OREGON

Dave

Adventurist
Founder
Senior Staff
Editor
Crowd Sourced! Share information and ask specific questions about this state here.

This section is focused on documenting the following:
  • Adventure Opportunities & Destinations
  • Trails
  • Campsites
  • Watercraft Put-Ins/Take-Outs
  • Local Info, Highlights & Lore
  • Local Regulations & Local Insight

IMG_7255.JPG
 
Are you familiar with the Oregon outback trail? I have property in Christmas Valley that I visit each year and I am looking for some fun trails out in that area.
 
IMG_2239.JPG
IMG_2240.JPG
IMG_2263.JPG
IMG_2252.JPG
IMG_2254.JPG
IMG_2257.JPG
After playing around in Olympic NP, Mt. Rainier NP and Mt St Helens I figured it's time for "Oregon Away". After visiting friends in insane Portland....not thrilled about the size of the population or the traffic after spending very little time around more than 20 people was a total culture shock. So I decided to beat the record heat and crazy city drivers and I went heading west then south along Hwy 6 to Tillamook and CHEESE!!! Before driving south along the coast on Hwy 101 before turning east at Reedsport to Roseburg on 138 into Umpqua NF and eventually Crater Lake NP. I've been to many Lighthouses but I think my favorite is this one at Heceta Head.
http://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=86
 
If you do go to Tillamook, I would highly suggest stopping at the famous cheese makers there. They give tours and not only have cheese but root beer and 4' long jerky and ice cream and....you get the point. Awesome food though and a great place to get some stuff for the road. Also don't pass up the Air Museum which was once used and is maybe the last one standing- a Dirrigible Hangar. The hangar is the largest wood structure in the world(?) This is a worthwhile stop with lots or great historical aircraft if you're driving the coastal pavement perusing all the great Oregon state parks.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tillamook_Air_Museum
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tillamook_County_Creamery_Association
IMG_2203.JPG
IMG_2138.JPG
IMG_2146.JPG
 
The weather is finally getting nice. Had to get out of the house. We drove down to Succor Creek & Leslie Gulch. Two area's that offer a lot of trails to explore and feature fascinating geological formations. And at just over an hour and 45 minutes from our house, perfect for a day trip. There is a lot of camping in the area too. We didn't explore off the main tracks, but we'll be back to explore more of the trails in the area and to do some hiking.

Couple photos from today's adventure.

17038933_1670361783260182_344183385487150957_o.jpg


17239881_1670361833260177_1542642573195311062_o.jpg


17211944_1670361986593495_7328492290504567351_o.jpg


17191610_1670361863260174_6483852660150435242_o.jpg


17240471_1670367649926262_580572926775559081_o.jpg


17158893_1670361826593511_399164675903405423_o.jpg


17157521_1670361779926849_636387472022617379_o.jpg


17239905_1670361823260178_8184996276104187065_o.jpg


17240573_1670361769926850_5750689272366094683_o.jpg
 
Last edited:
Because it takes me up to 3-5 minutes to upload some of these pictures due to my connection, I'll just post up this link to the Dog Creek Pictographs from Umpqua NF. They can be reached off of OR 138 just east of Roseburg. It's a nice drive up NFS road 78 which becomes Rock Creek Rd=26-3-1 and that's all I remember-or can find after scouring Benchmark R&R atlas, although it's on pages 72-73, to a point where one then needs to hike what seemed like three miles on a moderate to difficult trail to the cave. It about kicked my butt coming back up to the truck. The whole time I hiked to, was at and hiked back to the truck I felt like I was being watched. Once I got back on the NFS road heading back down the mountain a very large Golden Eagle dropped in and surfed my "air wave" about 15' in front of my truck at about 10' off the ground for what seemed like a mile. I didn't dare slow down to try to get to a camera, but it's a moment I'll never forget! What a magical experience!
I have about 100 photos from the cave but again because of my connection I will only post a few.

http://rockartoregon.com/umpqua-rock-art

IMG_2396.JPG
IMG_2419.JPG
IMG_2452.JPG
IMG_2430.JPG
IMG_2421.JPG
IMG_2435.JPG
 
Sold off my rovers and going to do something with a FWC so step one was to get a better truck - my buddy in Boise was selling his F-250 diesel so got a ride out there picked it up and was planning to get a cheap grandby on the way back but the guy sold it the day before so we camped along the way back - kids had fun hoping to find one before mountain rendezvous other wise will have to make something homemade for the back

C4195A76-2DEE-4DA5-84DB-026016397BB7.jpeg


1864C81E-E3B2-4E1D-8584-E2A68D732355.jpeg


DBC49151-F84F-45D3-8694-677684D8A693.jpeg


85B810A1-FF13-4DAD-A8ED-F8BF4409FE40.jpeg


79E9FA18-BAE9-4CFD-B82C-D094509C93DF.jpeg


099DCB6D-11CF-4B50-85CF-5BE65B99A125.jpeg


588AF951-1C70-4F31-9BC2-3FDC4F0B8551.jpeg


3F5448EA-CABA-431D-9912-C94896E387B1.jpeg


25F0FC76-CCF4-484F-8271-9DF88E54F263.jpeg


1C4F9731-3DE1-496F-957A-9BE530AB0397.jpeg


57626A04-BE0D-4A65-BD72-4D1EA4526890.jpeg
 
Any trail book or trail recommendations near Bend?

