Category: National Parks

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Northern California – The Redwoods

Most visitors enter the redwoods from the South, coming up US 101 from San Francisco. This approach gives you a bit of a gradual introduction to the big trees; you see a few mixed in with the pines and firs in Mendocino County, then the redwoods become more frequent and the stands denser as you drive North. Coming in from the West, the transition is more abrupt. One minute you are in the rolling hills and dry grass valleys of the King Range, and then suddenly you plunge into the back side of the state park that protects the largest forest of coastal redwoods left in the world.

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Crater Lake National Park, Umpqua National Forest

Diamond Lake RV Park

Once again I found that Crater Lake was like most National Parks; securing a campsite without a six month advance reservation was practically impossible. Luckily there was a Forest Service concessionaire at Diamond Lake just north of the National Park entrance, and they operated until the end of September. I made base camp here and took day trips South to Crater and North into the National Forest.

One advantage of Diamond Lake was it’s circled by a good bike trail, giving me my first real opportunity to try out my new folding bicycle.

My folding bike. You can see the hinge in the middle of the frame. The seat, handlebars and pedals also collapse for a smaller footprint.

It uses quick-releases to collapse without tools, and takes up  half the space of a full size mountain bike when folded. The bike passed its maiden voyage with flying colors, as it rapidly became apparent the limitations would come from the rider, not the machine. You may never forget how to ride a bike, but you do forget how much of a workout your legs get on the hills! Continue reading “Crater Lake National Park, Umpqua National Forest”

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Oregon Coast – Depoe Bay to Florence

You’d be hard pressed to find a prettier coastline than Oregon’s. A big part of this is the 1967 law that gives ownership of all beach land to the State. As a result, the Oregon coast has not been carved up by condos and hotels, leaving miles of pristine natural vistas and a continuous chain of parks and recreation areas for the public. A drive down US 101 takes a lot longer than you expect, purely because you will find yourself pulling over every few miles to enjoy another spectacular view.

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