Oregon Foto Blog | Pictures of Oregon

Recently I hiked in the Aldrich Mountains outside of John Day in Eastern Oregon.  The Aldrich Mountains are part of the larger Blue Mountains range.  They are named after Oliver Aldrich, a pioneer who was killed by Native Americans in the Bannock War of 1878, on a nearby mountain which now bears his name.

Sunrise on the John Day River

After doing some research on where to hike in the Aldrich Mountains, I planned a day hike to Fields Peak and Moore Mountain. 

Fields Peak, a former fire lookout spot, at an elevation of 7,362 feet is the highest point in Oregon between Strawberry Mountain and the Cascades.  Being the highest point in the Aldrich Mountains, it offers fantastic panoramic views of the John Day Valley to the North and the Steens Mountains to the South.  Fields Peak and the greater surrounding area is part of the Malheur National Forest but is an undesignated wilderness area.  

On this trip, I hiked with my friend Christian, and our hike began at the McClellan Mountain Trailhead for a steady 2.3 mile climb to the summit of Fields Peak which gains just slightly over 1,800 feet in elevation.  From Fields Peak however, you can hike the nearby peaks of Moore Mountain, Moon Mountain, McClellan Mountain, and Riley Mountain.  This would make for a fairly long but not too strenuous day of peakbagging and taking in the expansive views.

  From atop Moore Mountain

For our trip, we decided to start at the McClellan Mountain Trailhead and hike west up the trail to Fields Peak.   The first half of the trail is easy to follow since it is used by horses and ATVs.  After approximately 2 miles we reached a junction where we could continue going straight along the trail to Fields Peak or veer right and head over to Moore Mountain.  At this exact point there is a wooden sign post with no name and nothing tacked to it.  We opted for veering right and hiked less than a quarter of a mile to a wooden sign noting we were standing before Moore Mountain. 

From the Moore Mountain sign we continued along the forested trail for approximately another quarter of a mile where we reached the backside of Moore and decided from this point to scramble up to the top.   Moore Mountain at 7,060 feet is essentially a big smooth bump and is not really what you would think of as a “mountain.”  So it is a fun peak to climb because it is completely visible for much of the hike and depending on your physical abilities there is probably no wrong way to scramble up the few hundred feet to the top.  It is not very steep in grade and route finding is easy since it is well above the tree line. 

Fields Peak from Moore Mt.  

After a short break, some photographs, and marveling over the 360 degree views, we made our own trail down the mountain and headed over to Fields Peak from which you can easily spot from the summit of Moore.  From Fields Peak we continued down our original trail and made our way back to the McClellan Mountain Trailhead.

From the trailhead we drove back down the way we came to Billy Fields Campground on Fields Creek Road.  This campground is certainly worth mentioning as it was one of the cleanest and most comfortable campsites I have experienced.  There is no fee to use this campground and there are approximately 6-8 campsites with room for your car and tent.  They each have a fire pit and grill, along with a picnic table.  There is a remarkably clean and new outhouse as well.  Fields Creek runs along the backside of the campground just a few yards away from the camp sites.  It is not much of a picturesque creek as there is a lot of wild brush and trees obscuring most of it, but the ice cold running water is definitely nice to clean up a bit and cool off from the 100 degree heat.

At the time we were there, my friend and I were the only hikers in the area.  However, there was a hunting party with ATVs and horses.  Apparently this is prime hunting territory and Bighorn sheep are in the area as we were close to the Murderers Creek Wildlife Area.  We met a fellow whose 14-year old son drew one of only two Bighorn sheep tags in the state of Oregon.  They, along with a wildlife biologist, picked out a sheep, took him down, and were then spending 6 hours late into the evening hauling the 400 pound sheep down the trail with the help of their horses.  Apparently these hunters were spotting us all day too, as they told us we were in their spotting scopes and they were worried we would scare the sheep away.  I am not much for hunting but we enjoyed talking to them and it made for an interesting story and added to our adventure. 

I would recommend this area as a top hiking and backpacking destination in Oregon because the scenery is unique and interesting due to the varied terrain and geological formations.  In  a relative short distance you go through pine trees, open grass fields, and small scrub and wildflowers; and then it is up a small scramble of one of the many peaks for breathtaking 360-degree views.   Due to the views and the abundant wildlife there is no shortage of opportunities to take photographs.  I can imagine the shots to be had on a day with picturesque white clouds or a thunderstorm approaching.  The drive to Dayville takes you through one of the most scenic Oregon Byways as it meanders through the John Day Fossil Beds.  There are also many scattered old homesteads and barns in the area which are a favorite of mine to photograph.  This is rugged pioneer country and epitomizes what I think of Eastern Oregon.   

