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Pacific Northwest Photography Tour: Oregon and Washington

Mount Hood, Crater Lake, Oregon and Washington Coasts, Olympic National Park, Seattle, Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens

 

  July 22nd to August 6th, 2025

  15 nights/16 inclusive days  |  Maximum of 8 participants, and a minimum of 4 participants

  $6,678 USD per person  |  Single Supplement: 14% of the base cost of the trip

  The deposit for this photography tour is $400. Make a deposit, or pay your tour balance here

  Explore our discounts for client loyalty, early enrollment, 2 trips in 12 months, referrals and more

  Do you have a question? Ask us via email: Click here
  Arrival and departure airport: Portland, Oregon [PDX]
  Arrival window: For a variety of travel related reasons, arriving one day early is recommended
  Search fares at Kayak, Skyscanner, Orbitz, Google Flights or your favorite airline
 
Pacific Northwest photo gallery
  Map of overnight locations
  Client responses to our photo tours
  Newspaper review of a previous Pacific Northwest trip
  For the single supplement, cancellation policy and enrollment guidance see below

This photo tour will run with one or more participants. Please note that our group limit is not a requirement!  8 places are available at this time
  Updated: Thursday the 28th of March, 2024

This photo tour has sufficient enrollments, and is a 'go'. However, do please consult with us prior to arranging your travel for the trip!  Indicates that we have sufficient enrollments and the trip is a 'go'
This photo tour will run with one or more participants. Please note that our group limit is not a requirement!  Indicates that this trip requires the minimum number of participants as indicated on line two above

 

 

              Enroll for our photo tour              Email your photo tour question

 


Photography Tour Overview:
Mount Hood, Crater Lake, Oregon and Washington Coasts, Olympic National Park, Seattle, Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens, plus wildlife and abundant wildflowers. World travel is something we all crave, but gathered together in the northwest corner of the United States is a vast array of photographic jewels summarized as the magnificent Pacific Northwest. The wildflowers are ‘ripe’ at high elevations during late July, and that is when Idaho-based photographer John Baker of Travel Images will guide a group of 7 photo travelers around the west’s most inspiring scenery. This Pacific Northwest itinerary is diverse and spectacular. From crashing surf to wildlife, snow capped peaks to cascading waterfalls, and wildflowers to the catastrophic devastation of a violent volcanic eruption. Point your camera at Mount Hood, Crater Lake, the Oregon and Washington Coasts with a sprinkling of lighthouses, Olympic National Park, Seattle, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, ocean sunsets, and dawn excursions to the best of the west. Add wildlife such as Black Tail Deer, Roosevelt Elk, and Marmot et cetera, and it is photographic utopia. As with all of our photography tours, early and late shooting is scheduled for each day.

 

 


Our itinerary . . .
But first things first! We suggest that you set your camera's clock to the local time, as your images will then synchronize with the times in our included photo tour field notes.

 

Days 1 + 2  |  Columbia Gorge Waterfalls, and Mount Hood
Our Pacific Northwest photography tour will start at 11:30 am, and as we head for the Columbia Gorge we'll pause for the included lunch, and digital orientation. Into the gorge for several very different waterfalls, and wind and kite surfers riding the Columbia River breezes. We turn south at Hood River, and shoot a classic Mount Hood scene with nice side-lighting from the north of the mountain.
Shooting from the side of Mount Hood at dawn, 10,495' Mount Jefferson to the south often juts out of the valley clouds, and is a spectacular sight. Following breakfast at Timberline Lodge you'll get great shots of skiers and snowboarders even in July! There will also be plenty of striking landscapes to be composed on and around the mountain during the remainder of our time here with superb reflections in a nearby lake at both dawn and dusk.
Near Mount Hood, 2 nights

Days 3 + 4  |  Mount Hood to Crater Lake
On day 3 we'll head south through Oregon's high desert country shooting Cascade peak vistas, and the Lava Lands volcanic terrain on route. There are always lots of ground squirrels to photograph there, along with views to Mount Bachelor. Then the late light at Crater Lake, along with plenty to drool over during our 2 night stay.
On day 4 we'll do a loop trip around the rim of this ancient volcano, and your images will include landscapes, wildflowers, a waterfall and a fabulous vista from an easily accessible peak at sunset.
Crater Lake, 2 nights

