Oregon’s high east-central plateau is dominated by numerous forested mountain ranges rising above fertile rangeland, with enough vistas wide enough that you can’t quite wrap your arms around them.

It’s a peaceful place, and in August, Brad and I set off for the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness. Our hiking compass was set to climb and summit 9,038-foot Strawberry Mountain itself, a once-active volcano. It got its name from Nathan Wills Fisk, a homesteader in the area, because of the many wild strawberry plants that can be found in the area.

We drove about 4 hours from Portland to our secret camping spot nearby, and set up in a campground that we had absolutely to ourselves. The quiet of the woods was occasionally broken by the rattling of a woodpecker on a nearby tree or a raspy chirrup from a hawk high up in the thermal winds. The next morning, we packed up our gear, loaded extra water, and headed to the trailhead.

Starting near the 7,000 foot level definitely helped make this hike not as arduous as it may seem. The trailhead starts on an old road that is fairly level and flat. Not very far down the path, the dogs, Brad and I were quickly startled by a big buck deer bounding through the undergrowth as it bolted away from its breakfast foraging. A little later down the trail, we ran into some other hikers. A man and his son from the Portland area were scouting the area for the hunting season, and had their binoculars trained on a ridgeline not too far away. We stopped and asked what they were looking at, and they pointed out a tiny white dot. It was a mountain goat! Somehow, on an impossible angle, the animal nimbly tip-toed across cliff faces that left me dizzy, but it was pretty cool to watch. The duo weren’t actually looking to hunt the goats (illegal) but rather looking for deer. My thoughts turned to the buck that we had just seen; had he met any of bow hunters currently out, he might not have been so lucky.

Right at this point, the trail turned south and quickly narrowed down to about 1-2 feet wide, with a couple of steep drop-offs right off the trail in a number of places. About 15-20 years ago, a wildfire had swept through the area, and while the area is recovering, the vegetation is still a little thin, punctuated with dead, blackened snags, lending a surreal feeling to the hike. Interestingly, as we followed just below the shoulder line of the ridge, the views far below were pretty amazing. Small, lush meadows beckoned, and I could imagine deer and other animals thriving in such a rich environment.

I heard twittering overhead, and stopped to watch a large group of mountain bluebirds flitting from tree to tree. Their calls are very muted and cheery; sweet, almost. After a few minutes of observation, we continued on, and started a number of switchbacks up to the base of Strawberry Mountain itself. It loomed far above us, and my palms began to sweat. This, I thought, is gonna be a tough hike!

We came around a corner and found ourselves traversing a shale trail. Shale is a type of loose rock, usually in large piles as it breaks off a larger source- such as a cliff face. And that was exactly what we were crossing. High above, cliffs with big rocks towered over us, and I silently issued a request to the forces that be that nothing decided to come tumbling down.

The path was so rocky that the trailblazers before us had actually built some rock cairns to mark the way, although enough boots had passed this way, a distinguishable line could be seen. At this point, despite the cool August morning, the sun’s rays began to warm things up a bit, helped by the reflection from the rocks.

Up we went, and found ourselves in a brief flat spot where some other trails joined ours, and we stopped to enjoy a view from a forest of tortured junipers and bristlecone pine trees edged by brilliant blue lupine flowers. I glanced up. The trail went up from that point another 45-50 degrees. Not quite climbing on your hands and knees, but it was steep…

The final summit assault had begun. We climbed up and zig-zagged across the rocky face. We were high above the tree line yet somehow, flowers managed to entrench themselves into the seemingly impenetrable stone.

Winds up here have gotten up to legendary speeds. Apparently, there was, at one point, a lookout up here, but it was eventually abandoned. At one point, a storm blew the entire structure off the top of the mountain. All that remains are some cables littered around and some errant nails.

Brad made the summit first, and whooped when he did. I slowly trudged the final stretch, stopped, took a breath, and then looked at the amazing view.

For 360 degrees, we could see mountain range after mountain range. Far to the south, we could see 9,700-foot Steens Mountain, 150 miles away. It was a stunning view!

