| Journey Through Time Scenic Byway,
Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
and
Pacific Coast Scenic Byway
Back Road Loop Drive
Drive Seattle to Sonoma
Experience Washington, Oregon, and California
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Back Road Driving! All the way! Staying on two lane roads creates experiences travelers on the freeway never see. Allow three weeks, with easy camping and great parks and motels. The Journey Through Time Scenic Byway in Oregon, the National Volanic Legacy Scenic Byway, California's famous Napa and Sonoma valley wine country, and the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway northbound make a memorable loop trip. To that end, we start this drive leaving the Seattle area on SR 410 to Mt. Rainer National Park's Sunrise Visitor Center. Continue east through Goldendale, Washington then cross the Columbia River and continue on I-97 along the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway south to the near ghost town of Shaniko. After exploring the town, continue south on OR 218 through Fossil, winding over empty country rivaling any national park, past Clarno Unit of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, stopping at the Painted Hills unit near Mitchell, Oregon. Leaving the Painted Hills and John Day, it will seem hard to match the country already passed. You will, though. In the order of a long loop drive .... it will be necessary to summarize. From Mitchell, drive south on I-26 through Prineville to pick up I-97 past Bend (Being carefull to jump off the main line to avoid the four lane in town! ) Continue south to Newberry Volcanic National Monument, then pick up the official byway at Crater Lake National Park, continue to Mt. Shasta and on down to Lassen Volcanic National Park. Leaving Lassen pass through Chico, CA, across I-5, and follow CA 20 south into the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Linger, before picking up your choice of CA highways to Bodega Bay and following the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway north on famous CA Highway 1 north, eventually picking up U.S. 101, visiting Redwood National Park, crossing into Oregon and continuing up the coast to Astoria. Cross the Columbia, continue on the coast as far as you like, circling Olympic National Park if you have the time (Olympic Penninsula Loop on this web site.) Finish by crossing back over I-5 on your choice of routes to Mt. Rainier. Photos below, for Oregon and Washington Coast photos see Travel Index above or search by key word below. Thank you. Have fun!
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