Pacific Northwest Road Trip
6/29/2019-7/7/2019

Join Friendly Adventures on a fun paced road trip through Oregon and Washington. As we travel through many of the highlights the region has to offer, we will enjoy great hiking, photogenic waterfalls and wonderful tide pools while exploring across a variety of landscapes including rainforest and gorgeous coastline.

We start and finish our trip in Portland where we pick-up our passenger vans and get on the road to our first stop – Washington’s Mt. St. Helens National Park. We’ll drive within 5 miles of the crater to visit Johnston Ridge Observatory and take a short walk on the Eruption Trail to admire views of the lava dome, crater, pumice plane and landslide deposit. We spend three nights in private lodging near the rustic logging town of Forks in a mixed combination of beds in main house, cabins, tents, yurts and RV’s. Each morning we’ll wake up and head out to Olympic National Park to explore in Sol Duc, the Hoh and Lake Quinault rainforests, Rialto, La Push and Ruby Beach for beautiful hikes, tide pooling and amazing scenery including offshore rock formations.

Next we overnight in the historic port town of Astoria. Get out and explore the Riverwalk, take the trolley, see the ‘Goonies’ house, visit Coxcomb Hill - home of the world famous Astoria Column and after dine in one of the local restaurants or brew pubs. We spend the next couple of days taking in the sights along the people’s coast seeking short hikes to see whales and sea lions, pristine beaches framed by rugged cliffs and charming beach towns with an overnight in Newport.

We move on toward Salem where we’ll spend 4th of July. Wake up and head out to Silver Falls State Park - Oregon’s Crown Jewel – for a full day’s hike of the Trail of Ten Falls.

Next, we’ll drive to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and take in the famous waterfalls and do short hikes.

Finally, we’ll spend time in Portland exploring this quirky city which draws foodies and culture fiends alike - fuel up with a tasty pastry from Voodoo Doughnut in Old Town and pair it with a fair-trade latte from Portland’s own Stumptown Coffee Roasters; peruse Powell’s City of Books, which covers a full city block and holds claim to largest independent bookstore; pass through the Pearl District and its boutiques, the city’s waterfront park and the Portland Saturday Market – a massive open air crafts market. If time permits we may go to the Hawthorne area or the Rose Gardens/Japanese Gardens.

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Hoh Rain Forest
The Hoh Rain Forest is one of four rain forests on the Olympic Peninsula. However, it is the only one that has been awarded the distinction of being a World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Its unique ecosystem has remained unchanged for thousands of years and it is now the most carefully preserved rain forest in the northern hemisphere. The most common types of trees that grow in the Hoh Rain Forest are Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock (Washington's official state tree), which can reach over 300 feet high and seven feet in diameter. Most of them are covered with huge clumps of hanging moss and ferns. Moss is an epiphyte, which is a plant that grows on another plant without harming it (as opposed to a parasite). Epiphytes get their moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, fog, and debris that accumulates around them.

Rialto Beach - Hole in the wall
There’s nothing like a lazy beach stroll — and nothing quite like wandering on the spectacularly scenic Olympic Coast. This hike begins at the Rialto Beach parking area. Your trail is the beach itself and the two mile walk to Hole-in-the-Wall is filled with attractions. Look south to the forested James and Little James islands, while waves crash over Gunsight Rock and numerous offshore sea stacks. Heading north on the beach, walk over sand, rock and driftwood. Along the way, watch for all manner of wildlife: spy whales, sea lions and otters offshore, while a variety of seabirds drift overhead, and eagles perch in the forest upslope. After a mile, cross Ellen Creek; there may be a log crossing, or you may have to get your feet wet. If the tide is out, scramble through the rocky arch and explore the adjacent tide pools, teeming with small oceanic critters. If the tide is in, use the overland trail above the arch and take in panoramic views southward over this picturesque scene.

Sol Duc Valley
The Sol Duc Valley in Olympic National Park has it all—towering trees, cascading waterways, alpine lakes, snowcapped peaks and wildlife.Sol Duc Falls Nature Trail is a 1.6 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Piedmont, Washington that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. Sol Duc Falls rages under a wooden bridge and the hike has a wooden platform at the end of the trail - nice place to sit and enjoy the falls! Explore a short hike through green mossy woods to a roaring waterfall! Sol Duc Falls hike round trip: 1.6 miles. Elevation gain: 500ft. Hike past the waterfall to Deer Lake round trip: 5.6 miles. Elevation gain: 1,500ft. The hike to Sol Duc Falls is a simple 0.8 mile walk to a roaring falls on the Sol Duc River. We will continue on the trail to Deer Lake, sparkly blue lake to burst through the trees, from Sol Duc Falls.

