Hiking Silver Falls State Park

May 5, 2008


By Ashley Moran

Now that the sun has finally begun to poke through the clouds, the weather is just about perfect for an afternoon hike. And I've found that even if the weather is unpredictable, Silver Falls is still worth the trip.

I hadn't been back to Silver Falls for a number of years, but I had many fond memories of family bbq's and hikes with my cousins in the summer time. I also remember traveling through a number of scenic byways as a child- yet I seem to appreciate Oregon's beauty much more now that I am an adult! If you have some extra time during your hiking excursion, check out the Silver Falls Tour Route. You will encounter even more gorgeous scenery.

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A Hike to Wauna Point

March 4, 2008

Photo: Scenic falls along the trail; by Brad Rasmussen

By Dawn Rasmussen

It’s a tough decision on where to go and what to see in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic area, or just the “Gorge”, as everyone fondly refers to this section just east of Portland. With 620-foot monster double waterfalls like Multnomah Falls beckoning and drive-up falls dotting the entire length of the Historic Columbia Gorge Highway, sometimes getting away from the madding crowds is just the ticket. You can still serve ‘wow’ to guests (or even yourself) if you are up to venturing off of the beaten path.

Fortunately, there are some waterfalls in the Gorge that offer an intimate portrait of what makes this place special and endearing to all those who visit.

Brad and I had spent most of the winter lounging around and not making much use of our hiking gear (“It’s raining cats and dogs outside!” was our excuse), but this past weekend, the skies dawned clear and bright, and with robins singing away, our spirits were put into high gear.

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Salmon River Forest Wonders

January 28, 2008

Photo: Salmon River near beginning of hike

Photos and blog by Dawn Rasmussen

Not too far from the base of Mount Hood, just about 40 minutes from Portland, lies a lush rainforest that proves to be one of the area’s most endearing hikes.

Located near the town of Welches, the Salmon River hike is a wonderful mix of scenery, lush forest and mixed habitats that keeps hikers “ooh-ing” and “ah-ing” the entire time on the trail.

We headed out one day to enjoy this hike (one of our favorites), which can be as long or as short as you’d like. The trail starts out near roads’ end and follows the serene Salmon River. (Be careful about where you park; what appears to be a parking lot is also right below a cliff. Your car could have some unwelcome rock visitors sitting on the roof when you return!)

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Finding The Hidden Treasure of Oregon's Coast

November 15, 2007

Photo: Dawn & Brad, and their dogs Timmy and Buddy
Photos by Dawn Tryon

By Dawn Tryon

Oregon's spectacular coastline is haunted by tales of ghastly shipwrecks, haunted light houses, and tall tales of treasure stashed away never to be found again. Some of those stories center on Neahkahnie Mountain, which just lies north of the coastal hamlet of Mazanita. A local Native American legend tells of several ships that wrecked nearby sometime in the 1600's, long before the intrepid explorers Lewis and Clark arrived. Those claims have been validated with the discovery of several blocks of beeswax destined for Catholic missions that washed ashore over a half-century ago. The wax itself was traced back to the Spanish sailing ships that plied the waters off of Oregon's coast between the 1600-1800, which leads one to believe that perhaps these legends of treasure might actually be true. One myth in particular speaks of a chest of gold coins that was buried and long forgotten somewhere on the mountain. No one has ever found it, yet treasure hunters still keep the hope alive that one day the precious trove is rediscovered.

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A Ramble in Oregon's Fall Woods

October 18, 2007

By Dawn Tryon

It’d been awhile since Brad and I had laced up our hiking boots, and autumn is one of the best times to enjoy some great hikes, so off we went.

We decided to hit one of the Columbia Gorge hikes since it isn’t too far of a drive from our home in Portland. Selecting Herman Creek, a short drive about 50 minutes away, we packed up the dogs (who are always up for a good long walk) and pointed the car east.

Arriving at the campground sign set near the I-84 freeway, we parked outside the gated area. The trailhead is normally open during the summer (it is located up off the campground), but during the off-season the campground is closed.

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The Perfect Honeymoon- Hiking The Oregon Cascades

September 17, 2007


By Dawn Tryon

Only rabid hikers would consider taking to the trails to celebrate wedded bliss, but that’s what Brad and I did following our wedding a week ago, being the avid backpackers that we are!

After a small, sweet and simple wedding ceremony, we laced up our hiking boots, shouldered our backpacks and set off on our first adventure as a newly-married couple.

