Category: Central Oregon

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

This cute little bird, isn’t just roadside – it is on the top of the car. The Canada Jay is unique in that is hatches young during the winter. Like squirrels and chipmunks, they stash food for the winter. The… read more Canada Jay

These two were spotted in the Summer Lake Wildlife Area. Threatened years ago, the white-faced ibis has made a remarkable turnaround. Like many birds, their egg shells were so soft after exposure to the pesticide DDT the parents would crush… read more White-faced Ibis

This place used to be amazing. A forest fire burned down the pine tree forest, and then partying students ruined it. Erosion over thousands of years left these boulders balancing on volcanic tuff columns. The area was known, but to… read more Balancing Rocks

We slowly passed by these two sleeping deer… Somehow they didn’t wake or run when we saw them. Be very quiet when looking at this photograph, please let them sleep. Download HD Wallpaper

Steins Pillar stands 350 feet tall, towering above the meadows and ponderosa and lodgepole pine trees below. Named after Major Enoch Steen, a misspelling took hold and we have Steins Pillar. It is a remnant of valley full of ash… read more Steins Pillar

This photograph of an Osprey was taken over Smith Rock State Park, just north of Redmond, Oregon. Smith Rock State Park is considered the birthplace of modern sport climbing. The park contains the first U.S. climb rated 5.14C (Pro level). There… read more Osprey

Sometimes called a pronghorn antelope, it is not a true antelope. It is the only surviving member of the family Antilocapridae. As a member of the superfamily Giraffoidea, the pronghorn’s closest living relatives are the giraffe and okapi. Widely considered… read more Pronghorn