The West Slope of the Cascades Range

OR: Southern Cascade Range Region, Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Calapooya Divide, Panoramic view from Calapooya Divide over Mosby Creek Valley (from Cougar Bend Rd, BLM 25-3-5) [Ask for #279.156.]
View from the Calapooya Divide, east of Sutherlin. [Ask for #279.156.]

Oregon's Pacific Coast is made up of layer upon layer of sedimentary rocks. Not so the Cascades! Indeed, the entire eastern part of the state, a full eighty percent of its area, is made up of massive volcanic flows, so big that they nearly cover a mountain range the size of California's Sierra Nevadas. These huge lava flows blanket the land from Interstate 5 across the state to Idaho and over into Wyoming, an astonishing event that ended only two hundred years ago — if, indeed, it has ended.

The West Slope of the Cascades is cut by gorges and canyons that become deeper and more cliff-lined the farther east you go. Only a few paved highways penetrate all the way across the range to the deserts beyond: SR 138 from Roseburg, SR 58 from Eugene, SR 126 also from Eugene, and US 20 from nowhere in particular. All are extremely scenic and lined by National Forest Service recreation areas: camping, picnicking, whitewater rafting, hiking, and waterfalls. Plus basalt columns, strange pillars of tightly packed hexagons, large and long.

 
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Lake In The Woods Recreation Area. View over Lake In The Woods [Ask for #276.902.]
Lake In The Woods Recreation Area, deep in the mountains above Roseburg, Oregon. [Ask for #276.902.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Lake In The Woods Recreation Area. Rhodendrons under a Douglas fir [Ask for #276.905.]
Rhododendrons under a Douglas Fir, in Lake In The Woods Recreation Area. [Ask for #276.905.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Snowbird Road. Forest of mature Douglas firs, thinned and cleared of brush [Ask for #276.909.]
Managed forest of mature Douglas firs, high in the Cascades Range. [Ask for #276.909.]
OR: Southern Cascade Range Region, Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Hwy 138 Corridor, View across the North Umpqua River towards Eagle Rock and OR 138 bridge, from Mountain Lake Rd [Ask for #279.147.]Eagle Rock looms over the North Umpqua River, crossed by Oregon State Highway 138. [Ask for #279.147.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades Western Slopes, North Umpqua Valley, Susan Creek Area, Wood suspension footbridge gives access to the North Umpqua Trail [Ask for #277.188.]A wood arch footbridge carries the North Umpqua Trail over the Oregon River, off Oregon State Highway 138. [Ask for #277.188.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Soda Springs. Soda Springs Reservoir [Ask for #277.192.]
Soda Springs Reservoir in the North Umpqua River Valley, off Oregon State Highway 138. The red bouys keep boats from approaching too close to the dam. [Ask for #277.192.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades Western Slopes, North Umpqua Valley, Hwy 138 Corridor, The North Umpqua River runs in a gorge beneath cliffs. [Ask for #277.212.]
The North Umpqua River runs in a gorge beneath cliffs on Oregon State Highway 138, near Roseburg. [Ask for #277.212.]
OR: Lane County, Cascades West Slope, Hwy 126 Corridor (McKenzie Hwy) (east of Vida), Cougar Reservoir Area. Dam overflow pours out of an aqueduct in a cliff, with an outflow structure from the Cougar Reservoir dam [Ask for #277.392.]
Cougar Reservoir off the McKenzie Highway (State Hwy 126); dam overflow pours out of an aqueduct in a cliff, with an abandoned outflow structure. [Ask for #277.392.]
OR: Lane County, Cascades West Slope, Hwy 126 Corridor (McKenzie Hwy) (east of Vida), Cougar Reservoir Area. Dam overflow pours out of an aqueduct in a cliff, with an outflow structure from the Cougar Reservoir dam [Ask for #277.394.]
Cougar Reservoir off the McKenzie Highway (State Hwy 126); dam overflow empties through an aqueduct cut into the side of a cliff.[Ask for #277.394.]
