This month, we’ve got great camping trip ideas, a chance to win a Bike and Brew Getaway and family friendly fishing, so dig out your fishing poles and slather on some sunscreen because the trout are out.

See you in Oregon, where we’re firing up the grill for this month’s lamb skewer recipe.

-The Editors

In Oregon, there are more than 50 state parks with campgrounds located in the most scenic parts of the state. In addition, there are some 300 more campgrounds in Oregon, which only toughens the ever-important decision of where to pitch your tent.

Camping Spotlight: The Coast

This summer, take the family to the Oregon coast for a weekend of bonding over campfires and clamming. From Astoria to Brookings, there are more than a dozen Oregon State Parks with campgrounds to choose from, whether you want to pitch a tent or hook up the RV. And while you’re here, why not try your hand at clamming or crabbing?

At Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park at the central coast you can rent a paddleboat or canoe to explore the freshwater lakes, climb towering sand dunes (this is, after all, part of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area) and tell ghost stories and roast hot dogs over a campfire. The roar of the Pacific is just two miles to the west, where you can fly kites, hunt for seashells, and dip your toes in the ocean.

If you prefer a dwelling made of wood and canvas, the coast has that, too. Umpqua Lighthouse State Park near Reedsport has eight yurts to choose from, some are deluxe with bunk beds and bathrooms with showers, while others are more rustic. Farther south, Camp Blanco State Park has yurts, cabins and tepees for rent.

Both at the coast and beyond, Oregon has many camping options. Please remember to call ahead for reservations as spots fill up fast come summer, and not all campgrounds are first-come, first-served.
For more information on camping in Oregon, visit www.oregonstateparks.org

Honeyman Dunes

Of all my wife’s great ideas, this one is possibly her best: a camping expedition to the vast Sahara-like landscapes on the Oregon Coast known as “the Dunes.”

Our campsite—especially uncrowded in the off-season past Labor Day—was at Honeyman State Park, one of Oregon’s largest. Host to two lakes, Douglas-fir and red-cedar forests, a 1930’s store built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and wave after wave of sand dunes climbing as high as 250 feet, Honeyman makes an excellent jump-off point to some of the best windswept formations visitors can find.

Footprints

Beginning just south of Florence and the Siuslaw River, the Oregon Dunes stretch as far as Coos Bay, but the best hiking areas lie mostly between Florence and Reedsport. Honeyman has trails into the northernmost dunes starting right at our campsite: after an exerting slog up a cascade of sand, the breathtaking views begin. What better way to start a morning than climbing a big dune, then running back down?

More dunes are easily accessible off Highway 101. With a packed lunch and plenty of water, we bounded down into the “deflation plain” beneath the Oregon Dunes Overlook. This plain is a hollow left between the smaller, grassy foredune along the shore and the towering sand castles, a great place to see wildlife like deer and birds.

Umpqua Dunes

Further south, we had ourselves an exerting hike through the Tahkenitch Dunes to the ocean, a 3 ¼-mile thigh-burner through thick sand to the estuary of Tahkenitch Creek, where brown pelicans bathed in the meeting place of freshwater and sea. Nearby, another easy trail leads to the Carter Dunes, and a much closer shore.

The best, by far, are the awe-inspiring Umpqua Dunes, also known as the John Dellenback Dunes, named for the U.S. Congressman who helped establish the Dunes Recreation Area. These monolithic dunes extend two-miles over the ridges of bare sand known as oblique dunes, carved and shaped by the wind. We sat down to watch the moon rise over the biggest one, the sand swept by a never-ending wind. We stopped, too, at the Umpqua Lighthouse State Park to see the lighthouse, a gray whale jawbone, and the museum.

After two days of tiring but rewarding exploration over sand and through forests of Pacific madrone, we could find no better way to relax than a trip into Old Town Florence, and a couple of lattes from Siuslaw River Coffee Roasters, overlooking the beautiful bridge over the bay. We also headed north to the Kalmiopsis Wayside, a short trail to a marsh of the Darlingtonia, the California pitcher plants, a bog of bug-devouring green cobra lilies.

