Best Route for Photo Ops between Oregon's North Coast and Portland
Jul 23, 2018 07:54:15 #
btbg wrote:
202 is mostly forest, but there are a couple of nice little streams and it opens up into meadow against a small river when you get near Astoria.
Good to know, btbg. Heavily forested doesn't sound good for photography. Might be better to take a fast route back and visit the Rose & Japanese Gardens in Portland.
Jul 23, 2018 08:01:06 #
AzPicLady wrote:
I came DOWN the coast from the Washington point to Portland. Camped along the coast wherever possible. The coastline is beautiful. I did a few waterfalls along the Columbia, then took off on old Rte. 30 when I found it was the old Oregon Trail. I stopped at all the wagon trail stops, following the ruts. It was a nice trip. But I have to admit I was surprised at how COLD I was. I finally drove inland until I was warm when I got out of the truck.
I know what you mean about cold--when I was on the Oregon Coast back in June of 2014, the temps were in the 40's until on up in the day, and the wind was brutal on the shore. Drove inland 5-10 miles and it was all the difference in the world. The scenery is still worth the discomfort, though.
Jul 23, 2018 08:05:59 #
Leland22 wrote:
If you like waterfalls-Silver Falls State Park-Excellent.
I agree, Leland, Silver Falls is a wonderful destination--I've visited a couple of times. Not sure if we'll get over that direction or not. But I do definitely love waterfalls!
Jul 23, 2018 08:12:26 #
Kuzano wrote:
Confusing to say the least, so many suggestions. S... (show quote)
That is a wonderful museum, Kuzano! Went there many years ago and would go again if my photo pal is interested. Love your shot through the glass.
Jul 23, 2018 08:20:49 #
Keven wrote:
If you want a beautiful drive and lots of photo opps then take Interstate 84 east from Portland to Hood River and be sure to stop at Multnomah Falls. At Hood River exit 84 and take Highway 34 south and it takes you around Mt Hood and connects to Highway 26 that takes you back to Portland. This makes a great day trip.
Keven
Keven
I haven't ruled out going to the east of Portland, Keven. I've been along the Columbia River several times (though it has all the burn damage now), but not on the Mt. Hood scenic loop. That still interests me, especially the Trillium Lake area near Government Camp. Love Multnomah!
Jul 23, 2018 08:24:12 #
TheShoe wrote:
When you cross into WA, avoid the I-5 bridge like it is a nasty disease, because it is. It may take up to 2.5 hours to cross if you go I-5; I-205 is much better. Swimming would probably be faster than I-5. That crossing is the major choke point on the only N/S route in the area, and there is too much traffic on a highway that was built in the 1960s.
Thanks for the heads up, Shoe--I definitely don't want to waste precious hours on "a freeway looking like a parking lot" (in the words of James Taylor)!
Jul 23, 2018 10:55:07 #
TheShoe wrote:
When you cross into WA, avoid the I-5 bridge like it is a nasty disease, because it is. It may take up to 2.5 hours to cross if you go I-5; I-205 is much better. Swimming would probably be faster than I-5. That crossing is the major choke point on the only N/S route in the area, and there is too much traffic on a highway that was built in the 1960s.
I crossed on a VERY LONG and VERY high bridge. Since I'm afraid of bridges, I actually looked for a way to avoid it. But no. And, at the end of the bridge, the road turned right and there was immediately another bridge! So I sang Joy to the World at the top of my lungs all the way!
Jul 23, 2018 13:35:02 #
AzPicLady wrote:
I crossed on a VERY LONG and VERY high bridge. Since I'm afraid of bridges, I actually looked for a way to avoid it. But no. And, at the end of the bridge, the road turned right and there was immediately another bridge! So I sang Joy to the World at the top of my lungs all the way!
I am with you on avoiding big bridges.
Born in Miami, I was terrified of the huge causeways with the sections of highway that raised to allow large vessels through--I was always afraid the bridge would lift up and we'd go over the edge...as I had seen in an old gangster movie. 
Jul 27, 2018 22:45:08 #
Jewell Meadows is a great stop, especially in evening when the elk are moving across the meadow. Or you could go further north and hit Mt. St. Helens, although it is out of the way.
Jul 28, 2018 01:35:21 #
dmeyer wrote:
Good to know, btbg. Heavily forested doesn't sound good for photography. Might be better to take a fast route back and visit the Rose & Japanese Gardens in Portland.
I don't know how well you can walk, but there are two pretty nice waterfalls available from 202. Fishhawk falls and Youngs River Falls. Both require wading to get the best shots of them, but they are pretty nice. Youngs River Falls is no more than 100 feet from the trailhead. Fishhawk falls is accessed by a 1/2 mile hike upstream from a little county park. Once you get to the falls the best photos are from wading up the left side of the falls over a couple of logs. The falls are also visible from the top where there is an unsigned turnout.
Also the Youngs river from Astoria upstream is pretty farmland. So it's all a matter of what you would rather photograph.
Ignore the people who are saying to go up the Columbia Gorge. A whole bunch of it is still closed. Some that is open is now only accessible from one end, and there is currently a lot of smoke from fires at least at the east end of the gorge. Given the weather it is unlikely that they are going to get all the fires out before you get to Oregon.
Also, there has been a fire at Silver Falls State Park this summer, so you might want to check to see what damage it has caused if you are going to try to stop there. Also keep in mind that the entire waterfall loop is seven or eight miles and some of the best falls are pretty lengthy hikes. If that isn't a problem then it's a good stop. Just keep in mind that it has been a dry summer so the falls won't be as big as usual.
Jul 28, 2018 08:12:52 #
RolandDieter wrote:
Jewell Meadows is a great stop, especially in evening when the elk are moving across the meadow. Or you could go further north and hit Mt. St. Helens, although it is out of the way.
Thanks for sharing ideas with me, Roland. I had thought about swinging up to St. Helens, but it's a pretty slow drive and we'd be dealing with the traffic on a Friday afternoon coming back on I-5. The Meadow is the better possibility. I have revised the itinerary a bit so that we'll leave Portland and go up to the northern coast first, so we could be at the Meadow in the early AM for elk.
Jul 28, 2018 08:21:27 #
btbg wrote:
I don't know how well you can walk, but there are ... (show quote)
Good feedback, btbg, thanks. The farmland sounds very interesting, since my travel buddy really enjoys photographing farms and old barns. I'll check that out on mapping. As for me, I dearly love the waterfalls but am limited on the walking these days--foot problems--and don't do perspectives from the water or climb over boulders anymore.
The fires at the east end of the gorge are a concern, though, because I had wanted to leave Silverton and cut across to Trillium Lake and then continue around Parkdale for the farmlands. Is the east side of the Mt. Hood Loop affected by fires, or only the area along the gorge?
Jul 28, 2018 20:17:19 #
Right now the fires are out of The Dalles, but they are sucking smoke into Hood River. Anything west of there may still be ok. I don't know as I haven't been west since the fires started.
Jul 29, 2018 09:56:56 #
btbg wrote:
Right now the fires are out of The Dalles, but they are sucking smoke into Hood River. Anything west of there may still be ok. I don't know as I haven't been west since the fires started.
Thanks for the feedback!
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.