Oregon Foto Guide | Top Oregon Hiking & Photography Destinations

Lost Lake in Hood River County, Oregon is located just ten miles northwest of Mt. Hood within the heart of Mt. Hood’s beauty and scenic grandeur.   While Oregon may have at least 19 areas named “Lost Lake,” this is the one droves of visitors always seem to find.  With a famed “postcard” view of Mt. Hood’s northwest face reflected in its waters, the proximity and view of the mountain from Lost Lake is unrivaled, making it one of the most photographed locations in Oregon.  An amber glow of Mt. Hood’s snowfields and the evening reflection of Mt. Hood in the cool still water of the lake is the reason why photographers make this trek.   Oregon hikers and nature enthusiasts come to the area to view the mountain and surrounding water, old-growth forests, wildflowers, and diverse wildlife habitat and viewing opportunities.   

The snow-fed lake at 3,100 feet in elevation and with a perimeter measuring 3.4 miles is surrounded by the vast Mt. Hood National Forest.  At 167 feet deep, Lost Lake is the second-deepest body of water in the Mount Hood National Forest after Wathum Lake at 177 feet.  The surrounding area is home to several threatened species and has been targeted by conservation groups for wilderness protection. The area is also part of the proposed Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness which would prevent development, logging, mining, and possibly require the removal of structures and roads.

Lost Lake is privately owned and the Lost Lake Resort offers 120 RV and tent camp sites on a “first-come first-serve” basis.   The camping sites are quite large and well-spaced, with impressive giant Douglas Firs, White Pines, Cedars, and Mountain Hemlocks throughout that provide remarkable seclusion considering the number of sites available in the campground.  Swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and boating, are allowed on the lake as long as the boats are non-motorized.   Fish are plentiful with opportunities to catch rainbow, brown, and brook trout, as well as Kokanee salmon.  On the north shore of the lake there is a large day use area for picnicking as well as a small general store with basic amenities.   The area is perfect for families and day-trippers.  Additionally, the resort can provide boating and fishing gear rentals. 

The area offers a variety of hiking trails including the Shoreline Trail #656 which is an easy walk around the lake totaling 3.2 miles.  Along the hike there are countless views of Mount Hood with the lake in the foreground.  The hiking trail takes you around the lake and through old-growth timber, wildflowers, and swampy meadows.  The hike is easy, with a boardwalk at times and also passes through the day-use picnic area and campsite along the shoreline.  There is also the more advanced hike, the Huckleberry Mountain Trail #617 which joins the Pacific Crest Trail. This hike begins at the south-end of the lake where you find a junction for the Huckleberry Mountain Trail #617 and climbs steeply for 2.5 miles to the Pacific Crest Trail.  Hiking back from this junction with the Pacific Crest Trail will create an approximate 7.5 mile round-trip and a moderate hike.  For a hike to see a view of Mount Hood, Mt. Baker, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St. Helens (on a clear day), take the Lost Lake Butte Trail which starts from the general store parking area and climbs the western slope of the area.  The hike is pretty steep, climbing 1,400 feet in 2 miles.

Part Jersey Shore –part Camp Kumbaya –all walks of life visit Lost Lake.  Each visit for their own reasons as the area offers outdoor recreational diversity.  Remarkably, all find harmony.  As it has been a favorite tourist destination for decades, expect people.  However, with 3.4 miles of shoreline as well as miles of hiking trails taking you deep into the Mount Hood National Forest, serenity is very possible.   Whether it is boating, swimming, fishing, camping, hiking, photographing, or simply enjoying a picnic along the shore, Lost Lake at Mt. Hood is a top destination in Oregon for hiking and photography.

To see more pictures of Mt. Hood and Lost Lake visit www.oregonfoto.com.

To Get There:

The Resort is 85 miles from Portland by way of Hood River. Take Interstate 84 east up the Columbia River Gorge to Hood River, then drive southwest to Dee and follow the signs to Lost Lake.  From Portland you can take Mt. Hood Highway 26 to Zig Zag, turn left onto Lolo Pass Road and follow the signs to Lost Lake. This is a truly scenic route to the lake but it does have 4 miles of gravel road over the pass and many turns along the way before you reach the campground. 

