Camping Advice (help a brother out)

steve-o · Since 30 Jul 2009 4 Posts Florida New Member

Coming next month with wife and daughter to visit Washington and Oregon for a few weeks. Plan to spend a few days in the river doing some kiting. Have been able to find plenty of info regarding kite spots and the such.

Can anyone recommend a good campground (rustic/tent) with facilities centrally located to a majority of the riding spots in the Gorge?

Planning to hit Mt. Olympia, Seattle, San Juan Islands, Crater Lake, Portland, drive the 101, Mt. Renier, Mt. Hood....ok you get the idea.

Any spots we must see?? We are coming all the way from Florida and probably will be the only time we get to visit this wonderful playground. My wife doesn't like to visit the same place twice. Alright, Hawaii is an exception. I'm sure you understand. So yeah, between the two states, is there one place I gotta take the family??? We love the outdoors and seeing beautiful places.

So looking for some advice on a great campsite. Thanks in advance and if you ever get out to Florida look me up.

Steve-O
Watersports West

ps. I did search "camping" on this forum and nothing returned.

grinder · Thu Jul 30, 09 8:31 pm

Hi Steve,

I have visited your store in times past, while working in Largo. Always admired your organized Aruba trip!

I am sure you will get lots of advice on your question. We have many many campgrounds in the two state area and lots to see.

In the Gorge the best call for tent camping is Tucker Park, a few miles south of Hood River. Some great tent sites along the Hood River available available on a first come basis. Normally you can score a site during the week. The only thing to remember is that it has been unusually hot here so the place will be pretty dried out.

Another site along the river is Viento State Park. You can windsurf or kite there depending on the wind - but it is not really the best site and close to the freeway and train.

Maryhill State Park is on the river and decent camping, but a ways from HR. Lost Lake - beautiful site, but a ways away. Beacon Rock - near Stevenson, nice campground.

As for other places in Washington and Oregon there are so many, you probably should be more specific. Consider Floras Lake on the Coast for nice camping, good kiting and some sightseeing.

You all might want to check out whitewater rafting on the White Salmon or Deschutes Rivers.

Enjoy! Remember you can dial up any of the local shops for any of this advice.

Kraemer · Since 24 Apr 2006 1736 Posts Sky Pilot Unicorn Captain

I'd agree, tucker and viento are the closest to hood river. Viento has a railway right through it-- so at 3am it can be loud. Viento is right on the columbia 6 miles west of H.R. with lot's of shade and Tucker is up on the hill and like Grinder said; it's kind of a dried out. (I little dustier I guess and not as much shade). I like hitting a campground called "alpine" on timberline road (el. 6000). It's about an hour from Hood River, but the view of the cascades is amazing and it's much-much cooler up there. And no Trains.

pdxmonkeyboy · Fri Jul 31, 09 12:08 am

Like Kramer said, there are several campgrounds up the hood river highway that are nice and cool. Man, you sound like have allot of places to tick off.

Couple totally random tips/ideas....

The gorge for a couple days and then the loop up the valley to Mt. Hood and then down to portland is always an out of towner favorite.

Try to hit crown point in the western gorge for sunset or even better, sunrise. The pullout across the river on Hwy 14 is probably better..but its a pullout on the road, not too great for young kids.

They sell ice cream at Multnomah Falls which will always calm a cranky kid.

In terms of Mt. Olympus..that is a LONG hike. If you can swing it, take a couple days to hike up the Quinalt River to the enchanted valley. I can guarantee that it will be THE most memorable forest you have ever been in. http://www.nps.gov/PWR/customcf/apps/maps/showmap.cfm?alphacode=olym&parkname=Olympic%20National%20Park

stringer · Since 31 Jul 2007 694 Posts Chucktown Flying Tomato

Wishbone!!!
Bring your frisbee!
Definitely among the most interesting of campgrounds.
No fires allowed though.

steve-o · Since 30 Jul 2009 4 Posts Florida New Member

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like I have some great ideas on campgrounds. Just looking for a place to crash. Won't be hanging out there much during the day.

River rafting will be a definate and that drive sounds nice out to Portland. Definately going to check out that waterfall and the enchanted forest.

Having some inside scoop is always helpful and is much more useful than arguing about which kite loops the best. LOL!!!!

Thanks so much. My wife always thinks these forums are such a waste of time.

MasViento · Since 03 Mar 2009 235 Posts 97031 Stoked

Hi Steve,
Would make a point to hit Floras lake, and camp there at the Boice Cope Park campground.
It is owned by the county (Curry County).
Sites are $ 16. But the location is phenomenal. Kite in the morning and take mid-day off when its gusty. Then rig up again for steady afternoon and evening ride.
Here are 2 shots I took there 3 wks. ago.
The sunset shot was taken from the campsite.
There is great flat water in the lake.

