area a little before Paradise as it has good east and south sun exposure. It is a long haul from Cougar Rock CG, however, to make it for sunrise. You might try the White River Campground for a night to be closer. Another excellent view of the mountain at sunrise is from the Naches Loop Trail just above Tipsoo Lake on the east side of the park.
On the coast at Olympic National Park, I recommend first night at Second Beach, and if you get good stuff move to Rialto for the second night. Maybe try to be at Hoh Rainforest at dawn so that you have nice, soft light in the forest even if it's not overcast. In addition to Hall of Mosses Trail, the Hoh River Trail is excellent.
A stop at Crater Lake on the way south would not be a quick stop, since it is at least an hour off either I-5 or Hwy 97, the main north-south routes. The quickest access is the North Entrance via Hwy 97 and Hwy 138.
Have a great trip!