Lost Lake is generally accessible from mid-May until snow blocks the road, usually late October.

Posted in Mt. Hood | Lost Lake
Tags: boating, camping, canoeing, environment, fishing, hikers, hikes, hiking, hiking trails, hood river, kayaking, landscape photography, Lost Lake, Mt. Hood, Nature, northwest hiking, Oregon, Oregon camping, oregon fishing, Oregon hikes, Oregon hiking, Oregon photography, outdoors, Pacific Northwest, photography, pictures

Bandon is a small coastal town on the southern Oregon coast.  Well-known for its scenic beauty, photographers and nature enthusiasts alike enjoy its dramatic coastline, which is reputed to have some of the most striking beaches in the entire Northwest.  Filled with coastal rocks, islands, and rocky outcroppings or “sea stacks” sprinkled throughout the landscape; Oregon photography opportunities are not only endless, but impressive.   A few of the notable formations in the area are Face Rock, Haystack Rock, Coquille Rocks, Elephant Rock, and Table Rock.  Face Rock is one of the most photographed monolithic formations in the area.  As the name implies, you can make out the profile of an uplifted face from the sea.   Visitors can easily find Face Rock by driving along Beach Loop Drive and parking at the Face Rock Viewpoint with access down to the coastline. 

Face Rock makes for an excellent starting point as you can walk either North or South and find yourself amongst remarkable sea stack formations, tide pools, sea caves, and expansive views of the ocean and sandy beach.  Plan on photographing at low tide as tide pools will unveil themselves, patterns in the sand will be revealed, and you can get close and personal with many of the sea stack formations.  Sunset photos from Bandon are notable due to the depth of interesting formations you can capture in one shot with a wide angle lens –from a rocky pool before you all the way to sea stacks on the far horizon.

The historic Coquille River Lighthouse at the mouth of the Coquille River is located in Bullards Beach State Park which is two miles north of Bandon.  The lighthouse was originally built to serve not only as a coastal light but also as a harbor light because a bar at the mouth of the Coquille River made a treacherous obstacle for ships entering the river.  The surrounding beach, as well as the lighthouse itself, is open to the public which can be reached by the beach access road in the park.  With 4.5 miles of open beach to explore, recreational and sight-seeing opportunities are endless.  While the town of Bandon offers fine lodging and dining, the Bullards Beach State park has year-round camping with tent and RV sites, as well as 13 yurts nestled among shore pines.  Surrounded by grassy fields, sandy dunes, equestrian trails, and the Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, the area is popular with equestrian campers, hikers, bird watchers, mountain bikers, fisherman, and photographers.

Bandon is a top destination in Oregon for photography.  With classic coastal imagery including numerous rock formations, bountiful tide pools, crashing waves, and silvery sand, it offers the essential subject matter for photographers to create remarkable shots.  Adding to the photographic opportunity is the diversity that the surrounding area provides –from the Coquille River Lighthouse to Bullards Beach State Park –count on an abundance of photos and memorable experiences.  For more images from Bandon, visit www.oregonfoto.com.

Posted in Bandon Oregon | Face Rock Viewpoint
Tags: Bandon, Bandon Oregon, black and white photography, coast, environment, Face Rock, hike, hikers, hiking, landscape photography, Nature, Oregon, Oregon beaches, Oregon camping, Oregon coast, Oregon hiking, Oregon photography, outdoors, Pacific Northwest, photography

Leslie Gulch, in remote southeastern Oregon, is a top destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking towering and colorful geological formations.  The area encompasses more than 11,000 acres highlighted by the Leslie, Timber, Slocum, Juniper, Dago, and Runaway gulches managed by the Bureau of Land Management as an area of Critical Environmental Concern to protect the outstanding landscape scenery and habitat of California bighorn sheep and several rare and endangered plant species.  The most striking feature of the Leslie Gulch area is its impressive geological formations formed by violent volcanic eruptions and subsequent weathering during the last 15.5 million years.  Today, the scenery displays beautifully steep slopes of honeycombed towers, sheer pinnacle cliffs, and deep side-pocket canyons with brilliant colors highlighted by mineral deposits and the volcanic ash of this ancient caldera.