Looking for Telluride/Ouray Colorado-style trails similar to Blackbear, Poughkeepsie, Engineer, and Imogene.

Asking for a friend.:jeep
 
Oregon folks - Can anyone point me to your favorite trail-guides, maps, etc. for your areas? (Either available online or free/cheap maps I can order from various agencies - I've got time to have things mailed)

Also seeking advice on areas to be sure to hit (and avoid) with regard to points of interest, wine, beer, biting insects, and too many tourists. Luxury detours where a family of dirty overlanders could pull in, clean up, and go snooty for a night or three also welcome...

Explanation:
It looks like COVID-19 has scuttled our planned trip to Europe for June/July. This was supposed to celebrate our 20th anniversary, a trip we've been planning for literally years. While I unroll all the reservations I made for that trip, I'd like to sketch out a theoretical (reservation-free) roadtrip from SoCal to Oregon to use some or all of the vacation time we've already got approved. I acknowledge that it's hard to know right now what/if things will be open for travel in a few months, but I'd like to have a trip plan ready to go should things open up. I'm an obsessive planner, so this would normally be the kind of thing I build out over the course of months, but here we are.
 
I think if you follow PCH aka the 101 north to Astoria you will find all that you seek and more.

:D
 
Oregon folks - Can anyone point me to your favorite trail-guides, maps, etc. for your areas? (Either available online or free/cheap maps I can order from various agencies - I've got time to have things mailed)

Also seeking advice on areas to be sure to hit (and avoid) with regard to points of interest, wine, beer, biting insects, and too many tourists. Luxury detours where a family of dirty overlanders could pull in, clean up, and go snooty for a night or three also welcome...

Explanation:
It looks like COVID-19 has scuttled our planned trip to Europe for June/July. This was supposed to celebrate our 20th anniversary, a trip we've been planning for literally years. While I unroll all the reservations I made for that trip, I'd like to sketch out a theoretical (reservation-free) roadtrip from SoCal to Oregon to use some or all of the vacation time we've already got approved. I acknowledge that it's hard to know right now what/if things will be open for travel in a few months, but I'd like to have a trip plan ready to go should things open up. I'm an obsessive planner, so this would normally be the kind of thing I build out over the course of months, but here we are.

We are taking a similar trip in September. Starting with a couple days in Yosemite (If it doesn’t close again) and then to PCH and up to Olympic National Park. Along the cost it seems most camping areas need reservations. There is not a whole lot of dispersed camping until you go inland.
 
Looks like Oregon is back on the menu for summer. Going to have about 2 weeks in early July.

Planning to blitz our way up the eastern sierras, then run the OBDR Route #3 from South to North, which should set us up well for a big loop through Bend, the Cascades, the Coast, etc. (Originally planned to tie-in to Overland Expo PNW in Bend, but probably will skip now as I've not seen anything on the agenda re: training that beckons - looks like just a big vendor show now).

Any intel on OBDR Route3 conditions these days? The OOHVA site had a warning about one section not being passable to FS rigs, but I've since been told to ignore that note. Anything else we should know?
 
Looks like Oregon is back on the menu for summer. Going to have about 2 weeks in early July.

Planning to blitz our way up the eastern sierras, then run the OBDR Route #3 from South to North, which should set us up well for a big loop through Bend, the Cascades, the Coast, etc. (Originally planned to tie-in to Overland Expo PNW in Bend, but probably will skip now as I've not seen anything on the agenda re: training that beckons - looks like just a big vendor show now).

Any intel on OBDR Route3 conditions these days? The OOHVA site had a warning about one section not being passable to FS rigs, but I've since been told to ignore that note. Anything else we should know?
route 3 is passable, it’s one of the easier sections. Mosquitoes tend to get pretty bad in July. Do you have the maps? If not pm your address and I’ll send route 3 to you. I would be happy to run it with you but I’ll be in Canada when your up here.
 
I can’t seem to find pictures from the last time I was over windigo pass but that will be your tightest spot @ 43 22’ 3.59”N 122 1’ 55.68”W it is where the gravel road ends at a PCT resupply point and turns into a trail, a tundra, f150ish pickup will fit but a crew cab long box f350 probably won’t without rubbing. there Is a ton of beautiful camping opportunitie.
 
Back
Top Bottom