RE: Oregon to Tahoe
A couple of related threads:
Ft Bragg to Tahoe
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/21825050/gotomsg/21827655.cfm
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/21586186/gotomsg/21640799.cfm
Lassen to Tahoe
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/21589660/gotomsg/21595805.cfm
The short story is that 20 is probably your best way from the coast to the Central Valley. But from there you have several choices, depending in part on which end of Lake Tahoe you want.
RE: Dsert Gem - Oliver
The Washington state park at the south end of the lake is nice, though all the sites are on a well manicured lawn.
We stayed at Haynes Pt on the return trip to Washington some years ago. This was on a weekend in mid June, shortly before schools were out. In contrast to most other campgrounds that trip, this one had a large number of families in tents. Fortunately there were a few empty spots. We got one on the inner circle, with a good fence of rose bushes, but still too close to our neighbors and their music. The best thing was the kayak paddle in the marsh south of the point.
RE: Mount Rushmore to Glacier NP?
The diagonal through Billings and Great Falls is relatively flat, with some mountains if you take US12 to US89, and then north through the Little Belt Mtns. The mostly freeway route, I90 and I15 also crosses several passes between Bozeman and Helena. I believe US287 has been discussed as a short cut bypassing Butte.
Another option is to drive north from the Black Hills, and US2 west to Glacier. This is quite flat, though there are sights in the Teddy Roosevelt Nat Park (badlands and grass lands). US2 across Montana has been a frequent topic.
For your return leg, consider driving south from the west side of Glacier past the Flathead Lake.
2 days for the Black Hills to Glacier leg sounds right. I drove Miles City to St Mary in a comfortable day averaging 50 mph.
Since you don't seem afraid of some mountain driving, a scenic route south of Yellowstone/Teton would be through Flaming Gorge, Vernal Utah, Price, and Moab. Then SE around the south side of the La Sal Mtns through the Paradox valley to Telluride and other parts of the San Juans. The Million Dollar Hwy, Ouray to Silverton takes you through the core of the San Juans, is scenic for some, scary for others.
RE: Oregon scenic byways (Cascades)
For Cold Springs turn off of Hwy 20 on hwy 14, SW Camp Sherman Rd. This skirts the east side of Black Butte. 14 continues north along the east side of the Metolius River for a long ways (but it does not connect through to 64 on the east bound leg of the Metolius). There are campgrounds all along this route.
Consider getting Atlas for Oregon for more detail of these roads - either DeLORME or Benchmark.
RE: Oregon scenic byways (Cascades)
Last year in June I drove from the Crater Lake area to the Gorge in 3 days. While I was in an SUV, your pickup should do fine as well:
We'd camped at a small f.s. campground near one of the waterfalls along 138 north of Diamond Lake.
east to 97, north to 58
view Salt Creek falls (2nd highest in the state)
at Oak Ridge turned north on fs 19, paved, designated scenic byway (discussed in an earlier thread this summer) to McKenzie Hwy
126 to 20 (Mckenzie pass was still closed). With more time would have stopped at Tomolich Falls for views and hiking
Camp in the Camp Sherman area (downstream from Cold Springs at Allen Springs). This area is open Ponderosa Pine forest.
FS 11 around the south end of Green Ridge, and then north east. Turns into good gravel. Good views of Mt Jefferson.
64/63 east to Cove Palisades State Park - potential camping in canyon by large reservoir.
to Madras, 97 north.Stop for ice cream at Shaniko (ghost town at bend in the road).
west to Mt Hood area (mostly on FS48, paved); 35 north to Hood River. 48 from Tygh Valley parallels historic Barlow Pass road, the first wagon road over the Cascades. It now is a jeep track, with some secluded campsites.
RE: Grants Pass to Gold Beach along the Rogue River
For camping around Grants Pass look up Josephine County parks. I believe there are several along the Rogue River.
There are a number of forest service campgrounds in these mountains. Many are rustic, even just a clearing with a fire ring or two. But about halfway between Agness and Gold Beach there is a river side one that rivals the state parks in niceness - except it does not have hookups.
The Rogue River Float Guide PDF available on this BLM page has a shuttle map that shows the major forest roads around the Rogue River.
http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/rogue/index.php
RE: Grants Pass to Gold Beach along the Rogue River
It's been some time since I've driven 542 to Heather Meadows on Mt Baker. Parts may be as steep, but I think 542 is wider and smoother. A number of the BC ski approach roads are like this (Mt Seymour, Apex, etc).
Bear Creek is probably more like Glacier Creek to the Helliotrope Ridge trailhead. Figure on 20 mph, max 30 most of the way.
How about Blackwall Sub-alpine road in Manning?
Route finding can also be tricky. At Galice it starts off labeled BLM 34-8-36, further up it crosses into forest service land and is labeled FS 23. For a while the lower part took a detour up the aptly named Peavine Road. The BLM route actually continues straight into a maze of disused logging roads. The James Kim family got lost in this area 2 years ago. I'd suggest at least tracing the route in detail with Google Maps, both in map and terrain modes - or with Google Earth. Don't depend on just state level maps.
