MONDAY - As I mentioned in the previous post, we're a little worried about what we'll find on the other side of the Cascade Mountain Range today.
Several uncontained wildfires are burning all around the area where our next campsite reservation is. All we can do is arrive at our site and see what the conditions are when we get there.
TRAVEL DAY PHOTOS
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Just outside of Silver Falls State Park there is no shortage of Spruce Christmas trees.
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Here they perform very controlled prescribed burns to enrich the soil before planting.
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Apparently it works because this crop is very green and healthy looking.
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We are going to be traveling on OR-22 to cross over the mountains.
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We are already seeing quite a bit of smoke and we haven't reached the summit yet.
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OR-22 follows the course of the Santiam River where two hydroelectric dams can be found.
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Evidence of a devastating 2024 wildfire was all along our route today.
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It was a pretty bleak reminder of the power of fire.
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For almost a half an hour we drove through nearly the same conditions.
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We made it over the mountains and in the town of Redmond we turned north on US-97.
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Eastern Oregon is filled with National Forest land which makes for many wildfires.
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The smoke is much thicker down here in the wide plains of Eastern Oregon.
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We came over the final rise in the road before we turn off to our campsite and all of a sudden the smoke thinned and we could see blue skies up ahead.
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There is only one National Grassland in all of Oregon, but there are 13 National Forests.
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At 2800' of elevation we're camped on the shore of the 233-acre Haystack Reservoir.
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We've got plenty more room in our 160' long driveway, so stop by if you're in the area.
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We've got everything we need, including a vault toilet right across the street.
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With 5-miles of shoreline I'm sure there's a good spot for fishing.
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There is a bit of an algae bloom along the shoreline, so swimming might not be a good idea.
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If you're coming by you'd better hurry. We're only here for 2-nights!
The smoke did make for some very "softened" sunset photos out over the reservoir.
No that's not an eclipse! It's a mountain you can't see due to the heavy smoke.
TUESDAY - You maybe wondering why would we stop here?
Well, there are two sightseeing opportunities here we wanted to see and camping on a lake for $10 a night is always nice.
The first is another top notch state park, only they don't have a campground. The second is also a state owned property, but is listed as a State Scenic Viewpoint.
Let's go check them out before today's afternoon temperatures reach into the low 90°Fs.
SMITH ROCK STATE PARK AND PETER SKENE OGDEN STATE SCENIC VIEWPOINT
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What a difference a day makes! This morning it's smoky all the way down to the ground. No blue skies today!
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That doesn't mean everything comes to a stop! Life and work on the farm goes on.
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Here's a sneak peek of our second sightseeing stop for today.
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Even from miles away and through all the smoke Smith Rock is hard to miss.
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All the smoke gives the scene an eerie feeling.
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Once inside the park we paid our $12 for a Day Use parking pass.
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Closer up you can make out all the different colors in the rock.
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Hiking and rock climbing are the two top activities for this park.
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I don't think I'd want to climb up those sheer rock faces.
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Through the haze of smoke you can just make out the trail heading up the mountain.
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Zooming in you can see there are several people on the trail.
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Moving further into the park you can see the Crooked River as it winds it way through.
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You can see there are hiking trails on both sides of the river down below.
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I guess fishing would be the third most popular activity in the park.
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From this vantage point you can see the bridge over the river and the trail heading up.
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Those are some pretty tight switchbacks in that trail.
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Someone is beginning their hike to the top.
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North Point is as deep into the park as you can access by car.
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Behind this little amphitheater setup are plaques thanking volunteers who helped clean up the park after a devastating 1996 wildfire destroyed everything.
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There appear to be a few burnt trees still upright in this area of the park.
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The best views of the park can be seen right here from North Point.
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There is a helipad for rescue needs at the left side of that bridge.
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The sun is trying to shine through all this smoke.
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Back on US-97 we saw this alpaca farm on the side of the road.
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What is this? It's the bathroom at Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint.
