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| Crater Lake National Park, Oregon. August 2019 |
After months of quarantine due to the coronavirus many around the United States are longing to venture out of their house and
community, seeking a fresh new scene as summer advances. For some, this will
include taking a short- or long-term vacation, near or far. Regardless of the
distance traveled or length of time spent, a large portion are continuing to
tread lightly to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Airline and train travel are not as attractive
as they once were prior to the start of the pandemic, but many Americans will
prefer reaching their destination quickly regardless of unseen risk. For
others, however, road trips are calling their name. But, where to go?
Many of my family’s favorite memories are centered around the beauty and experiences found in nature. Our travels have taken us exploring in northern Alaska through Denali National Park and Reserve in a rented RV to snorkeling in the Florida Keys at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Sir David Attenborough sums up these moments and more with the simple truth: “Discovering the natural world is a never-ending delight.” From Crater Lake National Park in Oregon to Horseshoe Bend in Arizona and a few highlighted areas in between, these select locations will serve to inspire your next adventure.
Visiting Oregon’s only national park last summer in southern Oregon was one for the memory books. Located in the southern half of the state, Crater Lake National Park, is a must-see. We’ve hiked various trails around the rim of the crater several times before, but during this visit the kids jumped off one of the cliffs, an increasingly popular way to enter the water for swimming in its cold depths.
Oregon options include the mountains, plains, high desert, forests, lakes, rivers, and ocean. Day trips as well multi-day backpacking and camping trips are possible. Living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest offers a lifetime of unlimited places to explore. Websites such as AllTrails and Travel Oregon provide resources for planning an excursion. However, there are quite a few places which haven't fully reopened due to the pandemic, so it’s important to check before heading to any destination.
Silver Falls State Park, located east of Salem,
Oregon, is reopening for limited camping beginning June 9, as are several
other state parks throughout the state. South Falls, an almost 200-foot
cascading sheet of water, draws visitors to Silver Falls State Park from around
the world with its mesmerizing beauty. It’s a part of the Trail of Ten Falls, a
seven-mile loop which allows hikers to walk behind the waterfall, offering a
unique experience.
If campsites are available, relaxing around a campfire in the evenings after active days exploring is a nice change from typical home life -- and without the glare of city streetlights clouding the night sky, you’ll be gifted to a treat just by looking up. There’s a possibility of following not only the outline of a constellation, but perhaps also a glorious, fleeting shooting star.
In addition to county, state, and federally managed forests, reserves, and waterways, our nation’s state and national parks are in demand year-round. The National Park Service manages 400 national parks, which includes seashores, battlefields, monuments, and historic sites. In 2019, there were over 300 million visitors spanning the wide array of park localities. The National Wildlife Federation observes there are over 600 million acres of shared ownership of land and water for Americans to enjoy through public use.
Even with the amount of public land available, the popularity of these areas presents challenges. Conservation and reclamation practices remain hot topics when it comes to public use and overcrowding, maintaining further protection of these lands and the wildlife within. These concerns existed from the time the lands were set aside for preservation, with recognition and respect shown as the homeland of our indigenous population.
Spending time in the Opal Creek Wilderness in the Willamette National Forest of Oregon offers more than a recreational outing: there are history lessons available as well. Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center produces opportunities for further education through outdoor school, adult and family education, and guided expeditions. Outbuildings and structures remain in place in what is known as Jawbone Flats, a 1930s gold mining camp.
Additionally, lithics uncovered show dating to at least 2,000 years ago by Native Americans. This area avoided huge amounts of logging which plagued certain locations of our country and is an example of one of the largest areas of low-elevation old growth forests in the Cascades. An advantage of visiting areas such as Opal Creek is supporting active programming for the education of future generations.
Outside of the state, hiking Torrey Pines State National Reserve is a worthwhile option if near San Diego, California. There are miles of loop trails leading from the parking lot to the cliffs overlooking the coastline and the view of the Pacific Ocean is endless on a clear day. Having a place such as this near a major city helps protect certain species of plants and animals struggling to survive. Reading books and listening to teachers in classrooms discussing aspects of our natural world complements experiencing these marvels first-hand.
