Leaving the Oregon Cascades

Summer finally made it to Oregon.  Hotter temperatures combined with the high humidity in the Cascades made us long to get back to a little cooler weather.  Originally our plan was to head for Washington through the Cascades, but we decided a coastal route would suit our need for milder days.  (I know, we are getting incredibly spoiled.) Being a Texas girl, it is hard to think about going to the coast in the summer to ‘cool off,’ but that is the way it works in the Northwest.

Corvallis, home of the Oregon State Beavers, was right on our way and we couldn't miss an opportunity to take another Scenic Byway so off we went on Scenic Highway 20.  Much of this route parallels the old Santiam Wagon Road that was built to lead settlers back east away from the Willamette Valley and to gold  mines in eastern Oregon and Idaho. 

Thimbleberry leaf with dew

Along the way, we stopped at the Hackleman Old Growth Trailhead.  The two short trails were gentle and the light rain from the night before made everything all ‘shimmery.’  It was nice to break up our drive and spend a few moments with some trees that have already lived 5 times more than I will. 

Corvallis is a vibrant college town with a riverfront section along the Willamette River. The OSU campus is beautiful and home to the Northwest Forestry Research Center. The city is located in the Willamette Valley which is the agricultural center of Oregon where vegetables, fruits and berries are grown and vineyards and wineries are plentiful.  It was hay bailing time so it was a bit dusty but other than that we had a lovely stay.