Headed to WA

I’m going to be traveling to WA from CA in March. Been up there a handful of times just for work, but this will be my first time driving. I'll have a few days to burn. I'll be in the Olympia then Lynwood.

I'll be taking my truck. Any recommendations - trails? cool places to go? things to do?

 

Hey Breakdown, There are a couple cool truck trails in the Olympic National Forest. Take a drive up the 101 on the peninsula to Hamma Hamma, left turn and check out the campground and walk to the crystal clear Hamma Hamma river.
Then you can keep going up the road and it turns to dirt and it goes up to Jefferson Lake. Glacier clear water. You may see Deer, Elk, Eagles and even Bear in April.
If you want to do more of a "Wheeling" trip you can go to Tahuya. The capitol Nations Forest is a nice drive up to the top also.

 

What are the kinds of things that interest you?

 

I’ve done a few Bay Area to Portland solo one-shot drives recently and I5 isn’t too bad. I heard that taking the coastal route is really nice and apparently not too much longer depending on your final destination.

The thing thats saved me from boredom is podcasts and I also recommend getting a good book or two on audible.

I’ve also had two headlight bulbs go out (separately) on the trips, so it’s nice to have had a spare in the glovebox.

Smith Rock State Park is awesome and underrated imo. Not sure how it is right now due to weather though. Worth the trip through bend.

 

I'm entertained easily, ha. I'm leaning towards taking the coastal route then jumping back to 5 in WA. Any sort of trails, wheeling, snow sounds fun to a certain extent. Last thing I would want is to have a broken ride home. I'm on a LT with 37s.

 

I've done the coastal route many times (San Diego to Neah Bay). Strongly recommend doing that one way. Mostly stop and look at cool views and eat fresh seafood. You didn't say where you were starting from but Eureka CA northward IMHO is more north-west coast lines if you only do a part of the route.

Oregon's version of Pismo beach: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/siuslaw/recarea/?recid=42465
Some mild wheeling: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/tahuya-lookout-4wd-loop

I'll let other people chime in on what's good and passable in the cascades at this time of the year. On the coast I'd expect it to be cold, rainy and windy so pack a waterproof jacket.

 

Sacramento is the starting point.

 

Beach driving? This is outside of Seabrook. Bring a kite.

 

Sure why not! Where exactly?

 

Driving up the 101 a right turn at Hamma Hamma will get you soaking wet in a hurry. And Hood Canal is a toasty 47*…

Go LEFT

 

Right here, exactly...

https://maps.app.goo.gl/HfoCxLqYhtMNJgLZ9

But you can drive on many beaches in WA and OR.

 

LOL! My other right! Thanks Tire Fire!

 

Coast in March, meh.. might be nice days.. not sure if you’d deem out of the way but cutting in to 97 somewhere to hit central Oregon/Bend and then 26 past mt hood.. see some snow

 

Not sure if your trip happened already but forecast is beautiful the next few days on the Oregon Coast.

I’m based near Tacoma WA & heading down the coast on a 4 day camping road trip starting tomorrow morning - supposed to be mostly sunny and high 60s; lucky break for the timing! Fingers crossed it sticks

 

Not yet, I was planning on next week but looks like it got pushed back one more week. Planning on leaving a day or two early so I can just cruise the coast on the way up. I haven’t really made solid plans yet but it’s on my to do list.

 

You will be passing up the coast during whale watching season. Bring some binoculars. If you have a topper, I'd camp the entire way. If no topper, you will be stowing a wet tent even if it doesn't rain.

Here's a list of considerations.
Elk viewing in Prairie Creek State Park. Rosevelt Elk are the largest subspecies of Elk. Although the California herds appear to be a bit smaller than the northern Oregon coast herds, still majestic and worth a look.
Pull into Ferndale for coffee. The downtown is a National Historic District of preserved Victorian buildings and a step back in time.
From Crescent City, drive Howland Hill Road through Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. Home of the biggest Redwoods in the world. https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/drivehowlandhillrd.htm
Check out the harbor in Brookings Oregon.
Stop at the visitors center in Port Orford and ask if whales have been spotted. They may direct you to docents along the coast for tips on viewing.
Take Beaverhill Road of off 101 north of Bandon to drive through Charleston to see what the Oregon Coast looked like 50 years ago.
After having lunch in the old-town of Florence, visit the Haceta Head Lighthouse.
Pull over at Thor's Well and watch the ocean seemingly drain. https://www.yachatsoregon.org/295/Thors-Well
Veer off of 101 and drive the Three Capes route from Pacific City heading north for views.
If it's a clear day, hike up Neahkahnie mountain for panoramic views of the beach town of Manzanita https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Neahkahnie_Mountain_from_South_Hike
Get fish and chips at the Bowpicker in Astoria before heading over the bridge into Washington.

 

It’s great weather on the coast right now.

Roosevelt Beach