The Cascades Volcanoes of Pacific NW USA
Cost £3495 - June 24th to July 4th 2024
Details and Itinerary

The Cascade range forms a chain of volcanoes in the Pacific NW region of North America, extending along the coastal range from British Columbia in Canada in an arc for around 700 miles as far as northern California. There are 13 major volcanoes in the range. Most are located in the states of Washington and Oregon. Lying on a destructive plate margin, part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire", the volcanoes have been responsible for some spectacular eruptions over many thousands of years.

This tour gives the opportunity to visit four of the volcanoes at close hand (Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, Mount Hood and Newberry), with more distant viewing of at least three others. The area is subject to heavy snowfall in the winter months, but in summer has a warm sunny climate. The landscape is spectacular, the lower slopes covered by extensive pine-forests, which give way to colourful meadows carpeted by alpine flowers. All the volcanoes have glaciers on their upper slopes, and the landscapes are a haven for wildlife.
The visit is open to all adults. The party will be led by Alan Clewlow, an experienced geologist who will be on hand to offer advice and some explanation of the features seen, making use of local guides in a number of places.

Contact UsFor bookings and extra information please call us on
01527 832 578 or volcanicexperiences@aol.com

Tour of Cascades Volcanoes of Pacific NW of USA and Vancouver, Canada
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Planned itinerary

Day 1 - Monday June 24th
Leave London (Heathrow) on afternoon British Airways flight to Seattle, Washington state, USA, arriving early evening local time. Transfer by coach to 4-star hotel in the city.

Day 2
Coach to Mount Rainier National Park, entering via north-east entrance to Sunrise, the highest point reached by road on the volcano. Picnic-lunch and time in visitor centre before taking walking trail for spectacular views of the volcano with the summit and the Emmons glacier. Late-afternoon coach-ride around southern flank, over Stevens Pass to the historic Paradise Lodge, our base for the next two nights.

Day 3
The day starts with a leisurely walk to a viewpoint of the south-western flank of the volcano. Afterwards, there are a number of optional walks of varying length following well-marked trails, taking in flower-carpeted alpine meadows, waterfalls and a range of landscape features.

Day 4
Exploration of Mount St. Helens with stops at the Washington Parks Mount St Helens Interpretative Centre, and the Mount St. Helens Forest Learning Centre at Coldwater Lake with a short walk, then the Johnson Ridge Observatory (the main visitor centre for the volcano) with various displays, a film presentation, ranger talk and a one walk along the ridge. We then head for Kelso, staying there for one night at the Guesthouse International Inn.

Day 5
We start with time spent on the southern side of Mount St. Helens, with stops at the Trail of Two Forests interpretative site, Ape Cave and the Lahar viewpoint. We then drive to Portland, Oregon, and enjoy the International Rose Test garden, which offers views of the distant Mount Hood. We check into the Hampton Inn in the Pearl district of the city, our base for two nights. The evening is spent in the downtown area, with dinner at the Willamette River.

Day 6
A day at leisure in Portland, the “city of bridges” on the Willamette river. The opportunity to explore the downtown area with its wealth of good restaurants, clubs, bookstores and coffee houses or take part in one of the many optional excursions on offer into the surrounding region.

Day 7
We drive the historic Columbia River Gorge, cut into the plateau basalts which cover a huge area of the north-western USA. We have a stop and walk to Multnomah Falls before taking in the Bonneville Dam visitor centre. We then drive up towards Mount Hood with a stop at a local farmer’s stand (and optional local wine tasting). Afterwards, our route climbs to reach the historic Timberline Lodge, high on the slopes of Mount Hood, checking in there for one night. We have a chance to explore the local area and the history of this unique lodge.

Day 8
We leave Timberline Lodge for a one-hour early walk around Trillium Lake with beautiful reflections of Mount Hood. We then drive to Smith Rock State Park, a remnant of a huge volcano with spectacular rock-formations. We have a walk there before moving on to the Lava Lands visitor centre within the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Once there, we take a bus ride up on a cinder cone and take a walk around the rim, with views of the partially snow-covered High Cascades, the 3 Sisters and many lava flows. Eventually we arrive in Bend, checking into the Hampton Inn by Hilton, on the Deschutes River, for a two-night stay.

 

Day 9
More time spent at the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, where the highlight is the “Big Obsidian Flow”, taking in a walk among large black obsidian boulders created by the youngest lava flow in Oregon about 1300 years ago. We then follow a route drive on a loop over two high passes including the McKenzie Pass at 1630 metres, stopping at an observatory with a view of many of the Cascades volcanoes and 65 miles of lava fields.

 

Day 10 - Sunday July 3rd
Another drive over the McKenzie pass to the State capital, Salem for a short stop. Then on to Portand airport for our early evening flight back to London Heathrow, arriving around lunchtime next day (Day 11, Monday July 4th).

 

(Please note that this might have to be subject to slight amendment)

Cost
The cost is estimated at £3495. This includes return flights (and taxes) by British Airways from London Heathrow, coach transfers and local excursions on the itinerary listed in the brochure (not including any optional excursions) and accommodation based on two people sharing a room. Most hotels (not all) include breakfast, but no other meals are included in this package. It should be possible to arrange single accommodation for those who require it, but this will involve a supplement of £660. All those taking part in the tour are expected to arrange their own holiday insurance, which can be obtained from any travel agent or insurance broker.


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