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It's sad that they feel the need to post Suicide Hotline info before you get to the bridge.
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This short stubby wall is all that separates you from a 300' fall.
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This is the view of the train trestle bridge from the overlook.
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The old 1926 US Highway 97 bridge in front with the new one behind it.
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The old 2-lane bridge has been left in place for pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
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From out in the center of the old bridge we took the next two photos.
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To the west is the 1911 train trestle bridge over the 300' deep Crooked River Canyon.
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To the east is the new 4-lane wide US Highway 97 Bridge, opened in 2000.
Looking for our Visited States Map and Data? How about our State by State Bucket Lists or Visited Campgrounds List? If so, click on the sign below to be taken to our other website.
Just outside of Silver Falls State Park there is no shortage of Spruce Christmas trees.
Here they perform very controlled prescribed burns to enrich the soil before planting.
Apparently it works because this crop is very green and healthy looking.
We are going to be traveling on OR-22 to cross over the mountains.
We are already seeing quite a bit of smoke and we haven't reached the summit yet.
OR-22 follows the course of the Santiam River where two hydroelectric dams can be found.
Evidence of a devastating 2024 wildfire was all along our route today.
It was a pretty bleak reminder of the power of fire.
For almost a half an hour we drove through nearly the same conditions.
We made it over the mountains and in the town of Redmond we turned north on US-97.
Eastern Oregon is filled with National Forest land which makes for many wildfires.
The smoke is much thicker down here in the wide plains of Eastern Oregon.
We came over the final rise in the road before we turn off to our campsite
There is only one National Grassland in all of Oregon, but there are 13 National Forests.
At 2800' of elevation we're camped on the shore of the 233-acre Haystack Reservoir.
We've got plenty more room in our 160' long driveway, so stop by if you're in the area.
We've got everything we need, including a vault toilet right across the street.
With 5-miles of shoreline I'm sure there's a good spot for fishing.
There is a bit of an algae bloom along the shoreline, so swimming might not be a good idea.
If you're coming by you'd better hurry. We're only here for 2-nights!
What a difference a day makes! This morning it's smoky all the way down to the ground.
That doesn't mean everything comes to a stop! Life and work on the farm goes on.
Here's a sneak peek of our second sightseeing stop for today.
Even from miles away and through all the smoke Smith Rock is hard to miss.
All the smoke gives the scene an eerie feeling.
Once inside the park we paid our $12 for a Day Use parking pass.
Closer up you can make out all the different colors in the rock.
Hiking and rock climbing are the two top activities for this park.
I don't think I'd want to climb up those sheer rock faces.
Through the haze of smoke you can just make out the trail heading up the mountain.
Zooming in you can see there are several people on the trail.
Moving further into the park you can see the Crooked River as it winds it way through.
You can see there are hiking trails on both sides of the river down below.
I guess fishing would be the third most popular activity in the park.
From this vantage point you can see the bridge over the river and the trail heading up.
Those are some pretty tight switchbacks in that trail.
Someone is beginning their hike to the top.
North Point is as deep into the park as you can access by car.
Behind this little amphitheater setup are plaques thanking volunteers
There appear to be a few burnt trees still upright in this area of the park.
The best views of the park can be seen right here from North Point.
There is a helipad for rescue needs at the left side of that bridge.
The sun is trying to shine through all this smoke.
Back on US-97 we saw this alpaca farm on the side of the road.
What is this? It's the bathroom at Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint.
It's sad that they feel the need to post Suicide Hotline info before you get to the bridge.
This short stubby wall is all that separates you from a 300' fall.
This is the view of the train trestle bridge from the overlook.
The old 1926 US Highway 97 bridge in front with the new one behind it.
The old 2-lane bridge has been left in place for pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
From out in the center of the old bridge we took the next two photos.
To the west is the 1911 train trestle bridge over the 300' deep Crooked River Canyon.
To the east is the new 4-lane wide US Highway 97 Bridge, opened in 2000.