 

Day 5  |  Crater Lake to the Oregon coastline
Out past Diamond Lake this morning to shoot a pair of waterfalls, then we'll follow the Umpqua River for part of our trip to the coast. Hitting the coast south of Coos Bay, we'll shoot aplenty at Sunset Bay, and Shore Acres State Park. The latter offers bird life, great waves, and colorful flowers in abundance. Our first taste of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area in late afternoon/evening . . . and on to Florence for the night.
Florence, 1 night

Days 6 + 7  |  Lighthouses, Cape Kiwanda and Cannon Beach
More dunes creations this morning, and a nice smattering of coastal scenes and experiences today with Seal Rock, Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, and Cape Kiwanda waves high on the menu. The latter is a classic situation and worth the trip over one dune type ‘obstacle’.
On day 7 our focus will be on spectacular Cannon Beach. Haystack and Needles rocks make excellent subjects if sunset and afterglow cooperate, and then there’s Ecola State Park nearby.
Cannon Beach, 2 nights

 

Day 8  |  Cannon Beach to Quinalt Lake
We’ll make an early morning excursion to Ecola State Park to glean the glories and vistas of the peninsula, plus the glowing greens of the old forest. We’ll cross the Columbia River at Astoria around midday and take the Fort Canby loop once inside Washington. Much of the day will take us through the remnants of old forest clear cuts cut with methods that the Washington State no longer adopts. Plenty of foxgloves and other wildflowers to master on route. On the edge of Olympic National Park is Quinalt . . . lots of evening photography at the edge of the lake which will be a our one night home.
Quinalt Lake, 1 night

Days 9 + 10  |  Olympic National Park
Heading coast-wards from Quinalt, Ruby Beach has sea stacks, driftwood and plenty of photographic opportunities and challenges. On to Sol Duc falls late in the day. You'll be shooting old growth/rain forest where besides the falls, there are plenty of lush foliage images to capture. Tripods are a must! day 10 will start and finish in Olympic National Park on Hurricane Ridge, and is laden with wildflowers, deer, marmot and snow-capped peaks.
Port Angeles, 2 nights

 

Day 11  |  Seattle
Leaving Olympic National Park today, we'll move east via Poulsbo to one of America's most spectacular cities, Seattle. We’ll cross Puget Sound by ferry with the approaching Seattle skyline being your next images. We'll check-in to our hotel under the shadow of the Space Needle, and after a short break we'll shoot around the Space Needle. Following dinner we'll have an ideal view of the Seattle skyline complete with that, erm, Space Needle once more, and distant Mount Rainier. We'll shoot until the buildings turn a warm gold, which is around half an hour after sunset.
Seattle, 1 night

Days 12 + 13  |  Mount Rainier National Park
After capturing some early light we'll take breakfast and capture another Seattle skyline view. If we're there around midday it's also a good spot get an authentic fish and chip lunch. Then off southwards in the direction of Mount Rainier. On route we'll spend time at a wildlife sanctuary where photographing North American species of wildlife is authentic and relatively easy. Birds of prey, badger, beaver, lynx, and wolf, etc. are all here in very photographable situations with a little patience. Mount Rainier will loom, and we'll frame it with various creative juices on the way to our home on the side of Washington's highest peak at 14,410'.
We'll be on the Skyline Trail early in the morning on day 12 will yield many a wildflower foreground to a Mount Rainier backdrop. There’ll be more as we explore the mountain during the remainder of the day including Reflection Lake, Narada Falls et cetera. Fox and Deer appear as the end of daylight approaches.
Mount Rainier, 2 nights

 

Day 14  |  Mount St. Helens
More doses of Rainier in the morning, and then we’ll move south via Elbe to Mount St. Helens to photograph and witness first hand the awesome devastation that took place in 1980. The region of Windy Ridge is a great place to be in respect of the undisturbed devastation and late light photography.
Morton, 1 night

 

Day 15  |  Mount St. Helens and our return to Portland
We’ll head west from Morton in the morning, and cut back to Mount St. Helens heading for Johnston Ridge. After a stirring video presentation of the 1980 eruption you'll be free to point your camera right into the foreboding caldera. Then on to Portland for hotel check-in. The included dinner on the last night of our photography tour will feature an 'It's You!' presentation of clients in action on this tour by John.
Near the Portland airport, 1 night

 

Day 16  |  Departure day
As there isn't any photography scheduled for the day of departure on this trip, your flight home can be arranged for any time today. Transport to the airport is included unless you’re staying on for a day or more.