Recreational activities include hiking, boating, fishing, plant and wildlife viewing, and photography.  A boat ramp in Leslie Gulch provides access to the expansive Owyhee Reservoir.  The only camping allowed is near this boat ramp  at Slocum Creek campground with 12 tent sites, picnic tables, and a vault toilet.  But do not let these amenities fool you into thinking you are in store for a cushy retreat.  This is a barren gravel road area with no electricity, cell service, drinking water, or shade.  Temperatures in the summer are easily over 100 degrees and the area is barren desert-like in the most remote portion of Oregon.  During the time I was at Leslie Gulch, it was mid-July with 105 degree temperatures with no clouds in the sky.  Shade is literally nowhere to be found in this area as there are neither significant trees nor man-made structures.  In the evenings, I was the only person around for miles and had the place to myself.  Your only source of supplies and protection are from what you plan and bring for the trip; a call for help can be unanswered. 

A highlight of the Leslie Gulch area is the opportunity to explore and hike the side gulches.  One of the most impressive gulches is Timber Gulch.  The start of the trail to this gulch is not marked, but you can find it by either driving 2.35 miles up from Slocum Creek campground or by driving down 1.25 miles from the Juniper Gulch sign.  The hike is just 0.6 miles and up the dry creek bed of Leslie Creek, veering through sandy washes, silver-tipped sage brushes, and through the tight and narrow canyon walls.  After scrambling over and under boulders, you reach a large amphitheater-like area wrapped by canyon walls and a wide-open view down the gulch.  The view is remarkable and a spot where I decided to wait for sunset with my camera gear to take pictures.

Another recommended gulch to explore is Dago Gulch which is located up the Leslie Gulch road 2.25 miles from Timber Gulch where you can park next to a locked green gate.  The hike is up the closed road where you can travel 0.8 miles where you reach a cattle gate and cannot go any further as it becomes private land.  Along this dusty road there are abundant photo opportunities and I found myself walking a few hundred feet at time and stopping to take photographs as the scenery progressed into a view back of the towering and sheer upright canyon walls from where the hike began.  One side of the gulch is relatively smooth with white, red, and green volcanic ash and a colossal and lone pinnacle anchoring the area, whereas the other side is filled with honey-combed pockets of spires and sheer cliffs weathered and carved into intricate stone lacework due to the passing of time.  I decided that I would come back to Dago Gulch on my second night camping in Leslie Gulch during sunset to take photographs and capture the dimming light and the dark shadows it created against the white rock face of this sheer canyon side.

Truly a premier destination for Oregon hiking and photography, Leslie Gulch is more impressive than many State Parks.  Yet its remoteness is likely what has preserved its fragile beauty and keeps it a lesser-known jewel for those seeking solitude.

To see more of Leslie Gulch and the surrounding Malheur County, please see my gallery at www.oregonfoto.com.

To Get There:

From Jordan Valley, take US Highway 95 north for 27 miles and take a left at the sign for Succor Creek for 8.5 miles on gravel road.  You will come to a T-shaped junction where you turn left toward Succor Creek for 1.8 miles further until you see a BLM sign for Leslie Gulch.  This is the entrance to the area and the only road is Leslie Gulch road which winds down approximately 15 miles to the boat ramp at Owyhee Reservoir.  The road is rough, and although I saw passenger cars while on my trip, a 4-wheel drive vehicle is recommended.

There are no fees to neither enter nor stay at Leslie Gulch as this is BLM land.  The drive to Leslie Gulch could be a destination all its own with fantastic scenery of rolling hills, open plains, rocky outcroppings, and magnificant cliffs.  Once you enter the Leslie Gulch area (noted by the sign), it is easy to find your way as there is only one road in and one road out.  During rains, the dirt & gravel road becomes difficult to navigate, so be prepared.

For perspective, Leslie Gulch is 493 miles from Portland, Oregon.