An area not known by many is the Bonneville Salt Flats near Salt Lake City, Utah. As far as the eye can see -- 30,000 acres -- there is nothing but white. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the environment is extremely fragile. Not much is able to survive, and the extremes in temperature present further challenge. The experience is awe-inspiring in comparison with the surrounding landscape.
Other jewels of the Southwest include Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona and Horseshoe Bend located within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which covers land in both Arizona and Utah. Horseshoe Bend has been carved by the Colorado River for over 5 million years, and an overwhelming sense of wonder fills the soul as one gazes upon this canyon. Boundaries blur in the management, as the territory is tightly woven among the city of Page, Arizona; St. George, Utah; Grand Canyon National Park; Glen Canyon National Park; and the Navajo Nation. Visitors by the millions traverse this space each year. Gentle reminders of “leave no trace” grace the landscape to help preserve this land for multitudes of years to come.
The options are inherently endless on how to spend quality travel time moving into this prime vacation season, regardless of which geographical location you find yourself in or how much time you wish to spend exploring. Doing so within the guidelines of remaining vigilant during the COVID-19 pandemic is possible while coming away with a renewed appreciation for this big, wide beautiful world in which we live.
Many of my family’s favorite memories are centered around the beauty and experiences found in nature. Our travels have taken us exploring in northern Alaska through Denali National Park and Reserve in a rented RV to snorkeling in the Florida Keys at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Sir David Attenborough sums up these moments and more with the simple truth: “Discovering the natural world is a never-ending delight.” From Crater Lake National Park in Oregon to Horseshoe Bend in Arizona and a few highlighted areas in between, these select locations will serve to inspire your next adventure.
 |
| Cliff jumping into Crater Lake, August 2019 |
Visiting Oregon’s only national park last summer in southern Oregon was one for the memory books. Located in the southern half of the state, Crater Lake National Park, is a must-see. We’ve hiked various trails around the rim of the crater several times before, but during this visit the kids jumped off one of the cliffs, an increasingly popular way to enter the water for swimming in its cold depths.
Crater
Lake is the deepest lake in the United States (1,943 feet), and the colors are
so deep and vivid that no camera seems capable of capturing the brilliance.
This was the site of 12,000-foot-tall Mount Mazama until erupting almost 8,000
years ago, creating a basin which filled with rain and snow. No streams run
into Crater Lake, which means little sediment muddies its pure waters.
Precipitation and evaporation keep the lake level constant.
 |
| Crystal clear water of Crater Lake |
Restrictions are continuing in place around the
country after almost three months of everyday life coming to a halt due to COVID-19.
Limitations include phased reopenings, smaller amounts of people allowed to
share a space, and wearing face coverings when in close proximity.
Because of this, short weekend trips and longer
family vacations are going to look differently for an indefinite time.
International travel is possible only to those countries where foreigners are
allowed entry -- many locations have yet to reopen their borders. When considering
adventure throughout our fifty states, looking at areas where large groups of
people typically don’t congregate seems a logical choice.
 |
| Willamette National Forest, Oregon. September 2019 |
Oregon options include the mountains, plains, high desert, forests, lakes, rivers, and ocean. Day trips as well multi-day backpacking and camping trips are possible. Living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest offers a lifetime of unlimited places to explore. Websites such as AllTrails and Travel Oregon provide resources for planning an excursion. However, there are quite a few places which haven't fully reopened due to the pandemic, so it’s important to check before heading to any destination.
 |
| South Falls, Silver Falls State Park, Oregon October, 2019 |
If campsites are available, relaxing around a campfire in the evenings after active days exploring is a nice change from typical home life -- and without the glare of city streetlights clouding the night sky, you’ll be gifted to a treat just by looking up. There’s a possibility of following not only the outline of a constellation, but perhaps also a glorious, fleeting shooting star.
 |
| Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. September 2019 |
In addition to county, state, and federally managed forests, reserves, and waterways, our nation’s state and national parks are in demand year-round. The National Park Service manages 400 national parks, which includes seashores, battlefields, monuments, and historic sites. In 2019, there were over 300 million visitors spanning the wide array of park localities. The National Wildlife Federation observes there are over 600 million acres of shared ownership of land and water for Americans to enjoy through public use.
Even with the amount of public land available, the popularity of these areas presents challenges. Conservation and reclamation practices remain hot topics when it comes to public use and overcrowding, maintaining further protection of these lands and the wildlife within. These concerns existed from the time the lands were set aside for preservation, with recognition and respect shown as the homeland of our indigenous population.
Spending time in the Opal Creek Wilderness in the Willamette National Forest of Oregon offers more than a recreational outing: there are history lessons available as well. Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center produces opportunities for further education through outdoor school, adult and family education, and guided expeditions. Outbuildings and structures remain in place in what is known as Jawbone Flats, a 1930s gold mining camp.
Additionally, lithics uncovered show dating to at least 2,000 years ago by Native Americans. This area avoided huge amounts of logging which plagued certain locations of our country and is an example of one of the largest areas of low-elevation old growth forests in the Cascades. An advantage of visiting areas such as Opal Creek is supporting active programming for the education of future generations.
 |
| Opal Creek Wilderness, Willamette National Forest. Oregon. July 2019 |
Outside of the state, hiking Torrey Pines State National Reserve is a worthwhile option if near San Diego, California. There are miles of loop trails leading from the parking lot to the cliffs overlooking the coastline and the view of the Pacific Ocean is endless on a clear day. Having a place such as this near a major city helps protect certain species of plants and animals struggling to survive. Reading books and listening to teachers in classrooms discussing aspects of our natural world complements experiencing these marvels first-hand.
 |
Torrey Pines National Reserve, San Diego, California
March 2018
|
An area not known by many is the Bonneville Salt Flats near Salt Lake City, Utah. As far as the eye can see -- 30,000 acres -- there is nothing but white. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the environment is extremely fragile. Not much is able to survive, and the extremes in temperature present further challenge. The experience is awe-inspiring in comparison with the surrounding landscape.
 |
| Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah September 2019 |
Other jewels of the Southwest include Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona and Horseshoe Bend located within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which covers land in both Arizona and Utah. Horseshoe Bend has been carved by the Colorado River for over 5 million years, and an overwhelming sense of wonder fills the soul as one gazes upon this canyon. Boundaries blur in the management, as the territory is tightly woven among the city of Page, Arizona; St. George, Utah; Grand Canyon National Park; Glen Canyon National Park; and the Navajo Nation. Visitors by the millions traverse this space each year. Gentle reminders of “leave no trace” grace the landscape to help preserve this land for multitudes of years to come.
 |
| Overlooking the Colorado River, Horseshoe Bend September 2019 |
The options are inherently endless on how to spend quality travel time moving into this prime vacation season, regardless of which geographical location you find yourself in or how much time you wish to spend exploring. Doing so within the guidelines of remaining vigilant during the COVID-19 pandemic is possible while coming away with a renewed appreciation for this big, wide beautiful world in which we live.
 |
| Hiking the Willamette National Forest, Oregon September 2019 |
At a Glance:
Destination 1: Crater Lake National Park, Crater Lake, Oregon
Open as of June 8, 2020
Hotels, campgrounds, boat tours 866-292-6720
Destination 2: Silver Falls State Park, Silverton, Oregon
Open for camping reservations as of June 9, 2020
Reservations: oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com
Destination 3: Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center, Gates, Oregon
Opal Creek Trailhead open May 22, 2020
Jawbone Flats Cabin rentals available June 5, 2020
Information: opalcreek.org
Destination 4: Torrey Pines State National Reserve, San Diego, California
Torrey Pines Beach is open as of June 9, 2020
Torrey Pines Reserve Trails closed
Destination 5: Bonneville Salt Flats, 10 miles east of Wendover, Utah
Location: I-80, west of Great Salt Lake on the Utah/Nevada border
Tooele Chamber of Commerce Ph: 435-882-0690
Destination 6: Horseshoe Bend, near Page, Arizona
Parking lot and Overlook open as of April 13, 2020
Nearby: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Antelope Canyon
Sources
and Additional Links:
