Category: Central Oregon

As I was driving from the Bend area to the valley one evening, I saw something developing to the west. It was several years ago, so I opened a map up, looked at the area, and headed to Tumalo Reservoir… read more Tumalo Reservoir and Three Sisters

When traveling around the state, you will encounter wildlife. I surprised this one near the city limits of a town in Central Oregon. It could have been anywhere… Just keep your eyes open and you will see something notable. Download… read more A Deer Surprise

A view of the Three Sisters mountains from the town of Sisters in Central Oregon. From Sisters, just head out Hwy-242 and look to the left. You cannot miss the view of three of the tallest mountains in Oregon. Download… read more Three Sisters From Sisters

Miles of this. Yes, the land varies a lot… You will find rocky scenes like this, a nice Ponderosa Pine forest, the remnants of a volcano, great whitewater, or even a lake. There is a lot of this though. Download… read more Typical Central Oregon Roadside

Located off of Hwy-35 headed just out of Hood River, this park offers great views of Mt. Hood, and areas around Odell and Parkdale to the south.or This is a great stop to get out and stretch your legs for… read more Panorama Point County Park

Near Lake Billy Chinook in Central Oregon you will find this. Relocated to this position in 1963, about one mile/1.6km from its original location on the Crooked River. Found in 1961, it was on land, ceded by treaty, from the… read more Crooked River Petroglyph

A person fly fishing on the Crooked River south of Prineville. From town, just head south on Main Street, which becomes the Crooked River Highway. I took the photo at one of the many turnouts along the river. A beautiful… read more Fly Fishing

Crack in the Ground is a volcanic fissure about 2mi/3.2km long. It is essentially a cave without a roof. The trail varies from perhaps six feet/2m in depth to 30 feet/9m. The width of the crack, from wall to wall,… read more Away From The Road – Day 4 of 5: Crack in the Ground

Smith Rock State Park is located near Hwy-97 a few minutes north of Redmond, near Terrebonne just north of milepost 116. Smith Rock State Park is considered the birthplace of modern sport climbing. The park contains the first U.S. climb… read more Away From The Road – Day 2 of 5: Smith Rocks

The Painted Hills, a unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, get their name from the stratifications in the soil. The bands are from layers of silt, vegetative matter and more from the time this was an ancient river… read more Painted Hills (Wide View)

Obsidian is a volcanic glass formed when felsic lava cools rapidly, minimizing crystal growth. Historically it has been used for weapons, tools and even a surgical edge. When processed correctly, obsidian will provide a long lasting very sharp edge. You… read more Obsidian Volcanic Glass

Sparks Lake is one of my favorite parts of the state. If I lived nearby, I would be there “too much”, if that is a thing. The lake is one of several in Oregon that does not have a visible… read more Sparks Lake