For more information on local beaches and dunes, please visit our Oregon Coast section.

Darlingtonia californica

Metolius River cabin

Central Oregon is a top destination for most Oregonians. People living in the Willamette Valley head there to find sunshine during the dark days of winter for sun and skiing in the high-desert air. Summertime means outdoor recreation, too, with plenty of hiking, kayaking, rafting, canoeing and cycling to add to the activity menu.

A favorite spot in this area includes the Metolius River. Located not too far from the delightful Western town of Sisters, the Metolius River Recreation area is tucked back against the eastern flanks of the Cascade Mountains. Various vacation lodges and campgrounds dot this area marked by tall Ponderosa and juniper trees, green grass and icy blue water.

Flyfishing on the Metolius

The Metolius River is actually a geological spectacle itself. Springing full-force from the nearby base of 6,400-foot Black Butte, the rushing waters are fed by melting snow and glaciers. And let me tell you, the temperature FEELS like it! Leave it to say that this isn’t exactly a swimming opportunity at 48 degrees F!

What attracts people to this verdant area are the views of nearby snowcapped peaks such as Mount Jefferson, the terrain and the solitude this area offers. Oh, and the fishing! Avid anglers and fly fishermen(people) flock to the area to try their luck with rainbow trout and sockeye salmon.

Bear track

Brad grew up in Oregon and as a child, vacationed here with his family. So we decided to go camping along the river for old times’ sake and to go for a hike, too.

Upon setting up camp down a remote track past all of the developed campgrounds, I started wandering around. Then I noticed that in the thick layer of dust on the spur road, there was an abnormal track. I came a little closer, wondering why someone was walking barefoot out here. Then it struck me. This wasn’t someone going barefoot. It was a BEAR’s foot!

Side stream

Hooting and hollering for Brad to come over, we both huddled over the tracks and took some pictures. Indeed, those were the tracks of a brown bear, so we took extra precautions with our food, even though we were car-camping.

That night, while enjoying the late evening warmth around the campfire, the dogs seemed pretty agitated. They kept looking behind us beyond the fire’s glow and whining. Finally, Brad shined his flashlight back to see what was going on.

“Oh my gosh! There’s something back there watching us,” he said. Since Brad is ever the prankster, I didn’t take him seriously. He insisted he was serious, so I turned and looked. Reflecting back at us was the glow coming from two eyes. Just about chest-height, not very far away. It seemed to be too high to be coming from a deer head, and suddenly, the hair on my arms began to rise.

“What do we do?,” I whispered. “Make noise,” Brad replied. What followed next was something that in retrospect, probably looked like a scene that took place millions of years ago when humanoid ancestors roamed the earth. Jumping up and down like monkeys, we threw rocks towards the eyes and started yelling at the top of our lungs. I was amazed at how this basic instinct took over. The eyes didn’t budge. It wasn’t until the dogs took up full battle cry (our dog Buddy is a Plott hound, and the blood coursing through his veins has been bred to hunt bears) that the orbs slowly ambled away.

We were a bit shaken from this experience, and needless to say, not much sleep was had by the humans that night. The next morning, I scouted around for any tracks but found nothing, not even deer. Our visitor remained a mystery.That day, a little groggy as a result of a sleepless night, we decided to hike along the Metolius River trail, and our spirits were uplifted by the beauty of the surrounding scenery. Ospreys chirruped overhead, and we flushed out a number of grazing deer as we passed. The trail itself is easy, meandering along the banks of the swiftly-flowing river, but maintaining the same elevation for the most part.

