Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s largest hatchery facility, Bonneville Fish Hatchery and Sturgeon Center, was constructed in 1909. The hatchery rears 8,000,000 Fall Chinook, 1,200,000 Coho, 200,000 Summer Steelhead, and 60,000 Winter Steelhead. And 1,000,000 visitors per year want to witness it. The grounds are absolutely beautiful. Not only can you see different stages …
Multnomah Falls is a 620 foot waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge. It is the second tallest year-round waterfall in the United States. It is also located right off the highway and so has become the most visited natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest. Its popularity started in 1884, when the Oregon Railway operated …
As we drove from Fort Klamath to Hood River I made a hilarious comment to Eric that if it is windy in Hood River we should stop to see the kite surfers on our way to the hotel. It’s funny because it’s ALWAYS windy in Hood River (also known as the kite surfing capital of …
The unincorporated community of Fort Klamath is named after the military outpost, Fort Klamath. Fort Klamath was established in 1863, an important Army post during conflicts with local tribes. The fort consisted of more than 50 buildings, including a sawmill. The site (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) is an eight acre parcel …
Crater Lake was established in 1902, making it the fifth oldest National Park in the United States. It is also Oregon’s only National Park. The lake is a water-filled caldera (remnants of an extinct, collapsed volcano). Crater lake is 1,949 feet deep, making it the deepest lake in the United States, and the ninth deepest …
Fort Klamath is an unincorporated community about nine miles from the entrance of Crater Lake National Park. We are staying at the Aspen Inn, whose owners are super kind and knowledgeable. They purchased the motel eighteen years ago. Although there is no record of when it was built, they oldest picture found of hotel dates …
Noble Berry Farm is located in McKinleyville, six miles from the 101, off a narrow road shaded by kissing trees. We grabbed a coffee can turned blueberry bucket hanging on the fence next to an enter sign and let ourselves in, sampling as we went to make sure the tartness to sweetness ration was just …
Eel River is a 196 mile river that runs through northwestern California. It is part of the third largest watershed entirely in the state, and runs along side of the Redwood Highway. Eel River was granted federal Wild and Scenic River status in 1981, forever preserving its free-flowing natural condition for the enjoyment of present …
Eureka, we have found it; a stirring experience for all ability levels and all ages. The Redwood Sky Walk is a new, fabulous addition to the Sequoia Park Zoo. Their very accurate motto is “see the forest from the trees.” It is like strolling through an Ewok tree village on the moon of Endor. The …
Ferndale is full of old, beautiful, pristine buildings. There are all sorts of architectural treasures along and around Main Street. There are five churches in town, all built before the 1900s. Ring Drugs claims to be the oldest drugstore in California, and Palace Saloon the “farthest westernly bar in the continental United States”. A little …
In 1852, the Shaw brothers crossed the Eel River and proceeded up the Salt River tributary, in a canoe. In what is present day Ferndale they saw potential farming land and made their claim to the area. Now, the only way to get to Ferndale is to cross Fernbridge. In 1911, Fernbridge was the world’s …
Richardson Grove State Park is one of California’s first redwood parks. In 1922, it started as 120 acres, and has since grown to 1,800. Thanks to redwood tree ambassadors, there are redwoods today. During the peak of the goldrush, California coast redwoods (trees that live for thousands of years and stand at over three hundred …
Mission San Francisco Solano is located in the heart of the historic Sonoma Plaza. This mission marks the end of El Camino Real. Constructed in 1823, it was the last mission ever built, and is also the most northern mission. Mission San Francisco Solano was the only mission founded after Mexico’s independence from Spain, and …
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad [Our Lady of Solitude] was founded in 1791. (It is interesting to learn how many cities were named after their missions.) The mission was left in ruins in 1835 after Mexico gained its independence from Spain and the missions that were allegiant to the Spanish Catholic Church were disestablished …
Juniper Canyon trail head is located at the west entrance of Pinnacles National Park, beginning at the same parking lot as Balconies Cliffs trail head (which we hiked yesterday). The trail is rated as difficult due to the seemingly everlasting switchbacks and the 1,200 foot elevation gain. There is a loop at the top but …