Our destination this time was near Olallie Lake, which is situated in the Oregon Cascades and lies between Mount Hood to the north and Mount Jefferson to the south. It’s a bit of a drive from Portland and involves paying attention to road signs from Hwy 213 (south of Estacada) – in fact the cut-off road isn’t signed- instead there’s a giant arrow painted onto the road pointing left, so keeping an eagle eye out is a good idea.

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Oregon Hiking Tips: Be A Prepared Hiker

September 7, 2007

By Dawn Tryon

One of the most common mistakes made when venturing into Oregon’s magnificent outdoor wilderness is to venture forth without a map.

Oregon’s got some great cities and towns, but there’s a lot of wilderness out there that isn’t necessarily close to civilization. If you get lost, in some places you can’t simply just ‘walk down the mountain’ and find a town and assistance. Knowing where you are going and what lies ahead will help keep your hiking fun, safe and enjoyable.

Another thing you should know is that many of the trail systems are linked with paths joining up at junctions. If you don’t remember which direction you came from, you could take a wrong turn. (I know- as a newbie years ago, I’ve been there before and retracing your trail a couple miles on a hot day is not fun!!)

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Huckleberry Fever – and Two Surprises

August 22, 2007


By Dawn Tryon

Ahh, mid-August. ‘Tis the time to enjoy the bounty of Oregon both in the Willamette Valley and up in the mountains. Oregon’s higher altitudes are home to a multitude of wild berries, from salmon berry to thimbleberry and the much-sought-after huckleberry. Smaller and more flavorful than their domesticated cousins, wild huckleberries can be found probably close to the 4,000-5,500 elevation in the mountains. Before going on a berry-picking excursion, though, make sure you can properly identify the berries – as there are many look-a-likes out there that might be poisonous or definitely make you sick.

Today we set off on a huckleberry excursion that wasn’t that far of a drive – just to the west side of Mount Hood. Our trailhead was the Burnt Lake Trailhead, and the road to our starting point can be reached off of Hwy 26. Just 1.5 miles past the village of Rhododendron, you will want to take a left on Road 27. This is a busy traffic corridor, so you’ll want to be very alert and start signaling well in advance of your turn.

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Oregon Hiking Tips: How To Be A Smart Hiker

August 8, 2007

By Dawn Tryon

One of the things about hiking in Oregon’s rugged areas is that sometimes you can find yourself far away from civilization and resources. If you are in the middle of the wilderness, and let’s say your hiking boot suffers a “manufacturing meltdown” - the boot separates from the sole – what would you do? It’s a long way to hop back to the trailhead. And going barefoot might not be a comfortable option either, given the rocky terrain. What to do now?

Enter in your best friend in the wilderness: duct tape. This every day product doesn’t deserve its lowly reputation, because when you need the stuff, it can be a lifesaver. Here’s a tip: If you don’t have any hiking poles, get some. They help stabilize you when hiking on uneven terrain and can help cushion the shock on your knees when heading uphill or downhill. But these poles can be handy carrying caddies as well. Take some duct tape and carefully start winding it over itself (like a spool) on a spot on the upper part of the poles (don’t tape over any joints of the poles). A good thickness to have is about ¼ “ - that should be plenty of tape to take care of practically any emergency need – from fixing gear to putting together a temporary splint. Got a hole in your tent that’s letting mosquitoes in? Duct tape. Did your hydration bag spring a leak? Duct tape. Sunglasses break? Duct tape. Yes, it’s not pretty but it can do the job and at least patch things up to keep you on your way!

Stay tuned for Dawn's hiking blogs, coming soon!

For more information on hiking in Oregon, please visit our Outdoor Recreation section.

On Top Of The World- Hiking Cooper Spur

July 30, 2007

By Dawn Tryon

This Sunday morning dawned pretty gray, but true Oregonians get out and hike no matter what the weather may throw at us. So after an extra cup of coffee, off we went.

As we headed to our Mt. Hood destination, it began misting but we lived on the promised forecast that the rest of the day would be sunny. Oftentimes in Western Oregon, summer mornings have a cool marine layer of clouds that burn off by the afternoon (which keeps our temperatures moderate and pleasant for the most part).

We drove out I-84 from Portland and took Hwy 35 south at Hood River. Our hike for the day: Cooper Spur on Mount Hood. I had never been on this hike but had wanted to for years, and boy, we were in for a treat! Our hiking book recommended tackling this trek in late summer after the snow had melted. This was the prime time, as it was the end of July.

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