Suggestions for 4-5 day trip over 4th of July

Looking for suggestions of someplace to visit and photograph over the 4th this year. My family (wife and daughter 9) are based out of Sandy, OR (just outside Portland). Open to all suggestions, if its under 6 hours we will drive to it no problem. We love camping so no need for fancy hotels

Ok, so whats your ideas.

Side note ... we have done the northern Oregon Coast, and the falls along the columbia, we are headed to smith rock and painted hills in March.

Heya,

Crater lake?

Very best,

If you could stretch it to 9 hours that'd get you to Glacier. My favorite national park, unless I'm in Yosemite, then that's my favorite.

Tony-S wrote in post #16622477
If you could stretch it to 9 hours that'd get you to Glacier. My favorite national park, unless I'm in Yosemite, then that's my favorite.

O yes Glacier is a magical place, made two trips there last year, a 4 day weekend in May then back for 10 days over the 4th last year. Wish to God I could talk my wife into that trip again, maybe in 2015.

MalVeauX wrote in post #16622248
Heya,

Crater lake?

Very best,

Will do some research tomorrow at work, it was on my radar so will see what I can come up with.

If you go to Glacier stop at the National Bison range in Dixon.
It's north of Missoula about 40 miles. It has a 16 mile drive (2-3 hours) thru loop where you can see Bison, Elk, Black Bear, Big Horn Sheep, Antelope, and deer.
Then head to St. Ignatius (about 10 miles and see the St Ignatius Catholic Mission.
Built in 1891, the interior is STUNNING!!!! and well worth the time.

rent a fire lookout...

you have 21 to chose from in oregon...

ACKER ROCK
BALD BUTTE
BALD KNOB
BEAR BASIN
BOLAN MOUNTAIN
CLEAR LAKE CABIN
DRAKE PEAK
FAIRVIEW PEAK
FALL MOUNTAIN
FIVEMILE BUTTE
FLAG POINT
GOLD BUTTE
GREEN RIDGE
HAGER MOUNTAIN
INDIAN RIDGE
LAKE OF THE WOODS
LITTLE MT. HOFFMAN
ONION MOUNTAIN
PICKETT BUTTE
SNOW CAMP
WARNER MOUNTAIN

I have been looking into renting a lookout for some time now, looks like it would be a fun getaway. Migth maybe do that with just the wife for our anniversery.

I think my girls decided on a central to southern oregon coast trip, looping back up through crater lake and coming home via eastern oregon. Now to see what can be done in the days we have to work with. Will leave Portland Tuesday evening, and make camp someplace on the coast that evening.

Olympic National Park, Washington.
Cascade Lakes Highway, outside of Bend, OR
Frenchglen and the Alvord Desert, Oregon (the most beautiful corner of this wonderful state)
Smith River, N California.

The last two are probably 7 - 8 hours drive, but oh boy are they worth it.

Skagit Valley in Washington State.
Camping at Lightning Lakes - Manning Provincial Park, BC. Look up the campsite reservation system on the BC Provincial Park website.

photoboy99 wrote in post #19113142
Nice list of fire lookouts. This page has images for 53 of them, including 15 in Oregon:

https://campinghiking.​net …ch-tower-lookout-rentals/

It also has details for each fire lookout, like map location, directions to get there, and ability to reserve online.

Hope that helps!

Photoboy99, you should check the date when you reply to a thread. This post was originally from 2014.

John from PA wrote in post #19113168
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Photoboy99, you should check the date when you reply to a thread. This post was originally from 2014.
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Awwww .... looks like you scared him away, as his post has been deleted. . And that's a shame, because it contained useful information.

The thing about these threads that I think is great is that they do not just exist for the OP who starts them. . They serve as an archival research tool for anyone in the world who is interested in the topic from now until the end of time. . For this reason, it is good to keep these threads going indefinitely, and to continue to post pertinent information.

When we respond to such threads, yeah, we are kinda giving helpful suggestions to the OP. . But what we are REALLY doing, mostly, is creating a database of information for others to use from now all the way into forever. . And this is the reason why no threads should ever just die. . More info on any topic is always going to be useful to someone at some time.


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Tom Reichner wrote in post #19188701
Awwww .... looks like you scared him away, as his post has been deleted.

If you go to the link that you imbedded (https://campinghiking.​net …ch-tower-lookout-rentals/) I think everything is still there. Also if you use the search feature, and search by member name “Photoboy99” there is no such member by that name. I’m not sure what if anything happens when you cancel your forum participation, nor do I want to test the feature.

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I just think it's great that his post that you quoted still shows up in your post, even though that post of his was deleted and his user account no longer exists. . This is why I use the "quote' feature so often - because I want the content to remain here on POTN even if the person who posts it decides to remove it at some point.


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scottsoutter wrote in post #16634574
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Frenchglen and the Alvord Desert, Oregon (the most beautiful corner of this wonderful state)
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I also recommend this area for an easy-to-drive-to 4 day getaway.

The Alvord Desert is so unique - just so different than any other area of land that I have ever seen.

And it is also so user-friendly! . I mean, you are allowed to just drive your car on it without any restraint or regulations or anything. . Just go out there and do whatever you want! . Drive 100 miles an hour, make a huge bonfire, set up a camp and live there for a week - it's all unregulated (or at least generally unenforced) and it's all free!

In that area you also have the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, as well as the Steens Mountain Loop. . And the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, as well! . And hot springs here and there. . So much natural beauty to take in and so many nature-related activities!

Burns and Lakeview are the gateway communities where you can get supplies, fuel, groceries, etc.