Headed out on a road trip to Northwest California on Sept. 5.
Can anyone in that area give me an idea how bad the forest fires and smoke are? Should I head someplace else?

 

The smoke is really bad all over northern California from the central valley to the coast, and the temperatures are record highs (100+). I haven't been on my bike in about two weeks. I don't have any suggestions on where to go with all the fires. It's supposed to cool down a bit in the next few days (80's) but there's still a lot of smoke. Good luck wherever you end up.

 

Montana is covered in smoke. i could not see the grain elevators half mile away. lots of fires, hot and difficult to breath. i was on the bike saturday and found it to be very unpleasant

cold front rolling in tomorrow with 40 mph winds, hopefully it will push the smoke and not fan the flames.

 

Smoke is heavy from all of the fires in Washington, Oregon and elsewhere, looks like a heavy haze, not quite a fog. Our local landmark, Mt. Diablo is almost obscured in recent days from about 17-20 miles away, usually you can see it from double, that if not farther, in the eastbay. The coast might be better because of the wind.

 

It's been in the triple digits and with the smokey haze= miserable..Looks like its going to cool down some ..But, with the smokey haze probably won't be a place ya want to ride to.. since I live here, a couple hours ride early up in the hills is not too bad.. Ya just gotta get on it and ride no matter what

Mon 4

98º 69º

Tue 5

93º 66º

Wed 6

89º 60º

Thu 7

87º 60º

Fri 8

89º 60º

Sat 9

93º 62º

Sun 10

95º 64º

 

It's cooling down this week. Yeah, it's smokey, even here on the Mendocino Coast. But don't let that stop you...

 

I went to Portland a couple of weeks ago, rode up the Columbia River. Then went to Seattle for a couple days, couldn't even see the City skyline the smoke was so bad. Heat wave, temps about 100.
You should feel right at home.

 

We just returned from a 2 week tour of Northern California and Oregon.

- Smoke was so bad couldn't see all of Yosemite Valley. Then when we arrived at Crater Lake we couldn't see the water. We stayed at Crater Lake lodge, and fortunately the wind changed overnight and had clear views the next AM. Wearing masks helped somewhat with the smoke.

- Heat sucked on several days, was chilly and damp along the coast, then on one day up the 5 to Redding, CA it was 110 degrees.


Yosemite Valley in the Smoke:





My wife ready for a smokey ride:




Crater Lake upon our arrival:






Crater Lake after wind shifted the smoke.



Yes...this thermometer is accurate. At our arrival in Redding, CA:



But, still some great scenery:

 

Thanks for all the input.

This is a ride a group of retired firefighter take each year right after Labor Day. Six of going this year, we've all had enough smoke.

Going to head over to Hwy 101 from Portland and down the coast looking for cooler weather and less smoke. In Calif. head east on Hwy 36 to Red Bluff area then over to the Lake Tahoe area. We are flexible so will check each day and head for the areas that are the clearest of smoke.

 

It's pretty bad here in NoCal about 100 miles from the Oregon border. Limited visibility and one can smell the smoke. It's also super hot.

Even in SF area it's hot and smoky.