You can also find maps on the BLM Scenic Rogue River website. The BLM office at Rand is also a worth while stop.
In March or April about 2-3 years ago, a family in an RV (older class A or B) from Ashland area, missed their intended turn onto Bear Camp and continue on to the north side of the Rogue River. FS 4348 is the through route on this side past Mt Bolivar. They got stuck in snow on a side road, and sat it out for 2 weeks, before a couple of them walked out. They were well stocked with Y2K provisions.
Also, cell phone coverage is quite spotty, though one text message did help narrow down the search area for the Kims.
Here are some pictures:
http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p135/Oregonpix/
And one of my pictures from a level stretch of Peavine.
http://www.pbase.com/paulj3/image/80371086/medium.jpg
Just off the river road inland from Gold Beach there is a forest hike through an old grove of Myrtle trees. Further south out of Brooks is the northern most grove of Redwoods.
http://www.pbase.com/paulj3/image/80373720/medium.jpg
RE: Grants Pass to Gold Beach along the Rogue River
From Grants Pass (Merlin actually), a paved road follows the river to Galice, which is the headquarters for white water rides further downstream. A paved forest service (BLM actually) leaves the river at this point and climbs steeply up to the 4000' level, before dropping back down to the Rogue River at Agness. From there the paved forest service road follows the river to Gold Beach (this has some pavement slumps).
Both stretches along the river are ok for RVs if you are used to curves.
The road up and over Bear Camp pass is not for the faint of heart. It is paved, but steep and very windy. Vans and pickups towing trailers with stacks of rafts cross it frequently, adding to the excitement. Also people have died after becoming lost or stranded by snow in this area.
199 to Crescent City, or OR 42 to the north are the better choices, unless you know what you are doing.
Since you are from Canada, this may mean something - if you are comfortable driving to and from Bella Coola, you can handle Bear Camp. Or if you have driven to Seton Portage (either from Bridge River or D'Arcy. But if the Duffy Lake Rd makes you uncomfortable, stick with 199.
RE: Columbia River Gorge
Google Maps has street view images along both sides of the Columbia Gorge, extending as far east of US97/Maryhill. And south along 197/97 almost to Madras.
RE: Columbia River Gorge
Oregon DOT tripcheck does not list any road closures around the Bend area due to fire.
The drive up 97 to the Columbia is a larger part of the trip than the drive west to Portland. The scenery, of course, is quite different.
While people have talked about the campground and sights around Maryhill on the Washington side, keep in mind the the US97 bridge is closed for construction. So to see those you have to detour either east or west.
In general the bluffs above the river are higher and steeper on the Oregon side. I84 runs close to the river below those. That means you have to crane your neck and look up to see the nearby ones - all the time paying attention to freeway traffic. From the Washington side you get a wider view, but from a two lane highway. Unless you make an effort to get off the freeway, you'll be in Portland before you have taken in the sights.
But if you have time, and can stay at campgrounds along the way there are a number of side trips you could take in the toad. Hwy 35 south from Hood River takes you up to Mt Hood. The Hood River area is also orchard country. There's an old scenic road that runs high on the bluffs, getting you closer to the many waterfalls.
On the Washington side there sights like Beacon Rock, and Cape Horn. I also like driving north on paved forest service roads to the east side of Mt St Helens - though access to the monument may still be closed. Further east in Washington is Mt Adams. I like the dry canyon country drives in Klicitat county as far east as Goldendale.
RE: Canada Government Question
Yukon and Northwest Territories have been separate entities for a long time. Nunavut was split off from the rest of NWT more recently - within the last decade or two. The wiki article probably gives the details.
RE: RT 541/40?
541 and 40 are paved. 940 south of their junction is gravel.
You'll be crossing Highwood Pass. In the fall the colors from aspens and alpine larch are great in this area.
http://www.moon.com/planner/canadian_rockies/mustsees/highwoodpass.html
Alberta parks Kananaskis country site:
http://www.tpr.alberta.ca/parks/kananaskis/flashindex.asp
RE: Name Your Favorite Campground - Vancouver to Edmonton
Logan Lake, a bit west of Lac Le Jeune has a nice municipal campground. It's on a small lake on the east side of town, with a trail around the lake. The town itself is the bedroom community for the big Highland copper mine further east on 97c.
North of Logan Lake is a large Tuunkwa Prov. Park. This in a sparsely forested upland area around lakes, with open campsites. The road past it and on to 97 is chip seal quality pavement.
I like the scenery along the Fraser River north of Lytton. Lillooet has a nice free BC Hydro campground. But that may be further west than you intend to go.
Further north just to the east of 97 is Green Lake with several prov. park units. I've also camped at Big Bar Lake PP to the west of 97, but that requires quite a bit of gravel travel. Lac La Hache is a prov. park right across the highway from the lake in lodgepole pine. I believe there is a private campground on the lake.
