Adventure

Colorful hot air balloons floating over a calm Oregon river with lush green trees, reflecting in the water during a clear day.

Oregon Hot Air Balloon Ride Guide

Shift your perspective at sunrise—from a wicker basket thousands of feet above valleys, rivers and volcanic desert written by Cathy Carroll KSSSSH … KSSSSH … Short bursts of blue-orange propane flames shoot into the opening of a hot-air balloon as pilot Kelly Dorius launches her craft at sunrise over Newberg. Nine passengers join her, ready to float 2,000 feet above the Willamette Valley’s verdant landscape. Riding in a wicker basket attached to a balloon—no seat belts, rafts, detachable seat cushions, oxygen masks—had the palms of at least one passenger sweating. Dorius scanned the horizon intently with calm blue eyes, her deerskin-gloved hands working the fuel burners and altitude-regulating pulleys, exuding confidence. The clammy-handed passenger, with a death grip on the basket’s rope handles, let go just as lighter-than-air buoyancy took over. Heated air inside the balloon made it drift above the treetops, and then, silence—no roaring engines, no announcements, no…

People working on the Salmonberry Trail restoration in a forested area, installing or repairing railway tracks as part of the Oregon trail development.

The Salmonberry Trail Super Project

An 82-mile multiuse trail that will be a generational treasure for Oregonians written by Isabel Max | photography by Salmonberry Trail Foundation Through forest draped in thick fog, rust-orange rails guide me forward, narrowing to a point 20 meters ahead. I hike on an abandoned railroad, first laid in 1911 by Japanese, Irish, Swede, Austrian, Greek, Russian, Bulgarian and Norwegian immigrants, now a ghost in a filigree frame of overgrowth. Between the ties, diverse mushroom species grow. Cutting through time comes the cheerful voice of Caroline Fitchett. She draws my attention to a newt flipped on its back, its orange belly wriggling in the leaves. “Nothing is the same on the Salmonberry Trail,” she said. “That’s what makes it so fascinating and adventuresome.” Fitchett is the executive director of the Salmonberry Trail Foundation, the nonprofit leading a legacy project to build an 82-mile pedestrian trail on top of the historic…

Two elk in a winter landscape with moss-covered trees in the background, showcasing Oregon's diverse wildlife during the winter season.

Wild Winter: Oregon Wildlife Watching Guide

Reunite with the natural world when it seems asleep—but isn’t written by Cathy Carroll Winter is often mistaken for a season of dormancy—but look closer. You’ll see a natural world alive with drama and beauty, from tens of thousands of snow geese taking flight over the Klamath Basin, to herds of Roosevelt elk moving through the Coast Range, to whales migrating through the Pacific. Guides and naturalists can deepen the experience, helping you spot these animals while sharing insights into how species and ecosystems are interconnected—and deepening our perspective on how we fit into the natural world. Here are some guided and unguided experiences to consider. LONESOME DUCK RANCH | CHILOQUIN Klamath Basin Birding Tens of thousands of snow geese are resting on wetlands of the Klamath Basin, a fine feathered duvet of aviary serenity. Then the entire flock launches, turning the sky white, the black tips of their wings…

At Inn the Ground in Carlton, a regenerative farm, surrounding trails and sanctuary set the scene for a retreat rooted in nature.

Serene Meditation Retreats in Oregon

Nature and mindfulness converge in Oregon’s most serene meditation escapes written by Cathy Carroll Eyes closed, seated on a sky blue cushion on a wood floor, you listen to a poem by the fourteenth-century Persian poet Hafiz: “There is a beautiful creature living in a hole you have dug.So late at night I set fruits and grains and little pots of milk beside your soft earthen mounds and I often sing,But still my dear you do not come out.I have fallen in love with someone who hides inside you.We should talk about this problem,Otherwise I will never leave you alone.” This medieval ode to attending to your inner, true self is a perfect entrée into a guided meditation. Its aim is to let you switch mental gears, shifting you and the half dozen others in the session away from modern cultural demands—or whatever else might be holding you back from…

Enjoying fishing in Oregon's scenic waters, these anglers explore outdoor adventures featured in 1859 Oregon Magazine, highlighting the region's natural beauty and leisure activities.