Quinault Rain Forest
The Quinault Rain Forest is one of America’s most beautiful natural treasures. This unique ecosystem features rushing waterfalls, quite hiking trails, stunning wildlife, moss-covered forests and some of the largest tree in the world. Adventure awaits you at every turn. The Quinault Rain Forest is a temperate rain forest, which is part of the Olympic National Park and the Olympic National Forest in the U.S. state of Washington in Grays Harbor County and Jefferson County. The rain forest is located in the valley formed by the Quinault River and Lake Quinault. The valley is called the "Valley of the Rain Forest Giants" because of the number of record size tree species located there. The largest specimens of Western Red Cedar, Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock, Alaskan Cedar and Mountain Hemlock are found in the forest as well as five of the ten largest Douglas-firs. The forest receives an average of 12 feet of rain per year. It is believed to be the area with the greatest number of record size giant tree species in the smallest area in the world. It does have the largest trees in the world outside of the state of California and New Zealand.

Astoria - Cannon Beach
Explore the timeless rainforests and majestic coastal vistas. Discover the rich heritage of the native people. Unfold the dramatic stories of America's most famous explorers. The park encompasses sites along the Columbia River and the Pacific Coast. Follow in the footsteps of the explorers and have an adventure in history. Haystack Rock towers on the shoreline. Waterfalls cascade onto the sand at Hug Point. Marine life peeks out at low tide. It’s no wonder National Geographic listed Cannon Beach as one of the 100 most beautiful places in the world in 2013. Cannon Beach is a small coastal city in northwest Oregon. It’s known for its long, sandy shore. Standing tall in the ocean, Haystack Rock is a seasonal haven for tufted puffins.

Silver Falls
People call it the “crown jewel” of the Oregon State Parks system, and once you visit, you know why. Silver Falls State Park is the kind of standout scenic treasure that puts Oregon firmly onto the national—and international—stage. Its beauty, boundless recreational opportunities and historic presence keep it there. Nestled in the foothills of Oregon’s Cascade Mountains, less than an hour east of the state capital of Salem, the sprawling 9,200 acre property is the largest state park in Oregon, and one of the most popular. Waterfalls: Where else can you walk behind a waterfall? Check out the famous South Falls and see what a 177-foot curtain of water looks like from behind. It’s part of the Trail of Ten Falls, a spectacular, nationally recognized hiking trail that weaves through a dense forested landscape. The trail passes a series of breathtaking waterfalls along a rocky canyon, and descends to a winding creek at the forest floor. This 7.2 mile loop is considered to be a moderate hike, with an overall elevation change of 800 feet. Several connecting trails with separate access points make shorter routes. For everyone’s safety— absolutely no pets allowed on the Canyon Trail. Pets on leash are allowed on all other trails.

Multnomah Falls
A waterfall as magnificent and memorable as any in the country is located just a 30- minute drive outside of Portland. Visiting Multnomah Falls, a 611-foot-tall roaring, awe-inspiring cascade of icy water, lets you experience the power and beauty of nature up close and with ease. From the parking area off of I-84, a 5-minute walk is all that separates you from the exhilarating spray at the base of the falls. According to Native American lore, Multnomah Falls was created to win the heart of a young princess who wanted a hidden place to bathe. Although you can see the top portion of the falls from the highway, to view both tiers you have to walk to the viewing area located in a carved-out opening in the rock face. Tilting your head up in the narrow rocky confines of the steep cliffs, you get a mind-boggling perspective on the sheer magnitude of the falls.

Make Reservation
Land package: $1,000
Round-trip airfare: $250
Departing from Burbank Airport
Trip Includes
RT Airfare Burbank-Portland
Transportation in 15 passenger vans
Baggage Transfer in enclosed Truck
8 nights Lodging
Entrance fees to State/National Parks
Organized hikes and activities
8 breakfasts, 4 Lunches
Have a Question?
Send an e-mail to the organizers.
John Corcoran
Main Coordinator
Ron Domash
Assistant Coordinator
Trent Nguyen
Assistant Coordinator