take a hike

This 7 mile loop hike begins at the Crawford Oaks Trailhead on the Washington side of the Gorge outside of The Dalles. It's a little bit of a drive from Portland, 1 hour 45 minutes-ish, but definitely worth a peek during wildflower season (April-May). I ventured out here in late April on a Saturday morning and the parking lot still had a few spots left. When I finished the hike, the lot was completely full and cars were parked along highway 14.

This is a easy to moderate hike, gaining roughly 1,000ft in elevation. If you are headed there on a summer day, bring lots of water and a hat, there is little to no shade on this hike. Again, the best time to go is in spring to be engulfed in flowers. Enjoy!

Following our week in Hawai'i, Carly, Ryan, Heather and I were looking for a very Oregon hike. In a hiking book somewhere at some point in time you will come across an excerpt on the Opal Creek Wilderness. This dense wooded forest along the Little North Santiam is highly coveted among Oregonians. During the summer months it boasts a converted mining town that hosts various camps and retreats. We meandered along the roadway toward the small village and veered right at the Kopetski Trail. At Opal Pool we crossed the bridge, wandered a little further up the road then decided to head back to the town. We traversed roughly 8 miles and maybe gained 500ft of elevation. It's a beautiful trail to hike in the spring before the crowds surge in the summer.

To get to the Opal Creek Trailhead take I-5 S to exit 253 for Highway 22. Follow Highway 22 for 22ish miles then turn left on North Fork Road for the Elkhorn Recreation Area. Go 15.4 miles and keep left at the junction where the road changes from pavement to gravel and becomes FR 2209. After 1.3 miles, keep left and stay on FR 2207. Continue driving 4.3 miles until you reach the trailhead. **WARNING** The road in the winter/spring is NOT maintained, you can do it a smaller car, but it won't be much fun.

Enjoy