Oregon State in the US is one of the most spectacular places on earth crafted by God’s best workforce.
If you are a nature lover and/or an adventure-seeker and happen to visit the west coast of the US, you must take time off the visit the spectacular Oregon state. For, it showcases nature at its best in the form of mountains (mostly dormant volcanoes), mountain trails, river(s), lakes, waterfalls and wide stretches of forests. Not to forget the numerous trekking trails and the campsites.
The stupendously picturesque state warrants comparison with Kashmir (‘Paradise on Earth) and/or Kerala (‘God’ Own Country’).
A recent visit to Oregon, courtesy my Fremont (CA)-based daughter, was a sort of dream come true for me. The dream was spurred by a documentary on Oregon on a TV channel some time back and nurtured by my daughter through her praises of the state.
The long drive from Fremont to Mount Hood (Oregon) — where we stayed in a vacation home – via Mount Shasta (CA) and back was an exhilarating experience. The forested routes took us along a huge lake (Lake Klamath) at some point and a meandering river (Colombia River) at some other.
But constraints of age, long drive and time at our disposal allowed me to visit only a few places in the beautiful state – including the must-see places of spectacular Crater Lake, Mulmonath Waterfalls and Mount Hood. There are scores of other lakes, waterfalls and mountain trails in the state.
CRATER LAKE: Surrounded by Crater Lake National Park, is the deepest lake in the United States, at a depth of 1,949 feet (594 m). Known for its clear blue water, the lake partly fills a nearly 2,148-foot (655 m)-deep caldera that was formed around 7,700 years ago by the collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama. The water in the lake is from rain and melted snow.
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There are two islands in the Crater Lake: Wizard Island that was formed from a cinder cone that erupted after Crater Lake began to fill with water and Phantom Ship, which has seven trees living on it.
MULTNOMAH FALLS: The Multnomah Falls is the tallest waterfall in Oregon at height of nearly 620 feet or 189 metres. The falls drops in two major steps, split into an upper-level falls of 542 feet (165 m) and a lower-level falls of 69 feet (21 m). Between the two levels of the falls is the Benson Footbridge, a 45-foot (14 m)-long footbridge that allows visitors a view of the falls at a height of 105 feet (32 m) from the base.
MOUNT HOOD: At a height of 11,249 feet (3,429 m), Mount Hood is the state’s highest point. Home to 12 glaciers and snowfields, it is considered a dormant volcano.
The other beautiful places I got to visit in Oregon were Lake Millenium, Wahkeena Waterfalls, Horse Tail Waterfalls and the Japanese Garden in Portland. En route to Mount Hood, I got to see the spectacular Mount Shasta and the nearby Sisson Meadow. All in all, an unforgettable tour.
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With a number of hotels, motels and rentable vacation homes, one can easily stay for any number of days in any part of the state as long as one desires. While there are also a number of restaurants, what is scarce is an Indian restaurant.
The generally preferred mode of transport is the car. However, if one could afford it, one could also hire a camper.