One of the lesser known and least visited waterfalls on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge, the top of Coopey Falls is visible from a viewpoint on the Angel’s Rest Trail. However, the best view of the falls is at the base, which happens to be on the grounds of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist Convent. Not to worry though. If you ask for permission the sisters are more than happy to let you visit the falls. Click on pic for larger view.
On assignment for What’s the Soup.net, I went to the Country Cat Dinner House & Bar in Portland, Oregon this week to photograph soup. And the soup was amazing. But they also served me up a smoked steelhead Benedict with caramelized onions. Someone must have given them a heads-up on my weakness for Benedicts. Click on pic for larger, drool-inducing view.
On my way to do some waterfall hunting in the Columbia River Gorge.
Stephanie and I went out this morning to get GPS tracks of the Latourell Falls Loop hike for the Hiking Waterfalls in Oregon guidebook. This is Stephanie at the base of the falls, getting what will undoubtedly be a somewhat misty I-Phone shot. Here’s a full shot of the falls just in case you’re curious.
If you’ve followed this blog for a while or know me personally, then it’s probably no surprise that this particular cascade is Picture of the Week again. I made a trip to my favorite waterfall this week to get the GPS tracks for the forthcoming Hiking Waterfalls in Oregon guidebook I’m currently putting together. Here’s a shot from the trip. Click on pic for larger view.
The breakfast end of a B&B doesn’t get much better than this; smoked local ham, wilted fresh spinach, and grilled tomato Benedict with rosemary roasted potatoes. Click on pic for larger view.
On a recent waterfall trip to the Coos Bay area I stayed at the Below the Falls Lodge. The lodge is quite literally about 1.5 miles downstream from the Golden and Silver Falls State Natural Area. Both falls were great and the trail leading above Golden Falls was particularly unique. Low clouds and fog swept in and out of the canyon the entire time we were there, making for some interesting photos. This shot is from the top of Golden Falls, looking out into the clouds and sun as Glen Creek takes a plunge.
The hike to Sweet Creek Falls is unique. Off the top of my head, this is the only waterfall hike I can think of where the wonder and beauty of the hike itself easily trumps that of the falls. A remarkably scenic creek, random smaller falls, catwalks and a lush forest, combined to make this hike one of the prettiest I’ve done all year. Click on pic for larger view.
More GPS tracking for the “Hiking Waterfalls in Oregon” guidebook led me to Upper McCord Creek Falls this week. This beautiful double-waterfall is just above the massive Elowah Falls. You can learn more about that hike, including directions, here.
Ponytail is one of those wonderful Northwest cascades that you get to walk behind; which is wonderful. I always loved the little section of trail leading up to it, however.You turn a blind corner and you see it up in the distance. There’s suddenly a scenic creek, a lush grotto, an inviting waterfall; the whole scene is pretty damn magical. Click on pic for larger view.
Adam Sawyer 