To Get There:

From Portland, take Highway 26 east to approximately 13 miles outside of Dayville.  Turn south on Fields Creek Road.  Continue along this well-paved road approximately 8 miles to a sign for Fields Peak and Road 115 where now the road becomes gravel/dirt.  Turn left on this road and go about a quarter of a mile to a “T” in the road.  Now turn right on Road 2160 for 100 yards and then turn left on Road 41.  The road becomes fairly steep and rough so 4-wheel drive is recommended.

Continue along the road for less than a mile until you reach the end of the road.  From here there is a wooden sign which reads “McClellan Trail.”  There is a turnaround and room for cars and horse trailers.  The trailhead sign had nothing posted on it when we were there noting the trails or which direction to go.  While facing the sign, on your right is the trail to McClellan Mountain.  To your left is the trail to Fields Peak which is what we took.  There is plenty of space to find your own camp spot in the surrounding area at the trailhead.  There is no water available so be sure to bring your own supplies and check the weather forecast.

This week I did a three-day backpacking trip with my brother in the majestic Eagle Cap Wilderness of Northeastern Oregon outside of the town of Joseph, Oregon. The hike began at the Wallowa Lake Trailhead and continued to Horseshoe Lake and Moccasin Lake in the Lake Basin region for a total of 28 miles hiked with our 40-pound backpacks.

     Horseshoe Lake at Sunset 

The Eagle Cap Wilderness lies in the heart of the Wallow Mountains in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest and totals an amazing 350,461 acres of wilderness. The Eagle Cap Wilderness is known for its high alpine lakes and granite peaks and ridges. The 6th highest peak in Oregon, Sacajawea Peak at 9838 feet is home here. According to the US Forest Service, hikers can choose from approximately 534 miles of trails in the Eagle Cap. Trailheads are located on all sides of the wilderness, with access from the counties of Wallowa, Union, and Baker. Due to heavy winter snowfall, the area typically does not open until late summer and fall.

The most popular area in the Eagle Cap Wilderness is the Lakes Basin Management Area and this is where we were headed on our hike as it offers the most spectacular views of the scenic alpine lakes and granite peaks. The Lakes basin is home to numerous alpine lakes such as Horseshoe, Unit, Lily, Razz, Lee, Douglas, Crescent, Moccasin, Mirror, Sunshine, Pocket, and Glacier. With all of them known for their beauty, we chose the destinations of Horseshoe Lake and Moccasin Lake for our hiking trip.

The hike to Horseshoe Lake started at the Wallowa Lake Trailhead on the West Fork Wallowa River Trail #1820. The trail begins at the right of the trailhead message board starting at an elevation of 4645 feet and climbs steadily 905 feet for 2.8 miles where you reach the junction to the trail for Ice Lake (I have a photo gallery of Ice Lake at Oregon Foto). At this point you can head up to Ice Lake for another 4.7 miles and 2300 foot gain or just continue on the main West Fork Wallowa River Trail for another 3.3 miles and 490 foot gain until you reach the aptly named Six Mile Meadow at an elevation of 6040 feet. So far you will have traveled 6.1 miles over a very modest gain of 1300 feet. These 6.1 miles cover a rather rough and rocky terrain. Also, you need to maneuver around countless piles of horse crap as these trails are also traveled by people who would prefer to use horses where others prefer to use their own feet.

