San Fran loop - Portland-Glacier-Yellowstone & back

[ChipButty]

Hi folks,

After an uncertain year at work we've decided this August/September we're game for another lap round the US, we did a 3500mile SW SFO loop the other year so I think I know what I'm undertaking(yeah right!).
Anyway, we've got about 26days free and we're looking to head north to Portland, across to Glacier - Yellowstone and returning through Oregon, Yosemite and San Francisco. So far this is our plan, I hope I've picked a good route and tried to ensure we're over-nighting close to some great areas.

22nd San Francisco - 2nights
24th Garberville - Mendocino, Point Reyes on way up
25th Bandon - Redwoods
26th Lincoln City -
27th Portland - 2nights
29th Yakima - via Hood river/Multnomah falls. Vineyard visit in Yakima if poss.
30th Wallace - was Coeur D'Alene but decided to push on to get closer to Glacier(?)
31st Glacier National Park/Columbia Falls. Via Dixon for Bison NP - 2nights
2nd Livingstone - 8/9hour drive I believe but good roads.
3rd West Yellowstone - possible long route in via B/tooth Hwy, Livingstone - Columbus and south to 212 at Red Lodge. - 3 nts
6th Jackson - 2 nights
8th Twin Falls - Shoshoe Falls
9th Baker City
10th Bend - John Day fossil beds
11th Klamath Falls - Crater Lake, rim drive
12th Truckee - showing as a 7hour trek, 139-395
13th Yosemite - 395 to Lee Vining, Tioga Pass etc - 2nights
15th San Francisco, probably airport motel
16th fly home to UK

I'd appreciate your opinions, I know I've got some long days in there but I've tried to follow up a long drive with a few days break. If you can see any holes or parts that need reshuffling don't hesitate to shout, have I missed some interesting stops along the way? - I just learned of the Bison range at Dixon this weekend through this forum.
If required I could move a few days around by chopping Yosemite out as we were there the other year - I couldn't resist being so close and not going back, I see why Ansel Adams called it home, anyway if I did that I could pick up the I5 from Klamath Falls through Mt Shasta etc..

Many thanks,

Paul

[Southwest Dave]

Hi Paul, good to see you back and with another trip in the pipeline !

A lot of your itinerary are places I am looking at for my next trip so perhaps I will be following some of your footsteps this time, Lol !

Your routing looks fine and most definitely doable within the 26 days you have. I have been coming across some great info on these places throughout the RTA pages by using the search function so have a look around while waiting for suggestions. I am sure you will find many other possibilities but if ever I get that close to Yosemite, I am dropping in again for sure !

[AZBuck]

Looks like another great RoadTrip is in store! Two spots that I think are worth short detours: While in Portland, take one of your days and drive up the Columbia River Gorge on the old Columbia River Highway. The drive is worth it for the large number of incredible waterfalls that are only short hikes (or less) off the road, but also try to make time for lunch on the lawn at the View Point Inn. Then, in southeastern Idaho, take the time to drive to Bruneau Canyon. Just ignore the sign that warns you about 'objects' falling from airplanes - you'll be crossing an Air Force bombing range - the view will be worth it, and unlike the Grand Canyon, chances are you'll have it to yourself.

AZBuck

[ChipButty]

Hi Dave,

I hope this trip will be a little less eventful than the last one, everything seemed to go a tad pear shaped in the last week. You can be certain I'll drop back in with a mini summary of our exploits come September.
I've been playing around with this route for a few months now and I think I haven't been too ambitious with the distances, the couple of drives I'm most uncertain about is the Glacier to Yellowstone stretch down the US-89 and from Klamath Falls down to Truckee, the 139 to the US-395 junction looks like slow driving.

AZBuck, cheers for the heads up on the Bruneau Canyon, it's gone on the list as we'll be right on the doorstep. I have got a plan for the Columbia River Highway I just failed to add to the plan I posted, however the View Point Inn is now a definite lunch stop so thanks!

It looks like I'm in Jackson on the wrong day for the Rodeo; Weds & Sat only, however I have discovered that there's one in West Yellowstone, anyone experienced it?

Paul

Quick update - the flights are booked!!