The Places to See On Your Pacific Northwest Trip
There are very few places in the country more beautiful than the Pacific Northwest. The area that stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountains is known for its stunning coastlines, spectacular mountains, lush forests, and rainy weather. Road tripping the entirety will take around six days, depending on how long you stop and what you choose to do.
Traveling with your Bowlus makes some of those decisions easier, as you don’t have to worry about where to stay and whether they’ll have available rooms. While where you go is ultimately up to you, here’s a list of the places we think you should see while on a Pacific Northwest road trip.
The Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is 150 miles of beautiful scenery, interesting towns, and activities to take part in. However, the valley is most known for its wineries. In fact, two-thirds of the wineries in the entire state are in the Willamette Valley, and some of the best pinot noirs in the world are made there. One of the top wineries in the area, Stoller Family Estates, offers award-winning wines that you can enjoy on site and purchase to drink later on.
Even though the valley is full of vineyards, shopping, and restaurants, it’s still the perfect place to visit in your Bowlus. More than 1,500 different campsites are available in the nearby Willamette National Forest, all of which are run by the United States Forest Service. While none of the sites have running water or electrical hookups, you won’t notice the difference because you don’t need either to have the ultimate luxury camping experience. When you’re done visiting the wineries and drinking some of the finest wine in the world, you can head back to your travel trailer and enjoy a private, comfortable night in nature.
Mount Hood
Not only is Mount Hood the highest mountain in Oregon, but it is also a potentially active stratovolcano. It is located in the Mount Hood National Forest, which consists of more than a million acres of mountains, forests, streams, and lakes. There are also more than 1000 hiking trails in the forest, which allow foot hikers, horses, and bikes. The variety of trail options is impressive, especially because of the size of the park.
The most popular hike in the park is the Tamanawas Falls Trail. It is estimated to take about an hour and a half to hike and is just under four miles long. The trail takes you through the woods to one of the most impressive sites in the park, the Tamanawas Falls. Not only is the waterfall beautiful, but there is also a dry cave located behind it that hikers who are brave enough can venture to. Some say that the cave is a great place to eat a picnic lunch.
When it’s time to settle down for the night, if you don’t want to boondock, there are a few RV campgrounds worth checking out. For instance, the Spring Drive RV Campground is close to multiple hiking trails, lakes, streams, and historic sites. The campground is in the middle of towering trees so, even if there are other campers on the grounds, each site can still feel like you are in a whole other world.
When you camp in a Bowlus, you can stay as isolated as you want. When you don’t have to leave the comfort of your own trailer to get a meal or take a shower, you can bond with nature and the people you’re on vacation with. It’s the perfect oasis in the middle of a busy world.
Mount Rainier National Park
While the highlight of Mount Rainier National Park is the volcano that it was named for, that doesn’t mean it’s the only thing to see when visiting.
There are around 260 miles of hiking trails available for visitors to the park, each of which is maintained by the park rangers. If you’re interested in a quick introduction to the national park, check out the Trail of Shadows. At less than a mile long, this self-guided hike introduces guests to both the history and the wildlife at the park. There is also the Hot Springs Nature Trail, which takes hikers to the Ohanapecosh Hot Springs, and Carbon River Rain Forest Nature Trail, where guests can see the only true inland rainforest at the park.
If you’re an adventurer, Mount Rainier can also be climbed. However, this isn’t something that should be taken lightly. It is an eight mile or so trek, reaching 9,000 feet of elevation while climbing in the snow and ice. There are multiple routes to take, which should be followed, or you can take a guided climb if you don’t feel experienced enough to go it on your own.
There are multiple campgrounds available at the national park as well. The Cougar Rock and Ohanapecosh Campgrounds are the biggest, allowing the most room to park your luxury travel trailer as well as the most privacy while you’re staying there. Both are set amidst the scenery that makes the park so stunning, so you can use your outdoor kitchen to cook a delicious meal while enjoying the silence that only national parks can provide. Reservations are strongly recommended, as the park does get busy during the spring and summer months.
The Oregon Vortex
Open since 1930, the Oregon Vortex and House of Mystery is a world famous roadside attraction located in Gold Hill, Oregon. It is considered a gravitational hill, a place that seems to defy the rules of nature, where balls seem to roll uphill, houses sit sideways, and nothing is how it seems. It’s a place that you should make sure to bring your camera, as well.
RV parking is available while you visit, with spots big enough to fit your Bowlus. You may even want to pause and make yourself a quick meal in your expansive kitchen before you leave.
The Oregon Vortex is located an equal distance from two national forests—Siskiyou National Forest and Rogue River National Forest. Both offer plenty of opportunities for boondocking while you enjoy the sites, places where you can park your luxury travel trailer for a night or two while you rest up and relax. There’s something about breathing in the fresh air, unimpeded by all of the pollution and rushing around the city.
Snoqualmie Falls
You might not know it, but the Pacific Northwest is known for its waterfalls. One of the most spectacular, not just in Oregon but in the entire country, is Snoqualmie Falls. Located about 40 minutes east of Seattle, the waterfall is 268 feet high, with multiple viewing platforms for visitors to stop and take it all in.
To see it even more close up, consider hiking the Snoqualmie Falls Trail, which is about a mile and a half out and back. Beware, you may get wet!
For local camping, the Middle Fork Campground is one of the best places to stay. It is known for offering peace and quiet, with easy access to plenty of hiking and biking around the Middle Fork River. The campground itself is beautiful all on its own, with giant cedar, fir, and hemlock trees surrounding the entire campsite. It is located in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, which is exciting to explore all on its own.
Your Bowlus will be the gem of the campground. There’s a reason that it has been called the ultimate in land travel, taking the iconic heritage of the aluminum travel trailer and combining it with all of the technology and performance that we expect from a modern camper. It’s not just a luxury travel trailer; it really is a work of art. In addition, you’ll experience the best the industry has to offer in comfort, space, and privacy. Even though you’re on a road trip, it’ll be like you never left the comfort of your own home.
In Summary…
Visiting the Pacific Northwest in your Bowlus is a must. With so much to see, from national parks to natural wonders and places that seem to defy nature and gravity, being able to take your time and feeling free to visit every place you want to is a real game changer when it comes to road tripping. The freedom you’ll feel while traveling in a luxury travel trailer is invigorating.
Sources :
https://www.stollerfamilyestate.com/