Posted in Leslie Gulch | Malheur County
Tags: BLM, environment, hiking, Jordan Valley, landscape photography, Leslie Gulch, Malheur County, Nature, Oregon, Oregon hiking, Oregon photography, OregonFoto.com, outdoors, Owyhee Reservoir, Pacific Northwest, photography, photos, pictures

Mount Rainier National Park is a pristine outdoors recreational area well-known for its old-growth forest, swiftly flowing streams, waterfalls, wildflower meadows, and most of all, its glaciers and vast open snow fields.  At 14,410 feet, the mountain is the highest peak in the Cascade Range and is quite the accomplishment for mountain climbers.  Offering recreation all year, Mount Rainier is a prime destination for winter activities because as a National Park, there is no downhill skiing or snowboarding allowed.  Therefore the Park lacks the commercialization and the crowds that chairlifts and ski lodges can bring.  Snow camping is allowed almost anywhere in the park as long as snow depth has reached 5’ at Paradise and 2’ elsewhere in the park.  In winter, the only two park entrances open are the Nisqually Entrance, in the southwest corner of the park, and the Carbon River Entrance, in the northwest corner of the park. 

Recently I returned to Mount Rainier National Park for snowshoeing and overnight snow camping.  I had planned for my friend and I to snowshoe from Paradise up to the Mazama Ridge and pick out an appealing spot in the open meadow to set up camp.  As a backcountry permit was required, we checked in with the rangers at the Jackson Visitor Center who warned us that a strong Arctic cold front was expected to enter the area overnight and frigid temperatures and strong winds were in the forecast.  The ranger also noted that visitors were having issues making it up to the Mazama Ridge due to the lack of a trail and a steep incline to the top.  I too had been following the weather forecasts and was looking forward to some true winter weather, which to me only adds to the enjoyment of snow camping.

The snowshoe to Mazama Ridge is a moderate shoe with the distance 4 to 6 miles roundtrip and roughly a 1,000 foot climb to a high point of 5,700 feet.  I say 4 to 6 miles roundtrip because once you make it up to the ridge you are in a vast open meadow and can wander essentially for as long as you like searching for a perfect spot to camp, take a break, or add distance to your workout. As a favorite destination for snowshoe trips, the Mazama Ridge has earned its popularity for breathtaking and wide-open views of Mt. Rainier and the Tatoosh Range.  There are multiple ways to reach Mazama Ridge and I decided to take the route where avalanche hazard is at its lowest. The trip started from the Jackson Visitor Center parking lot in Paradise where it was 20 degrees outside.  We shoed downhill on the Paradise Valley Route road for 0.6 miles to the 4^th Crossing which was on our left, and began our climb up to the ridge.  The 4^th Crossing was not marked at the time we were shoeing and could be difficult to locate.  However, you can see the Mazama Ridge and its tree line from the road, and it became clear to me by looking at the landscape and my map that the only way to make it up to the Mazama Ridge would be to head left up the moderately steep hillside and make our own trail up to the ridge.  This climb up to the ridge is short at 0.5 miles but it is steep, and in this short distance is where you gain your elevation.  Early on we crossed a narrow log bridge over Paradise River and in hindsight, we were quite lucky to find this bridge as there was no trail to guide our way.  After the bridge crossing, we began to climb up to the ridge by making our own switchbacks and after a nice workout we made it up to the ridge and shoed a few yards through the tree line where we finally had a view of the rolling subalpine meadow.  As the foul weather was just starting to roll in, I did not have the highly anticipated views the area is famed for.  I continued to wander through the meadow staying close to the tree line where I found what felt like a perfect place to set up camp under a stand of large pine trees to offer some protection from the elements.

At this time it was getting later in the afternoon and the temperature had dropped down to 18 degrees and things were fairly calm while I was setting up my gear and taking a couple of short side treks to explore the area further.  Around dinner time, the temperature had dropped to about 12 degrees and the winds started to pick up a little.  This made for very cold and crunchy lasagna with red meat sauce because although we got the water boiling, and I kept the packet in my jacket for insulation, it wouldn’t truly cook all the way through.  However, a number of Jubelales warmed me up and come 9 o’clock the wind became strong and was whipping up the snow that was falling.  So we headed to our tents for the night.

