Questions on US101

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 10:18 am

Hello,
thinking of a trip in the next couple weeks circling the Olympics on 101 from Portland.
Is this an insane idea in the summertime? Will it be crazy busy? What about not having reservations?
I'm not sure how doable this is in 6 days anyway.
Any advice would be appreciated!

glasseye · Post by **glasseye** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 2:01 pm

I've travelled the outer coast on the peninsula a few times. I was, er, bohred. It's flat, much of it. Logged, much of it. The Hoh rain forest is nice in that it's relatively preserved, but I grew up in a rain forest, so I'm not impressed. Crescent Lake is pretty, but then so are a thousand other lakes. Hurricane Ridge was impressive, but you need a little commitment to get there. If you want to say you've been to Tokeland and Humptulips, then it's a good trip. Otherwise, meh.

dhoch14 · Post by **dhoch14** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 2:25 pm

I wasn't too impressed either. Nonetheless, it's a neat lil (read LONG) drive. Perhaps an oregon 101 trip might be more enjoyable?

-d

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 2:49 pm

I kind of figured as much, looking at maps. Heavy logging....
Must have been quite a wilderness to see in it's day.
What about the far NW tip of Washington? That looks interesting. Probably not worth the long drive though. Any spots on the Washington coast where you can actually bus-camp in solitude on the beach, without the state park ugliness? I'd love that.

Plan A was actually the s. Oregon coast but then the Olympics caught my eye. If it were up to me it'd be another wilderness trip but I gotta play soft for the family some times.

Westy78 · Post by **Westy78** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:00 pm

Like the others I wasn't at all impressed with the outside section of 101. Boring, clear cut, not really any views. Crescent Lake is very nice though. The rain forest is where we had those tenacious little mice too. I wouldn't ever bother going that way again. You only get to see the actual ocean for a few miles, like under 10. The inside section along Hood Canal is very nice though. You also have to have a pass to camp anywhere in the Olympic National Park. Sites aren't cheap either.

chitwnvw · Post by **chitwnvw** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 9:03 pm

OMFG, PCNW snobs.

Try driving downstate Illinois. Or Iowa. Or Montana.

skin daddio · Post by **skin daddio** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:56 am

101 loops are perfect for soft family times. lake ozette, there is a three mile hike to the beach on a board walk that was enjoyable. the walk takes you past meadows, forest, sweet smells - a nice little skip to lands end. i thought it was worth making. here's a shot of the lake a few feet from the parked bus.

i'd think it'd be a good cruise on a new t1 engine. wasn't much traffic in june 03. port townsend was okay. better than average co-op, very retro though expensive drive-in theatre. extremely doable in six days. i wouldn't consider without some willapa oysters on the bay. but that's off the route in oysterville. only good camping out there is at the cemetery. mayhaps there is morning fresh shellfish pickup on the east side of willapa.

yondermtn · Post by **yondermtn** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 3:59 pm

I did the loop a couple years ago. It was my first time to Washington. We had a great time and there were no crowds in late August.

Crescent Lake

justgimmecoffee · Post by **justgimmecoffee** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 3:43 am

beautiful pics.

Hammie, what about near one of the lakes, say Waldo lake or Detroit.. or yea, maybe something up in Warshington? gotta be someplace close, by a lake or river thats not overwhelmed.

I mean, there's no reason to travel, say to Murphysboro State Park. I hear they trap opossums out there.

glasseye · Post by **glasseye** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:42 am

Ever done the North Cascades Highway? WA 20 from Sedro Woolley, WA to Winthrop, WA? Worth the drive in both directions. Kicks spots off the Olympic Peninsula, IMHO.

It's a highway that has attached the three magic words that are a dead give-away for a great highway. "Closed In Winter".

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 7:23 am

Thanks Glasseye I'll check that out.
No snobs; when you're buying apples from a big bin you just avoid the ones with spots. Yes all nature is beautiful, but unfortunately the PNW has been hit very hard by "resource extraction" so some areas are pretty ripped up and not much fun. You ever camp in a clearcut? Bleah.

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:06 am

Anyone recommend any "must see" experiences on the S. Oregon coast?

skin daddio · Post by **skin daddio** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:49 am

can be cold and foggy this time of year. country fair is the place to be.

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:01 am

You Gener's gonna be around on the 17th? Not exactly sure but would like to spend a nite in your fair town. Or not depending on how the winds blow. I'm letting the better 1/2 plan this trip.
If not now then soon. Seriously.

flatlander · Post by **flatlander** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:30 am

hambone wrote: I'm not sure how doable this is in 6 days anyway.

My cousin and I drove from Anchorage AK to Phoenix AZ in 5 days. I'm partial to thinking almost any trip is "doable", but it totally depends on how much time we want to spend driving versus how much time we want to spend sitting around poking at a fire with a stick.

chitwnvw wrote: OMFG, PCNW snobs.

Try driving downstate Illinois. Or Iowa. Or Montana.

You crack me up chitwnvw. But seriously, I was thinking Montana too. To be fair, I'm completely biased.

-Melissa

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Questions on US101

Questions on US101

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