It’s a view that’s never twice the same down a trail that leads to a timeless place. The Tom McCall Preserve atop Rowena Crest is in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge where right now is the prime time for spring wildflowers.
The diverse colors are born of the nearly three hundred different wildflower species that grow on the Tom McCall Preserve. The preserve is an important link in the chain of Nature Conservancy Preserves across Oregon. The site was named in 1982 for Oregon Governor Tom McCall who carried a commitment for conservation.
You’ll want to explore the Tom McCall Preserve more than a little bit – perhaps to wander the mile-long trail toward the Columbia River or the three mile version the loops uphill. Both are fine adventures for folks with time and patience and a love of the Oregon outdoors. The Tom McCall Preserve is the sort of place that will satisfy your curiosity, let your heart soar and perhaps restore your soul in the beauty that is found in Oregon.
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The calendar says it all: summer’s almost here, school will soon be out, so let the camping season begin at the newest Oregon State Park Campground.
The scale of Oregon’s newest state park campground, called Stub Stewart State Park, is huge, the sights are spectacular and the convenience of it all makes the parkland hard to resist. You’ll find spectacular views, spacious wooded campsites and intriguing trails to explore – whether on foot, a bike or on horseback.
Located just twenty miles from Portland, the park sprawls across 1700-forested acres of Washington County. The park has become a drawing card for hikers, bike riders and especially, horseback riders. Riders come from all over to enjoy million dollar views and some of the finest facilities in the region. There are 24 distinct trails in Stub Stewart Park that total 14 miles in length, plus another 3.5 miles of the Banks-Vernonia Linear Trail courses through the park. It is a parkland that may just work for you too; especially if you enjoy peace and quiet that’s close to the greater Portland Metro area.
If you enjoy experiencing the Stub Stewart outdoors, why not make it a part of your Oregon 150 Road Trip. It’s a new contest that promises great travel prizes for folks who love to explore Oregon.
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Oregon’s beaches are popular destinations for all sorts of recreation activities. This spring, one of the most popular sandy stretches is along 18 miles of shoreline in Clatsop County. That’s where thousands of razor clam diggers have discovered one of the best clam seasons in years.
As springtime moves into high gear, the best low tides of the season bring a bounty of seafood close at hand. But if you’ve never dug this sport – how do you get started? For information on how to razor clam, download the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s How to Razor Clam guide (pdf).
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife manages the clam resource and there are important rules and regulations to note:
- A state shellfish license is required for clam diggers fourteen and older.
- Each clam digger must dig their own limit of 15 razor clams and you cannot put any back.
- Remember: even if you break a shell or dig a small clam, the first 15 that you dig you must keep.
Full list of shellfish regulations
Find alternative seafood cooking methods.
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One of the great pleasures about travel across Oregon is that there is an endless supply of fascinating stories waiting to be told. One of the most intriguing and exciting story was born in the forest just off Portland’s front step – the Tillamook State Forest. That’s where four successive and devastating fires – collectively called the Tillamook Burn – destroyed over 400,000 thousand acres of ancient forest in the last century. You can see and hear and get a real hands-on flavor for that story at a place you may have missed along State Highway 6, the Tillamook Forest Center.
As seasons change, the signs are clear and close at hand – at long last, spring has arrived to the Oregon outdoors! Recently, I journeyed to experience the early signs of spring in the nearby Tillamook State Forest, about an hour’s drive from Portland to reach the sprawling Tillamook Forest Center. The center’s education specialist, Kristin Babbs, joined me for a walk through of the stunning $11-million complex that opened two years ago along the banks of the Wilson River. Once I learned my history lessons inside the Tillamook Forest Center, I decided to head out onto a network of nearby trails – many of them with wonderful overlooks to the Wilson River. In fact, the Wilson River Trail is now a work in progress.
The Tillamook Forest Center is a perfect base camp for a day’s adventure – or during the summer, a longer stay at the nearby Jones Creek Campground. Check out photos from this episode.
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