Sitting down, we ate some lunch, enjoying the expansive vistas. I did notice a pile of rocks nearby and something stuck in them, so I went to investigate. A number of glass jars held small notes and pens. People who had made it to the top had written little notes about their adventures. I added one myself – this was Brad’s and my second wedding anniversary- and it was hard to top this at 7,038 feet high!

While we were up at the top, a few more people showed up. A father-son hiking team had actually done a much tougher round-trip hike that started farther below our trail head. They shared some tips on additional spots that they had seen along the way. As we headed down, a friendly couple on their way up to the summit and we chatted. It turned out that he was a cattle rancher in Prairie City, and it was really great to be able to talk to a local. From our vantage point, he pointed out his ranch far below with a great deal of pride. We wished them well and continued our way back down the mountain.

By the time we got to the car, my creaky knees were screaming. I was beat, but this was an awesome hike and was the perfect way to enjoy yet another Oregon favorite vacation spot.

Grant’s Getaways – Wildwood Park from Travel Oregon on Vimeo.

This week’s Grant’s Getaway offers a unique adventure for folks searching for a place to enjoy the beauty and wonder of the fall season.

You’ll enjoy hiking trails, crimson-colored fall leaves and spawning salmon in an educational backdrop at an overlooked recreation area not far from Portland. You’ll want to bring your camera to capture the steady stream of color along the Salmon River that flows through the Wildwood Recreation Area near Welches, Oregon. Many parts of the Cascade Mountains demand a slower pace. You simply see more when you leave busy campgrounds behind and let quieter, wilder moments surround you.

Those moments are easy to come by down the many trails inside the Wildwood Recreation Site near Welches, Oregon. A site that may have you wondering, “How is it I’ve never heard of this place or visited it before?” After all, the Salmon River is born from glaciers atop Mt Hood and it is Oregon’s last undimmed river that flows unhindered from the mountains to the sea.

It cuts a beeline through more than five hundred acres of designated public recreation land at Wildwood. The trails that wind through Wildwood are marvelous opportunities to explore the parkland.

The Wildwood Wetlands Trail is a one-mile loop of gravel and paved foot- paths plus more than a thousand feet of elevated boardwalk that gives you access to the heart of a vast wetland area where many different wildlife species live.

Observation decks extend into the wetland at a number of locations and allow closer inspection. Don’t be surprised while hiking the boardwalk to see blue herons, mallards, teals, turtles, or any number of small songbirds.

Pay special attention to the many interpretive signs that describe the wetland habitat and the critters that live there.

There are more than 1,000 feet to the boardwalk on the Wildwood Wetlands Trail that was built four feet off the ground to keep hiker’s feet dry and limit access onto the sensitive wetlands. Beginning in mid-October, the boardwalk area explodes to life with a colorful show of brilliant reds, oranges and yellows from vine maple, big leaf maple trees and alder trees.

The Cascade Streamwatch Trail is a barrier-free and paved, three-quarter-mile trail adjacent to the Wild and Scenic Salmon River. Interpretive displays describe points of interest. The most remarkable highlight of this trail is a stream-profile viewing chamber where you gain an underwater “fish-eye” view of a small stream and salmon habitat.

The chamber–ten years in the making–drops twelve feet below the water surface and allows you to see through two large windows more than twelve feet across and seven feet high where ‘baby’ salmon live. I enjoy just watching the behavior of the three- to four-inch salmon fry and how they use logs, branches, and even rocks to hide. As a bug floats on the current, a fish jets out and picks it off, then retreats back to its shelter.

The park is open from 8:00 A.M. to sunset from mid-May to early November. However, during the off-season, you may park at the gate and access Wildwood and Cascade Streamwatch by foot, walking the entrance road to the trailhead or other facilities.

This week, I traveled to Polk County to discover a little piece of cycling heaven for mountain bike riders called Black Rock Mountain. Located across 500 acres of Oregon State Forest at Black Rock Mountain in Polk County, this little piece of cycling heaven that offers “free rider” a true test of the stamina, not to mention a complete adrenalin rush!

