Tam-a-lau Trail - Cove Palisades State Park

Monday, May 22, 2017

Visiting Central Oregon for a few days? I definitely recommend a day trip to Lake Billy Chinook. Whether you want to hike or rent a boat and explore the confluence of the Deschutes River and the Crooked River, this is a trip worth making.

This six mile loop hike allows you to explore up above Lake Billy Chinook. It is a great beginner hike to ease in to the season, with a gain of 600 feet. Once atop the plateau there are incredible panorama views of the lake and canyon. There are virtually no trees, so bring your bucket hat and sunscreen.

To get to the trailhead take highway 97 to Culver, take Jericho Lane to SW Feather Drive. Take another left to Fisch Lane then a right on Frazier Driver. There will be signs directing you. To access the trail park at the Upper Deschutes Day Use Area then cross Jordan Road to begin the ascent. This is a fee park, but the NW Forest Pass is allowed.

Enjoy!

Adam, Rita and Baby G at the viewpoint.

Early morning start, Lola scoping the scene for chipmunks.

Always on the hunt.

Found one!

April in Sisters is chilly...

Breakfast at Proust Coffee with baby G.

View of the Deschutes from the plateau.

Deschutes River to the right, Crooked River to the left.

Central Oregon's largest burger at Wild Ride.

Ascending to the plateau.

Adam, Elaine & Baby G.

More views from the top.

Post-hike swim.

Way too cold for this one to get in.

Moon meadow wild flowers at my parent's house.

Trail of Ten Falls - Silver Falls State Park

Monday, May 15, 2017

We are well underway in 2017 and I am so far behind on updating the blog. Our first intro into the hiking season was Silver Falls State Park this April. Oregon had/is having a wet year, which is good. Lots of snow in the lower elevation mountains has kept our hiking at bay, but it has also provided some dynamite cross country skiing.

Silver Falls Trail of Ten Falls is a very popular hike and one I had to check off the to-do list. We had every intention of seeing all ten falls, but two waterfalls eluded us. In 8.7 miles you see 10 waterfalls... in terms of bang for your buck, it's no wonder this is such a popular hike. It is also very mild in terms of elevation, 1,300 feet. If you are in the Salem area, you should at least take a quick stop off of highway 214 to see what this park has to offer.

Start/end at the South Falls Ldoge Trailhead. Drive Interstate 5 to Salem. Drive east on Highway 22 to exit 7, signed for OR Highway 214 and continue on hwy 214 for 4.2 miles to Silver Falls State Park.There is a fee at this park, so bring some cash.

Canyon Creek Meadows - Mount Jefferson Wilderness

Monday, November 7, 2016

The amount of hiking Mike & I have done this past year is borderline nuts. If there is a remotely nice day in the PNW, we wake up early and scour through our hiking books and maps to find a "new" one. I wish I were able to be more attentive to the blog and immediately upload photos from a hike, but ya know, life happens when I am not hiking. Occasionally I fall behind and then remember a few months later to post. This hike, Canyon Creek Meadows, was completed back in August or September of this year. We did not hit the trailhead particularly early, so we ran in to a few other hikers. I LOVED this hike, it gets a lot of press in the Sisters/Bend region of Central Oregon because it is a relatively mild hike with insane views.

Driving by Three Fingered Jack a million times in between Sisters and Portland, I felt it was finally time to get up close and personal. You can choose to hike the 6.5 mile loop which is relatively easy (only gaining 900 feet in elevation) or you can extend the hike up above the glacial lake for some amazing views of the Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, Mt. Hood, etc. The extra mile up above the lake for the views is well worth it, it adds about 1,400 feet in elevation gain. This hike was hot, bring lots of water.

To access the trailhead, start at Jack Lake off of U.S. 20 near Suttle Lake.