Hi Jefferson Staters (and everyone else who may be interested...)
OK. This is what I've come up with so far. The mileage is about 400 miles (one way). On the map below, the over night stops are numbered 1 through 6.
What I have in mind for the first night is a nice (free) campsite on the side of 'Mount Shasta' at almost 10,000 ft. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bmindful/214810234/ This is accessible all the way on nice paved road but quite a climb. We will park in the old parking lot for the ski resort that was destroyed by an avalanche about 20 years ago. You can see 100 miles.
The next night could be a real pretty camping spot (undeveloped) on the west side of 'Mount Ashland' http://www.summitpost.org/lithia-park-t ... mit/589206 overlooking the Siskiyous and the Rogue Valley with great view across the valley of Mt. Shasta where we camped the night before. This entails a good gravel single lane road that starts at the parking lot at the ski area and winds around the mountain, climbing to the top.
After spending the night, drive back down to the city of Ashland in the late morning and up I-5 to Canyonville then east to Tiller, then NE to 'South Umpqua Falls'. http://www.travelbywaysandgetaways.com/ ... umpqua.htm This has a very large, first come first serve USFS campground with good toilets. South Umpqua Falls has a large natural water slide and is quite popular and very much fun if you aren't afraid to get wet by sliding down the falls. Also some fantastic swimming holes, some perfect for small kids.
Then over the top of the Cascades (VERY scenic) and down in to the Central Oregon desert to a place called 'Fort Rock'. http://www.traveloregon.com/Explore-Ore ... -Cave.aspx Check out Fort Rock for a few hours then then head on for another hour to 'Hole In The Ground'. http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/g ... to02.shtml Hole In The Ground is a huge, perfectly round crater about 1 mile across and a 1000 ft deep. We can camp on the edge and watch the desert sunrise come over the mountains. There are some local lava tube caves close by and lots of other interesting desert things....then, shoot back across the Cascades to Waldo Lake. http://www.hoodoo.com/Willamette_Nation ... e_Area.htm Waldo Lake is known as one of the purest lakes in the world. I've canoed across it at night and could see the bottom, 50 ft. down by the moonlight. Waldo Lake may be crowded and vacant camp-sights might be hard to find though....
Let me know what you think. Changes can be made....
More refinements later........
I live about 45 miles from Ft Rock but WILL come down to the start and enjoy the trip. Hate to ask, but when is this going to happen. Lots happening for me this summer, so WILL make time for this one. Sound like a great trip.
