Yo Oregon!-1- The Volcanic legacy

Oregon has been on my list of places to visit for a long time. That visit finally materialized this year and, we were not disappointed! It is a beautiful state, with varied landscapes and stunning vistas!

After reading up about interesting places in the area around Portland, we chose to take a nine day trip mainly to the western part of Oregon. The goal was to unwind, and explore the terrain on a leisurely schedule. It turned out to be a fascinating experience.

We arrived in Portland midday, immediately got a rental car, and stocked up on essential supplies like water and healthy snacks. Then we checked out Washington Park, the Rose Garden and a little bit of the Japanese Garden.

The next morning we set out on the historic Oregon US 30 route that runs along the Columbia River Gorge. It is a scenic route and on a partly cloudy day, it was a laid back kind of drive.

We saw a family owned lavender farm on the way. I tried to imagine life in that setting. There were apple trees laden with fruit. One was partly harvested and a large heap of freshly cut apples lay on the ground. There were other trees too, and some grape vines.
Some rabbits were running around, see if you can spot one in the picture below, hopping around the lavender bushes.

A small gazebo nearby had lots of lavender items for sale. A little box was perched on a side wall where you could pay for the items purchased. I got some lavender hand cream.

Several historic landmarks dotted the drive, and then came the waterfalls!

These were the ones we checked out, and hiked on the trails to get better views.

The first one was Latourell Falls, and this one is gorgeous in a different way because of the columnar basalt that lines the cliffs behind it.

Latourell Falls, Oregon

It was a short hike from the parking lot to get to this point, and one could walk to the area where the water fell, and get drenched. That lime green mossy lichen like growth was also very attractive. 

Latourell Falls, Oregon

The next in line- Bridal Veil falls. This was a slightly longer hike along lush green vegetation, and recent rains made the leaves even more appealing. 

Bridal Veil Falls, Oregon

Wahkeena Falls was the third fall and it has an interesting upper part appropriately called the necktie.

Wahkeena Falls, Oregon

You can see the necktie part in this picture. 

Wahkeena Falls, Oregon

The iconic Multnomah Falls does not disappoint. It is a very tall year round waterfall. A viewing  bridge built in 1925, is a special feature of the falls, and makes an impressive detail in the pictures taken from below. We had lunch at the lodge near the falls before heading further east.

Multnomah Falls

The Horsetail Falls was a small surprise right by the road and again, it provided a serene break from the crowds at Multnomah. You can sit on rocks bordering the pool at the bottom of the falls and enjoy some quiet moments. The fall itself is made of two parts, the upper Horsetail, and the lower Ponytail. 

Horsetail Falls, Oregon

We were in Hood River by early evening and had dinner at a fabulous wood fired pizza place called Solstice. The fresh ingredients they use and their easygoing riverfront setting made it a perfect way to finish off a great day!

Mount Hood was the destination the next morning! Just two days earlier, we had seen the peak peek through a bed of clouds from our flight, when it was minutes away from landing at Portland. Now we were driving there. We got several glimpses of it as we inched towards the area, and when we stopped at a ranger station, we saw it in its full glory! 

Mount Hood

Armed with more information obtained at the ranger station, we headed into the National Forest.

We hiked a little on the Tamanawas Falls trail, and then headed to Trillim Lake. 

Mt. Hood as viewed from Trillium Lake. It was an absolutely gorgeous place that offered great reflections of the mountain. 

Mount Hood from Trillium Lake

People were kayaking, picnicking and having a good time near the lake. There was a young man with a Ukelele and he played some beautiful music that added a unique flair to the tranquil atmosphere.  

Mount Hood from Trillium Lake

We headed to the Government Camp area for lunch, and we returned to spend more time at the lake after a good one. The sun had shifted now, and the charm was different than it had been before noon.

Mount Hood from Trillium Lake 

We met a nice couple who lived in the area, and they suggested that visiting the Timberline Lodge at Mount Hood was a must! It was a historic site and was located at the highest point from where the peak could be viewed.

The drive was a beautiful one, and the lodge was truly fabulous. Lots of interesting artifacts were displayed all over, and we spent some time taking it all in.

A view of Mt. Hood from the lodge parking lot. It was really close from this location. That was the pit stop at the end of a beautiful day, weather fully cooperating!

Mount Hood from Timberline Lodge

The next morning, we set out to head to Bend, Oregon. On the way, we stopped at Smith Rocks State Park. A popular area for rock climbing and taking in amazing views of deep river canyons. We hiked down that trail in the picture, it was a good hike, rated easy.

Smith Rocks State Park

On the way, there were several plants with flowers, but I thought this one below was particularly outstanding. The colors and delicateness of the blooms was surprising in the otherwise arid landscape.

The whole area is under the umbrella of the Volcanic Legacy of Oregon. We visited some beautiful lakes that are just off this scenic byway. Lava Lake, Elk Lake were two that were close to each other.
You could see the sisters peaks nearby.

Elk Lake

Devils Lake, a sign near the lake suggested that recent satellite views of the area support the hypothesis that magma may be rising very close the South Sister Peak. This area was in the active zone, the region that eventually formed Crater Lake. More about it in another post.

Devils Lake