Vancouver -> Yosemite or Vancouver -> San Francisco ?

[Stefan_E]

So I did the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Mountain West (see my other topic). So now my next trip would be the Pacific Coast. So the plan would be:

• Fly to Vancouver
• Ferry to Vancouver Island
• Ferry to Port Angeles

Then I want to finish in Yosemite NP and Los Angeles, having two options
1. Leaving the coast midway between Crescent City and Eureka on Bald Hills Road and CA 96, going east and joining the Sierra Cascades Route near Mount Shasta. Finishing in Yosemite, we would take a Bus and Amtrak to San Francisco.
2. Following the Pacific Coast down to San Francisco, and doing a back and forth tour to Yosemite.

I lean to option 1, and would be happy about suggestions.
It's August, so traffic will be heavy, but I am usually ok with that. I heard winds are reliable North to South during the summer. How many miles can you do along the coast with tailwind? On lightly hilly terrain I can do around 70 miles per day without problems.

[jamawani]

In August in California -
Even a few miles in from the coast it is really hot.
And in the Central Valley it is brutally hot.
2024 had unrelenting heat especially in the Valley.

I would suggest heading inland to Crater Lake N.P in southern Oregon.
And then heading south on the Sierra Cascades route.
Anything much south of Yosemite will be hot and hotter.
Not to mention, an August trip risks forest fires in the Cascades and Sierras, especially.

If you can, go out to Neah Bay and Shishi Beach from Port Angeles.
Some of the most gorgeous northwest coast & the Makah Museum.
US 101 is pretty darn busy. Loops off of US 101 offer less traffic.
From Aberdeen you can loop out to Westport, then ride Hwy 105 along Willapa Bay.
Definitely take the Three Capes Route out of Tillamook.

Already planning the next ride, eh??? - J

PS - The Astoria Bridge is not for the weak-kneed.

[davidbonn]

I'd say Washington is much less hilly than Oregon or Northern California, but I do not have a good reference on what you'd consider "lightly hilly".  There are very few climbs longer than two miles or so anywhere on the route.

[Stefan_E]

There are very few climbs longer than two miles or so anywhere on the route.

Good to know, thanks.

[Stefan_E]

In August in California -
Even a few miles in from the coast it is really hot.
And in the Central Valley it is brutally hot.
2024 had unrelenting heat especially in the Valley.

I would suggest heading inland to Crater Lake N.P in southern Oregon.
And then heading south on the Sierra Cascades route.
Anything much south of Yosemite will be hot and hotter.
Not to mention, an August trip risks forest fires in the Cascades and Sierras, especially.

Hmm, for the next years I am forced to go in August. So maybe I should do Alaska or Canada first.
Crater Lake looks beautiful, but then I would miss the Redwood Forests along the Northern Californian coast, right? And it‘s extra miles and altitude I guess.