HIKE & CAMP: Obstruction Pass State Park on Orcas Island
Location: Southeast corner of Orcas Island, Washington. If ever there was a downside to beautiful Orcas Island, it is the dearth of public saltwater beaches. For this reason alone, we generally prefer San Juan and Lopez over Orcas when we want quality beach time. But now, we know about Obstruction Pass State Park! This 80-acre waterfront parcel just past […]
CAMP & HIKE: Spencer Spit State Park on Lopez Island
While it’s a bit of a toss-up which of Lopez Island’s two laid-back waterfront campgrounds nudge above the other in greatness, I’ll go with Spencer Spit State Park just for the setting. Gosh, it is beautiful there. This state park sits on the northeast corner of the island on a sand spit that encloses a picturesque lagoon. […]
Q: Can We Rent Canoes on Diablo Lake at Colonial Creek Campground?
Dear TripFinder, Hi there. I was wondering if you could give me some information regarding canoe rentals in North Cascades National Park. Do you know if they have canoe rentals available at Colonial Creek Campground? Thanks! -Vicky Dear Vicky, The waters of Diablo Lake are a brilliant jade green color, created by cold glacial runoff […]
A River Begins: Hike to Metolius Springs
How do rivers begin? Well, snowmelt from mountaintops gathers into little gullies that form streams. And then those join to feed bigger streams, that then flow into rivers. Right? The mighty Metolius River in Oregon defies this basic geology lesson. It literally springs out of the shadow of a mountain. The mountain is called Black […]
For Kids: Beach Scavenger Hunt
Northwest beaches are brimming with treasures–you just need to find them.
Feed the Salmon Babies at the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery
Plunk! Plunk! In one quick second, two small fistfuls of small brown pellets were hurled into a small pond where dozens of mid-sized brown trout scrambled to snag a tasty morsel. We were in Central Oregon near Camp Sherman on the Metolius River, where we’d stumbled upon an unlikely family-friendly destination–a state-run fish hatchery. Fish hatcheries are longtime residents on […]
Five Pieces of Camping Equipment You Don’t Need, But Will Love
You have the perfect tent. And your Dad’s old Coleman stove still works like a charm. What’s next? If you’re an occasional camper, you acquire the basics to keep you warm, dry and fed in the outdoors and you’re good to go. But if you’re ready to take your camping to the next level, there’s a whole […]
CAMP: Smiling River Campground, Central Oregon
Location: Metolius River near Camp Sherman, Deschutes National Forest campground website | (541) 549-7700 | Reservations Campground type: national forest Rates: $16 per night (reduced to $12 off-season) Details: There are 37 sites here for tents, trailers and RVs to 30 feet; no electrical hookups, though. Smiling River is one of five campgrounds set along the beautiful, spring-fed Metolius River. […]
CAMP: Pine Rest Campground, Central Oregon
Pine Rest is a small forest service campground near Sisters, Oregon, set along the gorgeous Metolius River in the shadow of Black Butte. It’s one of a string of campgrounds along the fish-filled river, though unlike the other four campgrounds in the immediate vicinity, Pine Rest is for tent campers only and includes just eight campsites. […]
Walk Among Giants at Cathedral Grove Provincial Park
Towering old-growth Douglas Firs pierced the sky above. We felt as if we’d stepped into an ancient grove of trees. In fact, we had, but we could still see our car parked just off the highway a short distance away. You might call it “nature express.” Tourists wizz right past this spot every year on […]
