Spring has officially sprung in the Cascades and it’s time to stop looking mournfully at those snowshoes and Nordic skis, dust off your hiking boots, and hit the trail. As we give thanks for seasonally appropriate activities, let’s consider for a moment how fortunate we are to live in this majestic place. Should this reflection […]
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Get Your Rocks Off
We can thank Central Oregon’s tumultuous volcanic history for most of the things we all love most about living here: the outdoor recreation, the beauty, and probably even the beer if you want to talk hydrology (but you probably don’t, so…). One more gift bestowed upon us by virtue of tectonic mayhem? Rocks! Central Oregon […]
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Go Here 3/5-3/11
Long-distance hikes (that aren’t the PCT)
Since the deservedly successful novel Wild, by Cheryl Strayed, was published and adapted to the big screen, thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail has moved to the top of every Tom, Dick, and Sally’s bucket list. For those of us interested in the challenge and fulfillment a thru-hike offers, but seeking less of a time commitment […]
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Ghost Towns
Growing up in the west, few things set my childhood imagination on fire like the dilapidated remains of once-booming frontier towns. As it turns out, they have that same effect on my somewhere-north-of-thirtysomething imagination as well. I was delighted to discover a slew of ghost towns within daytrip distance of Bend. This six-hour loop takes […]
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Go Here 2/18-2/25
Wildflowers
Has this wacky warm winter stricken you with early onset spring fever? Yellowstone’s bears are emerging from hibernation, California saw its first wildfire of the season, and closer to home Oregon’s wild-flowers are starting to show their pretty little heads. Big Summit Prairie Located in the Ochoco National Forest, roughly 40 miles east of Prineville, […]
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Go Here 2/11-2/18
Three Valentine’s Appropriate Adventures
While Bend’s finest eateries may be all booked up for Valentine’s Day, there are plenty of no-reservations-required options for those who’d prefer to combine their fondness for a special someone with their love of nature. Tumalo Mountain Sunrise All those iconic images of Mt. Bachelor at sunset? Those are taken from the vantage atop Tumalo […]
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Not At All For The Birds
Some choice spots for winter birdwatching
From high desert to sub-alpine, Central Oregon hosts a wide range of ecosystems making it one of the best places in the state to spot a diverse range of birds, even in the middle of winter. With snow levels unseasonably low, many of the best birding spots in the region are easily accessible. Brothers Oasis […]
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Go Here 1/21-1/28
Powder-free Pastimes
Mother Nature hasn’t exactly been generous with the snow lately, so if you’re looking for a winter activity that isn’t powder dependent, check out a couple of these local gems. High Desert Museum This 135-acre complex, part wildlife center, part cultural museum can make short work of a no-powder day. Open 10 am – 4 […]
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Go Here 1/15-1/21
Snowshoeing Selections
One of the perks of living on this side of the Cascade Range is that hiking season doesn’t come to a screeching halt at the stroke of November and the annual onslaught of the great gray yuck. On the contrary, winter here means crisp, clear days with wide open views; one need just trade hiking […]
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Go Here 12/18-12/25
Sledding!
Nothing says winter break like careening down a hillside, full-tilt, on a found object that may or may not have been engineered for such things. Skiing and snowboarding are tops here, but sometimes they just can’t scratch the snow-day itch like a day of sledding can. Wanoga Sno-Park Wanoga is home to a day-use snowmobile […]
