Cedar Grove National Scenic Trail

The Painted HIlls is the most dramatic of the three units that make up John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Any trip to Eastern Oregon via Rt 26 requires a stop at the Painted HIlls to take in the unique landscape.John Day Fossil Beds are fee-free and as you enter you will see an area with bathrooms, picnic tables, and water fountains. This is the only place to find them, so stop there first...

To get to the trailhead, use the US highway 26 which is the only way you can go to the Painted Hills Unit. Make a turn when arriving at Burnt Ranch Rd junction. Drive up and follow the sign around 6 miles. The trail junction is where you passed the Carroll Rim Trail and Painted Hill Overlook. Turn right at the junction then drive around 1 or 2 miles and you are there. If you need an exact coord...

Glass Butte was amazing, yet difficult to get there. The best advice I have is to commit to the dirt road until it stops, which will take you to a fence line (you can go left or you can continue right to go up the mountain). That is where we camped, which toward the left is private property and you will start entering territory that locals own mining rights for agates (would not advise going th...

After unsuccessfully attempting to run 100 miles at IMTUF in Idaho, I had some time to kill before I had to be home and energy in my legs to burn.  The Eastern part of Oregon has been on my list of places to run since I moved to the state a few years ago.  One route popped into my mind and I had to do it. The Elkhorn Crest is a point to point trail in the Blue Mountains just outside of Baker Ci...

Head East out of Bend, Oregon towards Prineville Reservoir State Park and Highway 27, which runs along the Crooked River. It is about an hour outside of Bend. Once you reach Highway 27 (Crooked River Highway), there are several campgrounds and pull-outs along the side of the road where you can stop and fish.I recommend a guide for your first time. I used Fly and Field Outfitters located in Bend...

The Elkhorn Crest Trail runs along the Elkhorn Ridge of the Blue Mountains in Eastern Oregon. From this ridge you can scramble of multiple peaks, including the highest in the ridge: Rock Creek Butte (9,106 ft) and Elkhorn Peak (8,931 ft). For the peakbaggers out there, the Elkhorns contain 13 of the Top 100 highest peaks in Oregon (minimum 500 feet prominence). The Elkhorns are just east of the...