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Active Travel: Willamette National Forest

What's the allure of leaf peeping? Driving along winding roads and hills isn't really our idea of nature travel. (Plus, driving without a destination? Seems like a waste of gas that will end up hurting the very nature we're trying to see.) Maybe that's why we love Oregon's Willamette National Forest. It's the perfect outdoor play land for folks who want to check out the foliage while enjoying the outdoors, too.

Sure the signature trees of the northwest are mostly evergreens. But come fall pockets of maples erupt into brilliant reds and yellows. The best way to see them? Bike rides through the McKenzie and Santiam Passes, then a hike along one of the trailheads to the park's own hot springs. Spend the night in the woods, then get out on a stretch of the 14-mile trail along Fall Creek. It's perfect for catching rainbow and cutthroat trout. When it comes to outdoor adventure, we think the easiest way to have it is to get out of the car and into the woods.

Related Stories:
· Willamette National Forest [Official Site]
· Active Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Willamette NF]