Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Fortunately smoke is not bad in No Central CA now from Yosemite to Tahoe and - we live nearby- west to the Coast. Are you driven after Reno? So much to see and do in Reno/Tahoe/Virginia City/Yosemite.

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

The Los Angeles area is currently having "the largest wild fire ever (59,000 acres and spreading)" City and State Emergencies declared. Good luck for good visibility.

Kuzano

HUUGE!!!!!!! Problem in Central Oregon. Visibility less than 1/4 mile every day since the eclipse. Hot, hot, hot. No mountain shots for days. Fire in the mountain passes is making 2-3 he trips 6-10 hrs long.

Chetco fire measures now in sq miles and may burn for weeks or months.

Traffic moving to the Coast is exceeding traffic capacity.

barbie.lewis Loc: Livingston, Texas

Depends upon what you want to see and photograph.
We just completed a 24-day 2,700-mile trip from Los Angeles to Bend, Oregon for the eclipse, then up to Coeur d'Alene in northern Idaho, over to Flathead Lake in Montana, then down through Utah and into Las Vegas.
Yes, the entire area is blanketed in smoke. Large landscapes and majestic mountains are totally unphotographable. When we were there Glacier atonal Park and Crater Lake National Park were pretty much lost causes. But there are still plenty of people and places and details to see, to enjoy, and to photograph.
And there are possibilities to use the haze to advantage in mid-distance photos. I took a very nice photograph of one of the bridges over the Crooked River and the smoke/haze added a sense of infinite mystery to the background.
Consider a trip through the Columbia River Gorge between Oregon and Washington (best views are heading east along the Oregon side on I-84 although difficult to pull over for photos). The north side along Washington 14 offers some nice views and interesting places like the American Stonehenge in Maryhill, Washington, but overall less spectacular.
Visit the town of The Dalles along that route and walk through town looking at the murals and buildings.
Along the Oregon coast be sure to visit Astoria and the Astoria Column and Tillamook, Oregon (especially if you like aircraft museums and great ice cream!).
In Seattle, Washington there are great sights and pictures, be sure to visit the Pikes Place Market. And the Olympic National Park's Hoh Rainforest Trail.
Oh, and if you love trains visit the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, California!
Life and photography are what you make them, and smoke and fires need not ruin your trip. Enjoy!

Alby144 Loc: Northern Nevada

One of my "dream trips" is to drive from here (Reno) north to Lassen, then to Mt. Shasta and Crater Lakes. After that cut over to the coast near Crescent City, down through the Redwoods and then work our way back through the Sierra to home. There's a lot to see in the Northern Nevada Northern California area, that is for certain.

One Rude Dawg Loc: Athol, ID

Hayden Lake Idaho area East of Spokane Washington. Right now I can see about a mile through the smoke, have been in it for several weeks, comes and goes but have had few clear days. Kind of like sitting real close to a campfire, smells like that and is hard on the eyes and lungs. On the kind of bright side you can get all the red sunrise shots you want.

the hiker Loc: San Diego

From Reno to Yosemie is 145 miles down 395 about 40 miles shorter to Bodie witch you have to go right bye to get to Yosemie.There are wildfires in the Yosemie area also check with cal trans about road conditions. From Reno you could take hwy 80 over to the coast than head up into or.but you would miss Yosemie if you did that.

russchristopher

I live on the central OR coast and we are even having smoky air issues here. Late summer is a risky time to travel to the West Coast, be it CA, OR, WA or ID, because we are a winter rain area and by late summer the dry brush is just waiting to burn. New fires break out almost daily, so as the Gorge was fine two days ago, it is burning today. There is some rain expected on Thursday, 9/7, but not likely to make a big difference. Also wind direction can change day to day, so one day you might be in the clear 200 miles from a fire and the next day be smoky. The main issue is not the photographic quality primarily. It is the burning eyes and irritated breathing that occurs from even small concentrations of smoke. Bottom line: Stay as close to the beach as possible and venture inland only for days when the wind will clear out the smoke from your target areas.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Wow, sounds terrible fire wise. We have personal affairs to take care of in Reno so that part is still on. Rest of trip looking to be different from original plans barring a miraculous change in the weather.
Thanks again to all, nothing beats hands on experience.

Mustanger Loc: Grants Pass, Oregon USA

Southern Oregon to the Middle of Oregon is horrible! Smoke in the Grants Pass/ Medford area clear to the Coast Brookings/ Crescent City (Ca) is the at the dangerous unhealthy level! Highway 101 on the Oregon Coast is generally closed except for residents & Emergency crews! Visibility is just a couple blocks in my home locale of Grants Pass where Hiway 199 goes to the Coast! I% North has smoke & variable visibility until Eugene....only the tip of the Oregon Coast is clear & Air Quality is good! Right below Astoria.... More Southernly parts of the Coast have variable smoke, intense at times to limited times of Moderate air. Here is a pic in my town yesterday of what should be a range of foothills & Mountains.... Visibility just measured in yards!

Another pic of going up I5 also of the surrounding Mountains...that you cannot see!

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

YA - Start at MT Rose to No. Tahoe, Truckee, Donner Pass & Lake - then No on #89 and make your loop back - fantastic "Bucket list" trip.
Done it in several trips over many years.



of my "dream trips" is to drive from here (Reno) north to Lassen, then to Mt. Shasta and Crater Lakes. After that cut over to the coast near Crescent City, down through the Redwoods and then work our way back through the Sierra to home. There's a lot to see in the Northern Nevada Northern California area, that is for certain.[/quote]

Mrsmoses Loc: Oregon

Parts of I-84 is closed because of the wild fires..hopefully by the time the poster is going through there a lot of the fires will be out but no rain in site.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Yes and they are evacuating several communities in that area. As noted no rain in sight.

For those who are not familiar: 1-84 is the east-west route along the Washington-Oregon border through the Columbia River Gorge, and home to numerous water falls. There isn't another East-West interstate that transects Oregon. Unless you stay north on I-90, there's a good chance you will be turned back. Expect long delays if you detour on some of the state routes.... I-84 is heavily used by long haul truckers...so they'll also be seeking alternate routes.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Again, thanks to all who have commented, We have pretty much given up on Or. Wa. and Idaho much to my disappointment. We are still going to Reno and maybe Utah but I gotta say, what a bummer!
Glad I started this thread though, would of really stunk to take the northern route into Idaho and then learn this the hard way.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

It's worth the trip, just not a good time right now....