TheSamba.com :: View topic - Hood River to Seattle

Thu Aug 30, 2012 9:31 am

I'm leaving for Vancouver Island from Salt Lake City tomorrow. My initial route plan is I84 - Ontario - 20 to Bend - 26 to Hood River.

I'd like to get to Seattle via as much National Park route as possible. I'm looking for any "don't miss" spots a long the way. Any information would be appreciated.

This link is my preliminary plan

http://goo.gl/maps/86lNp

Thanks

Scott

Thu Aug 30, 2012 9:44 am

If you don't have a reason to go thru Seattle, going 97 up to hwy 20 is pretty awesome. 20 goes right thru the North Cascades National Park.
A highly underrated park, IMO. Mostly because it has so little access and no fancy lodges for photo ops.
There are some really nice short hikes off of 20 that take you into some pretty cool terrain. Everytime I go it blows my mind that it's only 2 hrs from a 7 million people.

Thu Aug 30, 2012 9:56 am

I84 - is brutal! I hate that road, 75 mph through Idaho with most people driving about 80-85 and the semis going 65-75. Usually a big head wind too. I used to live in Sun Valley so I am well aware of that route. Climbing up through the Blue Mountains isn't so bad. The speed limit drops to 65 in Oregon. Once you get close to the Columbia River, you will have a massive head wind all the way to Portland especially through the gorge. Another route to consider would be to cut up to Washington at Hermiston Oregon, head towards Yakima through the wine country. Dry and hot and lots of good mexican food! Then at Yakima head up and over the Cascades on Highway 410. You will hit Chinook Pass at about 6,000 and be within what appears to be an arms length of Mount Rainier. Its amazing on top of Chinook. You can also head up to Sunrise in the National Park from there.

If you do go through Portland and head north on the 5, make sure you stop at Mt St. Helans.

EDIT - I just saw your map, never mind about I84 through the blues and next to the River.

Paul

Thu Aug 30, 2012 10:05 am

I agree about I84. I've driven it for the past 12 years back and forth from Salt Lake for windsurfing in Hood River. Head winds were definately a pain. Won't be a problem this trip with the new EJ25 2.5L though. :)

How nutty does traffic get in that area during holidays? I probably already know the answer.

Thanks for the tips.

Scott

Thu Aug 30, 2012 10:46 am

Take an hour or two and hike through Smith Rock State Park. You can also camp just outside the park.

Also hit the new Deschutes Brewery in Bend!
http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/locations/brewery

Also nothing fancy at all, but if you need a stop, there is nearby camping at Haystack Resevoir just north of there on the east side of the lake.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=haystack+resevoir&a...r&z=15

Thu Aug 30, 2012 11:34 am

Bridal Veil Falls outside of Hood River near Cascade Locks.

Thu Aug 30, 2012 11:36 am

If you are going to take the route along the Columbia Gorge, try the scenic route.

http://www.columbiariverhighway.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historic_Columbia_River_Highway

Thu Aug 30, 2012 1:55 pm

scottjk wrote: I agree about I84. I've driven it for the past 12 years back and forth from Salt Lake for windsurfing in Hood River. Head winds were definately a pain. Won't be a problem this trip with the new EJ25 2.5L though. :)

How nutty does traffic get in that area during holidays? I probably already know the answer.

Thanks for the tips.

Scott

I've got a zetec so I've got enough to power through the wind, but I still take 14 on the WA side if it's light out. Adds 10-15 min and is much less stressfull.
Traffic in the gorge during the holdays won't be too bad. Any route leaving Seattle will suck. As long as you don't hit I5 N or Seattle on Friday afternoon you should be good.
I'm leaving north tomorrow and plan on being at the border by 7

Thu Aug 30, 2012 4:51 pm

vista house on the oregon side of the gorge (scenic hiway. they film a lot of tv commercials there)....stone henge replica at Maryhill, WA....charburger in hoodriver or cascade locks yum!!!!
Mt st helens....

Thu Aug 30, 2012 6:41 pm

Careful on the old historic hiway. Alot of it will be closed for re-paving. That includes the roads to Bridal Vail Falls, old hiway to Multnomah Falls, Vista House, and Larch mountain. I read an artical on Oregonlive.com about the closures.

Good luck in your trip!

Fri Aug 31, 2012 8:42 pm

I would be tempted to cross at the bridge of the Gods in Cascade Locks and finish the trip on the WA side of the gorge. I think the beauty of the OR side can be best appreciated from hwy 14. And I live here...

Agree about Mt. St. Helens. Don't miss that and don't hurry.

Mon Sep 03, 2012 10:00 am

I do my best to never take the Oregon side of hte Gorge. 14 is so much nicer. Besides, Boardman OR is a black hole of evil and despair.

To the OP, if you are coming home through the Yakima area on or around Sunday the 16th, check out the Apple Valley VW club's show ans swap in Moxee. It's a fun, laid back, family friendly atmosphere in a very nice little park.

Wed Sep 05, 2012 1:05 pm

If you go through the gorge you could stop in Mosier and check out the Porsches at the Route 30 milkshake shop.

Smith Rocks shouldn't be missed if you're anywhere near Bend, OR off of 97.