So far we traveled 6.1 miles from the Wallowa Lake Trailhead to Six Mile Meadow and have another 3.1 miles and an elevation of gain of 1095 feet before reaching Horseshoe Lake. At the junction for Six Mile Meadow you are now on trail #1810. At Six Mile Meadow, it gets a little bit tricky. At two points you cross the West Fork Wallowa River, however both hiker footbridges are washed out (one sign said the bridge was out since 6/24/05) and there are a couple of logs across the river that you need to gracefully and carefully use to cross the river. It isn’t a big deal, but we did need to stop and think about where and how to make the crossing. Once you cross the second point of the river, you can easily pick up the trail again and continue through the meadow a short distance where you will now begin to climb up the trail to reach Horseshoe Lake, which at this point, is approximately 3 miles up and a few switchbacks away. The trail is very rough and rocky and as it was early in the season we had approximately 10 trees which had fallen across the trail and we had to climb over and with a 40-pound pack, this does take its toll on you. Once you are done climbing up the trail you can finally catch a glimpse of Horseshoe Lake and near here you will reach a junction. To the right, trail #1810 (which you have been on) veers to the right where you can bypass Horseshoe Lake and head to Unit Lake or Razz Lake. However, if you want to continue to Horseshoe Lake, veer left (you will be on trail #1821 now) and after about a quarter of a mile of hiking along the right side of the lake you can select the perfect campsite and finally relax and enjoy the views at 7135 feet. It took us approximately 6 hours to hike the 9.1 miles up to Horseshoe Lake, including a couple of breathers and lunch.

After an evening of battling the countless mosquitoes and watching the fish jump, we woke up the next day and decided to take a day hike to Moccasin Lake which is 3.3 miles from Horseshoe Lake and takes you through the beauty of the Lakes Basin. From Horseshoe Lake, you can easily pick up the main trail again where in a short distance you reach Lee Lake which is in on your left. As you continue along the trail you begin to climb up steadily rocky terrain for 1.3 miles where you reach another junction. At this point you can veer right and take trail #1810 to the back-side of Douglas Lake and then further on to Crescent Lake, or you can veer left like we did and hike along Douglas Lake on trail #1810A for another 2 miles until you reach Moccasin Lake.

Moccasin Lake, at 7475 feet, represents the beauty of when I think of a high elevation alpine lake. It is a gorgeous lake and for a photographer, it has all the aspects one could want, high snow-capped peaks, clear blue water, and abundant vegetation and wildlife. The water is pristine and the lake is surrounded by majestic granite peaks including a close-up view of the namesake of the area, Eagle Cap. At a junction beside Moccasin Lake, you can turn left across a scenic isthmus between the lakes two parts where you see a sign to Glacier Pass. This will take you to Glacier Lake if you choose. The trail climbs 2.7 miles and gains 1100 feet through Glacier Pass and then down a short distance to Glacier Lake. From Glacier Lake you can continue the loop back to your car at the Wallowa Lake Trailhead, but it is a 12 mile hike which you can break up by either staying at Frazier Lake or Six Mile Meadow.

We decided that after visiting Moccasin Lake for a few hours and enjoying the scenery, we would hike back the 3.3 miles to Horseshoe Lake where we saw that our original campsite close to the lake was still available. We spent the night and then woke up at 6:00 AM to hike the 9.1 miles back to our car at the Wallowa Lake Trailhead. I believe the 9.1 miles back took about 5 hours including a break for a quick lunch.

I would say that during the time we went, the trails were in rougher shape that in the previous time I backpacked in the area. Due to the late snowmelt things just opened up a few weeks ago. There are about 20-25 large trees which have fallen across the trails that you need to maneuver over, under, or around and that does add to the toll after a while. There was also what appears to be a landslide along the way to Six Mile Meadow with quite a bit of debris and logs to maneuver around, however it looks like the Forest Service was up there with chainsaws to clear the way. The trail itself is very rocky but it is also clear and we had no trouble finding our way. There are hardly any signs letting you know which trail you are on, or where one junction leads to another; it is really up to you and a good map to know where to go.  Also, I refer to trail numbers such as #1820, #1810 etc, however, I do not remember seeing any of the trials numbered or marked in any manner while hiking. We just had a map from a hiking book and did not have trouble figuring out which trails to take or where to head; so once again, we did not have trouble finding our way and we felt confident in where we were headed.

We didn’t think it was too crowded when we were up there. There were maybe 5 people camping at Horseshoe Lake and I would say that the whole time we were on trail we passed maybe just a dozen people at most. Certainly there are times when there are more hikers and campers, and times when there are fewer, but regardless, the Eagle Cap Wilderness is a vast and expansive place and nobody should have trouble finding solitude. In my opinion, there is nowhere else in Oregon that has this level of pristine and majestic beauty. Everywhere you look there is an 8500 foot peak, or an alpine lake. It is simply an amazing place to experience, and Oregonians are fortunate to have it in our state. Although, for Portlanders, it is a grueling 6-hour drive to get to the trailhead, not to mention the countless hours on foot. Yet it is the work and the effort to get to the destination that makes this place special and unique. Any of the hiking trails in the Eagle Cap Wilderness would be considered a top Oregon hiking destination as they all either lead to a glorious alpine lake or up a majestic peak.

To Get There:

From Portland, Drive on Interstate 84 to La Grande exit 261. Take Highway 82 and follow the Wallowa Lake signs through Enterprise and Joseph. While on Highway 82 you reach Wallowa Lake and stay on this road until you reach the end of the road with the Wallowa Lake Trailhead on your left for a total of 335 miles. There is a picnic spot and public restrooms in the parking area. A Northwest Forest Pass is required to park. At the trailhead there is a self-registration box for your camping trip, which is free.

There are countless regulations for the Eagle Cap Wilderness to protect its fragile beauty so please check with the US Forest Service for current regulations and also check on trail conditions and current issues that you need to be aware of for a safe trip.

Yesterday I visited Fairy Falls in Oregon’s Columbia Gorge to take pictures.  The hike to Fairy Falls starts at the Wahkeena Falls Trailhead.   Wahkeena Falls is a destination of its very own to take pictures and for the majority of visitors, Wahkeena is the main attraction and can be literally photographed just a few feet from the parking lot.   As Wahkeena Falls is certainly a spectacular waterfall in size and volume, I believe that Fairy Falls is the more photogenic of the two and so I had planned to hike the short 1 mile up to Fairy Falls.  Also, shouldn’t you work just a little harder to get a good shot?  

The hike is a fairly short 2 miles round trip.  However, the hike should be considered moderate as it does gain steeply 970 feet in just a mile.  The trail is well maintained with approximately 3/4 of the trail paved.  The last stretch is slightly rocky and steep.   The trail is certainly crowded with visitors passing every couple of minutes at least on this weekend I visited.   Once you reach Fairy Falls there is an optional loop hike you can take to reach Multnomah Falls which is 5.4 miles and takes you back to your car.  Accounting for probably many of the hikers on the trail is that you can also reach Larch Mountain, Devil’s Rest, and Angel’s Rest by connecting to various trails intertwined in the area.  So this trail leads to a popular waterfall and also many other hikes and destinations in the Gorge area.   

The hike to Fairy Falls starts towards the right of the trailhead (west) and after 0.4 miles you reach the top and main view of Wahkeena Falls.  Going further, and after approximately a dozen switchbacks, you reach a junction where if you turn right you can hike approximately 200 feet to Lemmon’s Viewpoint for a spectacular view of Columbia Gorge, or just turn left at the junction and head up to Fairy Falls.  Along the way, the trail parallels Wahkeena Creek and plenty of photo opportunities exist.  You can scramble just a few feet down to the creek and take pictures when you find something that captures your eye.

Fairy Falls is one of the most photographed waterfalls in Oregon as I see its unique image quite frequently online as well as it being noted for its beauty in many guide books.  Fairy Falls is fed by a small branch of Wahkeena Creek and is a rather short fall of 20 feet and just one drop.  However, what distinguishes Fairy Falls from others in the area is its spectacular fan shape.  Due to its low volume of water this falls creates beautiful whispers of water which, with a slow shutter speed enhanced by a polarizer and neutral density filter, offer the photographer a top spot to take shots.   Also what makes this falls a good one to photograph is that you can get close up to the falls without the risk of spray or mist fogging up your lens.

As usual, early morning and a cloudy or rainy day to photograph is mandatory.   At approximately 11:00 AM the sun did rise above the falls and curtailed the photo opportunities.  However, I did head back down the trail and took pictures of Wahkeena Creek as the dense tree cover kept down the light.

This was a highly pleasurable trip as the short yet moderate hike was good exercise, the scenery was spectacular and the photography opportunities were endless.

To Get There:

Wahkeena Trailhead from Portland can be reached by driving east on I-84 and taking the Bridal Veil exit (Exit 28).  Follow the Historic Highway 2.4 miles to the Wahkeena Trailhead.  There is also a small campground and picnic area at the trailhead with restrooms and picnic tables.  There is no fee to visit the area.

Here are some shots from my trip:

This weekend I visited Smith Rock State Park in central Oregon’s high dessert.  Located in Terrebonne, Oregon, outside of Redmond, Smith Rock is widely considered a rock climbing mecca with over 500,000 annual visitors.  Smith Rock’s most famous feature is “Monkey Face” a 350 tall natural rock sculpture climbed by thousands which looks like a monkey’s face.

