end of March - Portland to Benton

[Vic Harder]

Had to rearrange some plans, and find myself planning to drive a stretch of road I am not familiar with. Need to get from Portland OR to Benton HS in Nevada in a day or two. Looking at the route, I would normally plan to BLM/dry camp near Mt Shasta or Lassen, but at that time of year most of those sites (4000' or so) are likely still full of snow. What can folks recommend/suggest?

Vic

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Had to rearrange some plans, and find myself planning to drive a stretch of road I am not familiar with. Need to get from Portland OR to Benton HS in Nevada in a day or two. Looking at the route, I would normally plan to BLM/dry camp near Mt Shasta or Lassen, but at that time of year most of those sites (4000' or so) are likely still full of snow. What can folks recommend/suggest?

Vic

Vic there is a state park/campground off US 97 100 miles south of Bend Or.
We have stayed there several times while passing through.It's a nice RV park.
Should be open it's Collier Memorial State Park.Nice location.
The town of Chilquin is about a couple miles south.
Also on the road into the park is the US forest road 9730 that has a NF campground.
It's a mile or so down the road from the entrance off US 97.
Never stayed there but walked through while staying at the Collier park.
From this area you would stay on 97 south to Klamath Falls Or.to hwy 39 south.
At the Ca. line it changes to St 239 south to Susanville where you pick up Hwy 395 south.
Or at Canby you can take St 299 to Alturas for connecting to Hwy 395.
The roads are nice not heavily traveled until Susanville.

From Portland head south to Eugene Or.and take Hwy 58 south through the mountains to US 97.That's the route the mainline train uses.

Hope you find this info useful.
Frank

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Want some exploring? Portland to Lakeview, camp at Goose Lake State Park. Take 395 south to Reno area, pick up 95 to Benton area. Check the map, I’m going from memory.

Park is open year round IIRC.

 

[Sagebrush Reconnoiterer]

Are you speaking of a Benton High School somewhere in Nevada? There is no community named Benton in Nevada. And Benton, California, just inside Nevada, has no high school. I searched "Benton HS Nevada" and came up with some sort of homeless educational outreach program in the midwest.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I think he’s heading to the hot springs.

 

[AWG_Pics]

I second Steve's suggestion of Goose Lake right at the Oregon - California state line near Lakeview Oregon. You could also consider Portland to Summer Lake, where there is a resort with room for campers and some hot pools to soak in. Summer Lake to Benton Hot Springs should be a modest day's drive.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Summer Lake Lodge had good meals some years ago, no recent experience. The entertainment might be free… our last time there, an elderly couple who had recently reunited after decades was there, and the lady in a voice the entire lodge could hear was telling the fellow what awaited him after dinner.

 

[Sagebrush Reconnoiterer]

HS=Hot Springs ... DOH!

If he's heading to the hot springs (ski3pins second home ... ), then I suggest heading east out I-84 to Ontairo, OR, then south on US95 just inside Idaho to Winnemucca, Nevada.

At Winnemucca, there are two options, both somewhat roundabout. Route 1: I-80 east to Battle Mountain, south on Nevada 305 to Austin, Nevada 376 south to Tonopah, west on US6 to Benton.

Route 2: At Winnemucca, southwest on I-80 to west of Lovelock, south on US95 through Fallon and Hawthorne, southwest on Nevada 360 to US6, southwest on US6 the last few miles to Benton, west ib California 120 the last couple of miles to Benton Hot Springs.

If coming south on US395, be aware that California 120 between just south of Lee Vining and Benton is closed for the winter. That necessitates going south all the way to Bishop then north to Benton. There is a county road that cuts off just south of Mammoth Lakes, but is subject to snow the entire distance and is a lesser priority road for snow plowing.

 

[AWG_Pics]

Summer Lake Lodge had good meals some years ago, no recent experience. The entertainment might be free… our last time there, an elderly couple who had recently reunited after decades was there, and the lady in a voice the entire lodge could hear was telling the fellow what awaited him after dinner.

Wow! I think...