Have fun.

EA

BigR · Since 05 Jul 2005 372 Posts White Salmon Obsessed

Yo Steve,

We just got back from vaca there for two weeks which we do every year.
feel free to ask me any Q's.
First , it really depends on how much time you are going over there for?????
I know you got a little one and your wife likes nice places to stay. So I would say
if you are planning 2 weeks your plan is too ambitious maybe for sure. I've been there every year for ten years and still not made it to all the places you rattled off on your list. FWIW , here's what I would do:

Fly into portland, if the forecast ( http://thegorgeismygym.com/?page_id=16 )
( http://www.wind-surf.net/cgi-shl/05-wind-surf-show-forecast.pl )looks good in the gorge , head there first. If better on the coast then there first ( http://oregonsurfcheck.com/ ).

On the coast for camping I would absolutely stay at ft. stevenson. kid friendly, nice, kite right there starting the jetty / mouth of the columbia river and downwind catching waves for 2 miles to shipwrecks. enjoy fresh caught camp cooked salmon bought in warrenton. take in sights at astoria.
Moving down the coast, your wife and kid will enjoy cannon beach and rock and shops and ice cream and restaurants etc.
moving further down the coast, if there's a swell hit Oswald state park for awesome surfing (used to be my fav campground till they closed camping for falling 15 foot diameter trees). Hike , surf enjoy the waesome spot.
Moving a little further down a must hit is Manzanita. Kite, shop, eat , play in sand etc. great place trust me.
All that alone should gooble up 4-5 days.
In the hood, I don't like camping along the river at all. I camp up by Mt Hood 45 min away. My favs are Routson, Toll bridge, Sherwood. All good when it's hot in the hood. Kiting is best at the event site since your wife and kids can stay in the shade / grass plenty of room close to amenities. Just remember to go wayyyyyyyy upwind, up past well's island for the best wind and swells. Other places to kite on the river are sketchy at best for launching landing and far from sandy grassy beaches or amenities, save except maybe stevenson.
Portland has REI for camping supplies. hwy 84 has Multnomah falls, and Eagle creek are nice places to stop at. River rafting on white salmon or deschutes are fun.
hiking on the zillion trails on mt hood is also fun.
Don't forget Mike's Ice Cream in the hood or full sail brewery , eat and watch kiting at the same time!
http://www.fullsailbrewing.com/webcam.cfm

have fun!

BigR · Since 05 Jul 2005 372 Posts White Salmon Obsessed

Oh, I forgot

a 12, a 9 and maybe a 7m Xbow is all you'll need. I fit them all into one army duffel bag = 33#'s.

If I could take one board it would be a 5' 9" quad surf. that's all I used my last trip.
I didn't get charged the way over but got hit with the full $100 on the way back. Portland agents are NOT lacking in sizing up your equipment/ restrictions like they are in Tampa

DROCK999 · Since 31 May 2007 852 Posts Left Coast Opinionated

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

I agree, have had nothing but postive experience with Will. Nic took lessons with him, and also a number of my friends. Also great that he teaches with a ski. Thumb's Up

MasViento · Since 03 Mar 2009 235 Posts 97031 Stoked

Post removed.

EA

pjc · Since 06 Mar 2005 649 Posts Addicted

Careful E - Will Brady has a mountain of accumulated good will from years of being the "host of the lake". Sorry you had a bad experience. I guess you can't please all the people all the time, but there's no doubt that Will's brought lots of smiles to kiters heading down to Floras, both paying students and random strangers who hit him up for free advice.

pdxmonkeyboy · Fri Jul 31, 09 3:22 pm

I agree that you have too much scheduled unless you have at least a month. You don't want to spend all your time in the car.. Take the San juans off the list-- Great places but not a MUST SEE. Same with Crater lake. Its in the middle od BFE. You drive all damn day and then you get to a lake that you can't do anything around but camp. Its gorgeous for sure but after 30 minutes of staring at it your like..hmmm, now what>?

3-4 days in the gorge, 2-3 days in portland, 3-4 days on the coast, 4-5 days in the olympics, 2-3 days in Seattle, 2-3 days near rainer. And then poof your vacation is over.

lb · Since 08 Aug 2006 31 Posts Floras Lake

Post Removed

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

[quote="MasViento"]Yes

FunShui · Since 16 Jul 2006 146 Posts Really, really Stoked

Mas Viento says: