Despite the disappointing snowpack across the state, sunny skies and warm spring temperatures mean it’s waterfall season in Oregon. Here are three worth leaving the county for. White River Falls State Park This park contains at least three of my favorite features: huge geologic landforms, a series of cascading whitewater falls, and the physical remains […]
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Reap What You Sow
Never mind those recent snow flurries—spring has officially arrived. And as branches begin to bud, and birds to sing, it’s time to start thinking about gardening. Now, Central Oregon isn’t the Willamette Valley. One does not simply toss seeds over one’s shoulder and return a few weeks later to find verdant greens emerging from the […]
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Go Here 11/27-12/3
Oh, Christmas Tree!
If the thought of spending the day after Thanksgiving shopping among the frenzied, pie-fed, bargain-seeking masses makes you punchy, consider another option. Trade black for green and spend the day grabbing your Christmas tree. A remarkably unscientific survey reveals nine out of 10 local outdoorsy types recommend heading past Sisters, parking where McKenzie Pass is […]
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Go Here 11/5-11/13
Switching Gears: Winter Ski Conditioning
There is nothing that wholly gets you into ski shape, than, well, skiing. But there are ways to prepare for the season, avoid injury, make solid turns with confidence, and lessen the first-day-back muscle soreness. Wearing your ski boots while watching TV is one type of condition ing, but getting off the couch is the […]
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Go Here 10/16-10/22
On Belay!
Bend’s location abutting the state’s prime climbing areas and the country’s mecca for sport climbing, Smith Rock, makes this time of year—with cooler daytime temps and autumn sun—ideal for getting out on the rock. Climbers may still be looking for shade but it’s far cry from the mid-summer heat. Smith Rock Climbing School Since 1983, […]
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Go Here 9/4-9/11
High Desert Wildlands
This week marks the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act which allows for protection of some of the nation’s most stunning and desolate landscapes. What better way to celebrate the wildlands of Central and Eastern Oregon by getting out and experiencing the diverse environments and vistas. Two lesser known areas, the Owyhee Canyonlands and the Greater […]
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Go Here: Balancing Rocks
Northwest of Lake Billy Chinook a road dead ends into a short dirt trail, and at the end of that trail lies one of the most spectacular and unusual remnants of Oregon’s volcanic history. Known only as Balancing Rocks, it is exactly as the name suggests, a field of massive boulders precariously balanced atop stone […]
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Go Here! 6/19-6/26
Go Here! It is probably easier to find a view of the Cascade Mountains than trip over your own feet. But finding a full panoramic view—360 degrees and spinning—is one of the most rewarding finds in Central Oregon. What better way to welcome summer than taking in the whole range after hiking or biking up […]