 

[AWG_Pics]

Summer Lake Hot Springs

Summer Lake Hot Springs is a hidden gem located in Southern Oregon, just two hours south of Bend. This unique and tranquil healing retreat is anchored by its ancient artesian hot spring mineral pools, a quaint rustic feel and 360 degree views of both desert and forest. The resort is located six mile

www.summerlakehotsprings.com

We have stayed here 4 or 5 times -- kind of a upscale hippie vibe -- but nice people -- very clean facilities.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Wow! I think...

It was explicit enough the lodge management apologized to the two or three other couples. The “audience” then complimented them on the show.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Summer Lake Hot Springs

Summer Lake Hot Springs is a hidden gem located in Southern Oregon, just two hours south of Bend. This unique and tranquil healing retreat is anchored by its ancient artesian hot spring mineral pools, a quaint rustic feel and 360 degree views of both desert and forest. The resort is located six mile

www.summerlakehotsprings.com

We have stayed here 4 or 5 times -- kind of an upscale hippie vibe -- but nice people -- very clean facilities.

That reminds me, Summer Lake hot springs has camping, just don’t be there either side of Burning Man. The hot spring in a hail storm is another interesting experience.

 

[AWG_Pics]

That reminds me, Summer Lake hot springs has camping, just don’t be there either side of Burning Man. The hot spring in a hail storm is another interesting experience.

We could not get into summer lake last September due to Burner crowds. A couple years earlier we secured a spot at Angel lake campground near Wells. All was peaceful and then the Burners poured in. It was, as a movie review read some 20 years ago, a feast for the eyes and a famine for the mind.

 

[pnwlife]

Want some exploring? Portland to Lakeview, camp at Goose Lake State Park. Take 395 south to Reno area, pick up 95 to Benton area. Check the map, I’m going from memory.

Park is open year round IIRC.

Goose Lake State Park's campground is closed from November 1 to May 1 (Goose Lake State Recreation Area - Oregon State Parks).

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Well rats! When I was there last summer, I thought I saw a sign that said it was open year round.

I can cook up some other back country routes if you’re interested. One has a free campground with a warm springs swimming pool.

 

[AWG_Pics]

Vic, we have made the drive you are considering many times in recent years. Here is the route we would most likely take, in three segments:

Portland to Summer Lake:

Summer Lake to River Campground on Lake Lahontan near Fallon, Nevada.

River campground in cozy, underused and quite nice for an overnight. We have stayed there many times. Then River Campground to Benton Hot Springs:

Good luck and safe travels in you journey.
Tony

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Tony, that’s a great route, with reasonable travel times.

 

[Vic Harder]

I like Tony's route too. And sorry about the NV/HS confusion. Yah, Benton Hot Springs in California. Doh.
Question re: River CG= do you stay at the "beach" sites or one of the 11 "camp" sites?

 

[AWG_Pics]

I like Tony's route too. And sorry about the NV/HS confusion. Yah, Benton Hot Springs in California. Doh.
Question re: River CG= do you stay at the "beach" sites or one of the 11 "camp" sites?

If there is any wind then the 11 sites below the dam are better. And there may be pelicans, night herons and osprey hunting the water below the dam.

 

[DavidGraves]

HS=Hot Springs ... DOH!

If he's heading to the hot springs (ski3pins second home ... ), then I suggest heading east out I-84 to Ontairo, OR, then south on US95 just inside Idaho to Winnemucca, Nevada.

At Winnemucca, there are two options, both somewhat roundabout. Route 1: I-80 east to Battle Mountain, south on Nevada 305 to Austin, Nevada 376 south to Tonopah, west on US6 to Benton.

Route 2: At Winnemucca, southwest on I-80 to west of Lovelock, south on US95 through Fallon and Hawthorne, southwest on Nevada 360 to US6, southwest on US6 the last few miles to Benton, west ib California 120 the last couple of miles to Benton Hot Springs.

If coming south on US395, be aware that California 120 between just south of Lee Vining and Benton is closed for the winter. That necessitates going south all the way to Bishop then north to Benton. There is a county road that cuts off just south of Mammoth Lakes, but is subject to snow the entire distance and is a lesser priority road for snow plowing.

A Winnemucca note. The rest area here along I 80 has public showers....perhaps the only such arrangement I know of in the entire US Interstate system.