Favorite Place in Oregon (Portland: live in, area, location)

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Originally Posted by hymalaia

I want to put in a mention of the high desert. Sure the mountains, coast and gorge get most of the attention but it's the stark desolate beauty one finds east of the Cascades that really puts the exclamation point on statements claiming Oregon has the most spectacular, diverse landscapes of the lower 48 states. The whole thing is so vast one could spend a lifetime exploring. So far I've only visited the Painted Hills. What a unique geological formation! When I first moved to Portland I saw a photograph of them in some gallery downtown and thought to myself "no way is that Oregon, that's gotta be the Southwest somewhere". Sure enough one day I drove over the Cascades and found the landscape reminiscent of an old western. While I'd never want to live in a desert (I need dense woodland for my day to day life) I still love the feeling I get exploring that kind of vast open topography and love how easily accessible it is for the occasional visit.

Ever been to the Strawberry Mountains?

[PNWhike]

Originally Posted by BLAZER PROPHET

If anyone cares to share, what is your single favorite place in Oregon and why?

For me, it's the secret beach. Go to Lincoln City. Then to the parking area at Road's End. Walk north until you get to the end of the beach. At very negative tides one can scramble around the point on a rock fall that occurred in 1957 to a beach that is breathtaking. Spires crowned with birds. The ocean boils & churns. And usually one is all alone on the 50 yard long beach. No place like it in my Oregon.

Thank former governor Tom McAll for his land use laws that guarantee the public access of the citizenry to The Oregon Coast's awesome beaches.

[PNWhike]

Originally Posted by hymalaia

I want to put in a mention of the high desert. Sure the mountains, coast and gorge get most of the attention but it's the stark desolate beauty one finds east of the Cascades that really puts the exclamation point on statements claiming Oregon has the most spectacular, diverse landscapes of the lower 48 states. The whole thing is so vast one could spend a lifetime exploring. So far I've only visited the Painted Hills. What a unique geological formation! When I first moved to Portland I saw a photograph of them in some gallery downtown and thought to myself "no way is that Oregon, that's gotta be the Southwest somewhere". Sure enough one day I drove over the Cascades and found the landscape reminiscent of an old western. While I'd never want to live in a desert (I need dense woodland for my day to day life) I still love the feeling I get exploring that kind of vast open topography and love how easily accessible it is for the occasional visit.

Want a taste of the American Southwest? Look no further.The Great Basin in Sotheast Oregon is a real gem. Steens Mountain National Monument one hours drive south of Burns, Oregon is brilliant. It's a fault block mountain that goes straight up from the desert floor to almost ten thousand feet. You can drive to the top for incredible views that strech for over a hundred miles in every direction. You can see clear into Nevada. It's breathtaking. Check it out sometime.

[PNWhike]

Originally Posted by BLAZER PROPHET

Ever been to the Strawberry Mountains?

I would highly recommend climbing Strawberry Mountain. It's over 9000 feet and the views are amazing. You can see most of Malhuer National Forest, and the entire John Day Valley. It's well worth the six hour drive to John Day.

[Cornerguy1]

Sorry, BLAZER, I've been by Ft. Klamath park on numerous occasions, but never stopped to have a peek. I'll add it to the list for the next trip.

For those who want a taste of High Desert, how about another of my favourite spots, Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge?





Definitely a "south-west" feel.




.

[Pharaoh07]

My favorite place absolutely has to be Jefferson Park in the Cascade Range.

No matter what trail you take, you end up in this beautiful wildflower alpine meadow, complete with breathtakingly clear lakes all around you. I think there are five big lakes and lots of little ones. The best part - Mt. Jefferson "begins" at Jefferson Park. Meaning, you just walk across the meadow towards the mountain, then start climbing up. Obviously, it's a very fragile area and there are many little trails that have been created by careless hikers and are slowly growing back. Camping is regulated, but allowed, and I highly recommend it!

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Originally Posted by Pharaoh07

My favorite place absolutely has to be Jefferson Park in the Cascade Range.

No matter what trail you take, you end up in this beautiful wildflower alpine meadow, complete with breathtakingly clear lakes all around you. I think there are five big lakes and lots of little ones. The best part - Mt. Jefferson "begins" at Jefferson Park. Meaning, you just walk across the meadow towards the mountain, then start climbing up. Obviously, it's a very fragile area and there are many little trails that have been created by careless hikers and are slowly growing back. Camping is regulated, but allowed, and I highly recommend it!

OH! My wife & I are camping in east OR this summer and this hike just went on our 'to do' list. THANKS!

[dogdorks]

I have always loved Silver Creek Falls, just southeast of Silverton. I went there so many times as a child, on field trips, birthday parties, camping, and hiking. You can hike around the waterfalls, swim, have a picnic, and it's a beautiful place to take Oregon visitors. I love it!

[hymalaia]

Originally Posted by BLAZER PROPHET

Ever been to the Strawberry Mountains?

so far I've only been as far east as the Painted Hills. I looked up Strawberry Mtn though, sounds amazing, and not too much further east.

pnwhike; I certainly would love to check out Steens but it's quite far from Portland. I think think the only "downside" to the high desert is that it's so vast that to explore some areas takes lots of time and resources. I wouldn't worry too much about real estate speculators as much of the area is too remote to have much economic use. Other kinds of exploiters yes but I've been reading conservationalist Andy Kerr's "Guide to the Oregon Desert". He makes the point that exploiters already know about the desert and what we really need is more people to visit it, discover it and fall in love with it so they will help to conserve it.

That said Painted Hills is in the National Park system so I'm not too worried about that one. Steens also seems to have some kind of federal protection.

[tulegirl]

Love the photos posted.
I live in Klamath Co. Love it.
Woods on one side, High desert on the other.

Cornerguy: Did you check out the hot springs when you were at Hart Mtn.?