Just 31 miles west of Portland, L. L. Stub Stewart State Park offers camping, picnicking, hiking and biking. If you like trails, this is the park for you. Explore more than 20 miles of trails. Bring your horse or bicycle and spend hours exploring the far reaches of the park. A quiet spot to yourself? Relaxing is easy in the 1,673 acres of lush rolling hills, forest and deep canyons. Here's some of our photos from a recent trip for my birthday!
Dogs. Yes. On leash, but...one of the largest off leash areas of any state park with views of the coast range that are simply uneatable.
Camping. Quadruple yes.
• Car camping (better in loop "Dairy Creek Camp West").
• Hike in camping sites are amazingly secluded and away from the car campers. The hike is a graded road and there are carts you can borrow to help you transport your things. A group fire ring is used for all hike in campers.
• RV camping with horses? Hares Canyon Horse Camp is your destination there.
• Camp in a cabin? Yes. The Mountain Dale Cabin Village sits on the hilltop with some amazing views.
Bikes. Oh boy, yes. Bikes are everywhere in the park, and that's because Stubb Stewart sits at the 10 mile mark of one of the most scenic bike trails in the area; the Banks-Vernonia State Trail. This, I'm convinced, is a huge reason people like this park. A never-too-hard ten mile ride and you're in the quaint town of Vernonia, grabbing a pastry or microbrew before your head back. Easily done in a day by most.
Hikes. Indeed. The Hilltop Day-use Area with its views of the Coast Range is perfect for a family gathering. Two trailheads, one at the north end and the other to the south, are gateways to hours of exploring. Get a trail guide here.
Golf. Not really, but Yes! An 18-hole disc golf course is open east of the Hilltop Day-use Area, near the Hooktender Horseshoe Trail. Bring your own discs and score cards. Campers also can play a 3-hole course near the campground amphitheater.
Wildflowers. Where we were there in late June, there were 3 colors of foxglove and at least 3 colors of lupine everywhere.
Did you know the phrase "Happy Camper" originated in Oregon? Well, that's what we've heard...I guess that's why it's one of our favorites!
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ACCOMODATIONS
The reviews on the lodge and service were not so great, so we arrived with somewhat low expectations. When we pulled up, we saw huge timber beams at the front of the lodge and wood carvings of bears on the benches outside, where people were taking selfies. People were having fun, so thumbs up already. We checked in, with great, friendly service (contrary to reviews), and headed to the room. The room had a lot of potential with a huge stone fireplace on the back wall. It was not wood burning, but instead filled with a small electric heater. Its cord couldn't reach any outlets though. The bed was comfy, and the bathroom was doable, but if you're a clean-freak, like me, you'll find things to activate your OCD. It's no Hilton, just be warned. It's a spa lodge room straight from the 80's.
Because there is also a campground here, and there's not really any food close-by, we will surely opt to camp here next time (oh yes, we're going back). Bringing our own food and accommodations. The campground was fantastic looking, with some great sites. It is perched up on a hill behind the lodge and also houses many cabins (that seem to have better reviews). The upper tier has another, smaller hot pool, access to the McKenzie River trail, fields for play and a Japanese garden to explore. It would have been the perfect trip if we had the trailer. That said, it was still pretty magical. Read on.
GROUNDS
This place is beyond-words beautiful. The grounds are so expansive and there are so many trails that it's really easy to get lost, even within the campground. We crossed the bridge to explore some of these upon arrival. We came across many hike-in campsites that were so secluded that I'm sure you'd never even know anyone else was out there next to you...even with the leaves off the trees.
There's a secret garden, which, oddly and awesomely, they tout, but don't tell you where it is, or show it on the map. With the light getting low, we headed past the camp sites and found grassy fields in the middle of no-where, and trials that split upon split upon split. It was getting darker and we weren't too sure of where we were, so we started to head back. We ran into a huge cement turret overlooking a stream, seemingly for no reason. Then I saw a cement wall, all covered with ivy and moss, and I screamed "Hang on!". I ran past the wall to reveal the beauty of the secret garden. It's so huge, you'd wonder how we (or anyone) missed it. It's truly secret, so I only shared a couple photos.
HOT SPRING POOLS
Okay, so the room was meh, but the pools are what we are here for, right? Well, the pools are magical. There are two pools. One pool is at the main lodge and the other is up the hill with the trailer sites and cabins. The lower pool is larger. We never made it up to the upper pool, but the lower pool was perfect for us. During the day, steam rose up and the rain came down, keeping us the perfect temperature. In the evening, the pool lights change color and create a really dreamy atmosphere with all the steam rising in it's varying colors. It's a bit more mellow past 8pm or so, as the kids have gone to bed, and the day users are mostly back on the road. Adults had beverages. I asked about that, because the literature stated "no alcoholic beverages at the pool", but the front desk said it's a "don't ask, don't tell" kind of thing. So red-cup it! Don't bring glass, so much stone, and bare feet.