There may be camping at the stampede grounds at Williams Lake.
I've driven up to Prince George and both directions the Yellowhead, but can't recommend much in the way of camping until you get to Mt Robson. There's a lot to see and do in Jasper.
On return from Edmonton, you might want to renter the park complex on 11 from Rocky Mtn House. That would give a chance to see part of the Iceways Parkway south of Jasper. You reenter BC either through Yoho or Kootenay Nat Parks.
There's good scenery, hiking, and camping in Glacier Nat Park. In the Revelstoke area, the drive up Mt Revelstoke is nice. There are prov. parks to the north and south of Revelstoke.
Guide books talk about renting house boats on the lakes around Salmon Arm.
If you don't need to return by way of Kamloops, I'd recommend the drive south from Revelstoke to Nakusp, and then either west to Vernon, or on south to Nelson, and west along Hwy 3 (through Manning).
RE: Help us plan our Canada (BC) trip
On your way north from Whistler, stop in Lillooet. There's a free BC Hydro campground just outside of town, and bakery in town that is popular with the German tourists. If you want more to do in that area, look for the 'Lillooet Hiking Guide, Canyon to Alpine'. I bought my copy from one of the local stores, and wish I'd bought when I first got to the area. It may also be available online.
MEC, Mountain Equipment Co-op is a Canadian sports store that you might want to check out. They have a web presence, as well as a couple of stores in the Vancouver area.
This page on pbase http://www.pbase.com/paulj3/lillooet06 has some of my pictures from a trip two years ago that centered on the area about Lillooet. I also have galleries there from Queen Charlottes, Vancouver Island, and the Canadian Rockies.
I suppose I should add that some of the roads I drove around Lillooet are not suitable for an RV. Some were even a stretch for a cute-ute (awd suv). Still, a rental class C passed us on the Highline road above Anderson lake while we were helping a RAV4 driver with a (rock cut) flat. Whether he knew what he was getting into is another question.
RE: Sunshine Coast (BC) Recommendations
Now there is a limited access divided highway all the north to Campbell River. There are few stop signs, but traffic is light north of Nanaimo. So you can get Campbell River in a long day from Seattle, including the border crossing and ferry ride. You can, though, still take the slower route close to the water, beaches and resorts.
The older route north of Comox does not get close to the water until you near Campbell River.
In the Campbell River area you can camp at Elk Falls Prov. Park, drive inland to Strathcona Prov. Park, or take a short ferry ride to Quadra Island. The main camping option on Quadra is one on a spit run by a First Nations. There is also some easy subalpine hiking at the Mt Washington ski area between Comox and Campbell River.
Campbell River, Powell River, and Quadra Island all have good fresh water canoeing options. Local web sites for Powell River also describe hiking options .
RE: Sunshine Coast (BC) Recommendations
"you pay to get to the Sunshine Coast but never to get away? Maybe cuz it so pretty they have to entice people to leave?"
If Sunshine Coast only includes the Sechelt portion you are right, but if Powell River is included, no. You pay at Horseshoe Bay (Vancouver end of the ride) and at Saltery Bay (leaving the Powell River area), but not at the other end of those two runs.
Paying at one end of a run to an island (or isolated peninsula) and not the other is rather common. In this case, you are only paying once to go to Sechelt and back, or only once to go from Vancouver to Powell River. In either case, you get two boat rides for one fee.
If going to Campbell River and then returning via Powell River, certainly look into the Circle Route savings. Also check if there are savings for taking the Duke Point run. Last fall and spring they offered CoastSaver discounts, though there aren't any current offerings.
RE: Does it get any better than this?
Last time through we had a picnic lunch near Port Renfrew, camped at French Beach, had lunch as Mom's Cafe in Sooke (decent burgers and pies), my wife took the garden tour at Sooke Harbor House, I walked the dog along the split.
Later in the day, we hiked at bit a Gold Stream PP, meandered through the nearby highlands, and then caught the ferry to Saltspring Island, and camped on the beach at Ruckle PP.
RE: Does it get any better than this?
Seattle newspaper 'getaways' review of the south coast of Vancouver Island
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/getaways/377432_shorttrips04.html
RE: Just spent a month in Banff and Jasper
On the other hand, in US National Parks, you can't take dogs off the pavement. But in most US forests, dogs only have to be under voice command; leash laws only apply in campgrounds and some busy trails.
As for deli meat and cheese, I wonder if the issue was price. At $x/100g lunch meat can get expensive. However, on most BC trips I end up buying more deli meat than fresh. Any store with a deli counter has a good selection, especially if they carry Freybe brand. I especially like the stores that carry 'meat ends'.
RE: Help us plan our Canada (BC) trip
Once you get to BC, you can find Backroad Mapbooks in many stores. These are the most detailed roads maps around, with information on parks, rec sites and even trails.
http://www.backroadmapbooks.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=67_68
As to guide books, I like the Moon series, though Lonely Planet is also good.