Azure waters of Metolius River at Wizard Falls

Near Wizard Falls, there’s a fish hatchery, but we found to be one of the most amazing features was a rock formation under the river. The water is forced up and apparently it is very deep, and the result is an amazingly rich sapphire color in the stream. It was almost dazzling. Here at Wizard Falls, you can cross the bridge and walk along the river on the opposite bank and enjoy the cool air coming off of the water. Wildflowers dotted the banks and as we followed the path, many flyfisherman and women were lined along the banks.

One person said I could take her photo but not reveal her secret spot along the river, and then proceeded to walk out on a downed tree extending into a large eddy. I sat down on the log’s edge on land, and quietly watched her concentration as she expertly maneuvered her line. After awhile, it was clear that the fish weren’t biting, so I moved to get out of her way, but she smiled, then popped down into the water until it came up to her arms. Thank heavens she had waders on- but the frigid waters must’ve still made her legs numb!

Camp Sherman Store

As we hiked along the trail, the serenity of the landscape, sense of place with such a beautiful and pure river flowing through it, and all the animals we saw reinforced my feeling that the Metolius is a special treasure. Even the only real retail outlet in the area is worthy of a stop to enjoy. The Camp Sherman Store, built over a 100 years ago, houses an authentic and historic-style market, but is complete with all of the modern-day necessities for today’s hikers, campers and fisherman. And on a hot day, it too becomes an oasis with a nice ice cream treat to cool a person down.

This area is truly a retreat to relax and enjoy some of the best things that Central Oregon has to offer.

For more information on visiting the Metolius River, check out our Central Oregon section.

Looking to plan a romantic weekend away? Why not travel to the Oregon Coast and stay at the Inn at Cannon Beach or the Cannery Pier Hotel?

If you’re looking forward to enjoying the spring weather, you can also camp for a night or two and hike, bike or raft through Central Oregon.

Or if you’d rather try a new restaurant and catch a show or two, head over to Portland’s Pearl District. Try Andina, Park Kitchen, Fenouil, and a variety of gelato and dessert locations.

And don’t forget about the local events:
-Memorial Weekend in the Wine Country
-Eagle Cap Excursion Train Season Opening Ride
-Memorial Day Parade Celebration
…And more!

Have a great weekend!
~The Staff at Travel Oregon

Then test your culinary skills with this month’s delicious braised lamb and old-fashioned s’mores recipes. After you’re done, tell us how they turned out on our blog.

Also this month, we’re in such a good mood from all the fresh, spring air that we’re giving away a trip to the Oregon Coast and a Columbia Sportswear jacket.

See you in Oregon, where we’re making S’Mores.

~The Editors

P.S. Tell Us How We’re Doing!

Linea on the trail

I’ve always loved camping, but cold temperatures and the task of setting up camp have made me a bit reticent to plan a trip. That is, until the sun poked through the Oregon clouds and my boyfriend and I scored a yurt reservation at Cape Lookout State Park on the Oregon Coast.

We started our adventure by gathering our minimal camping gear, including our much-needed sunglasses. We didn’t require a lot since the yurt we were staying in had heat and electricity; just some hiking boots, bedding, and gourmet accoutrements (of course we wanted to round out our glorious weekend the way so many campers in this state do—enjoying Oregon’s bountiful culinary delights under its star-encrusted canopy).

Inside of yurt

This was my first time staying in a yurt and it was amazing! We stayed in an exceedingly clean, 16’ yurt so close to the ocean that the tide rocked us to sleep…literally. Cape Lookout’s beach is covered in the most remarkable rocks—including agate! As the ocean ebbed and flowed, the rocks gently rolled over themselves and serenaded us to sleep.

The effortlessness of the ocean in lulling us to sleep was exponentially increased due to our hike to the edge of the country—we were worn out, not to mention full from our delicious camp-fire-cooked meal. We had taken the Cape Lookout Trail, which is 4.8 miles roundtrip. It leads trekkers through forests and mountain terrain with breathtaking glimpses of the sparkling ocean far below. Just make sure and bring suitable shoes; it can be muddy in spots. The park has three options for trail-blazers: the Cape Lookout trail we took; the South trail which winds 1.8 miles south to the beach below the trail head and the North Trail which leads 2.3 miles north to the day use area. Trail guides are available at the registration booth or from a park host.