HIKE TO THE BLUE POOL
There are quite a few trailheads around Belknap Hot Springs if you're up for some activity. The trailhead for the Blue Pool hike is just a couple of miles away, as is Tamolitch Falls. We see a lot of waterfalls being so close to the Columbia River Gorge, so, we opted for the Blue Pool. I've always wanted to see this. Check! Easy hike along the river with a little bit of scrambling over lava flows and some puddles. Like 200 feet of elevation gain. There were people running the trail, as well as mountain biking and hiking. We hit a great sunny afternoon and the view was worth it. You can hike down below, but once again, we were running low on light, so we turned around.
Hope this helps you get more familiar with just one more of Oregon's wonders. Let me know if you have any questions I can answer!
]]>This incredibly real sighting of Bigfoot was recorded back in 2015 and submitted to Bigfoot Evidence. The submitter of this video was on his way home from canoeing in the swamps of Lettuce Lake Park. Matt thought he had first seen a bear that was making its way towards him through the wetlands. Because he thought it was a bear, he hightailed it out of the swamp and only realized what he had experienced was bigger than just a bear sighting; it was a Bigfoot sighting.
The description of the YouTube video that was uploaded back in 2011 says it all, “I was on a logging road in Ketchikan hiking with my friend when I saw it! Boy did my heart start racing!! It was about 40 yards from the road! Not sure if it knew I was there or not, because the noise of flowing water from the stream. It seemed to travel fast. You see it jump and after that point, it just seems to disappear.
“We went to search for tracks but the river bed where we thought it was walking was full of perfect skipping rocks, we found no prints! If there is a BigFoot, Sasquatch, or Kushtaka I swear I saw him!”
While target shooting out in the foothills, this family was being annoyed by a helicopter overhead nearly all day. Towards the end of their target practice and after reviewing the film they had taken earlier, they noticed a large figure run across the top right side of the video. After reviewing, the only explanation they could come up with is Bigfoot running through the trees. Watch the video for yourself and assume what you want. Just keep into consideration how tall and thick the bush was; a human couldn’t possibly take as big as strides as what was seen from a distance.
While recording his kiddos sledding down a snow-layer slope in Utah, this dad captured a lot more than what he intended. Here’s what the YouTube user johnny11 had to say: “I took my kids and their friends hiking and sledding high up in the Utah Mountains. A few weeks later as I was watching the video clips, I spotted three different cases with unexplained creatures that appeared to be a family of Sasquatch. In the first clip, a Bigfoot is seen walking away into the trees. The second clip shows a different Bigfoot watching us and then disappearing. The third clip appears to be another Bigfoot struggling to get away. We returned to the hills to look for prints, but the snow had melted.”
Even Poland natives have the suspicion and belief of the mythical Yeti. While hiking through the Tatra Mountain range in Poland, two friends said they stumbled across what they believe is a Yeti. Take a look at the video yourself. Even though the video is shaky, it’ll still make you ponder about this type of humanoid.
Although many individuals believe this video is a hoax, the students who shot this video say otherwise. While shooting a movie for a school project, the two men captured a Sasquatch emerging from the forest in the opposite direction at high-speed. Bigfoot researchers took a look at the film and estimated the ape-like creature to be running at 25-30 mph.
A group of backpackers swore they had a Bigfoot encounter back in 2000 in the Klamath Mountains of California. The group was made up of 15 individuals who found a den made up of dead trees and branches that had been torn from the roots and snapped in half. This is the longest film ever of Bigfoot and it shows Bigfoot walking down the ridgeline of a peak for about three minutes.
Over Memorial Day weekend in 1996, Lori Pate in Washington filmed, what looks to be, Bigfoot. During a hike, both Lori and her husband Owen started to hear loud animal noises coming from the forest beside them. The noises were unlike anything they had ever heard. They were vocalizations echoing from the forest. After a few minutes of listening, they tried to get all they could on film and spotted a large, hairy creature running through an open, grassy area to make its way to the other side of the forest. After further analysis of the video, cryptozoologists agreed the creature had an infant on its back. Was this a mother Bigfoot and her child? You decide for yourself.
