The Cascade Mountains of Oregon:
North and Middle Sister viewed from the McKenzie
Pass - Santiam Pass Oregon Scenic Byway

south and middle sister in the cascade mountains of oregon. travel oregon on the west cascades national scenic byway, the mckenzie pass, santiam pass oregon scenic byway of oregon, in the cascade mountains of oregon, along the clackamas river, the wild and scenic mckenzie river, the wild and scenic north fork of the middle fork of the willamette river, see waterfalls, volcanoes, lava flows. hiking trails through old growth forests, along rivers, in wilderness areas. Soak in hot springs along rivers: bagby hot springs, terwilliger hot springs, cougar hot springs, hike to sahalie waterfalls, koosah waterfalls on the mckenzie river, proxy waterfalls in the willamette national forest on hwy 242, the mckenzie pass, santiam pass, oregon scenic byway, marion creek waterfalls off the santiam river, hike to mountain lakes along creeks. hiking trails along the mckenzie river: the mckenzie national recreation trail, camping in old growth forests all the west cascades national scenic byway in oregon.

Standing on the summit of the Santiam Pass - McKenzie Pass, Oregon Scenic
Byway, surrounded by mountains on every side

Mountains, mountains everywhere. So this is Oregon? These are our roots, mountains shaping the planet we call home? One cannot escape them up here. The wonder of them, their fearsome character, nothing to ever take lightly. Not just the big mountains either. Not just those mountains we like to think of as ours when we live in their shadow. The mountains we love.

Here, the reminders are everywhere: mountains erupt, mountains become anew, but only until the next eruption. The eruption of Mt St Helens, so beautiful before, so altered after, and this happens again and again. Growing up in the shadow of Mt Hood, I thought couldn't bear that "my" mountain could erupt, that beloved mountain, and be so altered as to be unrecognizable to those of who "love" a mountain. Loving as we do, it's easy to forget their foreboding character. Not up here. Even the smaller peaks, those one has never heard of or thought about in the valleys below. They're not to be ignored up here. They demand recognition, defined clearly by lava flows, until that's all to be seen. Mountains and lava flows now hardened, blanketing everything, easily recognized on mountain flanks. Mountains, lava and a few trees and shrubs hardy enough or lucky enough to find a place to grab hold and survive.

This spectacle should Never be missed. The McKenzie Pass - Santiam Pass Oregon Scenic Byway is the old highway, and open only during summer. Usually sometime around the 4th of July. A series of switchbacks, it climbs the flank of mountains. Be prepared for time to make this drive. Connect with this wonder in Sisters, Oregon east of the pass, or off of Hwy 126 heading east from the Willamette Valley, originating in Springfield, Oregon.

If you want to hike? Try these trails on the McKenzie Pass - Santiam Pass Oregon Scenic Byway, as well as sites to see.

Combine your journey on the amazing McKenzie Pass - Santiam Pass Oregon Scenic Byway, Hwy 242, when exploring the West Cascades National Scenic Byway: Travel Directions, Map: page 1 and page 2, and Scenery: offering mountains, hardened lava flows, wild and scenic rivers, waterfalls, hiking trails, hot springs, old growth forests, mountain lakes, forest service campgrounds. The West cascades National Scenic Byway offers wild and scenic rivers, waterfalls, hiking trails, hot springs, hardened lava flows, old growth forests, mountain lakes, the Mt Jefferson wilderness, the Three (3) Sisters Wilderness, the Mt Jefferson wilderness, all of them in the Willamette National Forest, as well as the Roaring River wilderness and the Big Bottom Wilderness in the Mt Hood National Forest. Enjoy the Wild and Scenic McKenzie River, the Wild and Scenic Clackamas River, the Wild and scenic north fork of the Middle Willamette River.

Protect our National Forests and Wilderness Areas. Leave NO Trace!

Forward ~ Summit on the McKenzie Pass - Santiam
Pass Oregon Scenic Byway.

Back ~ Lava Flows everywhere, with mountains in between:
The Three Sisters.

USFS: Willamette National Forest.

 travel oregon: Wild rhododendrons growing in the cascade mountains of oregon.

