That Oregon Life · Stories & discoveries
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If you've been looking for an excuse to get outside and explore Oregon, next weekend might be the perfect opportunity. On Saturday, June 6, Oregon State Parks will once again waive day-use parking fees at parks…
Updated August 2026: Spencer Butte’s Main Summit Trail is the standard route: about two miles round trip with roughly 700 feet of climbing to Eugene’s 2,058-foot landmark. The West Trail is steeper, includes exposed rock and…
There are certain places in Oregon that make you stop talking for a minute. Not because there isn't anything to say, but because your brain is too busy trying to process what your eyes are seeing.…
Odell Lake is a deep, high-elevation Cascade lake near Willamette Pass, best known for kokanee, trophy-size lake trout, forest campgrounds and big mountain views. It is a strong choice for anglers and boaters who do not…
For years, the hike to Tamolitch Blue Pool has been one of those rare Oregon experiences that still feels raw, natural, and earned. Planning a visit? Read our complete Blue Pool Oregon hiking guide for the…
There are places in Oregon that feel beautiful, and then there are places that feel like stepping into another time entirely. Jacksonville is one of those places. Tucked into the rolling hills of Southern Oregon just…
Tucked into the forest above the Columbia River Gorge is one of the most unusual hikes in Oregon, and there’s a good chance you’ve driven past it without ever knowing it existed. The Penstock Flume Pipeline…
There are places on the Oregon Coast that draw crowds with their fame. And then there are places that quietly steal your heart the moment you arrive. Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park is the latter.…
Spring is when Silver Falls feels most alive, with strong waterfall flow, bright moss, fresh ferns, and wildflowers around the canyon. It is my favorite season here, but rain, mud, slick rock, and changing trail conditions…
There are places in Oregon where history whispers instead of shouts. No crowds. No big signs demanding your attention. Just a narrow trail winding through towering trees, the soft hush of wind through redwoods, and the…
There’s something almost surreal about standing beneath a redwood tree. The scale doesn’t quite make sense at first. You look up, and up, and somehow still can’t find the top. The air feels cooler. The light…
Updated August 2026: Astoria’s Richard Fencsak Cathedral Tree Trail is 0.9 mile one way between the 2800 block of Irving Avenue and the Astoria Column, making the basic out-and-back about 1.8 miles. It is a pedestrian-only,…