This is where the fun began as a little while later I could hear the sound of a freight train slam into my tent every 10 seconds with the strongest winds I have ever experienced while camping.  Confirming recently with the forecast records, the wind gusts were 50-60 mph and every few seconds the wind would slam into my tent and throw me around inside.  If you have experienced strong winds before, there is nothing like that sound where you can hear the slight beginnings of a wind gust and actually hear it intensify and pick up momentum and then waiting a couple of seconds and anticipating it slamming into your tent.  It is a unique experience and becomes almost harmonic after a while. I wasn’t able to fall asleep that evening but for a brief period I emerged from the bottom of my sleeping bag and when I opened my eyes and turned on my head lamp, I saw that my tent was filled up to my sleeping bag with snow that kept blowing under my rain fly and apparently through the sides of my tent.  I was able to snap a quick photo of myself and checked my thermometer which read 8 degrees.  In all honestly, that evening was true insanity being rocked by the winds and pelted with snow.  I kept thinking it would let up, but it never did.  By 7 o’clock in the morning, the wind and snow had not let up at all.  At this time we were practically being blown off the ridge.  I got out of my tent to start to pack up and noticed that my friend’s tent had collapsed on top of him and his rain fly was shredded.  It was an intense scramble to pack up and once we were back on our trail, it took some skill and luck to remain on my feet while I shoed down the ridge to level ground and back to Paradise.  I have to admit, I was hoping the weather would be extreme, and as long as I have the right gear and proper planning, it just adds to the excitement of being in the outdoors and for me makes a routine trip into a true adventure. 

My snowshoe trip to Mazama Ridge lived up to my expectations.  I am pleased to add my own experience for my fellow outdoors enthusiasts to read and I encourage you to make your own adventure. 

To Get There:

The park is 150 miles from Portland and is easy to find due to the frequent signs to Mount Rainier National Park.   From Portland, take Interstate 5 to Highway 12.  From the town of Morton, take Highway 7 to the town of Elbe and take Highway 706 to the Nisqually Entrance and follow the road to Paradise.

Be sure to visit the National Park Service website for Mount Rainier National Park to read and understand the park’s regulations, guidelines, and current road status and weather.

Posted in Mount Rainier National Park | Mazama Ridge
Tags: camping, Mazama Ridge, Mazama Ridge snowshoe, Mount Rainier, Mount Rainier National Park, Oregon hiking, outdoors, Pacific Northwest, snow, snow camping, snowshoeing, Washington, Washington snowshoeing

The Fall Mountain Lookout Cabin is a former Oregon Forest Service lookout built in 1933. The lookout is located approximately 14 miles southwest from John Day, Oregon on Fall Mountain in the Malheur National Forest. At an elevation of 5,949 feet, the approximately 25 foot high lookout tower offers 360-degree views of the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness, and the surrounding valley including the distant towns of Seneca and Mt. Vernon.

As this cabin is currently available for rental use through Recreation.Gov, my friend Christian and I planned an overnight trip to the lookout cabin. We left the first week of October, and although fall had just begun, we were very surprised to experience weather that reminded us of the middle of winter. Once we drove above 4,000 feet we encountered a fairly respectable dusting of snow. By the time we reached the lookout cabin at nearly 6,000 feet, the snow was steady and the temperature dropped down from 45 to 28 degrees. The drive to the Fall Mountain Lookout cabin can be reached along gravel forest roads by a passenger car all the way to the tower itself. However, in inclement weather, four-wheel drive is a must. When we arrived at the tower, the wind was howling and the snow was beating us as we climbed up the tower’s steep and frozen steps to the cabin.

The Fall Mountain Lookout cabin is noted as the only recreational tower in Oregon to have electricity and certainly does have its comforts. The 14×14 foot cabin has a futon, table and chairs, electric heater, stove, and refrigerator. Two can sleep on the futon, but there is space on the cabin’s floor for a couple of sleeping bags. The lookout has glass windows on all four sides offering 360 degree views of the surrounding area and a catwalk on the outside of the cabin to walk around. There is no water located at the facility or any water in the surrounding area. This is a “pack it in, pack it” out location. The Forest Service has built a very nice single person vault toilet (outhouse) within 50 feet of the cabin. Located a few distant yards from the lookout tower is an old shed and a couple of radio and electricity towers. Cell phone reception was clear as there is apparently a nearby cell tower.