According to Oregon State Parks, the dramatic appearance of Smith Rock is due to major volcanic activity millions of years ago.  After a period of localized eruptions, lava flows entered the canyon and crowded the ancestral river into the flanks of the main volcanic structure.  Forced to establish a new channel, the Crooked River eventually eroded the interior of the volcanic vent.  The multicolored formations in Smith Rock State Park are composed of rock known as “welded tuff” -volcanic ash erupted under conditions of extreme heat and pressure.   

Not just a destination for rock climbers, the park also offers miles of hiking and mountain biking trails.  Winding around the park is the Crooked River and the wildlife is abundant.  On this trip I saw mule deer, rabbits, ducks, Canada geese, hawks, and a baby rattlesnake.

There is a loop hike around the park which is considered a moderate hike at 3.6 miles and approximatly 900 feet gain in elevation.  Although considered moderate, roughly 700 of that foot gain is just 0.5 miles up the Misery Ridge Trail and then another 0.50 miles going down 700 feet.  So it is certainly a nice elevation gain that is packed into a short distance, and therefore, a little tougher than expected.  I recommend doing the loop counterclockwise for comfort and better views.  Being Central Oregon’s high dessert, temperatures surpass 100 degrees in the summer months.  The temperature was a baking 85 degrees on the day of my trip.   

To get there:

Drive Highway 97 to Terrebonne which is 6 miles north of Redmond, Oregon.  It is easy to follow the “Smith Rock” signs where you turn east for 3.3 miles of zigzagging paved roads to the various parking areas.  There is a $3 per car fee, restrooms and water are available.

Here are a couple of shots from my trip:

This is the main view at the entrance of the park.  
 
Here is a view of Smith Rock along the Crooked River after an approximate 2 mile hike along the River Trail.

I recently visited Wahclella Falls in the Columbia Gorge to take photographs.  Wahclella Falls is located near the Bonneville Dam and is by far one of the prettiest waterfalls in the Gorge area.  The falls is fed by Tanner Creek with an upper drop of 290 feet and the second tier dropping into a 60 foot horsetail at the pool below. 

Quite a bit of volume pours out of this waterfall and the spray can be difficult to manage when photographing.  An overcast day for photographing this waterfall is essential.  I would also recommend an early morning start as the sun rose above the falls roughly at noon during the time of the year I visited and the photo ops dramatically decreased once that happened.

To Get There:

The Wahclella Trailhead can be easily found by taking Interstate 84 off of the Bonneville Dam Exit (Exit 40).  After taking a right off the exit, drive approximately a mile until you reach the Wahclella Trailhead.  The trail is well maintained and an easy hike of nearly 1 mile with just a 300 foot elevation gain.   Along the way to the falls, there are plenty of photo opportunities of Tanner Creek.

Here are some shots from the trip:

Tanner Creek - Along the trail to Wahclella Falls 

Wahclella Falls - From main vantage point 

Wahclella Falls - Short climb down to base of the pool

A couple of weeks ago I went back for the fifth time to an old homestead that I call “Outside of Shaniko” because it is off Highway 97 about 20 miles from the old ghost town of Shaniko in Eastern Oregon. 

Although I have been here many times, not all of them were successful shots since I feel that having interesting clouds in the sky is important in adding drama and interest to the photos.  Luckily, this time the weather cooperated and I had a brief moments of dark skies but with some sun breaks to light up the subjects.  Some sad news however, the windmill that has been so prominent in the photos in my prior trips appears to be damaged from this last winter.  It looks like the wind broke one of its supports and the windmill is no longer spinning. 

As I have visited this location multiple times in just a couple of years period, each time I visit I see that the structures become more and more dilapidated. You can tell that this place has held on strong for maybe 100 years but not too many good years appear left. Maybe I should head out that way again in a couple of months to see the changes and hopefully capture some new shots.

I have many more pictures of this old homestead outside of Shaniko in my photo gallery at Oregon Foto | Pictures of Oregon. I would consider a few of my “Shaniko” shots to be some of my best work and certainly a project that I have enjoyed. I hope you find this work as memorable as I do.

Here are some recent shots from that trip…….

This is a shot of the main house:

 This is a quarter angle view of the main house:

Here is the back view of the homestead with a clear view of the windmill:

This is a closeup of the barn that is on the property: