Cove Palisades State Park
The Dry Brush Area of Oregon
When I moved to Portland, Oregon just a year ago, I conjured up grandeur dreams of wanderlusting across the state, making sure not to miss a thing while I lived here. I mean, nothing is forever in my world, and you never know when I might just get sick of a place. Pack up and leave. I make sure to pack every single weekend with as many activities as possible until that time comes. So when I thought of moving to Portland, Oregon, it never crossed my mind that there would be so many different ecosystems that evolved within one state. I was way off track thinking that everything was Douglas Fir forest for as far as you could see, also considering that the landscape I drove through was just that up I-5 (I heard the locals call it The 5).
While planning my fun filled weekends, I came across the Cove Palisades State Park, which was just a short 2.5 hours road trip from the city. I saw that there was a substantial canyon in this state park, which sits just outside of Madras, Oregon.
The trip that you take to get to the state park is a straightforward trip where you don’t deviate from one road. I took US-26 the whole way there, cutting through Mount Hood National Park, which had just been lightly dusted with snow. Although I say lightly dusted, there were already feet in place when we passed through.
While Itraversed through the Mount Hood National Forest, the mountain was nice enough to make an appearance. Such a beautiful sight up-close-and-personal, photos can’t even show the beauty and splendor in this mountain.
Along the trip, I stopped at Government Camp, which is a small Ski Resort on Mount Hood. It had been snowing a lot lately, and being from Florida, where snow doesn’t exist, you would have thought I was dropped off in front of a free ice cream convention. My inner child went nutso, and it was glorious. Government Camp is only about an hour away from Portland, Oregon and offers Ski Bowl, which is one of the only places in the world that offers night skiing.
A gas station along US-26 sported a Bigfoot Crossing sign. We stopped to look for Bigfoot, but sadly, none in sight.
The terrain started to change from many feet of snow, to airy desert feel as I continued across the state. I stopped to catch my first glimpse of Mount Jefferson.
As you head into Warm Springs Indian Reservation, you start to get your first views of canyon-type desert in Oregon. US Highway 26 snakes along the Deschutes River, which brings you to the Pelton Dam. This was a wonderful place to stop and take in the scenery without there being loads of people.
After getting a small taste of the canyon area, Ihad to have more. I wanted to stand high on a cliff, as high as the birds fly, to see as much as I could, far and wide, of Oregon.
Arriving at Round Butte Overlook Park, I was full of anticipation. I slowly drove up to the park, noticing that it was all locked up. Closed for season! That definitely didn’t stop me and my sense of needing to be free. I walked around as much of the unlocked part as much as we could, without breaking too many laws (OK, I ducked under a fence or two). I noticed that there was goat droppings everywhere, along with tracks, but no goats to be found. they were probably right in front of my face, blending into the background. I’m no animal tracker, that’s for sure.
What is really cool about this area is that you can see Mount Jefferson from almost anywhere. Also, not too far off from each side of Mount Jefferson, you can see other mountains as well. To the South you can see the South Sisters and Mount Bachelor, but you have to make sure that it is a clear day. Looking North, Mount Hood shows off as well.
I continued to Cove Palisades State Park, and couldn't believe the beauty that could exist right outside my air conditioned windows. You really have to make a trip out here to taken how big everything actually is, my photos barely doing the deserved justice.
If you didn’t know, you can come here and see petroglyphs. I was surprised how defined the markings are in the rocks.
Next I embarked upon the Tam-a-lau trail, rated as moderately difficult, but, let’s be real, lack of athleticism made this hike a comparison to running a marathon. It is one mile up to the trailhead, with a 600 foot elevation gain. Once you get to the top of the trailhead, there is a 5 mile loop trail in order to get some of the best views of the park.
On my way out of Cove Palisades State Park, I was able to catch one last glimpse of Mount Jefferson. I hope that you will take the time to check out the different parts of Oregon, and everything that it has to offer.
