Diamond Creek Falls

I keep a mental list of hikes I'd like to do and places I'd like to see, some day. Over the years, I am slowly making my way through the list (though I am also adding to the list so I'll never see or do them all!). The trail to Diamond Creek Falls was on that …

Susan Creek Falls: Hwy 138

Heading east from Roseburg, waterfalls dot Highway 138 and the North Umpqua River. Personally, I think the road from Glide to Diamond Lake should be called the "waterfall highway." As an extra bonus, the hikes into many of these waterfalls are relatively short and the trailheads are easy to get to. A couple weeks ago, …

Waterfalls!

Western Oregon has experienced a lot of rain this past winter and spring -- so much, that we've set a record for the number of "rain days" since October 1. Couple that with a good snow pack, and the rivers and creeks are running full right now. You know what that means? It is the perfect …

Bobby Lake

I love heading up into the Cascades to explore the mountain lakes. They are so incredibly blue and -- to me -- they somehow seem closer to the sky than the lakes here in the valley. With so many lakes to chose from, there is always a new lake and a new trail to enjoy. This summer we hiked the trail …

Crawfish Lake Trail

Lately, one of my aims has been to explore the Brice Creek area and -- especially -- to get off the beaten trails. Of course Brice Creek Trail is always beautiful and Trestle Creek Trail is popular for good reason, but when I look at a map I see there are many more trails around Brice …

Hosmer Lake: Deschutes County

I can not tell you how beautiful Hosmer Lake is because I don't have the words, and it is possible that you may not even believe me. Hosmer Lake is one of those places that I sometimes hesitate to write about; I want to keep it a secret so it stays as beautiful as possible for as long as …

Beautiful Brice Creek

Every time we go for a hike along Brice Creek, I always wonder why we don't head out there more often. It is fairly close to town, beautiful, and never fails to deliver. This past weekend, we wanted to get out for a hike with friends from out of town and Brice Creek was just the ticket. …

Sparks Lake: Deschutes County

Sparks Lake sits high in the Cascade Mountains at 5400' elevation. It is well known for its photographic opportunities, especially in the early morning when the South Sister, Broken Top, and Bachlor Butte reflect in the calm water. The views of the mountains from Sparks Lake are beautiful. We barely had our canoe in the water …

Parker Creek Falls

Nothing cures a bout of cabin fever better than getting out for a good hike, especially after the holidays which always seem to involve too much eating and more sitting around than I typically like. When the opportunity came up recently for a post-holiday hike, I knew I wanted to get out and see some waterfalls which would …

Siltcoos Canoe Trail: Florence

I have been intrigued by the Siltcoos Canoe Trail ever since I first heard about it. There is something about canoeing all the way to the ocean that fascinates me -- I'm not exactly sure why -- and experiencing the Canoe Trail has been on my mind for a couple of years. Of course, I …