Oregon Loves Dogs
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Outdoors
The Upland Bird Hunt
Winter hunting for chukar, pheasant and quail.
Stacy Allison: The First American Woman to Summit Everest
Oregonian Stacy Allison summited Mt. Everest in 1988, becoming the first American woman on the summit.
Best Views
Winner: Crater Lake photo by Andrea Johnson Pure silence, not a ripple on the lake, the sun rising over the crater rim. This is Crater Lake National Park (nps. gov/crla), one of the most pristine places on Earth. Stay at the rustic lodge built in 1915 and renovated in 1995, or snag a cabin or campsite in Mazama Village seven miles south of Crater Lake’s rim (open seasonally). Admire the views from one of the twenty scenic overlooks along the thirty-three-mile rim drive, some 2,000 feet above the lake—step back if you’re prone to vertigo. In winter, you can snowshoe or cross-country ski the rim. In warmer months, cycle or hike it. Want to actually dip your feet in the chilly lake? The only water access is down a mile-long trail that drops 700 feet to Cleetwood Cove. It’s worth the effort, especially if you want to take the only…
Best Camping
Winner: Beverly Beach Photo by Aubrie LeGault All paths at Beverly Beach lead to the scenic walkway under Highway 101 out to the Pacific Ocean and a beach that stretches from Yaquina Head to the headlands of Otter Rock. Look for the giant, fossilized 14,000-year-old Sitka root or take a picnic lunch and watch the kids build sand castles. Agate seekers scour the rocky shore to the north, and fossil lovers tread south. Spencer Creek runs through the campground, which has hookups for trailers and RVs, 128 tent sites, twenty-one yurts and five group tent areas. Just a couple miles north is Marine Gardens, located on a gravel path off Third Street in Otter Rock. Best experienced during low tide, the tidal pools are full of life. Observe seabird colonies and harbor seal pups. In Newport, meander the waterfront and fishing port, or on a rainy day, spend hours at…
Best Hiking
Winner: Smith Rock, Terrebonne Photo by Tyler Roemer Geologists call it welded tuff, rock climbers call it unwieldy and tough. Rising 300 to 550 feet above the high desert, Smith Rock’s vertical walls and spires attract rock climbers of all skill levels. Inside Smith Rock State Park, a thousand routes, including several on iconic Monkey Face, allow novice and experienced climbers to test their nerves. If cliff hanging isn’t for you, watch from a safe distance atop Misery Ridge Summit, which also has stunning views in all directions. Park visitors can horseback ride, mountain bike or hike miles of trails in and around the park. Keep an eye out for rattlesnakes in warm months. Runner-Up: Tam McArthur Rim, Bend Photo by Christian Heeb This moderately difficult hike within the Three Sisters Wilderness showcases the alpine volcanic environment at its best. The trailhead starts at Three Creek Lake about twenty miles…
The Good, the Bad and the Muddy
1859 contributing photographer Tim LaBarge points his lens at Oregon’s ecclectic and exciting cyclocross scene.
Gallery: Rafting the Wild and Scenic Rogue River
Experience Southern Oregon’s Wild and Scenic Rogue River in this gallery.
Rogue River Rafting video
1859 editor Kevin Max shares his video of the gang’s Rogue River rafting experience.
