Oregon Trip Details (July 2005)

Crater Lake National Park

The closest airports are Medford and Klamath falls. Both are located about 70 odd miles from the park.
The loop around the lake is 33 miles. It would take 2 to 3 hours to hit all the view points. The views are better in the afternoon. The lake looks "bluer" in the afternoons.
Most trails in the park are closed due to snow till end of July.
Camping is first come first served. Even on a crowded July 4th weekend, we were able to find enough spots in the Mazama village campground. Campground has flush toilets and hot showers!

The byway is 120 miles long. It comprises of OR62, OR230 and OR138. It would take about 4 to 5 hrs to drive in one direction (assuming a reasonable number of photo stops).
Dont miss the Rogue gorge (on OR62), Diamond lake, Watson falls (272 ft) and Toketee falls (120 ft) (all on OR138). Diamond lake is a short detour from the main road. The rest can be accessed from the main road.
Trail to Watson falls is 0.5 mile (return) and to the Toketee falls is 0.8 miles (return).
If you are driving from east to west on OR138, please note that you will hit the Toketee ranger station turnout first. You have to go past it for a couple of miles to get to the Toketee falls turnout.

The byway (aka forest road 19) is 60 miles long and connects OR58 and OR126. It takes about 2 hrs to drive in one direction. The only significant view point on the drive is the lookout from the Cougar dam - located within a few miles from the OR126 side.

The byway is 85 miles long and comprises of OR126 and OR242. It takes about 3 hrs to complete the loop with some reasonable number of photo stops.
Don't miss the Dee Wright observatory on top of Mckenzie pass (5,324 ft), Proxy falls, Kosah falls (70 ft) and Sahalie falls (100 ft). Proxy falls is the only one that needs some walking. The trail to it is about 30 mts (return).

The byway is 80 odd miles long and comprises of OR372 and county routes 46 and 42. It takes about 3 hrs to drive it in one direction (assuming reasonable number of photo stops).
Dont miss Elk lake and Todd lake.

OR26, OR35, Columbia river gorge highway and I84 form a loop around Mt. Hood and travels the most visited stretch of Columbia river gorge. The "loop" is about 150 miles and it takes 4 to 5 hrs to cover it.
Dont miss the Trillium lake and Mirror lake on OR26. Mirror lake trailhead is very poorly marked. It is located on the right about couple of miles before the Timberline Lodge turnoff (if you are driving from the Portland side). Trailhead parking is very limited. The trail to the Mirror lake is 3 miles (return).
On the Columbia river gorge don't miss Multnomah falls, Portland women's forum state park, Crowne point and Oneonta gorge