I might find myself driving from Sacramento to Portland the first week in May and am looking for areas to drive through on my way up. Once in Portland I will be heading to the coast and driving down from there, so I am looking for something other than a coastal route on the way up. I will likely be staying near Klamath Falls for an evening during the trip. Would love to see Crater Lake but I am thinking the roads will still be closed. Any suggestions?
- Sam
Posted by Greg Vaughn on March 25, 2013 at 9:15 AM
How many days do you have between Sacto and Portland?
If you're headed for Klamath Falls, I assume you'll do I-5 to Weed and then Hwy 97 to K Falls. Not long after leaving Weed there is a highway viewpoint with a nice look back at Shasta across sagebrush high desert.
Lower Klamath NWR is excellent for birding and has a nice auto tour route.
The road to Crater Lake will be open up to Rim Village, where there are some great views. How far you can go on Rim Drive depends on snow levels, but for sure won't be open around the whole lake.
From Crater Lake you can head down the Upper Rogue River on Hwy 62 towards Medford and then pick up I-5 north, or backtrack to Hwy 97 and go north through Bend.
A short detour north of Bend will take you to Smith Rock State Park. Good rocks to climb and photograph.
Leave Hwy 97 at Madras and head up Hwy 26 through Warms Springs Indian Reservation to Timberline on Mount Hood. Then continue north on Hwy 35 down in to Hood River Valley to the Columbia River Gorge. Early May is excellent for Gorge waterfalls and several wildflower areas on both sides of the river.
Greg provides a great list of stops. Birding at Klamath is great, and Smith Rock is also near the hoghway and spectacular. How much time do you have? We might be able to help you narrow it down (or add to your list, for that matter).
it's worth contacting Crater Lake NP to find out conditions. I would say that coming from CA or AZ, Crater Lake and the Columbia River Gorge are the most uniquely Oregon places, aside from the coast. Much as I love Central Oregon (and I spend a lot of time there) it has the kind of landscape like those you might find in the SW or in Northeastern sections of CA.
Thank you all for the responses so far -- very much appreciated. I've got 5 days on the coast and about 2 days driving to get there and back to my starting point in the Sacramento area. Most of the driving to / from the coast will be just that --- driving. But I'd like to go past areas and opportunistically catch a scenic view or two between stops.
Discussion
4 replies- Sam
If you're headed for Klamath Falls, I assume you'll do I-5 to Weed and then Hwy 97 to K Falls. Not long after leaving Weed there is a highway viewpoint with a nice look back at Shasta across sagebrush high desert.
Lower Klamath NWR is excellent for birding and has a nice auto tour route.
The road to Crater Lake will be open up to Rim Village, where there are some great views. How far you can go on Rim Drive depends on snow levels, but for sure won't be open around the whole lake.
From Crater Lake you can head down the Upper Rogue River on Hwy 62 towards Medford and then pick up I-5 north, or backtrack to Hwy 97 and go north through Bend.
A short detour north of Bend will take you to Smith Rock State Park. Good rocks to climb and photograph.
Leave Hwy 97 at Madras and head up Hwy 26 through Warms Springs Indian Reservation to Timberline on Mount Hood. Then continue north on Hwy 35 down in to Hood River Valley to the Columbia River Gorge. Early May is excellent for Gorge waterfalls and several wildflower areas on both sides of the river.
Very nice drive. Enjoy.