Outside the yurt

Every aspect of this trip was perfect. Yurts? The best way to camp! Cape Lookout? Gorgeous. Oregon? Sunny and scenic.

For more information on hiking or places to stay near our sunny beaches, please visit our Oregon Coast section.

Salmon River near beginning of hike

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!)

Mossy forest

That being said, the trail winds along the river itself, with some easily attainable ups and downs, studded with tantalizing peeks down into crystal-clear emerald green pools. Every time I hike along this stretch, the thought always tugs at me that this looks like a lovely place to splash into, especially on the next 100-degree summer day!

The path itself does eventually climb upwards, and soon, you find yourself looking up an entire drainage system of connected canyons and cliffs, with old growth trees reaching heavenward with their giant limbs. The canopy above is so thick that at times, little light penetrates the forest, and ground-ward, many tree trunks are swaddled thick with green moss. There’s one fairly flat trail section that I always positively delight in, with what looks like shamrocks on either side of the path and moss everywhere. It seems as though one has entered some kind of green fairyland and a leprechaun should be poking its head out from one of the toadstools!

Several spectacular vistas lie ahead from this verdant forest. Several points along the way, the trees open up to a scrub forest, complete with breathtaking panoramas and views from trailside disappear down to the river far below. Sure-footedness is something that is definitely required on this trek.

You’ll want to bring a camera, a daypack and some lunch items- there are several lovely places to stop and enjoy the scenery. (But no developed picnic areas- this is roughing it!)

For those more hardy souls heading out on an overnight backpacking trip, several miles into the trail, there are some established camping areas farther down that are virtually riverside and come complete with fire rings and flat, clear tent spaces.

We turned around after several miles, which essentially is doubling the mileage we’ve already trekked. The afternoon light plays different on the trees and water, which makes the trip unique on the return trip.

Special note: since this hike is so close to the main highway corridor near Mount Hood, I saw several people on the trail in tennis shoes. One woman who was impeccably clad in brand-new white sneakers, and was timidly trying to negotiate her way across a small streamlet and subsequent mud puddle. Stepping around, I squelched past her, with nice toasty warm and dry feet in my hiking boots, glad I had prepared a little more for this trek!

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

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.

A short ½ mile walk uphill on the paved roadway took us to our starting point.

However, along this short section, I was immediately reminded as to why I always wear long pants during the spring, summer and fall when hiking in the Columbia Gorge. Just an arm’s length away off the road was some prettily painted red fall foliage. Crimson poison oak dots most of the Columbia Gorge landscape, thriving in the drier meadow-like sunny spots. On a previous hike nearby, I recalled seeing poison oak bushes reaching upwards of five (yes 5) feet in height right next to the trail, and boy was I glad that I was wearing long pants and a long sleeve shirt!!

Once we hit the trailhead, the path itself started angling upwards (most trails in Oregon do) and we hunkered down for a longer hike. It had rained for a few days prior today, and the air itself was still and a bit muggy even though the temperature was cool (around 55 degrees). It immediately made me think of the cloud forest preserves in Costa Rica- muggy but cool, high altitudes.

Today’s hike had no particular end destination in mind –we were aiming just to stretch our legs. One stretch of the path skirted a large rock pile of boulders that faced the west side of the Columbia Gorge, and were drenched in moss softening their contours. It almost looked like a jungle. At one point, the jumbled mass had created small cave-like openings. I wondered briefly if there were any wild animals living in there and decided not to stick my head in to investigate!