Some of the runs at Black Rock are so steep that riders can reach speeds of 40 mile per hour, so each rider covers up from head to toe with plastic and neoprene rubber protection that they call “armor.” The bikes that they ride are specially designed to take punishing workouts across the forest – aluminum framed bikes with heavy-duty front and rear air shocks and disc brakes are common and the bikes can reach $5,000 or more.

What’s unique about Black Rock Mountain is that the trail system was created by a unique partnership between local government and riders and is the first “mountain bike only” area approved by the Oregon Department of Forestry. In addition, the entire trail system is maintained and operated by a volunteer organization, the Black Rock Mountain Bike Association (BRMBA). The seven year old organization has 1500 members and started Black Rock with the dream of “…getting people off the couch and out in the forest.”

From trail design to maintenance, BRMBA members are involved in the entire process of the project. It all begins with designing the features that riders seek at Black Rock; features that include ramps, jumps and berms – that are approved by the Oregon Department of Forestry and then built by the club members. The trail designers can also name the varied projects and include such imaginative names like “Sunday Stroll,” “Grannie’s Kitchen” and “Bonzai Downhill.”

The runs and the stunts have been designed and built with the approval of Oregon Department of Forestry under the “Adopt A Trail” program and volunteers make sure that the impact on the forest is minimal.

Whether catching big air or enjoying the freedom that comes from speeding down a forest trail on two wheels, the riders agree that there’s something for every level of experience at Black Rock Mountain.

Other Trails to Explore:
Adventure of a different sort waits for bike riders who visit Stub Stewart State Park in Washington County.

In fact, new construction on “free ride” trails with features similar to those you will find at Black Rock are currently under construction at Stewart – in addition to the 17 miles of hiking and biking trails that already exist. Look for completion of the new “mountain bike only” trails later this Fall.

Don’t forget to check out our new bike site, Ride Oregon either! It’s a wonderful resource – a bike riding clearing house of sorts – that can put you on the right track to other mountain bike trails across the state.

Editor’s Note: Grant’s Getaways is a production of Travel Oregon brought to you in association with Oregon State Parks, Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife and Oregon State Marine Board. Episodes air Fridays on KGW Newschannel 8 and Saturdays on Northwest Cable News Network

The tour left from the Hult Center in Eugene – from there we went straingt to Salt Creek Falls. Salt Creek Falls is Oregon’s second tallest waterfall (Multnomah Falls is the tallest). The falls are gorgeous, and the park has several viewing platforms for different vantage points – many of which are wheelchair accessible.

From Salt Creek Falls, we hopped back on the bus and headed  to Willamette Pass where we were handed box lunches and then sent to board the Gondolas. I’ll admit – I was a little bit scared to ride the gondola. But, once I saw the view on the way up, I was less focused on how high off the ground we were and more focused on all the beautiful landmarks I could see.

We ate our lunches high atop Eagle Peak, which sits at 6,666 feet! From our picnic tables, we could see Odell Lake, as well as the mountain biking trails that Willamette Pass offers in the summer.

After lunch, it was finally time to go to Crater Lake! The last time I visited Crater Lake was close to 20 years ago (EEK!), I remember thinking that the lake was pretty, but I was far too embarrassed at that time to be seen with my family, so I refused to enjoy myself. This time, sans my pre-teen attitude, I was ready to soak it all in.

I was amazed at the amount of snow still on the ground – in June! We were given some time to explore the lodge and relax in the giant rocking chairs on the lodge’s patio. After about an hour, it was time to head back home,  but I was glad to discover Crater Lake again as an adult! On the way back into Eugene, we stopped at Shelter Cove Resort to stretch our legs and as if they had been cued, two eagles swooped down from the sky to grab a fish from the lake. It was the perfect ending to a fantastic day.

The Oregon Skyway – Crater Lake Scenic Bus Tour runs each Friday through the end of August. For more information, visit http://www.willamettepass.com/

Take the whole family to Mt. Hood Skibowl for a summer adventure, uncover some of Oregon’s history at the Children’s Museum of Eastern Oregon, spend a relaxing day at FivePine’s Shibui Spa, or splash around with Scappoose Bay Kayaking. Have a blast exploring Oregon’s small towns! Why not make a small-town itinerary part of your Oregon 150 Challenge?

