In the past holiday season (Dec. 2018), my friend and I had a road trip around West WA & OR.
We spent 4 days touring around the Cascade Range, experienced heavy snow on the Stevens Pass Highway, mist in the Yakama Indian Reservation, gale in the Columbia River Valley, breeze along the Pacific Ocean Coast, thundershower in the very south end of the Olympic Peninsula.
I’m here to share pictures I took during the trip. At the end of this post, there’s a video I made with clips from the camera, the dash cam, and my phone. I hope you find it enjoyable.
Schedule:
- Day 1: Kirkland-Bellevue (Seattle region)–Leavenworth–Ellensburg;
- Day 2: Ellensburg–Yakama Indian Reservation–Hood River–Portland;
- Day 3: Portland–Pacific City–Tillamook (yes, the creamy Tillamook!)–Cannon Beach–Seaside;
- Day 4: Seaside–Astoria–Olympia–Seattle region.
Total miles: 800+ (1,200+ km).
Day 1
Kirkland-Bellevue (Seattle region)–Leavenworth–Ellensburg
We left Seattle in heavy rain. When we climbed up the Cascade Range, the rain shifted to snow. The snow was so heavy that many sedan drivers parked their cars by the road and installed tire chains.
We chose to go Leavenworth via Stevens Pass. As we went further to the east, the snow turned insanely heavy, our vision almost whited out (refer to the picture below.) Luckily, using extreme caution, we arrived in Leavenworth safely.
Leavenworth is a Bavarian-themed tourist town. I’m not a big fan of the man-made tourist site, so I didn’t take many photos there.
After wandering in the town for two hours, the trip continued to Ellensburg, a small city in central Washington State. The road approaching Ellensburg descends from a high mountain, it was all of sudden the car exited the cloud (or fog) in high altitude and impressed with a vast open valley scene (can be watched in the video at the end of the post). The photo below was taken right before the road entered the non-foggy area.
The first night was spent in Ellensburg. The restaurant called The Palace Cafe (est. 1892) in downtown was really decent, I like the food, atmosphere and the service.
Day 2
Ellensburg–Yakama Indian Reservation–Hood River–Portland
I drove the section between Ellensburg and Hood River, OR, so I was not able to take photos while driving in Yakama Indian Reservation. The landscape in Yakama reminded me of Scotland highland—vast, open, treeless, foggy.
After entering Oregon State, we drove along the Columbia River on the south bank towards Portland. It was a section full of wonders—huge dams, waterfalls, ancient species.
The Bonneville Fish Hatchery was not a planned destination. We planned to visit the Bonneville Lock and Dam, but it was closed due to holiday offs. In the parking lot, we found there was a hatchery beside us, and it was a hidden gem. Besides the hatchery cells, they also had ponds for salmons, trouts, and sturgeons. The sturgeon pond houses the famous 80 years old sturgeon Herman (not the one in the picture above, Herman was resting when I was there.)
The Vista House was the next destination. From the platform of the house, you could have a nice view of the Columbia River Gorge. Please be advised to wear wind-proof clothes before arriving there, the wind could be extreme.
We moved further west to Portland Women’s Forum. It’s a great spot to photograph the Visa House. I was lucky to be there when the late afternoon sun got out. The grey sky finally got some colors.
Day 3
Portland–Pacific City–Tillamook–Cannon Beach–Seaside
When we left Portland and entered the forest en route to Pacific City, the sun came out. Vapor rose from the woods and fields.
It was late morning when I arrived at the Pacific City beach. The ocean on the sun’s direction was silver-shining.
Day 4
Seaside–Astoria–Olympia–Seattle region
In the morning of the last day, we went to Ecola State Park before heading back to Seattle.
In the picture above, the Tillamook Rock Light was in distance offshore. The legendary lighthouse was finished in 1881. However, due to the high risk of commuting to the rock and harsh weather conditions, the authority decommissioned it in 1957.
It’s my first time stepping on Oregon’s soil. Similar to West Washington State, Oregon’s forests and coastline are true beauty of the Pacific Northwest.