John Day River

The pungent smell of sagebrush brought a smile to my face, and conjured up many memories of my youth.

Cottonwood Canyon State Park sits in a deep canyon of the John Day River, one of our nation’s longest free-flowing rivers.The park has 8,000-plus acres for hiking, fishing and exploring the interesting landscape.

It was a day for visiting several of the interesting destinations in North Central Oregon. I spent some enjoyable time walking among the attractions around the old ranch facilities, before taking off toward the Deschutes River.

Shearer Falls

My next stop was Shearer Falls on the Deschutes River. It lies in a deep canyon and is famous for its fishing platforms for dipnetting salmon on their trip back to upper river spawning grounds.

White River Falls

Then it was a short drive to White River Falls, one of the most spectacular state parks in Oregon. The river drops 90 feet over basalt cliffs. It’s only a short walk from the parking area. 

Friend

After enjoying the falls, I continued driving west to the little town of Friend. It has a delightful old one-room schoolhouse to see.

The Dalles

Finally, I returned to the scenic city of The Dalles which sets next to the Columbia River.

What a great part of the world to visit!