On the last morning of our stay at the Wilson Ranches Retreat B&B near Fossil, Oregon we enjoyed a hearty ranch breakfast with interesting fellow guests. Nancy and Phil Wilson provided the cooking and the fine hospitality we had come to expect. We reluctantly said our goodbyes, each getting a big hug from Nancy. What a nice place to stay. I give it a big thumbs up!

Then it was off to the White River Falls State Park. This turned out to be another one of Oregon’s seemingly endless secret hideaways.

It’s located just east of Tygh Valley along Highway 216. The White River plunges 90 feet over a basalt shelf. A steep quarter-mile trail leads deep within the canyon to the historic hydroelectric power plant at the base of the falls. Continuing down the trail led to a second waterfalls in the deep canyon.

After exploring the offerings of the Park, we headed home with smiles on our faces. A truly nice vacation.

White River Falls

Northern Checkerspot

Desert Buckwheat

Old hydroelectric facility

Lower White River Falls

Ochre Ringlet Butterfly

Chuckar running uphill (believe me, you don’t want to race them uphill)

Sagebrush and brown Basalt

Top of White River Falls