Oregon WildBlog

We Can Celebrate and We Can Do Better by Doug Heiken

The Northwest Forest Plan went into effect on May 20, 1994 and immediately brought improved management to federal forests within the range of the northern spotted owl. After 25 years we can celebrate the plan's successes, lament its failures, and continue the fight for better management to protect old-growth, water, fish & wildlife, carbon, and quality of life. 

Though it may still be warm and sunny outside, summer is almost over, so today we are sharing our final post for our summer series of featured hikes. And we are ending on a great note with the Cape Falcon hike. This hike is among the most popular destinations on the North Coast, and for good reason. I encourage you to add it to your upcoming coast trip itinerary. From the top you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of Smuggler’s Cove, Short Sands Beach, and Neahkahnie Mountain. 

By Kelby Johnson

Wow, this summer has flown by and, sadly, my time with Oregon Wild is coming to a close. This internship has been an amazing opportunity that has taught me a ton, been an awesome way to connect with the Bend community, and was, overall, a really fun experience! Through many different events, I became connected with Central Oregonians and came away feeling like I made an impact. 

With summer coming to a close, we will soon be wrapping up our series of featured hikes from our new hiking guide: Oregon’s Ancient Forests. But before we go, we have to share this lovely hike to Twin Lakes in the Umpqua National Forest. The Twin Lakes area offers a sampling of the best of the region: spectacular wildflower meadows, mountain views, and ancient forests recovering from a 2017 fire.

For today’s weekly featured hike, we won’t be sharing a specific trail, but rather we are sharing some tips for making the most of your hike from Oregon Wild staffer and author Chandra LeGue. Chandra is a hiking expert and her tips can apply to any hike.

by Kelby Johnson 

Oregon has been falling behind when it comes to protecting areas as Wilderness compared to our neighboring Western states. You’re likely already familiar with the state’s Wilderness deficit: of Oregon’s total area, only about 4% is designated as Wilderness. Compared to other states, Idaho has about 8% designated. Then comes Washington with 10% and California leads with 15%! The numbers alone show how behind Oregon is in prioritizing the protection of our land. 

It’s Wednesday…. So that means we are back with another featured hike from our new book Oregon’s Ancient Forests: A Hiking Guide, available for purchase online and in a bookstore near you. 

We hope the summer is treating you well and that you’re enjoying time outdoors (perhaps even in wolf country!). Here in Oregon, there’s some exciting news out of Mt. Hood....

We are back again with a weekly featured hike to inspire your summer adventures and share what our new book, Oregon’s Ancient Forests: A Hiking Guide, has to offer. Today we are returning to the Mt. Hood National Forest to share the Fifteenmile Creek hike. It is a longer and more difficult choice, but this hike features an incredibly diverse array of old-growth trees and is an awesome outing for your day off.

With summer in full swing, kids out of school, and (somewhat) sunny weather, today we are sharing a perfect hike for a fun family outing. This hike at Lost Lake is the fourth featured hike in our summer series to promote outdoor adventures and our new book, Oregon's Ancient Forests: A Hiking Guide.