Barbies Adventures: Southeast Oregon

Barbie’s latest adventure takes her to Southeast Oregon, one of the most remote and non‐touristy areas of the state.  This trip didn't feature lush hotels, amazing restaurants, and flashy places of interest. This vacation was everything but that!

Pulling a house on wheels behind a 4x4 pickup, Barbie saw the most amazing scenery, an abundance of beautiful wild flowers,

Beautiful Desert Flowers

and a variety of wildlife in their natural habitat. The tasty well planned home cooked meals and every comfort possible in a 23 foot travel trailer made this "mans" trip possible! 

 

And wild animals

The first four nights were spent exploring Frenchglen, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, and the magnificent Steen’s Mountains.  Even though the Mosquitoes were early (usually unbearable in late June and July), that didn't stop any exploring. 

There were so many varieties of beautiful birds, too many to count, including a Golden Eagle that was sunning himself in the middle of the road (unfortunately, so amazed by the beauty of this majestic bird, no one thought to grab their camera!).   

A few of the many birds that can be found in the area

Much of the trip consisted of driving on gravel roads, through teeny tiny towns, gawking at the rim rock, or just waiting patiently for cows and their calves to yield the right of way. In this part of the country cattle share the road (open range) with vehicles. Every turn brought something unexpected, but very special. 

Cows roaming freely down the road

The next two nights were spent at Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, which was established in 1936. Once on the refuge it didn't take long to spot pronghorns (antelope) roaming in a wide open desert that consisted mostly of sage brush, with a backdrop of rolling hills and Hart Mountain looming above.  This is definitely "big sky" country! 

Pronghorns (antelope) at Hart Mountain

The house on wheels parked at a primitive camp spot that had two wonderful hot springs. The mosquitoes weren't much of an issue at this higher elevation, so it was a great time to do a little exploring on mountain bikes as well as some hiking.  Each day ended with a dip in the 100 degree water bubbling from below into the developed hot spring at Hot Springs campground.  The second spring is undeveloped and was almost too warm to linger very long, so Barbie just dangled her feet there. 

Developed and Undeveloped Hot Springs at Hot Springs campground

You also couldn’t help but notice the comprehensive sign posted at the campground which detailed best practices in case of a rattlesnake bite.

Here's a smaller rattlesnake that was spotted on a hike.

 

The final leg of this journey consisted of driving down the other side of Hart Mountain, which was very steep and curvy.  The truck and trailer crept the last 2 miles, until it was safely off the slope.  After going through a lot of sage brush and farm land, still more small towns and a stop in Lakeview for gas, Barbie visited Fort Rock, a volcanic crater out in the middle of nowhere, for additional sightseeing.  

Fort Rock

The day ended in beautiful La Pine State Park in Central Oregon, which is nestled on the banks of the Deschutes River.  This is where the trailer parked for the final two nights of this fascinating journey.

La Pine State Park:  Barbie sitting in front of Big Tree, the largest
Ponderous Pine in circumference in Oregon (28 feet, 11 inches).
It is 162 Feet tall and 500 years old.

The region around La Pine has so many choices for each day, but the one place that’s a must is Newberry National Volcanic Monument.  Besides all the hiking, biking, fishing and boating that's available, the area has many interesting places to see. 

There is Paulina Lake and East Lake, both located at an elevation of over 6300 feet. Nearby is Lava River Cave.  At one mile it’s the longest lava tube cave in Oregon.   At Lava Lands Visitor Center you can drive to the top of Lava Butte Cinder Cone (5020 feet), or if you want to go even higher in elevation, you can drive to Paulina Peak (7984 feet), but it’s a very narrow and unimproved road.  Both offer very impressive views.  Another highlight is Big Obsidian Flow, which has over 170 million cubic yards of obsidian and pumice, and is the youngest lava flow in Oregon (1,300 years old).  It’s amazing to see the vast amount of obsidian piled up in one place.  If you like waterfalls, there are two completely different ones; Paulina Falls and Benham Falls, which are breathtaking and worth the short hike to each.  Newberry Volcano is the largest volcano in the Cascade Range, and there is much more to see than you will have time for in one entire day.

Newberry National Volcanic Monument 

 

Exploring unconventional places can be one of the most relaxing, interesting, and truly memorable vacations.

Happy exploring!

Barbie’s Adventures: The Old McKenzie Highway

One of the most beautiful places in Oregon is the picturesque Old McKenzie Highway (OR 242) in the Cascade Mountains. This scenic byway is open in the warmer months from about July through October.  During the winter months it is closed to motor vehicles when the first snow accumulates, but can still be accessed by snowmobilers and snow shoeing enthusiasts, cross country skiers, and hardy snow campers.  This scenic highway is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  It starts just past the ranger station at the junction of highway 126 and 242, and ends at the quaint little town of Sisters, Oregon.