OR: Linn County, Cascades West Slope, South Santiam River Area, Short Covered Bridge. Covered bridge carrying traffic for a well-traveled county road. [Ask for #277.444.]
Short Covered Bridge (that's its name) still carries traffic over the South Santiam River. [Ask for #277.444.]
OR: Linn County, Cascades West Slope, South Santiam River Area, Short Covered Bridge. Covered bridge carrying traffic for a well-traveled county road. Interior. [Ask for #277.451.]
Interior of open-sided Short Covered Bridge. [Ask for #277.451.]
OR: Lane County, Cascades West Slope, Dorena Community, Dorena Covered Bridge. The Row River, at Dorena Covered Bridge [Ask for #277.477.]
The Row River, at Dorena, near Cottage Grove. [Ask for #277.477.]
OR: Lane County, Cascades West Slope, Hwy 126 Corridor (McKenzie Hwy) (east of Vida), Belknap Covered Bridge. Covered bridge being restored. [Ask for #277.478.]
A crew repairs Belknap Covered Bridge, off Oregon State Highway 126 east of Eugene. [Ask for #277.478.]
OR: Southern Cascade Range Region, Lane County, Cascades West Slope, Hwy 126 Corridor (McKenzie Hwy) (east of Vida), Belknap Springs Area, Melakwa Loop Rd (FS 2649), The Three Sisters, alpine peaks (glaciated volcanoes) on the Cascades Crest. [Ask for #277.496.]
View of the Three Sisters peaks on the Cascades Crest, near Oregon State Higway 126 (the McKenzie Hwy). Glaciers can be seen, including Collier Glacier. [Ask for #277.496.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Swiftwater County Park. Man fishing in the North Umpqua River from atop a large rock [Ask for #279.010.]
A man fishes from a small cliff in Swiftwater County Park, off Oregon State Highway 138 near Roseburg. [Ask for #279.010.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Soda Springs. Hydroelectric dam and penstock [Ask for #279.013.]
Soda Springs hydroelectric dam and penstock off Oregon State Highway 138. [Ask for #279.013.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Soda Springs. Hydroelectric penstock [Ask for #279.014.]
Wood penstock from Soda Springs hydroelectric dam, off Oregon State Highway 138. [Ask for #279.014.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Toketee Falls. View of Toketee Falls [Ask for #279.017.]
Toketee Falls plunges over a basalt column formation, off Oregon State Highway 138. [Ask for #279.017.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Wolf Creek Trail. Trail runs beneath cliffs beside the Little River [Ask for #279.032.]
Wolf Creek Trail runs beneath cliffs beside the Little River, near Roseburg. [Ask for #279.032.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Cavitt Creek County Park. "No Campfires" sign nailed to a tree [Ask for #279.034.]
"No Campfires" sign nailed to a tree in Cavitt Creek County Park near Roseburg. [Ask for #279.034.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Cavitt Creek County Park. Rapids in Cavitt Creek [Ask for #279.037.]
Rapids in Cavitt Creek, in Cavitt Creek County Park near Roseburg. [Ask for #279.037.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Cavitt Creek County Park. Dirt road through forest in Cavitt Creek Park [Ask for #279.038.]
Dirt road through forest in Cavitt Creek Park. [Ask for #279.038.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Coolwater Camp. Rocks at the center of the Little River [Ask for #279.073.]
Rocks at the center of the Little River at Coolwater Camp Recreation Area. [Ask for #279.073.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Hemlock Lake. A boat ramp on Hemlock Lake [Ask for #279.078.]
A boat ramp on Hemlock Lake, in the National Forest Service's Little River recreation corridor, near Roseburg. [Ask for #279.078.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Quartz Mountain. View from FS 27 as it skirts Quartz Mountain [Ask for #279.080.]