Our trip took us up and up, and the trail forked a few times, but we kept with the Herman Creek trail. We did reach a small Herman Creek campground where we pulled off our packs, ate lunch and played fetch with the dogs, which they loved. It was a lovely flat spot and the trees around us were just starting to turn into their fall colors. On the way back down, the clouds were playing with the sun, and long trails of foggy vapors brought tantalizing views of surrounding ridgelines. At one point, we reached an open viewpoint and were there long enough to see the sun peek through.

The most striking thing about this hike was how ethereally quiet a forest can be. Without a sliver of wind, the air was completely still and I could just hear the sound of my footsteps and breathing. At one point, a raven flew over, croaking. I, a self-confessed bird nerd, croaked back. The bird circled back overhead. In the quiet, I could hear the ‘whuff whuff whuff’ of the air passing through wing feathers as it flapped fifty feet up. I smiled.

Every time I go hiking in Oregon, I feel like I bring a piece of solitude home with me. It is wonderful to know that the paths are just there waiting to be explored- you never know what you’ll find!

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

Mt. Jefferson from Olallie Lake

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.

Relaxing at the mountain lake

Once you make that turn, it’s a single-lane paved road for several miles until the pavement ends and becomes a wide albeit gravel road. Eventually, there will be a junction and you’ll need to follow the signs and turn right towards Olallie Lake. The lake iteself is known for the remarkable clarity of its waters and recent scientific exploration has revealed several thousand-year-old timbers on the bottom of the lakebed, preserved by the pristine and cold waters of the mountains. To this day, swimming and bathing are prohibited by the Forest Service in the lake, and only non-motorized boats are permitted to maintain clarity.

Parking near the remote outpost store and Forest Service campground, we were wondering how many other Labor Day holiday-takers would also be on the trail, but the entire time we started hiking, we only ran into one other group of people when we were hiking back out.

Olallie Lake

Brad and I started hiking very late in the day, which is usually the time we would have completed any normal hike. With the summer daylight hours fading earlier in late August, we knew we’d need to keep up a good pace to complete the short 2-mile hike to our destination. The basin around Olallie Lake suffered a major forest fire in 2001, and the evidence was still to be found on the far side as stands of fire-blackened trees swayed barren in the breeze. As austere as this scenery is, it does allow for unparalleled views of Mt. Jefferson peeping over the lake basin.

We found our camping spot high on a ridgeline and off the trail above Olallie Lake- and had the place to ourselves. Despite the blow-downs of the fire-weakened trees, we had a great little spot that was on a flat rocky spot, and to provide shade, we rigged up a tarp to cover part of the site so we had some respite of the sun.

It was eerily quiet up there, with the wind soughing through the trees and the occasional bird call. I spotted several osprey overhead chirruping, and pine siskins and even Audubon warblers twittered overhead in the empty treetops. The sun shone warmly, the breeze kept things pleasant and Brad and I whiled away the hours reading or just silently contemplating the majesty of nearby Olallie Butte. For water, we would wander down to the lake, carefully threading our way over downed limbs and trees and rocks. It was serene and it was perfect.

The big treat on the trip? The Aurigid Meteor Shower! The news had been trumpeting about this once-in-a-1,000-year shower that happens with the earth passes through the tail of the former Kiess comet. Promising 100 to 1000 meteors per hour, we were determined to get up at 3:30am to catch the peak shower times. I set my cell phone wake up alarm for that early hour and also prepared a small warming fire – because at over 5,000 feet in the mountains, it’s pretty cold in the middle of the night!

Timmy resting comfortably

The alarm went off and I got up while Brad stayed inside the tent with our dogs Timmy and Buddy. (Well maybe this was more my big idea than his after all!) and I counted meteors as they streaked across the totally dark night sky. This was one of those memories you have an absolutely clear night with nothing blocking the Milky Way swirling overhead. It was amazing!

With all of the stellar views and serenity, I will always think of this area as the ideal place to have the perfect Oregon honeymoon!

For more information on hiking in Oregon’s beautiful backyard, please visit our Outdoor Recreation section.