The Old McKenzie Highway (#242)

A few weeks ago Barbie made the trip.  She began her adventure driving the windy, narrow, evergreen canopied road.  At about the seven mile mark she made her first stop at Proxy Falls.  She couldn’t wait to hike the short (and easy) one and half mile loop trail which leads to both the upper and lower falls. 

After trekking about three quarters of a mile through giant old growth trees and lichen covered lava rock in the Three Sisters Wilderness area (within the Willamette National forest), she reached the stunning 226 foot high upper falls, nestled in a forest of tall evergreens. 



Sitting in front of Upper Falls

The water cascades over basalt columns which are covered with beautiful dark green moss.  The falls are fed by springs from the North Sister, which is the oldest of the Three Sisters peaks (North, Middle and South), and it is one of the largest in the Cascade Range.  It stands at over 10,000 feet high. 



Upper Proxy Falls



After Barbie took a few moments to enjoy all the beauty that was surrounding her, she was back on the trail hiking towards her next stop; the icy pool and lower Proxy Falls.  The upper falls is the most impressive, but certainly the lower falls is well worth the visit!
 



Lower Proxy Falls

Back at her car, her drive continued until she reached the awe inspiring Lava Beds and Dee Wright Observatory. You can’t help but marvel when you approach the basaltic lava which spreads in all directions for miles. 



The Lava Beds Stretch for miles

The observatory (or the castle as some refer to it), is a lava stone structure built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corp.   There are viewing ports inside the building which aim at specific peaks and volcanic craters. 


Dee Wright Observatory

Barbie sitting in one of the viewing
ports. This one points to Mt. Washington



Large Open Window Inside the Observatory

At the top of the overlook, which is at an elevation of over 5300 feet, there is a 36 inch bronze 360 degree site locater.  It points to and shows the elevation of the major peaks in the Cascade Range; The Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, Black Butte, Belknap Crater, Mt Hood, and others.  It is quite the vista!

The Site Locater at the top of the Overlook
 

 

After leaving the old McKenzie Hwy, Barbie made one final stop on her journey; Sahalie Falls.  It is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the entire state of Oregon.  It’s located just off the road on highway 126 and it is a sight to be seen. 

Taking a break at breathtaking Sahalie Falls 

The volume of whitewater that runs over the falls year round is incredible! When it reaches the pool below and hurtles downstream, it becomes incredibly clear. 



Sahalie Falls (Highway 126)

There’s a trail that runs along the McKenzie River to another worthy waterfall, Koosah Falls, which if time permits is also quite a nice hike.  Unlike the Old McKenzie Hwy, OR 126 is open year round (except for occasional closures due to heavy snow).  The view of the falls when shrouded in ice is one you will not soon forget. 

Barbie's Adventures: Heceta Head Lighthouse

Recently Barbie made a trek over to the beautiful Oregon Coast to visit Heceta Head Lighthouse, which had just completed its two year renovation and reopened in June of this year.  It has the brightest light of all the lighthouses on the entire Oregon Coast. 

 

The lens was made in England and is the largest lens of its type in the United States. The beam can be seen for twenty-one miles out to sea.

Before the Renovation

After the Renovation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heceta (Ha-see-tah) Head Lighthouse is located at the mouth of Cape Creek, which is 13 miles North of Florence, Oregon.  It was built between 1892 and 1893, but it wasn’t lit until 1894.  The Fresnel lens was received in 1883, but the lamps didn’t arrive from New York until March of 1884.  Originally a five wick kerosene lamp lit the beacon, but today it has an electric bulb.  The tower itself stands 56 feet high, but since it is on a bluff, it is actually 205 feet above sea level.



Lighthouse Keeper's House

There is a lighthouse keeper’s house nearby, which dates back to 1894.  It was used as a living quarters for the light keeper who kept the light in working order.  Along with his lighthouse duties, he hunted, fished, kept a garden, raised chickens and cows, and tended his horses.

Heceta Head Lighthouse

In 1978 both the lighthouse and the lighthouse keepers house were listed on the National Register of Historic Places.



 

 

The Heceta Head Lighthouse is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the United States, and location where Barbie is sitting is one of the most famous shots on the entire Oregon Coast.







View as you make the 1/2 mile walk to the light house

 

 

 

 

 

If you get a chance to visit the Oregon Coast, try to include the 1/2 mile walk past the well maintained Keepers house and up to the lighthouse. 

 

 The recent changes have returned the lighthouse to its original condition, and tours are given including a walk up the spiral staircase to the turning light mechanism.  Who knows how many lives were saved by this early navigational aid?

One of the most famous shots on the Oregon Coast