Cape Kiwanda Dory Fishing Adventure

Punching through Cape Kiwanda surf with a seasoned captain, a hefty catch and century-old dory culture written by Cathy Carroll In the faint light just after dawn in the Pelican Brewing Company parking lot in Pacific City, Captain Joe Hay stood at the stern of his trailered dory boat, primed to launch straight from the beach through the surf of Cape Kiwanda—a tradition among local fishers since the early 1900s. With the dry humor of someone who’s spent thirty years plying the waters for its bounty, Hay, in pink Chubbies swim trunks but visible only from the waist up, quipped: “I guess you’re wondering why I’m not wearing pants—my wife wears them, and she’s home in bed.” This was just what a neophyte wearing an anti-seasickness patch behind an ear needed to hear. “She’s a smart woman,” I replied, feeling less nervous. I climbed aboard. The crew towed the open-hulled,…

Rafters paddle by Stair Creek Falls during a Momentum River Expeditions trip on the Rogue River.

Rogue River Rafting & Glamping Adventure

Four days of rafting and glamping on a legendary Oregon wild river written by Cathy Carroll The wide ribbon of clear, teal water is picking up speed, and the four women in the raft glance back at guide Katie Duffie as she tells just how they’re going to ride Horseshoe Bend rapids. Duffie, wielding two oars—each twice the length of the paddlers’ single, lightweight models—scans the white peaks boiling over a jumble of boulders ahead. “OK, ladies, give me two strokes forward!” she commands. The women lean, digging into the gurgling Rogue River, swirling eddies giving way to a turbulent roar and thwap! It raises its great, ice-cold liquid hand, slapping the front two squarely in the face, an age-old prank of this ancient river of snowmelt. Momentarily stunned, their eyes squeeze tightly shut before opening simultaneously with a giant belly laugh that’s joined in by the river and fellow…

One of the coast’s top scenic paddles, the Salmon River Estuary can be done solo or with informative tours, such as Safari Town Surf Shop.

Kayak Oregon’s Coast for Wildlife and Calm

Take a kayak tour on the Oregon Coast for a peaceful escape into nature’s calm written by Cathy Carroll The lapping water is punctuated by the pterodactyl-like call of a blue heron. A bald eagle lands on driftwood near-by. A gray harbor seal, nearly 300 pounds, pokes its rounded head above the surface, its curious eyes and whiskered snout studying you. It’s just another day of kayaking on the coast. If life feels heavy, a kayak can fix that. Becoming buoyant, the weight of the world is literally lifted. A shift occurs—as if you’ve transformed into another species. No longer a two-legged creature on land, other animals such as river otters and elk observe you close up. “You’re just part of the ecosystem,” said Tony Gile, owner of Safari Town Surf Shop in Lincoln City, which leads kayaking tours in the area. “You don’t have a motor, so you’re not…

Plan a kayaking outing with the help of the adventure coaches at Headlands Lodge.

Romantic Off-Grid Escapes: Oregon’s Lakes, Rivers & Ocean Retreats

Wanderlust and Love written by Cathy Carroll The spray off a waterfall, the rush of a salty ocean wave, the lapping of a meandering river, the placid surface of a mountain lake—they woo us, beckon us, seduce us. Whether you plunge in, paddle in or perambulate by them, they heighten our senses, soothe us and provide the perfect setting for relaxing, romantic fun. They abound. Here are a select few. NETARTS + PACIFIC CITY Waves Kayaking through mellow Netarts Bay between Cape Meares and Cape Lookout, connect with your partner as you take some lessons in play and relaxation from seals and sea lions lounging in pristine surroundings. Fully exhale as pelicans, great blue herons and bald eagles soar overhead, and western snowy plovers—palm-sized, sand-colored puffs—skitter on the shore. Songbirds serenade, and cormorants perch on rocks, spreading their great black wings out to dry. Follow suit, warming your own wings…

At 93 feet, Yaquina Head is Oregon’s tallest lighthouse.

Why You Should Visit These Stunning Lighthouses on Oregon’s Coast

Seek out lighthouses for a coastal adventure this summer that shines written by Cathy Carrollphotography by Christian Heeb/Travel Oregon Why venture out to Oregon’s lighthouses? Ben Ervin, a state park ranger in Florence, summed it up thusly: “They’re cool!” That is, they offer a tempting trifecta. First, these beacons of bygone days, when sea captains squinted toward shore for guidance, reel us in by piquing our imaginations. Secondly, they offer stellar views and prime perches for spotting seabirds and seals in summer and fall and, in spring and winter, migrating gray whales. Finally, they cast light on century-old stories, offering an enlightening blend of nature and culture. FLORENCE 1. Heceta Head Lighthouse Walk a half-mile up the paved path to the Queen Anne-style lighthouse, 206 feet above sea level, for stellar views. Watch cormorants, common murres and puffins nesting on rocks offshore in Oregon’s largest protected area of ocean, the…