Used as evidence at Idaho State University of the existence of the mythical creature, Bigfoot, these footprints are some that are undeniable. Anthropologists made plaster-cast molds of the footprints found in the Blue Mountains of Washington as pure evidence of this man’s Bigfoot encounter. In the video, you’ll notice not only several footprints, but a bigfoot sighting in the deep woods of the film.
This is the video that started it all - the Patterson and Gimlin footage from 1967. On October 20th, 1967, Bigfoot hunters, Robert Gimlin and Roger Patterson, were enjoying a nice day riding their horses on a trail in the Buff Creek area in California. They were out there to research recent Bigfoot reports when they themselves came across a Bigfoot. While crossing over an overturned tree, approximately 120 feet away and walking along a creek bed, there was the very creature they had been searching long and hard for: Bigfoot.
#BigfootSightings #Cryptozoology #PacificNorthwest #Sasquatch #MythicalCreatures #OregonLegends #PacificNorthwestLegends #OregonWilderness #BigfootEncounters #BigfootResearch
]]>It’s Memorial Day weekend and the weather forecast is looking optimistic in Oregon! We decide, like every other Portlander, to escape the city for a long weekend camping trip, pack a LBR Explore Oregon hoodie and hit the road. Within 15 miles, in either direction, we have hundreds of destinations and paths to choose. We head east and travel through a twisted highway lined with pointed firs, into Central Oregon. About 10 miles outside of Prineville and near one of the state’s best lakes is an outdoor mecca complete with camping sites, cabin rentals, fishing and water recreation. We post our "tent" and partake in some of the favorite things to do at Prineville Reservoir State Park.
R&R Along the Reservoir
Set within the rolling desert foothills, the reservoir offers a breathtaking panorama of Central Oregon’s stunning scenery on a large lake that hosts bass, trout and crappie alike. The water level is best during late spring/early summer and drops in late August. Prepare for stunning sunsets with pinks, purples, oranges and blues. There are many ways to get your boat into the reservoir and plenty of room for swimming, fishing and kayaking. With no speed limit on the reservoir, it’s an ideal place for recreational water sports including water skiing, tubing and jet skiing. Block the sun with a LBR Explore Pacific Wonderland trucker hat!
Crooked River Canyon Scenic Bikeway
While the drive through the Crooked River Canyon is considerably simpler, it’d be a disservice for avid bikers to leave out the new scenic bikeway. This 37 mile out-and-back ride begins at Rimrock Park and starts off flat and easy. As the path begins to narrow, you are squeezed in a rocky canyon, while taking in views of subtle color changes within the rock formation. The trail drops you into another valley of breathtaking rock formations and large trees. The River runs alongside the path to deep caverns. Suddenly the path takes an abrupt climb as you enter the turnaround with just 20 miles to go to reach the end of the route. The view at Big Bend Campground is possibly one of the most thrilling experiences of biking anywhere in Oregon, overlooking the river and numerous rock formations of varying color and shapes. Check out this LBR Night Rider t-shirt for the occasion!
Waking Up to Wildlife
Within the campgrounds of the Prineville Reservoir State Park and amongst its magnificent visual beauty, are the sounds and sights of wildlife. During the day, be on the lookout for chipmunks, deer, jackrabbits and eagles. Wake up in the early morning hours to softly singing songbirds. After laying your head down to sleep, prepare to be awakened by coyotes, owls and Canadian geese. Be sure to wear your hiking shoes when walking along the campgrounds as there are a number of side trails and moderate rocky hills to climb and catch glimpses of wildlife. You should most-definitely take a LBR tote for your snacks, camera and everything you need :)
5 Billion Star Hotel
The night sky soars above the campground, offering a spectacular view of the celestial world above us. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Prineville Reservoir gives access to a few large telescopes on Saturday Nights. Every year in May the State Park holds an annual star party to kick off the summer season. Within the observatory, you can gaze into the clear sky and view planets sharing the night with clusters of stars and galaxies without the obtrusion of light pollution. This year, Jupiter dominates the night sky and leaves you with a celestial experience not to be missed.
I've heard about this place for some time now, but since an acquaintance mentioned planning his wedding here, I knew it was something worth seeing. I'm not familiar with this part of the city at all, so we actually did one of the "Walk There" walks and started at Eastmoreland Park and then onto the Gardens themselves.
The gardens is enchanting the way that it's all in a sort of canyon, and the noise of any traffic or any clues that you are still in the middle of the city are drowned out by it's location and it's three waterfalls.
This Garden, is every bit as beautiful as our famed Portland Japanese Garden. Bring a camera, a loved one, even your dog is allowed. Share it with friends. Here's some of our photos and below is information about the garden.