Grant’s Getaways – Three for One Vacation from Travel Oregon on Vimeo.

This is the time of year when I refuse to let the grass grow under my feet because there is simply so much to see and do across Oregon. That’s especially true along a unique section of the Oregon coastline where you’ll find three glorious Oregon State Parks called Sunset Bay, Shore Acres and Cape Arago.

I am thrilled with each visit to this region. You actually get three state parks for the price of one vacation and each is within two miles of each other and connected by road, bike trail, and hiking path. Each park is distinct, easy to reach and offers unique perspectives on the coastal Oregon’s recreation experience.

Sunset Bay is a small overnight campground, with seventy-two tent sites and sixty-three trailer sites. The park also features a hiker/biker camp, plus ten group tent camps. Hot showers and flush toilets are available to all campers and provide a welcome comfort zone. Legend has it Sunset Bay was also used by pirates, and a glance toward the ocean suggests the reason: The small bay is set inside steep sandstone bluffs and has a narrow passage to the sea that’s difficult to discern from the ocean.

A mile away, a much different environment waits for you at Shore Acres State Park. Here, the wildness is tamed at a park land that puts a smile on your face. You see, Shore Acres is the state park system’s only botanical garden. Shore Acres, built in 1906, was once a private estate famed for gardens of flowering trees, plants, and shrubs brought from around the world aboard the sailing ships of pioneer lumberman and shipbuilder Louis B. Simpson, as well as a one-acre pond and shimmering waterfall. Simpson developed the summer home into a showplace capped by the towering presence of a three-story mansion. The grounds originally contained five acres of formal gardens, but fire destroyed the mansion in 1921.

A short but easy one-mile hike south takes you to Cape Arago, famous as a resort for Steller sea lions. Well, perhaps “resort” is a bit of a stretch, but the fact is that Shell Island (adjacent to the cape) is the largest Steller haul-out and calving site along the entire West Coast. Any time is a fine time to visit the many viewpoints along Cape Arago’s main hiking path overlooking Shell Island, but keep in mind that the offshore rocks, islands, and reefs are part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge system, which is closed to public access. So here’s a tip: Bring binoculars or a spotting scope so you’ll have a front-row seat into the refuge proper and a chance to view fascinating wildlife behaviors.

I try to make this collection of wonderful parks a three- or four-day stay–I like to linger and just loaf around the trails, viewpoints, and colorful gardens that this unique Oregon destination offers.

What’s the best part of Terry’s Road Trip? Well, you get to help him plan it! Submit travel tips to Terry and you’ll be entered to win a two-night Central Oregon getaway.

So….what are you waiting for? Send Terry on the Road!

How about rafting and hopping a train, all in the same day?

There’s a unique ‘River to Rails’ day trip in northeast Oregon where you can pull off this back-to-back float trip and choo-choo excursion.

You float ten miles of scenic canyon on the Wallowa River, with nice stretches of easygoing current to kick back and look for wildlife, sprinkled with class II rapids that aren’t too big, but still exciting. Whitewater sections include the Minam Roller, Red Rock Rapids, Blind Falls, The Chute and other wave trains. A perfect stretch of river on a summer day.

I’ve done this trip several times, and it’s definitely unique to chug your way back up the river, looking out at the rapids you just paddled through. Passengers ride in the dining car on the train, with refrigerated drinks and snacks on board. There’s even a bathroom. Pretty deluxe, as far as shuttle rigs go.

I’m hoping to get my nephews and niece on the trip this summer. I think it’s a perfect lineup for kids. Just when young ones might start getting restless after lunch on the river, you meet the train and there’s something new to spark their interest. The train ride back is also a good length. Just when the clickety-clack starts to bring on nap time, you’re back with plenty of time for a siesta before dinner.

River to Rails trips run on Saturdays, from June 27 to August 1st, depending on river flows. You can take your own boat, or go with the outfitter Winding Waters River Expeditions, based in Joseph. There’s also a package that includes lodging at the Minam Motel, right on the river where the trip begins.

More train info and photos of the Wallowa-Union Railroad and Excursion Train.

