It might be that we finally got are Oregon license plates this past Friday (our Florida ones expired in April which probably isn't good). Or because we're going camping next weekend with Evergreen, but were feeling more and more like Oregonians as of late.
Anyway, today Kelli and I went for a hike (more a walk than a hike) out at Hoyt Arboretum and saw some Giant Sequoias which are amazingly soft and spongy if you haven't felt them. Growing up in Illinois we had never come into contact with the Sequoias and Redwoods that Oregon has to offer so it's all new to us!
After our hike we bought the book 60 Hikes in 60 Miles and really want to start spending our day off hiking more and seeing all the beautiful scenery in Oregon. Monday morning we're going to go to Triple Falls out on the Columbia River Gorge. Seemed like an easy starter hike and we are looking to slowly build up to the more strenuous hikes up by Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Hood. Obviously the weather isn't going to cooperate with us much longer but I think it would be fun to take a snowy hike a few times this winter too where possible.
Any other Oregonians have any hiking suggestions?
5 comments:
You guys make great Oregonians.
Neahkanie Mountain, several hundred feet of switchbacks that go straight up but a view to die for. Make sure you go on a sunny day.
For a day hike try Silver Creek Falls. It's not a mountain-top view, but the falls (I think there are seven) are beautiful. Saddle Mountain (off Hwy 26 towards the coast) is also a good local hike, and offers a view of the Coast Range. You can get a pretty decent view of the Cascades if you hike up Tom Dick Ridge (above Mirror Lake)--the trailhead is just off Hwy 26 on the right a mile or so before you come to MultiPor ski area. Might still be some huckleberries left, too.
Eagle Creek trail out in the gorge will not disappoint. Also you'll get to see punch-bowl falls which is pretty spectacular.
It's hard to go wrong around here. Silver Creek is good, but there are 10 falls in spring with the snowmelt and they trickle down to 7 with the dry summer. Same trend with Eagle Creek' 7 or so falls, but its always worth the trip (just don't stop at tunnel falls, there is the best one to come!). Let me know if you want more. The best book I've run across is William Sullivan's series of five "100 Hikes in.." covering the state by region. He has my dream job incidentally.
Post a Comment