View from FS 27 as it skirts Quartz Mountain, just over the mountain from the National Forest Service's Little River recreation corridor. [Ask for #279.080.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Soda Springs Basalt Columns. The North Umpqua River runs underneath a cliff of basalt columns [Ask for #279.090.]
The Soda Springs Basalt Columns. The North Umpqua River runs underneath a cliff of basalt columns off Oregon State Highway 138. [Ask for #279.090.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Soda Springs Basalt Columns. The North Umpqua River runs underneath a cliff of basalt columns [Ask for #279.093.]
The Soda Springs Basalt Columns. The North Umpqua River runs underneath a cliff of basalt columns off Oregon State Highway 138. [Ask for #279.093.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Soda Springs Basalt Columns. The North Umpqua River runs underneath a cliff of basalt columns [Ask for #279.095.]
The Soda Springs Basalt Columns. The North Umpqua River runs underneath a cliff of basalt columns off Oregon State Highway 138. [Ask for #279.095.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Soda Springs Basalt Columns. The North Umpqua River runs underneath a cliff of basalt columns [Ask for #279.096.]
The Soda Springs Basalt Columns. The North Umpqua River runs underneath a cliff of basalt columns off Oregon State Highway 138. [Ask for #279.096.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, South Umpqua Valley, South Umpqua River. Rocks line the South Umpqua River at Three C Rock picnic area [Ask for #279.112.]
Rocks line the South Umpqua River at Three C Rock picnic area, east of the town of Myrtle Creek. [Ask for #279.112.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Calapooya Divide. View of the mountains of the Calapooya Divide [Ask for #279.119.]
View of the mountains of the Calapooya Divide, east of Myrtle Grove. [Ask for #279.119.]
OR: Lane County, Cascades West Slope, Dorena Community, Laying Creek. Curved bridge crosses Laying Creek [Ask for #279.134.]
Curved bridge crosses Laying Creek, near Dorena and east of Myrtle Grove. [Ask for #279.134.]
OR: Lane County, Cascades West Slope, Dorena Community, Laying Creek. Rapids in Laying Creek [Ask for #279.135.]
Rapids in Laying Creek, near Dorena and east of Myrtle Grove. [Ask for #279.135.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Calapooya Divide. View from the crest of Calapooya Divide over Mosby Cr drainage. (This is at BLM 23-3-5 Road, aka Cougar Bend Rd.) [Ask for #279.140.]
View over mountains with clearcuts, from the crest of Calapooya Divide over Mosby Cr drainage, near Dorena and east of Myrtle Grove. [Ask for #279.140.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, South Umpqua Valley, South Umpqua River. Water reflections in the South Umpqua River, in a still section lined by rocks. (This is from the FS 29 bridge.) [Ask for #279.149.]
Water reflections in the South Umpqua River, in a still section lined by rocks, with a rock balancing sculpture in the middle of the river. [Ask for #279.149.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, South Umpqua Valley, South Umpqua River. Water reflections in the South Umpqua River, in a still section lined by rocks. (This is from the FS 29 bridge.) [Ask for #279.150.]
Water reflections in the South Umpqua River, in a still section lined by rocks, with a rock balancing sculpture in the middle of the river. [Ask for #279.150.]
OR: Southern Cascade Range Region, Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, South Umpqua Valley, South Umpqua River, Water reflections in the South Umpqua River, in a still section lined by rocks. (This is from the FS 29 bridge.) [Ask for #279.151.]
Water reflections in the South Umpqua River as it flows under a cliff. [Ask for #279.151.]
OR: Douglas County, Cascades West Slope, North Umpqua Valley, Rock Creek Basin. Large tree in the Rock Creek Picnic Area [Ask for #279.153.]
Large tree in the Rock Creek Picnic Area, off Oregon State Highway 138 east of Roseburg. [Ask for #279.153.]
OR: Lane County, Cascades West Slope, Calapooya Divide, Water reflections in Big River [Ask for #279.163.]
Water reflections in Big River, off the Calapooya Divide east of Cottage Grove. [Ask for #279.163.]
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