Best Route for Photo Ops between Oregon's North Coast and Portland
Jul 21, 2018 17:52:08 #
Is anyone who is familiar with the various routes that link either Cannon Beach or Astoria to Portland able to help me out with the last day of my upcoming trip the first week of September?
I traveled OR Hwy. 30 following the Columbia several years ago but don't recall anything notable. I was having problems with my eyes at the time, though, and stayed on the highway without venturing onto any detours. Did I miss some goodies?
What about using OR #30 as far as Longview, WA, and coming down I-5 to Woodland and following Hwy. 503 along the Lewis River?
Would crossing the Columbia onto WA Hwy. 4 offer more landscape scenery?
If none of those routes, any other options like Hwy. 203 through Jewell?
We'll have the entire day for photography. Thanks for any suggestions.
I traveled OR Hwy. 30 following the Columbia several years ago but don't recall anything notable. I was having problems with my eyes at the time, though, and stayed on the highway without venturing onto any detours. Did I miss some goodies?
What about using OR #30 as far as Longview, WA, and coming down I-5 to Woodland and following Hwy. 503 along the Lewis River?
Would crossing the Columbia onto WA Hwy. 4 offer more landscape scenery?
If none of those routes, any other options like Hwy. 203 through Jewell?
We'll have the entire day for photography. Thanks for any suggestions.
Jul 21, 2018 18:14:41 #
dmeyer wrote:
Is anyone who is familiar with the various routes ... (show quote)
Personally, I would drive due west out of Portland to Tillamook. There, I’d buy some wine and Tillamook cheese. Then, I’d drive north to Short Sands Beach and have a picnic, taking time to walk to the beach and enjoy the tide pools and anemones and the multi colored starfish in the small caves and crevices uncovered by the low tide (and I’d be careful on the slippery rocks and pay attention to the occasional rogue wave). I’d then drive north to Haystack Rock and Cannon beach and turn back east to Portland, making sure to see The Portland Rose Gardens (if you haven’t already) before going home. Just my personal preference - Oregon natives may have better advice...
Jul 21, 2018 18:33:16 #
jerry43
Loc: Central California
I would go west from Portland and get on the coastal route and follow it all the way to Ca. There is Plenty of photo ops along the way and in every town that you will go through
Jul 21, 2018 18:37:55 #
dmeyer wrote:
Is anyone who is familiar with the various routes ... (show quote)
There is a website called roadtrippers.com that you may put in various routes and it will show you photo ops along the way. It is a great site for road trips.
Jul 21, 2018 23:05:16 #
TriX wrote:
Personally, I would drive due west out of Portland... (show quote)
My photo pal and I make a couple of trips each year that are concentrated on photography, so we really don't do the leisurely 'couples' thing. I have done the things you mention years ago with my husband, though, and had a great time!
Jul 21, 2018 23:11:26 #
jerry43 wrote:
I would go west from Portland and get on the coastal route and follow it all the way to Ca. There is Plenty of photo ops along the way and in every town that you will go through
Actually, we are going down the coast--we'll reach the coast at Lincoln City and work our way down to the Redwoods, then back up the coast either to Seaside or Astoria. The trip will allow us 8 days on the ground. I've been to Oregon several times and am looking forward to re-visiting so many of the wonderful points of interest along the coast. Just wish I was more familiar with the north corner of the state.
Jul 21, 2018 23:12:07 #
dmeyer wrote:
Is anyone who is familiar with the various routes ... (show quote)
Portland
Head north on SE 7th Ave toward SE Madison St
256 ft
Turn left at the 1st cross street onto SE Madison St
0.4 mi
Keep left to continue on SW Hawthorne Bridge
0.4 mi
Continue onto SW Main St
0.6 mi
Turn left onto SW 13th Ave
0.2 mi
Turn right onto the US-26 W ramp to Oregon Zoo/Forestry Center
0.3 mi
Continue onto US-26 W
Pass by Dairy Queen (on the left in 26.4 mi)
73.5 mi
Merge onto US-101 S
4.2 mi
Turn right onto Sunset Blvd
0.2 mi
Turn right onto S Hemlock St
0.3 mi
Cannon Beach, Oregon
Jul 21, 2018 23:14:49 #
orrie smith wrote:
There is a website called roadtrippers.com that you may put in various routes and it will show you photo ops along the way. It is a great site for road trips.
Wow, how cool is that! Great suggestion, orrie smith, thanks! Now I have several points of interest to research.
Jul 22, 2018 01:02:39 #
dmeyer wrote:
Is anyone who is familiar with the various routes ... (show quote)
A couple of ideas that are less likely to be mentioned would be to detour to Jewell Meadows. There is a large elk heard there that at times is very close to the highway. There are a set of several meadows, two which are right on highway 202 I believe and one that is a couple of miles off of the highway.
Another choice would be to take highway 36 and stop at Camp 18. It is a restaurant, but not an ordinary restaurant. It has a small logging museum on the property, a bunch of old logging equipment and inside the restaurant there are a bunch of old logging photos. No cost for the little museum or wondering around and taking photos of the logging equipment, and at least the breakfasts are really good.
Jul 22, 2018 07:15:43 #
ken patton
Loc: Portland, OR
Hi, I agree except Camp 18 is on hwy 26. Camp 18 was an actual logging camp back in the day. The single beam roof support is the largest in the world (I believe). Made from a single tree. Great food all day. Exceptional Sunday brunch. We make the drive from Hillsboro OR often. Head south from Canon beach on hwy101 until you get to the 3 Capes lookout exit. Great views. Pacific City is another great stop...check out the last dory fleet launching/landing from the beach. Many colorful small towns on hwy101 between Tillamook and Canon beach. Lots of scenic pullouts overlooking the Pacific coast. Lighthouses and seals....Have fun.....
Jul 22, 2018 07:16:27 #
dmeyer wrote:
Is anyone who is familiar with the various routes ... (show quote)
If you are not locked into going west, you might think about going EAST to the Columbia river gorge. Take the old highway (scenic route) through Crown Point and along all the water falls. Slow, narrow road lots of pull outs to take pictures. You can go as far as Bridge of the Gods before you join the freeway. There is a dam with a fish ladder also. Unfortunately they flooded Celio falls when they built the dam. I can remover watching the Indians fishing with dip nets at the falls when I was a child.
Jul 22, 2018 09:14:14 #
PixelStan77 wrote:
Portland br Head north on SE 7th Ave toward SE Mad... (show quote)
Thank you for the routing, PixelStan. What is your jumping off point in Portland? Is this your recommended route based on quickest time or photo ops?
Jul 22, 2018 09:18:13 #
btbg wrote:
A couple of ideas that are less likely to be menti... (show quote)
Jewell Meadows sounds interesting. Have you traveled Hwy. 202 all the way to Astoria? If so, is it closed in by forest or are there open rolling hills?
You suggested Camp 18 to me several years back for another trip and I went there--neat experience, quite interesting.
Jul 22, 2018 09:20:49 #
Jul 22, 2018 09:23:44 #
ken patton wrote:
Hi, I agree except Camp 18 is on hwy 26. Camp 18 w... (show quote)
The coast is so full of neat photo compositions, I look forward to getting back. I liked the harbor and coast at Garibaldi a lot, and did a hike to Munson Creek Falls, too. Haven't spent the time at Pacific City, but will look into it more.
Have you traveled the route from Astoria along the Columbia at all? It is sounding like folks like Hwy 26 between Cannon Beach and Portland best.
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