We're headed for Crater Lake and decided to take the National Geographic West Cascades Scenic Byway (P. 402) on the way. The route: WA-504W to I-5, south on I-5 to I-205. south on I-205 passed Portland to Clackamas, OR-212E to OR-224, then OR-224E to Estacada where the scenic drive began. We took OR-224E to Oakridge, Forest Road 46, OR-22 and OR-126 to Blue River.
We were immersed in thick forests and deep valleys from Estacada to Blue River. We followed the Clackamas River for nearly 50 miles as we meandered through the Mt. Hood National Forest. Later the route took us into the Willamette National Forest. The roads worked their way around the mountains with lots of twists, turns, and steep grades. More than 100 miles of the drive offered beautiful scenes, and nothing else. There were no services and no view points. At some places it seemed like we were driving through a tunnel of green.
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| Clackamas River flows through Mt. Hood National Forest |
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| Highway cuts were rugged |
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| Traffic was light and the roads were narrow |
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| Roads cut through the forests |
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| Lava beds lined the road in Willamette National Forest |
Hoodoo's Patio RV Park is dated but is in a beautiful location along the McKenzie River (40 miles east of Eugene). All the sites are full service (water, electric, sewer and cable TV). We're in site #24 ... about as close as you can get to the river.
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| Site #24 |
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| Offers privacy |
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| And a roaring river |
We head for Crater Lake tomorrow.
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