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
One of the world’s finest collections of rhododendrons and azaleas in an idyllic woodland setting, Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden is a unique seven-acre garden containing an outstanding collection of rare species and hybrid rhododendrons, azaleas, and other lesser known ericaceous plants, as well as many companion plants and unusual trees.
This internationally recognized garden is a beautiful place to visit any time of the year. March through June, when the azaleas and rhododendrons are in full bloom, the garden is spectacular. A spring-fed lake surrounds much of the garden, attracting countless waterfowl to nest and feed in this natural habitat. In fall and winter, trees and shrubs add their own color and interesting structure.
Visitors stroll by three waterfalls via two picturesque bridges and wander down shaded paths to Crystal Springs Lake. Feeding grain to the ducks, marveling at the reach of the fountain spray, exploring the garden, and watching the sun set over Portland’s West Hills are favorite pastimes. Long regarded as a photographer’s dream, this tranquil setting makes it easy to forget that downtown Portland is only minutes away.
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden was jointly established in 1950 by Portland Parks & Recreation and the Portland Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. Volunteers from the Rhododendron Society, Master Gardeners, and other experts care for the plants and maintain the garden year-round.
For Birdwatchers
94 species of birds are seen in the garden, among them the Great Blue Heron, Townsend’s Warbler, Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-Back Chickadee, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, and the American Coot.
Garden Hours
April 1-September 30: 6:00am-10:00pm
October 1-March 31: 6:00am-6:00pm
Entrance Fees
• Admission is free to all from the day after Labor Day through the month of February.
• A $3 admission fee is charged between 10:00am-6:00pm, Thursday through Monday, March through Labor Day.
• Admission is free for children under 12 and Friends of Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden.
Annual Events
The Early Show and Plant Sale are held on the first Saturday in April. The Early Show is a judged showing of choice specimens of early blooming rhododendrons and azaleas.
The Mother’s Day Rhododendron Show and Plant Sale are held on Mother’s Day weekend when the rhododendrons and azaleas in the garden are at the peak of their glorious color. This is a judged showing with awards offered by the Portland Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. An exceptional selection of plants are on sale, as well as books, and free cultivating information, including pruning, is available.
Information courtesy PortlandOnline.
]]>Ok, this is a misconception that’s just silly. There is no species in their right mind that can read the mind of another living creature. The myths were developed by individuals who have reported seeing bigfoot and ultimately making a connection with the animal. They have reported feeling that the animal could see into their “soul.”
Did you know that there is a main misconception that claims bigfoot only resides in the Northwestern part of the United States? This simply isn’t true. Bigfoot lives all around the United States, but is more popularly seen in the Northwestern part of the States. There are also other species of bigfoot, including the the yeti.
As far as research is concerned, a bigfoot does not do well on a purely vegetarian diet. While their diet may consist of 30 percent of plant life, their main source of nutrition comes from animals. Researchers have reason to believe that bigfoot does the majority of their hunting during moonlit hours and that they may have extraordinary night vision in comparison to humans.
Although there have been many stories told that include bigfoot not doing much harm to anyone he sees, the creature is known to be violent. There have been multiple stories told that describe the beast as dangerous. People who have seen bigfoot have described him throwing rocks, growling, howling and doing anything in his right mind to intimidate them when all they were doing was harmlessly hiking through the woods. There have also been numerous attacks reported on cats and dogs.
Do you want to hear and learn more stories about bigfoot? We love bigfoot just as much as you! If you keep following our blog posts, we’ll be sure to tell you more interesting facts and stories all about bigfoot. In the meantime, go ahead and purchase a bigfoot t-shirt online with Little Bay Root today. We’re the #1 online store for Oregon and bigfoot apparel. Shop online with us today!
Bigfoot is a species that’s world-renown. Many people have at least heard of bigfoot, and if you haven’t, we aren’t sure what planet you’re from. With that being said, do you really believe in bigfoot? Here at Little Bay Root, we do! Bigfoot is a way of life out here in Oregon, which is why we sell unbeatable and fashionably fun bigfoot t-shirts many fanatics love. If you haven't purchased yours, shop online with us today. But back to why we’re here today... did you know that there are many misconceptions about bigfoot?
That’s right, bigfoot has had some misconceptions started about him that may not be as elusive as you know. Here are the main myths about bigfoot that you should be aware of:
While the concept of a tall, large-footed creature roaming the Oregon hills may seem silly to some (okay, most) people, we fortunate few know that the creature isn’t new or exclusive to Oregon—or the United States, for that matter. So, the next time you’re in the Australian Outback, the tundras of Nepal, or the island shores of Sumatra, you’ll know the proper (politically correct) name to address any Sasquatch you encounter.