Truly the highlight of the trip was the winter weather. Due to the early storm, the mountain was socked in so there were not the expansive views a lookout tower could normally provide. However, for someone who enjoys the snow and cold, there was plenty of both available and certainly much earlier in the season than expected. We spent one stormy afternoon and evening in the lookout tower and by morning it snowed 4 to 6 inches and got down to 25 degrees. Not bad for the first week of October!

The Fall Mountain Lookout cabin would make an excellent base camp for hiking or hunting in the John Day area. As it was hunting season, we saw quite of few hunters in the area. On a clear day, the lookout would offer great views for photography and sightseeing and the 360-degree views from the tower would be a perfect place to experience sunsets and sunrises, stargazing, Oregon hiking, and the many summer thunder and lightning shows that Eastern Oregon is well known for. Plus, the lookout cabin is like a giant tree house, and well, that has an appeal all its own.

To Get There:

From John Day, travel south approximately 11 miles on Highway 395 to Forest Service Road (FSR) 3920. Continue on FSR 3920 to the junction with FSR 4920 and turn right on FSR 4920. Travel less than ¼ of a mile and turn right onto FSR 492067. Follow FSR 492067 approximately 1 mile to the lookout where you can drive up to and park next to the tower. There are fairly easy to follow “Fall Mountain” signs along the way and passenger cars shouldn’t have a problem in optimal conditions. Anything beyond that, four-wheel drive is a must.

Posted in Fall Mountain Lookout Cabin | Eastern Oregon
Tags: cabins, camping, Eastern Oregon, environment, Fall Mountain, Fall Mountain Lookout, Fall Mountain Lookout Cabin, John Day, John Day Oregon, Lookout Tower, Nature, Oregon, Oregon camping, Oregon Forest Service, Oregon hiking, outdoors, Pacific Northwest, pictures, snow, Strawberry Mountain Wilderness

While backpacking in the North Fork John Day Wilderness a little while ago, I passed through the Anthony Lakes area and discovered that there are countless miles of trails in the rugged wilderness of the Elkhorn Mountains for Oregon hiking.  So I decided to return for an overnight backpacking trip to the Anthony Lakes area as the scenery is some of the finest I have seen in Oregon.  I planned a scenic drive from Portland to Anthony Lake and a short trek to Black Lake for an overnight backpacking trip. 

The Anthony Lakes area is an alpine wilderness in the Elkhorn Range of the Blue Mountains in Eastern Oregon.  The area contains approximately 15 lakes, including some of the more notable ones: Anthony, Grande Ronde, Mud, Dutch Flat, Lilypad, Hoffer, and Black.  The Anthony Lakes area offers a wide variety of activities, including hiking, hunting, fishing, mountain climbing, skiing, snow shoeing, and developed and backcountry camping.  The geology and landscape is highly akin to the prominent Wallowa area and one of my personal top destinations in Oregon for hiking: the Eagle Cap Wilderness in the northeastern portion of Oregon.  With comparable granite craggy peaks and alpine wilderness, the Anthony Lakes area is a top destination in Oregon for photography and hiking.  Additionally as the area is not quite as far as the Eagle Cap Wilderness, it is more accessible for many in Oregon.

This alpine wonderland created by the Elkhorn Mountains is situated in the central portion of the wide-ranging Blue Mountains that extend from Southeast Washington into neighboring Oregon. The Elkhorn portion runs approximately 23 miles near the Union, Granite, and Baker county lines.  With the Elkhorns being the highest subgroup of the Blue Mountains, most of the higher peaks rise at least 5,000 vertical feet over the floor of Baker Valley.  Rock Creek Butte is noted as the highest point at 9,106 feet.

