Olympic National Park, mostly

My May 2023 trip will be to Washington and Oregon. I’m starting in the north part of Olympic National Park for a couple of days (Lake Crescent Lodge), then moving south to Lake Quinault Lodge. Any advice for attacking this huge park? What are the must sees and what are the it’s ok to skips?

From there I am taking a day to drive a bit of the Oregon coast, then heading to the Columbia River Gorge/ Mt. Hood area. Anything I must do here? Best stops along the northern part of the Oregon coast?

Then it’s quick stops to look at Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Ranier, just because, before flying home.

It looked like Crater Lake was too far south to fit in. Should I rethink this? I don’t want to add days because I know with the trip as planned I will be tired of living out of my suitcase and at my limit for actually absorbing what I’m seeing.

 

It might be too far south, but I was stunned at the size of the sand dunes in Florence OR.

 

You might want to check out Port Townsend, particularly Fort Worden where they filmed Officer and a Gentlemen - it's right on the northeaster tip of the peninsula. Check out Astoria (the Column), and drive across the mouth of the Columbia, Tillamook, (the Cheese) and then head back to Portland on 26 at Seaside. You will see a lot of the coast - Cannon Beach/Haystack Rock is great too. Take 84 out to Hood River (the city) and then wind back on 35 - it will take you around Mt. Hood. Major point of interest is the Vista House and Timberline Lodge. Make sure you fill up your tank once you get off the freeway to go to Mt. St. Helens. Also - check the weather, local conditions/livecame - you may want to adjust which day you go to ensure you can see it when you get up there. Visibility is sometimes hit and miss.

May is too early for Crater Lake - access may still be blocked by snow. Better to go between August and October.

 

I'll echo Dan about Mount Rainier. Much of the park isn't accessible until late June, especially anything on the north side of the mountain.

 

Regarding the Oregon Coast, Astoria and Cannon Beach are good places to visit, as mentioned.

I've always enjoyed the beach at Manzanita, and there's some really good restaurants in town. If you enjoy hiking and a bit of workout, the views from nearby Neahkahnie Mountain are great.

Neahkahnie Mountain Loop Hike - Hiking in Portland, Oregon and Washington

 

Vista House and Multnomah Falls are things to see in the Gorge. There's also a Stonehenge-type thing on the Washington side.

 

Get the ice cream at the Tillamook creamery. So, so good.

The trailhead outside of town lets you switchback to the beach, or you can take the other trail and end up at a lookout point. That’s a great place to see whales.

 

My favorite hike in Oregon -- Saddle Mountain: Saddle Mountain Hike - Hiking in Portland, Oregon and Washington

 

One I remember is a hike around Horsetail Falls.

I need to get out there again.

 

Looking back on it now, it was incredibly stupid, but I hiked the Crater Lake rim alone. It was absolutely amazing. I highly recommend Crater Lake. Better than Rainier, I think.

 

Half the fun is getting there: Interstate 84 between Portland and Pendleton is, without a doubt, the prettiest stretch of interstate highway.

 

Thanks for all the advice. I love road trips and while I can’t fit in everything I would like to see this trip, it sounds like there will be some great drives.

I know Mt. Rainier is iffy in late May. I’m OK with that, although I would like to get the nerdy National Parks passport stamp. Getting the stamps started as a joke but somehow turned into a quest. I’m still annoyed I couldn’t get one for Kenai Fjords National Park last year. Anyway, I will remain hopeful but be ready to change plans.

Also thanks for the link to the hiking trail site. Since I do these trips alone and have zero sense of direction, I stick mostly to well marked trails - let me mention how much I hate slick rock on trails - with enough traffic that I’m likely to run into someone within an hour or so.

I thought Tillamook was just cheese. Ice cream totally changes my interest in making a stop there.