Environmental
Federation of Oregon
P.O. Box 40333
Portland, OR 97240
(503) 223-9015
info@efo.org

Brown Bag Lunches | Ecotours & Outings Calendar of Events | Ecotips | Earth Day Events

Ecotours & Outings

To schedule a hike or outing, contact Sandi Scheinberg at (503) 223-9015.

Opal Creek, Friends of Opal Creek

Hikes in Opal Creek wind through lush groves of old growth forest, past clear alpine pools, and alongside swiftly cascading mountain creeks that contain some of the purest water to be found anywhere. A natural carpet of matted vegetation woven with fallen evergreen needles pads the pathway as it threads through towering trees, some over a thousand years old.
Location: 100 miles outside of Portland (2-hour drive)
Outing: Easy level, 7-10 mile hike
Education: Information on history and local flora and fauna
Max. # of People: 40-50 (divided into two groups) and 1-2 guides
Time Needed: Full day (6-8 hours including the drive); possible overnight hike

Cascade Head, The Nature Conservancy

Cascade Head is 280 acres of an ecologically significant area hosting rare plants, animals and entire ecosystems that were once abundant along the Oregon Coast.
Location: 100 miles outside of Portland (2-hour drive) near Lincoln City
Outing: 4-6 mile hike in Oregon's coastal headlands
Education: Exploration of a butterfly preserve
Max. # of People: 40-50 (divided into two groups) and 1-2 guides
Time Needed: Full day (6-8 hours including the drive); possible overnight hike

Rowena/Tom McCall, The Nature Conservancy

Rowena plateau is one of the most impressive viewpoints of the Columbia Gorge. These 211 acres are exceptionally diverse in both habitat and species.
Location: 1 hour outside of Portland, just past Hood River
Outing: Hike up to a plateau overlooking the Columbia River
Education: General information about the area
Max. # of People: 40 (divided into two groups) and 1-2 guides
Time Needed: Full day (6-8 hours including the drive)

Camassia, The Nature Conservancy

27 acres of land on the bluffs overlooking the Willamette River near West Linn. Several rare plant species and habitat types have been identified at Camassia.
Location: 15 miles south of Portland
Outing: 2 miles of easy terrain through a local nature preserve
Education: History of the area as well as local flora and fauna
Max. # of People: 20 and 1 guide
Time Needed: 2 hours

Sandy River Gorge, The Nature Conservancy

These 452 acres of preserve hold the last undeveloped western Oregon river near a metropolitan area. The Gorge offers low elevation, old growth Douglas Fir forests, black bear, cougar, elk and deer which live on the wooded terraces, and native steelhead and river otter that frequent the area.
Location: 30 miles east of Portland
Outing: Hike the Sandy River Gorge
Education: General information about the area
Max. # of People: 40 (divided into two groups) and 2 guides
Time Needed: half day to full day

Wahclella Falls/Tanner Creek, Friends of the Columbia Gorge

This hike follows Tanner Creek up its narrow canyon of basalt columns. It crosses three bridges to the two-tiered waterfall which bursts through a rock niche to drop 60 feet to a wide pool. Bonneville Fish Hatchery is a short walk from the trailhead.
Location: 45 minutes outside of Portland at Bonneville (exit 40)
Outing: an easy 1 1/2 mile hike through the Columbia Gorge area
Education: Lunch time "fish talk" at the dam
Max. # of People: 40-50 people and 1 guide
Time Needed: Half to full day (groups meet at 10 a.m.)

Steens Mountain Area/Oregon Natural Desert Area

Hike along a ridge of The Steens between two glacier carved valleys, the Kiger Gorge to one side and the Alvord desert to the other. This is a strenuous hike at high altitudes that offers breathtaking views.
Location: Near French Glen
Outing: A strenuous hike through beautiful terrain for the reasonably fit.
Education: Geological and historical information about the area
Max. # of People: 12 and 1 guide
Time Needed: One full day of hiking. It is recommended that at least one night be spent in the area at the Historic Hotel in French Glen. Reservations must be made in advance.