Traveling to Anthony Lakes is truly a highlight of the trip.  The Elkhorn Scenic Byway encircles the Elkhorn Range and for those who enjoy an excellent drive, the very well-paved and meandering road through the backwoods carries you from the low agricultural elevations up through and to the high subalpine areas of the northern peaks of the mountainous range.  Full of countless photo opportunities, the roads lead you through numerous historical sites of Oregon’s pioneering gold and silver days of the late 1800s with trains, early pioneering ghost towns, and old mines visible from the road.  The byway also leads you to the Anthony Lakes Ski Area which is a small ski resort but boasts fresh powder and the highest base in Oregon.

The short hike to Black Lake begins at the Anthony Lakes Campground, which in turn, is home to the most developed lake in the area, Anthony Lake, at an elevation of 7,140 feet.  It is popular for picnicking, swimming, and fishing.  There is a small boat ramp and facilities in the well-developed campground with plenty of tent spaces available.  However, Anthony Lake is by no means a “commercialized” body of water.  It is small and remains fairly pristine given its popularity for swimming and fishing. There is an easy one-mile path around the lake which takes you through wildflower meadows and pockets of subalpine firs.  Clearly in view is Gunsight Mountain at 8,342 feet (the peak has a notch that looks like a gun sight), and there is a more difficult 8.2 mile loop around Gunsight Mountain which gains 1,330 feet of elevation and takes you along the Elkhorn Crest Trail.  As Anthony Lake is often crowded in the summer months, the true jewels are the other lakes scattered throughout the area.  If you have the motivation to hike a few miles, you can escape the sounds and activity at the Anthony Lake Campground and find some solitude. 

As it was rather late in the afternoon when I arrived at Anthony Lake, I decided on a short one-mile backpack to Black Lake to search for a nice spot to set up my tent and enjoy the evening.  The trailhead is well signed and easily spotted near the boat ramp’s turnaround.  The hike is fairly easy, although rocky, as it gains a slight elevation before reaching Black Lake after a mile.  The area has some prime primitive camp sites and there was nobody else camping that evening except for the mosquitoes.  It is very pretty and probably half of the size of Anthony Lake.  Surrounded by firs, wildflower meadows, rocky outcroppings, and a clear view of the back-side of Gunsight Mountain, it was a fine destination, especially given its close proximity to Anthony Lake.  As Gunsight Mountain is a focal point, photographing is best with a sunrise rather than sunset, as in the morning the early sun lights up the back-side of Gunsight Mountain with a soft glow. Trout were frequently jumping in the clean and clear water and there was plenty of wildlife throughout the area.  I would suggest that anyone planning to set up a small tent in the camp spots at Anthony Lake should consider instead a short hike to set up a tent at Black Lake for a much more peaceful wilderness experience. 

I highly recommend a trip to the Anthony Lakes area.  With dense forests, vast areas opened up by recent forest fires, craggy mountain peaks, alpine lakes, and abundant wildlife, it encompasses everything that I look for when photographing, backpacking and Oregon hiking. Along the way, the drive is spectacular, with countless opportunities to get sidetracked exploring the historical sites in the area.  Plan on visiting the small town of Granite, established by gold miners in the 1860s, where you can stop in at The Outback’s bar to have a beer with the town’s population of 24.  I encourage you to explore Oregon and make your own adventure.

To Get There:

The Anthony Lakes Campground is located on the well-paved Road 73, 35 miles northwest of Baker City, or 17 miles west of North Powder.  It is easy to follow the “Anthony Lakes” signs after taking the North Powder exit 285 from Interstate 84. 

For my trip, I chose an alternate route from Portland, by taking Interstate 26 to John Day and then continued past Prairie City and took easily navigable roads through the small towns of Bates, Sumpter, and Granite.

A Northwest Forest Pass is required (permits can be purchased at the trailhead) to park at the Elkhorn Crest Trailhead.  There are fees for camping at Anthony Lake.

Posted in Black Lake | Anthony Lakes in Elkhorn Mountains
Tags: Anthony Lake, Anthony Lakes, Anthony Lakes Campground, backpacking, Black Lake, blue mountains, camping, Eastern Oregon, Elkhorn Mountains, environment, Granite Oregon, Gunsight Mountain, hiking, John Day Oregon, Nature, Oregon, Oregon backpacking, Oregon camping, Oregon hiking, Oregon photography, Oregon pictures, outdoors, photography, photos, pictures, Wilderness