Advise needed for camping and fishing in the Northwest. There will be around 3 self-contained cab over campers that would like to explore and fish
Oregon, Washington and the southern parts of British Columbia. We will be leaving the Lodi area the first week of June and the total trip will be
around 2 weeks. We have done the costal route going up Oregon and the Washington coast line and spending time in the Olympic peninsula and would like
to try some different areas.
We are wide open to suggestions but would like to spend time along rivers/creeks and the mountains. Fishing is a bonus but not the main part of the
trip. We have 4 w/d but do not want to get too far off the beaten track and tear up the campers.
Not opposed to the possibility of Idaho and Montana.
We are experienced campers, so bring those suggestions on!
Thank you
Travel
captkw - 2-3-2016 at 10:28 AM
Do ck-out the San Jauns,, the fraser,campell and the Stikine..You wont be disappointed.....PS.Also Deception pass bridge.. the view is mind blowing !!
[Edited on 2-3-2016 by captkw]daveB - 2-3-2016 at 12:19 PM
My first thoughts would be to make sure you get into Canada to take advantage of the serious differential in currencies. Last week you could buy CAD
for 89 or 90 cents (Canadians needed almost $1.45 or close, to buy a USD). Today its pegged at 92 cents, but may close at less. But you need to watch
the firearm regulations at the border.micah202 - 2-3-2016 at 02:12 PM
1 US Dollar equals 1.38 Canadian Dollar
1 Canadian Dollar equals 0.73 US Dollar
...it's not the Cdn$ or peso that's been falling., the US dollar has rocketed in recent times.
I wonder what spin Obama haters can put on this!?bajabuddha - 2-3-2016 at 03:51 PM
If anyone of you has vertigo problems, be sure to do the Oregon coast south-to-north. You'll enjoy the views a whole lot more, and your passenger
won't be shrieking as loudly.
Shrieking
captkw - 2-3-2016 at 05:50 PM
I hope to die like my grandpa did...quietly in his sleep...not shrieking and yelling like his passengers................Hook - 2-4-2016 at 05:24 AM
Remember that it is NOT EASY to get into Canada if any party has a DUI on their record.
Well, at least for a U.S. citizen. Canadian citizens with DUIs are allowed to pass. StuckSucks - 2-4-2016 at 08:35 AM
Most important, remember to take with you:
A super deluxe from El Tarasco.
An Evil Billy from Beach Mex.
A Killer burger from the Richmond Bar and Grill with chips.
A chicken fried steak with the eggs over medium from Wendy's. toronja - 2-4-2016 at 11:26 AM
As a local, I'm a little biased, but it's all pretty great.
Central Oregon has some great rivers (Metolius, Deschutes, Crooked, etc.) and Three Sisters/Mt Jefferson wilderness areas.
Far eastern Oregon has amazing stuff too (the Steens, the Alvord, the Owyhee), but it's also a lot of driving through not much to get there and out
again.
The Oregon and Washington Cascades have a million great spots for camping, hiking, fishing, etc. I wouldn't even know where to start.
After hearing about my friends' experience in the Kootenays in BC last year, that's now up on my list, too.StuckSucks - 2-4-2016 at 12:45 PM
Also, I have it on fairly good authority that Kamloops dirt is the best tasting dirt.AKgringo - 2-4-2016 at 01:23 PM
BC highway 99 runs from Vancouver to Cache Creek on Canada 1. It is good road, but steep, narrow, and a bit terrifying in a couple of spots. I drove
it from east to west, thinking that my Kia Sportage was about as big a rig as I would want on that road, but I knew that logging trucks could be
around the next corner!
It crosses several drainage's, but I did not stop to fish. You will remember that road if you drive it. It also passes by the Whisler resort area.motoged - 2-4-2016 at 01:53 PM
Also, I have it on fairly good authority that Kamloops dirt is the best tasting dirt.
Yep.......
And here is some of our local flora.....
[Edited on 2-4-2016 by motoged]mulegemichael - 2-4-2016 at 03:43 PM
Our northern home is in Sequim on the Olympic Peninsula. I was a Washington State Park Ranger here for 20 years and can point you in a whole bunch of
different directions for fun. Also check out Harvest Hosts, a club that allows RVs to spend a couple nights camping for free on local farms. We are a
longtime member and it would be cool if your group would camp at our place a couple of days for free and meet some other nomads...check us out at www.purplehazelavender.com..Skipjack Joe - 2-6-2016 at 11:35 AM
There are 4 basic ways to do this north-south journey.
