29 Results

“It was love at first touch,” Lillian Pitt recalls of the first time her hands met clay. That happenstance encounter with a potter’s wheel led Pitt down a path of creative exploration and collaboration that has taken her all over the world. At age 72, Pitt is recognized as one of the most highly regarded… More

Most fly-fishers agree that central Oregon’s Lower Deschutes River — with its native rainbow trout and steelhead — is a world-class fishery. When the annual salmon fly hatch begins in late May, it becomes a see-it-to-believe-it experience. More

If you love Oregon’s wide open vistas, consider weekend travel to Central Oregon’s Lake Billy Chinook, where newcomers and experienced birders enjoy spectacular views to birds of prey during the annual “Eagle Watch.” Framed by towering 400-foot canyon walls, Lake Billy Chinook offers a unique perspective on Central Oregon that also provides plenty of elbow… More

If you’re like me, you’re bound to be curious when traveling the wide-open spaces of Oregon. I need to know everything I can. That’s how it was when we headed south on US 97 searching for the forty million years of geologic history found in the Oregon state rock called “Thundereggs.” I cherished these magical,… More

When you’re cruising across Central Oregon, the high desert plateau can feel as vast as the ocean, a sea of sagebrush and pine under an endless dome of blue sky. Yet surprises await around Madras (about 45 minutes north of Bend), where the land seems to crack open like an eggshell, revealing deep desert canyons,… More

5 Dollar taxi serves central Oregon, also making flat-rate trips to the Eugene, Redmond, and Portland airports. More

Economy Taxi provides taxi service throughout Central Oregon. More

With thousands of miles of backcountry beauty to explore, Oregon is the perfect place for camping getaways. You can set up camp within earshot of waves crashing on the beach, sleep under the stars in wide-open high desert, or hike deep into a lush forest to pitch your tent. It's no wonder Chris Santella, author of the… More

Located in the heart of Central Oregon’s agricultural belt, Cascade Lavender is blessed with an incredible panorama of pastoral fields and the peaks of the Cascade Mountains. With over 5,000 mature plants and 50 different varieties, the farm when in full bloom displays a breathtaking array of colors from whites to deep purples, and is soothed by the wonderful fragrance of this beloved herb. Cascade Lavender is a family-friendly place with plenty to see and do for all types of visitors and interests, from display... More

Yep, party barging! I’m officially making it a verb. My family and I recently spent the day with three other families — eight adults and eight kids in all — on the waters of Lake Billy Chinook in Central Oregon. More

Many of us enjoy taking our homes on the road in summer – whether in a tent, trailer or recreational vehicle - but this week’s getaway shows us a place where you take your home on the water. When Oregon’s Cascade Mountains are behind you and Central Oregon’s U.S. Route 97 unwinds onto a desert… More

A saw blade of snowy volcanic peaks provides quite the backdrop for the Madras Mountain Views Scenic Bikeway. This 29-mile ride rolls through farm fields and skims along the canyon rim of Lake Billy Chinook. A word of advice from one cyclist to another: the scenery might get distracting, so you’ll want to pull over now and again to take it all in. More

Mccubbins Gulch Day Use OHV Picnic Site is located within the McCubbins Gulch Area. The area is wheelchair accessible. More information about Off Highway Vehicle use in the Mt Hood National Forest can be found here. More

For years, visitors had access to the secreted-away and astoundingly beautiful House on Metolius 200-acre estate only by way of temporary rental of a few rustic cabins. This year, the resort reinvented itself with the opening of the Main Lodge, which offers seven gorgeous private rooms and lovely common dining and living rooms appointed with… More

Most weekends find Elena Pressprich on the road, heading out from her home in Central Oregon in search of fresh powder, unexplored trails and wide, sandy beaches. But no matter where she’s going and no matter what time of year, this avid outdoor enthusiast never leaves home without three essentials: Baya, Rio and Millie. More

What is it about Oregon’s rivers? There is nothing like a cool, restful moment along the shady shoreline of a Oregon river. That sentiment is shared for an exciting outdoor adventure, fishing or paddling along one of our prized waterways. All this is especially true near Camp Sherman, where the Metolius River bubbles from the ground to curl… More

