What's out West?

My Wabakimi plans for this summer might be delayed until 2026 as my niece recently announced that she's getting married in Lake Stevens, Washington Sept 6th. I can't really afford to do both (and I doubt I'd be back to the truck in time any way if I launch Aug 18th as planned) so I'm debating taking my 2 weeks of vacation to drive out to WA instead.

I'm thinking the Northern route out (either I94 to 90 or I90 the whole way) and coming back the Southern route of I84 to I80. I'm frugal so I'll probably be camping most of the nights and, because it's 3 days out and 3 days back (+ one for the nuptials), I should be able to spend a week exploring rivers, lakes or hiking trails if anyone knows of any "not to be missed" gems that escape mainstream tourism (and you'd care to share them).

Be forewarned that I will, almost certainly, post trip reports both here (paddling) and on my website (so don't spill any closely guarded secrets).

Do you know of anything that I should visit that is reasonably close to the interstates? (maybe 1/2 a day to a day's detour?)

The sloughs around Marysville, WA are nice. Fir Island on the Skagit River Delta is fun. Both of these would be day trips from your niece's. In between I80 and I90 are Yelllowstone and Grand Teton NPs. Yellowstone has the Lewis/Shoshone Lake trip (could be an overnight, or a few days). Grand Teton has Leigh Lake, with camping on the lake--about as pretty a place as you'll ever dip a paddle. In eastern Washington, just off I90 by Moses Lake, there's the Potholes--another member (can't forget his name) knows that area. It'll be hot and probably windy, though. Be prepared to stop at a lot of invasive species check stations--they're in every state.

Thanks Mason. I hadn't even thought about places like Yellowstone. I guess I've always thought of it for its geysers which was our main focus when we visited during High School. Logic would suggest that it's so much more but 1st impressions, ya know? I'll also look into Leigh Lake.

I'm sure I'm going to miss disconnecting from society and not seeing people but I'm really thinking this could be a great trip.

Gamma1214 said:

I'm sure I'm going to miss disconnecting from society and not seeing people

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You might have to adjust that attitude for the National Parks. You may not see anyone around the sloughs or Fir Island, though.

If I had an extra day or two to explore in that area I'd 100% recommend the west side of the Olympic Peninsula. While you're on the peninsula you can paddle Lake Crescent, which is is one of my more memorable paddles. I didn't know anything about the lake when a friend and I were driving out there and, as we passed by, decided to throw the canoe in the water near sunset after a long day or driving.

I didn't do a lot of paddling out there despite having the canoe along. There are just so many opportunities for foot based exploration.

Alan

Mason is referring to the Snohomish River Estuary. I used to live in that area. I have 4 entries in my blog. It is a great spot.

You'll find entries in my blog for all of the stuff below.

I would also recommend the Yakima Canyon for a day trip...It's a one way trip due to the current. If you go in there, think about the fact that the river was in place before the 1000 ft high ridge on either side of the river. The basalt that you might spot as you go through came from fissures in modern day Idaho, not from the Cascades....
Ringer Road near Ellensburg to a take out before the Rosa Dam.

Paddling in the Seattle area during mid-week is interesting. I used to start near the UW, paddle the ship canal through the Chittenden Locks (there is no portage) round the Magnolia neighborhood, portage the bike trail (cart) back to Fishermen's Terminal, and paddle back to my start point...it's a 20 miler. You will probaly see seals and maybe sealions...if the salmon are running, you'll definitely see sealions close enough to spook you.
Puget Sound is 55F water year-round. It is good canoeing in calm weather, staying near shore, of course. If you are going through any inlets or near islands, consult the tide current charts....they can really get moving.

I did a 5 day trip on Lake Ross, and promised to never go back except out of season. The NP makes you check out for specific campgrounds ahead of time, even though the mountain weather might keep you windbound for a day or two. It's beautiful, but stupid.

Lake Ozette, way out on the Olympic Penninsula. Good camping with trails leading from the lake to the coast. There are no roads leading to the shore in that area, so it keeps out the riffraff. I had a nice solo trip out there.

