The drive from Crater Lake home to Seattle would have been a long one. Too long. So I elected we make a short but sweet stop at Silver Falls State Park near Salem to break up the drive home. It’s considered the crown jewel of Oregon State Parks–and I’d soon learn why.
OR hiking
Challenging Hikes in Crater Lake

While Crater Lake National Park has a plethora of easy hikes I already detailed, the park also offers some challenges. I made it a goal to take on these challenges back when I started planning this trip in January, so I was grateful that none of my goal hikes were closed due to fires.
Easy Hikes in Crater Lake National Park

Like any good state or national park, Crater Lake National Park has a myriad of hiking options, from the easy to the challenging. During the course of our three-night stay, we did almost every hike that was open (sadly, much of the park was off-limits due to fires). Here were the easy hikes, perfect for […]
Fire Walk With Me: Newberry National Volcanic Monument

The inside of Deschutes National Forest in central Oregon has been shaped by not geography, but by geology. The lava lands of Newberry National Volcanic Monument offer gorgeous sites and hikes to astound you, especially if you’re used to the green trees and ferns of western Washington. With tons of options, some being only twenty […]
Sweet Misery: Misery Ridge

About a tank of gas away from Seattle lies the mythical town of Bend, Oregon. Okay, it’s not *mythical,* just full of beer and outdoorsy goodness, which to me is close enough.