Ever since Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark out there, Americans have been making their way to the Pacific Northwest. This corner of the country evokes images of rugged rocky beaches, lush rain-soaked forests, and snow-covered mountains. But the landscape of Washington and Oregon also includes high deserts, rugged canyons, and rolling ranch lands.
While living in Portland, Oregon, from 1982 to 2007, I had the opportunity to experience and photograph the diverse and delightful landscapes of this part of the country. Illustrating the Northwest with a few very old photographs is an impossible task, but I hope these random images from a variety of places provide some feeling for what that part of the country is like.
Mouse over the small photos to see the captions.
Click on any of them to enlarge, then use arrows to scroll through the rest of the group.
The Pacific Coast
What can I say about the Pacific Coast?
Surf, sand, seafood?
Lewis and Clark were overjoyed to get there. When the weather is hot in the city, Portlanders are also overjoyed to get there.
Sand Dunes
Since the Oregon Coast has a rocky reputation, it’s quite a surprise to encounter 50 miles of sand dunes, some up to 500-feet high, stretching from Florence to Coos Bay. This is the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. In some places you have to hike almost two-miles over the rolling dunes to reach the ocean.
The Cascades
These mountains extend from southern Canada to northern California and provide a wonderland for skiing and hiking. Mt. Rainier, near Seattle, is the highest peak in the Cascade Range (14,411’). Mt. Hood, near Portland, is the highest peak in Oregon (11,200’). Like all of the peaks in the Cascades, Mt. Hood and Mt. Rainier are volcanoes.
Just biding their time?
Sadly, Mt. St. Helens could no longer bide her time.
Crater Lake
No matter how many pictures you see of Crater Lake, your first view of the real thing will still be amazing. On a sunny day there is no other color like it in the world. So, when you’re done reading this, head out to Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.
The Columbia River Gorge
The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is a dream-come-true for waterfall lovers. Nearly 30 waterfalls can be found in the spectacular 80-mile long river canyon as it cuts the only sea-level route through the Cascade Mountains. One of them, Multnomah Falls, drops 620 feet and is the second highest year-round waterfall in the United States.
A Rain Forest?
When you live in a rainy place, why would you want to visit a rain forest? Because it’s a lush, beautiful place! Besides, there’s really no comparison. Portland gets about 40” of rain per year; the Hoh Rain Forest gets more than 140” of rain per year. And it’s in Olympic National Park, where there are many other beautiful places to see.
Check it out.
Take an umbrella.
The West is East
When you’re in the Northwest, where is the West? If you just visit the places I’ve mentioned above you might not really think that you’re out west. That’s because to feel “Out West” you have to go East. That’s where you find the sparsely populated area of farms and fields, the rugged regions like the scablands that remain after cataclysmic ice age floods, and basalt lava flows.
The Rodeo
And, of course, what would the west be without a rodeo? This is the St. Paul Rodeo, held annually in St. Paul, Oregon. It’s been a Fourth of July tradition since 1935.
Watch the action.
Watch your step!
Now, wipe off your shoes, put up your feet, and start planning a vacation.