It’s a good time. And the only chance I get to wear my waterproof conductor’s hat.

Jon Rombach is a writer and river guide living in Oregon’s Wallowa County. His newspaper column, ‘And Furthermore’ is online at wallowa.com and ‘The Gearboat Chronicles’ rafting blog can be seen at windingwatersrafting.com.

It was a moody afternoon and I was racking my brain trying to figure out what to do with my ‘tween’ Little Sister Sarah from the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. She had the school afternoon off, and I was struggling with something fun that would be of interest to someone who was sixteen that wouldn’t be totally lame in a teenager’s eyes.

On a whim, I decided to take her for a drive out the Columbia River Gorge just to ‘get out of town’ and we could catch up. Incredibly, she has lived in Portland her whole life and has never been to this amazing place before, so she was game. I decided to do the “Cook’s Tour” and throw in something that would undoubtedly pique her interest.

The first photo stop we managed was outside of the town of Corbett, at the Portland Women’s Forum State Park, which offers a majestic overlook of an amazing panorama including the nearby Vista House. Sarah seemed pretty impressed with the view, and started snapping photos with her camera phone. We looked across the expanse and I reminded her that this was one of the views that were featured in the recent hit movie, “Twilight.”

Next, we moved to the historic View Point Inn, which was where“Twilight”cast and crew filmed the prom night scene. Her excitement level increased, and Sarah began even more furiously taking pictures. I had brought my camera along too, and took additional photos. As we were walking around the exterior, a friendly lady beckoned to us. “Come on in,” she said, beckoning. I was a little reluctant because I didn’t want to interfere with the business operations of the place, but it was pretty quiet on a Monday afternoon, so we stepped inside. Just inside the doorway, the gift shop was literally overflowing with movie paraphernalia and “Twilight” keepsakes. The woman was very informative, and encouraged us to take a peek into the dining room, which at the moment had just experienced re-varnishing of the wood floors, but otherwise was the set where the movie took place. Sarah was somewhat star-struck.

Fortunately, the View Point Inn representative had seen this before, and even offered to take us upstairs into the lodging area to show the rooms. We got a wonderful first-hand tour of the rest of the Inn, and she also showed us the window from the movie where the villain “Victoria” stood looking out towards the movie hero and heroine in the last scene. The owners of the Inn had decided to leave the window dressing the exact same way as it was during the movie, which I am sure that some “Twilight” buffs would appreciate.

After perusing the gift shop wares, and Sarah giggling gleefully that this little tour of ours would make her sister completely envious, we moved on through the Columbia Gorge. A number of stops took us to some of the big waterfalls that beg for photographs to be taken, and finally, Sarah looked at me sheepishly and told me she had run out of memory space on her camera phone because of all of the photos she had taken. I knew then that she had had a great time and enjoyed herself!

If you are interested in seeing some of the other Oregon locations for the movie, here are some tips:

For the surfing scenes for the movie, the movie crew moved to Indian Beach at the Ecola State Park on the Oregon Coast. The vampire-attack scene was shot at the Blue Heron Paper Company near Willamette Falls in Oregon City, while the school field trip to a greenhouse was filmed at the greenhouses found at Clackamas Community College, also in Oregon City. To see Charlie and Bella’s house, you’ll have to travel to St. Helens, where you might also recognize the historic part of the city, which doubled for Port Angeles for the shopping scene, including the Italian restaurant where Edward and Bella have dinner together.

Ironically, as a side note, I live in Portland, and in spring 2008 my husband and I had noticed that nearby Madison High School had been taken over by movie trucks and trailers. Since I was the neighborhood newsletter editor, I wandered over to get the ‘scoop’ on what flick was being filmed there. I was told it was some kind of “teenage vampire movie’ and the actors (at the time) were no giant superstars. Several of them were wandering through the parking lot between takes and I couldn’t recognize a single face. Little did I know that would change! As best as I could tell, the main scenes in the movie that were filmed literally three streets away from my house were the cafeteria and the biology lab scene.

Amazing to have a little slice of Hollywood right near my house!

For years, I had heard about the amazing burst of color that takes place every spring at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, located just outside of Woodburn near Salem.

