Here are a few wonderfully short Western U.S. road trips recommended by Douglas Orton, a Seattle area author and photographer. Please scroll down to the adventure below or follow the blue links for more.

*ASTORIA, OREGON

*FIVE FERRY LOOP: SEATTLE, OLYMPIC PENINSULA, VICTORIA, SAN JUAN ISLANDS.

*NORTH CASCADES LOOP, WA

*PALOUSE COUNTRY, WA

*HELLS CANYON SCENIC BYWAY,ELKHORN DRIVE NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY LOOP, OREGON.

*OREGON SPRING LOOP, TULIPS! WATERFALLS! BEACHES!

*HIGH LAKES ROAD, WA, MOUNTAIN PEAKS AND LAKES.

*NORTH CASCADES LOOP, WA

*PALOUSE COUNTRY, WA

*COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE; OREGON, WASHINGTON LOOP.

*OLYMPIC PENINSULA LOOP, WA.

*VANCOUVER ISLAND, B.C., CANADA.

*OKANOGAN LOOP DRIVE.

*CURRENT EXHIBIT, ASSIGNMENT

Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, Elkhorn Drive National Scenic Byway Combined Loop, Oregon

This is IMPRESSIVE! Beginning and ending in Pendleton, Oregon, right after you visit the famous woolen mill. At least the Hat Point, Imnaha River, Hells Canyon portion should be given National Park status. We found it every bit as magnificent as Grand Canyon. Allow a minimum of four nights after leaving LaGrande. Six or seven (which we took) is better, two weeks would be great, and a month would be busy. No kidding. Begin southward on I-84 from Pendleton to LaGrande. A Wallowa National Forest map, available in LaGrande or Enteriprise, will outline this route.