Curious travelers planning an adventure to this wild pocket of the Pacific Northwest should pack boots and cowboy hats — you’ll need both while exploring this arid side of the Cascades. The region is rich in history (hello, prehistoric fossil beds) and also offers incredible opportunities to soak up the high-desert sunshine, something that newcomers might not believe exists here in Oregon. Here are the top stops from my weekend road trip. More

Smith Rock draws climbers from across the globe, and it's considered by many to be the birthplace of American sport climbing. But there are many ways to see the high desert of Central Oregon. Here are a few of our favorite ways: Ride: Central Oregon is a cycling and biking paradise. Mountain bikers will love… More

One interesting thing about Smith Rock: For something with such a monolithic name, it’s far from the only thing you want to look at when you’re there. While its sheer walls, unique structure and picture-postcard setting make it one of the top draws in the world for rock climbers, it’s just one part of a Central Oregon outdoor playground that offers myriad possibilities. More

How to explore this world-renowned destination after peak-season crowds have gone. More

The young rock climber was ecstatic. One more move and Lauren Neumann had reached the top of Night Flight — her chosen climb at Smith Rock State Park. At the summit, she threw out her arms and hollered at the top of her seven-year-old lungs, having just completed her first-ever outdoor climb. When most people… More

What do you want out of your trip? Peaceful seclusion? Adrenaline-pumping adventure? For me it’s often a bit of both. I joined 12 other geared-up women for a climbing tour organized by Women Who Explore. The group offers four such trips a year in Central Oregon, which is known for its varied adventures — epic trails, backcountry skiing, slopes to shred at Mt. Bachelor, whitewater rapids to navigate. All of these great opportunities can add up to a mountain of intimidation. More

As we departed Kah-Nee-Ta Warm Springs Resort and continued along on our journey through Central Oregon’s high desert, we were filled with exciting thoughts about our next stop. We were heading towards Smith Rock State Park which is located in Terrebonne, approximately 50 miles from Kah-Nee-Ta. “You will love it at Smith Rock. The scenery… More

This roadside route begins where glass-clear water surges from the dry ground at Metolius Spring, and continues north to Bridge 99. Special places along the way include the Camp Sherman Fish Viewing Platform, Metolius Research Natural Area, and Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery (phone (541) 595-6611)). A coalition of government agencies, private utilities, and conservation organizations are working to restore anadromous Chinook salmon and sockeye salmon to the river. Caution: Stay alert for pedestrians, equestrians, and automobiles that share the narrow single-lane road. More

Maupin lies in the rainshadow of the Cascades. The elevation ranges from 840′ at the river to approximately 1,600′ at the west edge of town. The growing season is much longer than the high desert areas around Bend, and the climate is much drier than the population centers in the Willamette Valley. Fruit trees, grapes, tomatoes and other garden plants thrive here. The history of this area includes a period when fruit orchards and hops (in nearby Tygh Valley) were economically important. Wine vineyards are... More

French-born Chef Philippe Boulot made his home in Portland’s Heathman Restaurant & Bar for more than two decades, but has always been equally at ease with a fly rod in his hand. Far from the urban bustle, the James Beard Award-winning Boulot takes time out in the sunny Central Oregon town of Maupin on the… More

Every spring we plan a trip around the emergence of a 3-inch insect that flops clumsily in the sky like a small bird. It is the famed salmonfly hatch, and it’s the reason we first started visiting the small Central Oregon town of Maupin, located along the iconic Deschutes River. More

My legs shook as I used a long, one-bladed paddle to push my stand-up paddleboard (SUP) away from shore. I engaged my core, bent my knees and kept my board at a 45-degree angle to the current. “Remember, look where you want to go,” said Tim Thornton, owner of River Drifters and one of our guides. That’s easier said than done — at least for me. I’m not a “water person.” I prefer high alpine hikes on Mt. Hood, long trail runs in the Columbia... More

This week I hit the open road to explore the valleys east of Mt Hood and discover the White River Wildlife Area and White River State Park. There are nearly 30,000 acres of refuge that reach across more than 20 miles of terrain that provides an eastern point of view to the mountain. Josh Moulton,… More