So when I had a meeting at the nearby Oregon Garden Resort in mid-April, I decided to take advantage of the 80 degree weather and good timing to make a stop of a lifetime.

Heading out in the early morning sunshine, the blue skies shone done brightly, and I had my windows down welcoming in the warm breezes as I made my way past verdant Willamette Valley fields. Mt. Hood and the darker ridge line of the Cascade Mountains stood on the distant horizon to the east… and I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to be exploring a new part of Oregon.

Arriving right at opening time, I rolled into the parking lot at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, and was greeted by a friendly older gentleman who took my admission fee. He gave me the overview of the place, and handed me a gorgeous catalog of their tulips. After thanking him, I peeked past out to the field, anxious to get out and get my camera clicking. I could just see a pastel of color in the near distance that looked dazzling.

Immediately, I hopped on the tram which trundled out towards the glittering fields. I couldn’t believe my eyes! As far as the eye could see, a riot of color competed for my attention as row after row of flowers representing virtually every color of the spectrum spread out across the fields. The sun was at the right angle, making the blooms radiant. Thankfully, I have a digital camera so I wasn’t in danger of running out of film!

The history of the tulip farm itself began in 1974, and the Iverson family has carefully cultivated the land and their floral wares, gradually introducing in new types to bring the total number 60 varieties. The official “Tulip Festival” runs from late March through April, but can vary depending on the weather. This year, I was visiting on April 21st, which was quite late for the flowers to be blooming, but we had a decidedly colder spring than usual, which delayed the opening of the buds. The festival brings in approximately 100,000 tourists to the farm in a five-week span, so getting there early before the crowds show up is a good idea. Visitors to the farm can not only enjoy the blooms, but purchase fresh tulips to take home, enjoy the gift shop and partake of the weekend crafts booths too.

Many photos later, I had to make my way to my meeting, and headed out. Nestled in the quaint town of Silverton, the Oregon Garden is the centerpiece to Oregon’s agricultural industry. A sprawling 15-acre estate, the garden is actually composed of over 20 different specialty gardens featuring native plant species and varieties grown in the state. An added delight to the entire attraction is the Gordon House, the only Oregon location of a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home, which was saved from demolition by preservationists and sited on the garden grounds.

Newly opened in 2008, the Oregon Garden Resort was the location of the meeting I was heading to, and a new place for me to visit as well. A well-appointed quiet haven adjacent to this stunning botanical enclave, the resort offers an on-site spa, bright, airy rooms, and an excellent restaurant, making this an ideal getaway!

After my work was done, I decided to take the scenic route on the way home, rather than hitting the freeway. Heading north on Hwy 99E, my route took me through the quaint town of Aurora, site of a former religious colony.

Today, it is known as the heart of the hazelnut country and also a delightful historic downtown crammed full of amazing antique stores. My first stop included the Pacific Hazelnut Candy Factory, which is in a rather non-descript building off of the highway, but houses an amazing abundance of hazelnut gifts and foodstuffs. Hazelnut (or filbert, depending on where you are from) brittle, syrups, candies and seasoning cram every corner off this cute gift shop.

My arms laden full of fun gifts for the family, I continued on to the Aurora town center, and spend a little time exploring the antique shops. Many of the buildings are the original town center structures, harkening back to the early days of the settlers. There’s the old Aurora Colony Museum that chronicles the history of the area, which is fascinating.

Arriving back in the Portland metro area in the town of Oregon City, I briefly stopped at Willamette Falls. Many people don’t realize that there are some sizable falls on the Willamette River which drop 40 feet, and is the largest waterfall in the Pacific Northwest by water volume. In the early summer, Native Americans including members of the Warm Springs nation still come to the foot of the falls and harvest the fresh-water eels (Pacific lamprey) that can be found on the rocks at the foot of the falls… a very wet and slippery task!

My trip was complete; in the short span of one day, I was able to take a few hours seeing some amazing flowers, find a culinary treasure, experience a little history, and take in a spectacular waterfall. Oh, and also attend a meeting! That’s one of the best things about living in Oregon- you can do all of these things that might otherwise seem like entire vacations unto themselves- in just one day!