The name Orang Pendek roughly means short or little person in Indonesian. Quite different from the hulking Bigfoot of Northwestern America, this creature only stands 5 feet tall, though most are said to be even smaller. In fact, the largest connection it shares to our elusive furry friend is just that - a thick, ape-like fur and highly skittish nature.
While native to Sumatra in Indonesia, you are unlikely to encounter it largely due to the difficult terrain and general inaccessibility of its native region. There is a large amount of credence given to the Orang Pendek, however, as long-standing native tribes resolutely claim general cohabitation with the creatures deep within the island’s forests. Other accounts come from Dutch colonialists that wrote (to some large extent) about meeting the creatures.
The Yeti is an interesting legend and considered something akin to the polar bear version of our Sasquatch. The Yeti is actually so well documented, that it is known by upwards of a dozen different names meaning everything from “snow man” to “man-bear.”
Because the Yeti hails from one of the least populated, yet oldest, areas of civilization in the world - the Himalayan Mountains - it has documented accounts, encounters, and oral mythology that date back hundreds of years. While skeptics site bears and monkeys and the low visibility of the mountains as potential explanations, there have been numerous physical specimens that could indicate there is a close relation to an ancient, bipedal bear living deep in these mountains.
The Wendigo, unlike many of the alleged Sasquatch relatives, is not a friendly creature. In fact, the Wendigo’s is typically perceived as evil. The Algonquian Tribe claimed it had cannibalistic instincts, insatiable greed, and murderous intent. With this in mind, we recommend that if you encounter a Wendigo, you should hightail it out of there.
To make matters all the more terrifying, the Wendigo is differentiated from its North American cousin by large antlers or horns and a pointed yellow tongue. Yet two more reasons to avoid this creature.
This eerily similar Bigfoot cousin is said to dwell in the Northeastern United States and as far away as the Australian Outback. Standing between 7- and 12-feet tall, the Yowie also boasts far larger-than-human feet and is notoriously evasive. Yowie accounts number in the hundreds, some modern sightings and feature video, add credence to both the Yowie and its Sasquatchian cousin across the ocean. Mirroring the fascination and discovery attempts we see here in Oregon regularly, there are numerous dedicated Yowie hunters that attempt to find the creatures once and for all.
Nothing sparks the imagination or spirit of discovery like a dive into the Sasquatch culture. That is exactly why you need to pick up this awesome Bigfoot T-Shirt. After all, those of us that believe in Bigfoot are known for our acceptance of all Sasquatch-kind, regardless of where they hang their (probably enormous) hats.
Puzzle over Sasquatch hats while checking out our Bigfoot T-Shirts today!
]]>Our obsession with Bigfoot has lead us to do a lot of studying and wondering. Here's one of our favorite bits of trivia on the beloved, bipedal man beast. Read this and you’ll be ready to identify your fave Bigfoot T-shirt in no time. Happy hunting.
Leif Ericson was an Icelandic explorer said to have discovered North America before Christopher Columbus. According to ancient sagas of his people, Ericson established a settlement in Vinland which later became the country we know today as Canada.
Explore. Represent. Wonder.
Leif and his men were on their very first expedition in the New World when he recorded this description: “Horrible ugly, hairy, swarthy and with great black eyes.” It is believed that this segment from his records describes a terrifying encounter with Bigfoot. But that was just the first sighting! Leif later recorded “seeing huge hairy men who towered over my men and me.” Also stated in his journal: “ the beast lived in the woods and had a rank odor and a deafening shriek.”
Back in 986 AD, Leif and his men called the creature Skellring. Today, the creature is most commonly known as Bigfoot, Sasquatch or Yeti. According to Sasquatch Chronicles, “the Norse word Skellring is a term of contempt and means, roughly, a ‘barbarian.’” History has shown that the Norsemen had particularly hairy beards and matted hair. Did they call Bigfoot Skellring because the strange creatures were hairier than the Norsemen? Hipsters and their facial hair!
Do you think Bigfoot exists? If so, we’d love to hear about it! Let’s start a conversation. Purchase a Bigfoot t-shirt, show your support and do some research. The mythical creature offers plenty of stories and sightings. In the meantime, stay tuned for future blog posts and catch up about the most popular Bigfoot sightings while you’re here. Questions? Call 503.719.6302.
The adult Bigfoot t-shirt is available for $24.95 and is the perfect option for anyone who is looking to let the world know they believe. It comes in a variety of sizes and is navy blue with a bright-yellow image of Bigfoot.