Let's Try It Again...

Wishing you one of your best trips ever!

 

A couple of our favorite places in Idaho:

• City of Rocks near Almo, ID: world class rock climbing on giant granite boulders at a point where the Oregon Trail and California Trail intersected - lots of very old graffiti from those days.
• Silver City in the Owyhee Mountains (due south of Nampa). Parts of the road can be impassable in wet weather, and at the end of the road it can be quite rough. It was the site of an early silver mine and is exceptionally well preserved. There are next to no utilities there, and nearly all of the town residents only live there seasonally. It's a glimpse at life in the 1880s.
• The Sawtooth Valley north of Sun Valley. Think the Grand Tetons without the crowds.
• In northern Idaho, Wallace is an old mining town and we've always enjoyed stopping there.

And in Oregon:

• McKenzie's Pass, west of Sister on the way to Eugene. Huge lava flow at the top of the pass accessed by a very twisty, narrow road. Awesome scenery. In our opinion, this is better than Craters of the Moon in Idaho, and it doesn't get as hot up there.
• The entire Oregon coast (especially if the sun is out), though less so the northern end (mainly because it is more developed). Find some rocky shoreline during a really low tide and go tide pooling to see sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and dozens of types of stars and anemones.
• The Wallowa Mountains in the NE corner of the state. This is likely to be out of the way, but the scenery is awesome. The Baker City area off the interstate is more accessible, and almost as nice.
• Check out one of the McMenamin's hotels: McMenamins - Pubs, Breweries and Historic Hotels in Oregon and Washington We like the Grand Lodge - European style shared bathrooms, several on-site pubs/restaurants and dinner and a movie at night.

The Columbia River Gorge is awesome, but it is nearly always windy. We prefer crossing the state on US 26. There is a great view of Strawberry Mountain as you descend into Prairie City, and you'll find interesting geological sites within a few miles of the highway. But gas up by the time you reach John Day, as there aren't many gas stations out that way.

 

Will you do HWY 20 in Washington?

 

HWY 20 is the northernmost route across the Cascades in WA and the most beautiful. Spectacular views of the "American Alps."

 

I agree with Evan, and it would put you on track to go through Glacier NP on your way east. You might check our blog in early August last year. There was a campground near Republic, WA that we really enjoyed.

 

Third time IS the charm!! Go and have an awesome time!!

 

Have fun Ken! Are you going to try out the Red Pin feature? Or will you travel in stealth mode?

 

I see you just south of SLC.