Redwood national Park and Crater Lake questions..

[rattlsnak]

I'm traveling on Aug 1st. to North Bend, Or. and have three days off and want to drive down to see Redwood NP and then Crater Lake NP and if enough time, possibly Oregon Caves NP. I need to make a loop that heads back towards North Bend by the third night or sooner if possible.

On the Redwoods website, they don't really give info on what parts of park to see so to speak. It says, "you could be in it for 100 miles and not even know you are in it". I won't have much time for hiking and I looked at the map and there are trails everywhere, so which part would be best to see the big trees by car for a few hours? The park is so spread out and I see the main visitors center but then I see a few trails marked tall trees that are far away from that.

Basically, I see three main parts of the Redwood Park system - Jedediah Smith, Del Norte and Prairie Creek. What is what? Anyone?


And How is Crater lake or the Caves? Worth going to see?

[look 171]

Warning: Cascadia

[rattlsnak]

Ha!

[LWJ]

South 101 to crescent city.

I think we went to Jed Smith only. I just looked on the map but I didn't see what I was looking for. Go to Crescent City (wow, what a dump!) and stop at the info center. You can have a great time in a day.

Take the highway to Grants Pass on to Crater Lake. If you are fortunate, there is lodging before grants pass in a treehouse. Probably full now. The road is somewhat slow and curvy. The lake is beautiful. A sunset would be nice there. The lodge is killer as well and you should at least stop to check it out. You could drive to Roseburg and stay in the one bed and breakfast their and go to Abecela winery in Winston the next day. They have warmer weather varietals than most of oregon and I prefer them.

Then loop back to north bend.

Done.

Have fun. Bring a camera.

Larry

[gtc]

I thought the caves were pretty awesome, and definitely worth a visit.

I think three days should be enough time to see all three.

Avoid Seal Rock, to the north. It's pretty lame.

[Bugsinrugs]

Went through the caves with a couple of friends and we were all on acid. Best cave trip ever! At the beginning of the tour they turn off the lights to demonstrate how dark it is. My friend lets out " look at all the lights". At that point the tour guy knew.

[john hejmanowsk]

Yikes. finally a subject on this board that i know about.
If you want redwoods go to Redwood NP. The trees are spectacular. If you are used to the woods north of ATL, Redwood NP will leave you speechless.
Get out of the car and walk. The park trails are excellant. Pick out a long one, pack a lunch and water, and spend the whole day, the whole day, walking it. These are world class trails, simply spectacular, and fairly easy. Maxi elevation of 1000 ft. Check the weather. Bring a rain coat. Bring a flash light. Walking these trails at night is special and they are very easy to follow.
Redwood NP has the tallest measured redwood, ~270 ft.
Drive down to Trinidad for dinner. There is a restaurant on the warf that is nice.
Stay at the Lost Whale B&B or across the street at the View Crest Lodge if you need something cheaper.
drive as much of 101 as you can. Georgia has nothing like it.
If i was you i'd skip Crater Lake. I have been there, it's nice. But once is enough and the coast is nicer.
I would head to Bandon OR, stay there a night. then drive 101 to the Lost Whale. Then walk a long trail in Redwoods NP. Then drive back, all the while wishing you had another week.
Can you tell i like the place?
John H

[Eric Hahl]

Is Crater Lake worth it? It was last week when I was there. We did the Trees of Mystery off Hwy 101, then drove up 199 toward Crater Lake.

Here's a couple of shots.

[rattlsnak]

Thanks all. It will be a time compressed trip for sure but we land in North Bend at 9am, that should put us in Jed Smith before 1pm. Will stay there until dark, then head over to Grant's Pass for the night, do the caves in the morning, then head over to Crater Lake and over to Rosebud for the night, and then over to Brandon Dunes for night #3 and then fly out the next morning. I definitely wish I had more time, but I try to make the most of whatever I get.

[LWJ]

Good times. Thanks for coming. Spend lots! We don't have sales tax.

[tabs]

As he drives by he says "Yeah I saw it."

You are trying to bite off more than you can chew. To do justice to seeing these places you need more time.

I did a circuit of seeing Lassen Volcanic Park, Lava Beds, Klamath falls, Crater Lake, Grants Pass, Oregon Caves and the Red Woods. There used to be a USNP camp ground right on the beach where the Red Woods came down to the water. One morning a herd of Elk was just making it's way up the road with the bull following his cows. Then it was down to Fort Bragg and the train ride to Wilets. It was a memorable trip.

[rattlsnak]

I'm well aware of that, but driving by and seeing a place I will very likely never get a chance to see again is much better than not even driving by at all. This is a work trip and I am very fortunate to have any free time at all.

[rattlsnak]

Just got back... What a great trip!! Flew into North Bend and drove right down the 101 towards Jed Smith.. We got there about noon and walked around in several groves and on a few hiking trails. Crazy a$$ big trees!
We left there about 5 and made it to Oregon Caves NP in time to catch the last tour at 6:30. (talk about an AWESOME twisty mountain road). We overnighted in Grant's Pass and then headed to Crater Lake the next day. It was quite spectacular but there was a lot of smoke in the air so the views weren't as good as I had hoped. We spent most of the day there exploring and drove all the way back to Bandon Dunes Resort near Coos Bay that night. (Another great drive!) Day three was golfing all day at the resort.

It was a great road trip covering three days, 684 miles, three National Parks and a day of golfing at that 5 star resort.!

[LWJ]

Cool! Glad you enjoyed it.