1) hwy 1 along the coast. A scenic drive but slow because it follows the coast with numerous towns, traffic lights, and bays.
2) hwy 5. A freeway gets you there fast but all the beautiful spots will require 1-2 hour drives from hwy, eg. Columbia gorge.
3) hwy 97. The east cascades are scenic and the towns are small and easy to go through. Crator Lake, Deschutes River, etc.
4) hwy 395. Much more remote with beautiful unsettled country and wide open roads with no one for miles. This has both high country and desert.
In my opinion the further east you go the better it is. Options 3 and 4. hookemup - 2-7-2016 at 02:10 PM
Since you have already done the coastal route,the central choice of 97 as others have noted is a good one. The last time we drove home from Baja we
took a guided drift boat trip on the Deschutes ,fishing was great.Best part of our trip. Love Montana but two weeks would be a little tight for me (
old and slow) If you do go up into BC the aforementioned Kootenay's are outstanding. At the northern end of the US Cascades Hwy 20 (light on
campgrounds ) is the most scenic route through the mountains and drops you out at the gate way to the San Jauns islands.
Ferry trips are a pain with a rig.The best and totally cheap way to see the San Jauns without a boat is to walk on the Washington State ferry to
Sidney BC with return the same day. Lots of parking at the ferry landing.Get off at Friday Harbor for a shorter trip and and cab it up to Roach Harbor
for lunch at the historic hotel.If you do visit Deception Pass there is nice state park with lots of space but you must have reservations.
I known, too much information. Road trips just get me going.
Have a great trip. Howard - 2-7-2016 at 02:46 PM
That is not to much info. and intel, please keep it coming. From what you people say it sound like highway 97 going up and another route coming home.
With only 2-3 weeks from starting out in Lodi, the return trip might just be good ole boring freeway #5 so we can spend more time and smell the roses
(pine trees) going North. Any must sees or stops along the route of #97 to the Kamloop area?
Hookemup, what month did you fish the Deschutes and where did you go out of?
HowardBajahowodd - 2-7-2016 at 05:55 PM
Head out towards Couer D'Alene and enjoy yourself along the Columbia river. Poke around.hookemup - 2-8-2016 at 01:03 PM
Howard
We went out of Bend Oregon in May for trout. The salmon fly hatch is some time in May. There is a summer steelhead run on the lower Deschutes on my
bucket list,I think in July. There are a number of outfitters in Bend that can give you a better idea of best timing.
Good luck
JimmySweetwater - 2-8-2016 at 02:09 PM
Is there a month that has the most non-rain days for a trip like this? Last June was a drenched month for most of the west.toronja - 2-8-2016 at 02:38 PM
Western Oregon and Washington are notoriously wet. July, August, and September are typically drier than the rest of the year - May, June, and October
can be lovely but are hit or miss.
That said, the 97 route is east of the Cascades and thus quite dry. June should be a fine month, but is a busy season for tourists.bajaguy - 2-8-2016 at 03:25 PM
On your way north from Lodi, stop by Eagle Lake, outside of Susanville.
Depending on when in June, your rigs can camp on our property near the boat ramp at Spalding (n/w side of lake)
Then it's a short jump to Klamath Falls and points north
u2u me if you are interestedmotoged - 2-8-2016 at 03:44 PM
Come on up to BC....your $$$$$$ goes a lot further these days.....and BC has a whole lot to offer city and rural visitors....desert, wine country,
world class fishing (salt and fresh water), diving, climbing , backroads, Vancouver, the Islands, sailing, camping.....
Going through Oregon and Washington are just warm-up destinations....
I love the US northwest a whole lot and have explored it for decades....and will continue, but too many US citizens seem to think it is a frozen
wasteland north of the 49th....
Smith Rock State is arguably the most scenic area close to hwy 97 in Oregon. It's about 25 miles north of Bend on 97. Turn east and drive 5-10 miles,
no more. You can do the stop in 1-2 hours or spend the day. The best Oregon place to photograph other than crater lake but crater lake will require a
good part of the day to see because it's about 60 miles from the highway.
You should also do the scenic lake loop that starts south of bend and ends up at bend. It's 45 miles that wind through the best fishing lakes in
oregons east cascade. It starts off 97 and comes back to it further north. You end up crossing the base of my bachelor and dropping into bend. People
flyfish these lakes mostly. baitcast - 2-10-2016 at 08:54 AM
These are nice places but if it were me I would head inland a bit,north eastern Wash,northern Idaho, western Montana, that's where its
at,better fishing,dryer, but that's just me .........BC is great though.
Rob