 

Photo Tour Photographer/Leader: John Baker, Travel Images Photography Tours
The preceding itinerary is a copyrighted work by John Baker Photographer LLC, and Travel Images Photography Tours

 

 


Enhancing Your Photography Skills

Describing the assistance you'll receive on one of our photography tours takes more than a few words, so for greater detail please go here.

 

Exertion level: This photography tour is classified as 'mildly strenuous' to 'strenuous'

Crater Lake: Watchman Peak, short moderate incline. Moderately strenuous

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area: Walking on sand dunes. Moderately strenuous

Cape Kiwanda: 100 yards up steep dune, rugged descent on far side. Strenuous

Sol duc Falls, Olympic NP: Semi-maintained trail. Moderately strenuous

Skyline trail, Mt. Rainier: Gentle incline to meadows. Moderately strenuous

Mt. St. Helens: Windy Ridge and Johnston Ridge. Mildly strenuous

In every other respect this photography tour is considered non-strenuous to mildly strenuous

 

Do you need a Visa for travel to the United States?
Travelers from all countries can do a quick check of visa requirements here or here
Our international clients may need to contact the embassy of their intended destination in their own country for a visa. Go here or here

 


Photography Tour Cost, Deposit, Cancellation Policy and Enrollment Guidance

Trip Cost: $6,678 USD per person not including airfare. A 5% discount is applied to all double occupancies. A single room supplement is required for single occupancy

Single Supplement: 14% of the base cost of the trip

 

The deposit for this photography tour is $400. Make a deposit, or pay your tour balance here

 

Cancellation policy: Go here

Enrollment guidance: Go here

 


Included in the Trip Cost: The following items are included in the trip cost . . .

  • Photography instruction throughout the trip by John

  • All accommodations with private facilities [en-suite]

  • All breakfasts

  • Lunch on day one of the trip

  • Dinner on the last night of the trip

  • On-vehicle snacks and bottled water

  • All ground transportation

  • Airport pick-up on day 1, and drop-off on departure day. Arrival prior to day 1 is not included

  • Entrance fees for sites and activities listed below under ‘Admissions Included’

  • Following the trip you'll receive detailed field notes describing the time, place and subject of each photo stop, plus image uploads to a private web page of clients 'in action' on the trip

Not Included in the Trip Cost: The costs for these items are the responsibility of each participant . . .

  • Airfare

  • Travel costs between your home and the gateway airport and return

  • Any transportation or travel costs incurred prior to or after the tour’s inclusive dates

  • Pre-tour and/or post-tour accommodation

  • Lunches and dinners except for lunch on day one of the trip, and dinner on the last night of the trip

  • Alcoholic beverages

  • Entrance fees or costs related to optional sites or activities not included in the itinerary

  • Baggage fees

  • Medical expenses

  • Personal items such as the hotel mini-bar, laundry et cetera

  • Incidental charges incurred at our accommodations such as movie rentals, internet and phone

  • Travel insurance

  • Passport or visa expenses

  • Airport departure taxes, if applicable

Admissions Included in the Trip Cost:

  • Admission to Crater Lake, Olympic, and Mount Rainier National Parks is included in our Commercial Organization, Commercial Tour Fees, and/or a Commercial Use Authorization [CUA] permit

  • Also included is entrance into various Oregon State Parks, Mount St. Helens National Monument and Northwest Trek

  • All other possible rides, admissions or excursions are optional and not included.

 
 

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Travel Images Photography Tours: Guided Landscape, Natural History, Macro and Wildlife Photography Tours
Email  |  Phone: [+1] 208-559-8248 | Postal: Travel Images, P.O. Box 939, Middleton, Idaho 83644-0939