A few years ago I did motorcycle trip from SC to Great Falls Montana, taking a fairly direct route out but riding the upper-tier states on the way home as part of my "bucket list" to ride all 48 contiguous states. Instead of the interstates, I did mostly US, State and County Highways on the trip and found a lot of wonderful places, campsites (lots of town and county parks out west!) and sights to see. I decided to take Hwy 2 through Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan to the Mackinac Bridge where Hwy 2 ends, then drop down through Michigan on my way south.

If you decide to do Hwy 2, in Montana you will be along the Missouri River where you could drop a in a canoe, in North Dakota there is the Lewis and Clark State Park, also on the Missouri River near Williston, Devil's Lake State Park in eastern ND, Itasca State Park in Minnesota (the headwaters of the Mississippi, where you can walk across the Mississippi River in about a half dozen steps and pretty Lake Itasca itself), Duluth MN on Lake Superior, the Bois Brule State Forest and Campground (and river) in western Wisconsin, Copper Falls State Park in eastern WI, Bobcat Lake campground (a Forest Service Campground). in the western UP of Michigan, Brevort Lake and Lake Michigan Campground (both Forest Service) on the southern coast of the UP.

Should you be coming back on I-90, check out the Missouri Headwaters State Park near Three Forks MT and in South Dakota find the Spearfish City Campground (a little gem of a city campground) and check out the Black Hills National Park.

I only stayed at some of these places, but they were on my route list. There were times that I wish I had my canoe instead of the motorcycle and another few weeks to enjoy it all. Good luck on the trip.

My uncle used to live at Lake Stevens. Plenty of salt water and lake paddling all over the place in WA. The lower stretches of a few rivers coming off the west slope of the Cascades are canoeable. One of the best is the lower Skagit River.

Thanks! Lots of places to look up. I'd thought about taking the bike (and still might) but it's hard to do 12 hrs a day (no windshield) and, of course, rain the day of the wedding would be a real bummer.

I was thinking that I'd likely mix hiking in with paddling but now I'm not sure... sounds like some really interesting places along the way and near the wedding. (and, yes, I'll probably parallel the interstates somewhat or run the old highways. I've always hated that about West Virginia... the interstates whisk you through but you completely miss what makes WV special)

Gamma1214 said:

I'll probably parallel the interstates somewhat or run the old highways.

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As mentioned by southern kevlar highway 2 is a nice route.

Are you interested in River or lake paddling on this trip? Leigh Lake in Grand Teton, as mentioned already, is gorgeous but you need camping reservations way in advance using recreation.gov (which I do not like). The photo is from a bike trip we did in Grand Teton Park along the lake last April. The Green River below the Flaming Gorge dam is a crystal clear class 2 run with one class 3 (easy portage or line) through a beautiful canyon. Shuttle service is available and reasonably priced. The put in is about an hour south of the town of Green River Wyoming on I-80. Canoeing is outlawed on almost all rivers in Yellowstone, which is one of my pet peeves. The Payette River in Idaho is not far off of I84 in Idaho. The Class 5 section above Banks is amazing to see and is visible along Route 55 for several miles. Canoeable water is further up around McCall or east of Banks

Halpc said:

Canoeing is outlawed on almost all rivers in Yellowstone, which is one of my pet peeves.

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The Yellowstone front country is already a solid line of traffic during most of the open season. Can you imagine the cluster $&% it would create if the rivers were opened to boating? Not to mention the resource damage, garbage etc. Sure, I would love to paddle the Yellowstone River through Hayden Valley, but then every person looking at the river would have to look at my red boat and a thousand others ruining the scene.

Mark

Are you interested in River or lake paddling on this trip?

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I guess I hadn't thought it through that far yet. Typically, whether I'm hiking or canoeing, I prefer loops so that I can solo unsupported. I'm not opposed to shuttles but I'd prefer to avoid crowds if possible.

If I leave here the morning of Aug 30th, I should have about 4 days free on the way out and 4-5 free on the way back to explore.

I'm also looking at crossing the border and taking the Trans-Canadian highway to Medicine Hat and then dropping back across the border somewhere in the Cascades. Camping might be harder to coordinate legally though as I'd need permits for crown land so I'd need to plan it out more completely. (staying on the US side, my only restriction would be: arrive in Stevens Lake by the time she walks down the aisle)

Crown land permits only in Ontario.