If you're heading west from Sisters, Oregon, traveling the McKenzie Pass - Santiam Pass Oregon Scenic Byway and are interested in exploring the West Cascades National Scenic Byway, you may want to turn right on Oregon Hwy 126 when you come down off of the McKenzie Pass - Santiam Pass Oregon Scenic Byway, otherwise known as Oregon Hwy 242, and follow the Oregon Hwy 126 on the West Cascades National Scenic Byway: Travel Directions, Map: north and south, a select few forest service campgrounds on Hwy 126, and Scenery. Or perhaps you might choose to connect with the Over the River and through the Woods Scenic Byway, Oregon Hwy 20. The sign for Hwy 20 is clearly marked from Hwy 126. Take the cutoff for Hwy 20, the Over the River and through the Woods Oregon Scenic Byway and find the graceful South Santiam River, lovely campgrounds and Hiking Trails to wildflowers, amongst old growth forests, in both the old and high Cascades of the Willamette National Forest: Directions to and Descriptions of Trails and Campgrounds.

Combine your journey on the amazing McKenzie Pass - Santiam Pass Oregon Scenic Byway, Hwy 242, when exploring the West Cascades National Scenic Byway: Travel Directions, Map: page 1 and page 2, and Scenery.

Connect with the Crescent Lake, Oakridge "Inback" Tour when traveling the West Cascades National Scenic Byway: Travel Directions and Map.

Travel Oregon and northern California while staying at Gathering Light ... a retreat
located in southern Oregon near Crater Lake National Park.

Travel on the West Cascades National Scenic Byway to Gathering Light .... a retreat: Directions, Map & Scenery: hiking trails, waterfalls, wild & scenic rivers, mountains, volcanoes, hot springs, Oregon scenic byways, wilderness areas ... Include the Willamette Pass: Directions, Map & Scenery.

Directions to & Day Trips of about 100 miles from the retreat.

Little known Scenic Places to explore & photograph nature untrammeled: hiking with & without trails, wetlands, wildlife refuges, mountains, river gorges, wilderness areas, wildlife viewing & more near Crater Lake & the retreat: Travel Directions Map & Scenery.

 stay in the cabins and tree houses at gathering light retreat located in southern oregon near crater lake national park and travel oregon and northern california and see lava beds national monument, the skull cave, mcarthur burney waterfalls, mcarthur burney hiking trails, mcarthur burney state park, mt shasta, hike from bunny flats on mt shasta, castle lake, shasta city, california, dunsmuir, california, mccloud, california, mccloud river, sacramento river, upper mccloud river waterfalls, middle mccloud river waterfalls, lower mccloud river waterfalls, hiking trails along the mccloud river, along the sacramento river, on mt shasta, hiking trails to hedge creek waterfalls in dunsmuir, california, hiking trails along the sacramento river to mossbrae waterfalls in dunsmuir, california, castle crags state park, hiking trails in castle crags wilderness area, camping in castle crags state park, camping on the mccloud river at fowler creek campground, hiking trails to mountain lakes, hiking trails around castle lake, volcanoes, geology, oregon geology, california geology, shasta trinity national forest, rogue national forest, national forests, wilderness areas, russian wilderness areas, castle crags wilderness areas, lava flows, lava beds national monument, experience volcanoes, geology, hiking trails, oregon geology, rogue siskiyou national forest, wild and scenic rogue river, wild and scenic umpqua river, rogue gorge at union creek, oregon, national rogue river hiking trail, rogue national forest, national forests, wilderness areas, national wildlife refuges, wetlands, klamath basin, prospect, oregon, mill creek waterfalls on the rogue river, barr creek waterfalls on the rogue river, avenue of giant boulders on the rogue river, hiking trails to mill creek waterfalls, hiking trails to barr creek waterfalls on the rogue river, hiking trails to national creek waterfalls in the rogue siskiyou national forest, hiking trails along the rogue river, hiking trails to the natural bridge, hiking trails at crater lake national park, crater lake national park, hiking trails on the wild and scenic rogue river, hiking trails to national creek waterfalls, rabbit ears, the cascade mountains, the old cascade mountains, mt thielsen, hiking trails at crater lake, crater lake national park, hiking trails on the mccloud river, waterfalls on the mccloud river, hiking trails in the castle crags wilderness area, hiking trails in the russian wilderness, hiking trails on the sacramento river, mossbrae waterfalls on the sacramento river, hedgecreek waterfalls in dunsmuir, california, mt shasta, shasta trinity national forest, wilderness areas, camping in the willamette national forest, camping on the wild and scenic umpqua river, camping on the wild and scenic rogue river in oregon, volcanic legacy scenic byway, hiking trails in crater lake national park.

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Contact Brad at Gathering Light ... a retreat.