Crater Lake NP - Oregon Caves NM - Redwoods NP - Lasen Volcanic Park

[FamilyMan]

Considering options for a family trip in August. One option is a road trip to see Crater Lake National Park, then Oregon Caves National Monument, then Redwoods National Park, and lastly Lasen Volcanic National Park, before heading back to our starting point in western Montana. Might pull the travel trailer or might go the hotel route. Who has been to any of the above, and what are your opinions/recommendations?

Also considering Red Lodge (MT), Beartooth Highway, Chief Joseph Highway, Cody (WY), and Thermopolis (WY) as an easier and more relaxing option (far less driving).

Appreciate any insights.

 

[406dn]

I can't help you one your plan A, but your plan B is in my neck of the woods.

All of it is spectacular scenery, but this summer is smokier than most summers. As I look out the window right now, I'd guess the visibility is ~5 miles. We are 45 miles from the Beartooth front, and it is hidden by smoke nearly every day.

 

[gouch]

Never been to Lasen but Crater Lake, Oregon Caves and the Redwoods are all worth a visit.

 

[Zak]

Lava Beds National Monument was a really neat surprise, it's worth looking into if you're into caves.

Tule Lake National Monument was still a work in progress when I was there a couple of years ago, not sure if things changed.

Redwoods is my favorite National Park FWIW (I've been to half of them), definitely worth taking the time to hike. It feels like a different world.

It's a very nice part of California, can't wait to go back myself.

 

[HONEYBADGER]

Lassen is currently closed due to the Park fire and it may remain that way for some time. It's getting burned right now.

 

[hank4elk]

Redwoods is something else. Good place to sit in a chair and ponder your smallness in it all.

 

[TRS_Montana]

We just did a similar trip. Western MT through Portland and down the OR coast to the redwoods, past Yosemite and back through Nevada. We stayed at hipcamps for most of it. The redwoods are mind blowing. One piece of advice is to stick to the redwood state parks instead of national parks. Just as awesome but without the crowds. We also did a fishing charter out of brookings OR. Caught our limit of rock fish and probably would have boated some lingcod but the boys had thrown up enough and wanted to head in after about 3 hours.
Also, the temperature is about 30 degrees cooler or more on the coast. This saved us. We avoided the 110+ heat for most of the trip. Definitely a fun trip but a lot of driving!

 

[44hunter45]

We just did a similar trip. Western MT through Portland and down the OR coast to the redwoods, past Yosemite and back through Nevada. We stayed at hipcamps for most of it. The redwoods are mind blowing. One piece of advice is to stick to the redwood state parks instead of national parks. Just as awesome but without the crowds. We also did a fishing charter out of brookings OR. Caught our limit of rock fish and probably would have boated some lingcod but the boys had thrown up enough and wanted to head in after about 3 hours.
Also, the temperature is about 30 degrees cooler or more on the coast. This saved us. We avoided the 110+ heat for most of the trip. Definitely a fun trip but a lot of driving!

Redwoods NP is amazing, but my favorite place to see the coastal redwoods in Big Basin State park in Boulder Creek, CA. A bit more of a drive but worth a stop if you are continuing south down the coast. It takes some planning since it is on Highway 9, not directly off 101. Highway 9 is worth the drive itself.

We lived in Boulder Creek when we were first married.

 

[Gr8bawana]

We went to Crater Lake in Sept. 2022 and it was amazing. It's really hard to get the scale and beauty from pics. The drive there is beautiful as well.
The lodge is also great. It has an excellent overlook where you can relax, have a drink or two and take it all in. There is also a restaurant there.

 

[FamilyMan]

Thanks for all the feedback. With the fire closing Lasen we are substituting Lava Beds National Monument in the far northeast corner of CA. Don't have to worry about smoke underground, but am concerned about it tainting the views at Crater Lake. Still going to go through Crater Lake on the way to the Redwoods and make the best of it.

So new itinerary is Crater Lake, Oregon Caves, Redwoods, and Lava Beds. Really looking forward to it (though not necessarily the long first day and last day drives).

 

[FamilyMan]

Hello All,

Just got back from our trip and had a great time. Drove from Montana to Crater Lake NP for a couple days there including hike to Scott Peak (highest point in the park) and to the top of Wizard Island, then stayed in Medford overnight before proceeding the next day to Oregon Caves NM and from there to the Redwoods. (For anyone visiting Oregon Caves, I recommend a stop at It's A Burl just north of Cave Junction in Kerby, OR. It is a very nice craftsman's shop selling all sort of artistic hand crafted wood products and the walk around the grounds is worth the stop on its own).

The first afternoon/evening in the Redwoods we visited the Stout Grove and the Grove of the Titans and were just blown away by the size of the trees and the strange ways in which they grew. That night we stayed in Crescent City. Next day we went down the coast, stopping for some successful tidepooling and tree admiring, souvenir shopping, drive along the Drury Parkway (including several stops/trails), and elk watching. We finished the day by driving the extra miles down to Eureka for a great meal at Jacks Seafood and a nice hotel. The next morning the boys slept in while my wife and I drove the streets of Eureka admiring the Victorian homes and businesses, and stumbled on a very cool "working museum" called the Blue Ox Millworks and Historic Village where they create pieces needed for historical restorations. I recommend it to anyone traveling the area (http://blueoxmill.com). After picking the boys up at the hotel we proceeded to the south visitors center for Redwoods State/National Parks and walked the trail out to Trillium Falls. The falls were unimpressive, but the trees more than made up for it. Making our way up the cost we saw seals along the shoreline and some sort of proposes in the serf near the shore before a return drive to Medford where we had a late dinner at Rosario's Italian Restaurant (again - highly recommend).

After leaving Medford Saturday morning we spent a large part of Saturday afternoon at Lava Beds NM in Calif. where we explored many caves formed by lava tubes (a trip highlight for my boys) before starting the long drive home to Montana.

Big thanks to all of you who offered advice to help make this such a good trip.