We didn't have as much time to explore as I wanted, but here are some more photos from Maupin OR. I didn't get a photo of the city park that is right on the river and offers camping and amenities (see Maupin City link above). I had checked out dining options ahead of time and thought The Riverside restaurant looked good. Our rafting guide raved about them, and we were delighted with their great food, large plates, interesting decor. The dishes may sound ordinary, but they are anything but! They have outdoor dining, but with the temps in the 90s, we were glad to eat indoors. https://www.facebook.com/riversidemaupin All along the Deschutes River are places to picnic and camp, many with vault toilets and tables. Blue Hole has an accessible fishing dock as well. http://www.campgroundsoregon.com/oregon_campgrounds/blue_hole_campground.html https://www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/10003316 https://maupinoregon.com/activities/camping/ https://www.rivers.gov/rivers/deschutes.php
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 Adapted from "Reading, Writing, & Riding along the Oregon-California Trails: An Educational Activity Book" by William E. Hill--excellent! abt grades 3-7, depending on the child's level and how much assistance is available.
 southern portion of an Idaho state map  I set out to explore as much of the Oregon Trail as I could manage. My goal was to start from the California & OregonTrail Center at the border of Wyoming and Idaho, in Montpelier ID, then check out the Soda Springs area, and Fort Hall. I just couldn't manage all that in our week in Boise, and the California & Oregon Trail Center isn't open til summer anyway. I had a hard time finding out if there is anything about the Oregon Trail at present day Fort Hall, but at last I found some sites that mention it. See below-- California & Oregon Trail Center, Montpelier ID
Photos of sites along the Oregon Trail I have been able to visit: along the Snake River, the Columbia River, the Barlow Route overland, and the Applegate Trail in Southern OR Shoshone Falls of the Snake River, Twin Falls ID--has info about the local Native Inhabitants and more; Twin Falls and area info: https://www.tfid.org/545/Play Glenns Ferry ID-- https://www.glennsferryidaho.org/visitors/ Three Island Crossing State Park, ID near Glenns Ferry--the museum tells the stories with both sound & visuals Bonneville Point Interpretive Site, overlooking Boise ID (day area, no services, take water & desert precautions)
Idaho State Museum, Boise ID-- https://history.idaho.gov/location/museum/ Forts Boise, at Boise and Parma ID There were two Forts Boise, the older on the western border of Idaho kept getting flooded out, destroyed, deteriorated. Another Fort Boise was built in Boise, but it has not survived either. Now in its space is a large park--I didn't see any marker or memorial there. Old & New Fort Boise List of 61 Historical Markers and War Memorials in Boise, Idaho A replica of Old Fort Boise is in Parma ID; there's a family oriented day use park, and an RV park next to it. Parma has historic buildings, and one of the few remaining drive-in theaters
Rest Area at Ontario OR, I-84 (just over the border with ID) I didn't get the chance to check out the interpretive site of the Snake River Crossing at Nyssa OR, the interpretive site at Keeney Pass or Alkali Springs near Vale OR, or historical sites in Vale OR itself. Perhaps another time. But the rest area at Ontario has much to recommend it--though a welcoming center was closed when we were there (either for COVID or April is too early in the year). This is the beginning of a great series of Oregon Trail pavilions at rest stops and such across Oregon. Farewell Bend State Recreation Area, OR--26 mi northwest of Ontario OR At Farewell Bend the Snake River heads north and through Hells Canyon. The Oregon Trail sought the Columbia River to the northwest, as it bends its way west from the north. The Farewell Bend State Rec site says it offers accessible camping, cabins & yurts (pets ok), flush restrooms and showers, trails, fishing; dump station, boat ramp, and picnicking are not marked as accessible.
Weatherby Rest Area, 38 mi northwest of Ontario OR
Durkee OR--50 mi northwest of Ontario OR (exit 327 from I-84, drive Durkee Rd to Hwy 30 and turn south) Baker City OR--about an hour and a quarter northwest of Ontario OR via I-84 Oregon Trail sites in Baker City (exit 304): Chamber of Commerce, York's Covered Wagon (food & supplies), Gaiser-Pollman Park, Baker Heritage Museum, and the Old Post Office Square Park . . . at least! For more info and photos, see
National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, trail ruts access, and historic markers on the way --near Baker City OR; closed for COVID Memorial Weekend 2021, limited opening in 2020
Baker Valley rest area, near the 45th Parallel, I-84 ten miles west of Baker City OR
It's time to stop and take a rest--we have traveled roughly 1700 or so miles from Missouri/Iowa. Emigrants started their journey maybe May, when the trail was not so soggy and grass for feed had a good start. They got to Baker Valley maybe about August. Only 300 or so miles left . . . but rough mountains lay ahead, and for those who rafted down the Columbia River--that was also rough going. More to come in Part 2.
 Mt Adams from the Trout Lake Abbey, Mt Adams Zen Buddhist Temple July 1st, 2021, we took a day trip to explore our way around Mt Adams, deciding to travel Hwy 14 along the north side of the Columbia River. We revisited a few places from my previous post https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/columbia-gorge-wa-hwy-14 , which see, and got some better photos that I'm posting here, rather than try to update the other post, which is already rather long. Here are the places we saw--
Views of the Columbia River from the Cape Horn pull-out Bonneville Dam from the Dam Access Rd off Hwy 14 WA Fort Cascades National Historic Site, Fort Cascades Dr, from (Bonneville) Dam Access Rd off Hwy 14 https://skamania.org/experience-skamania/fort-cascades-historic-site-trail/ http://columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/fort_cascades_historic_site.html https://mybackyardandbeyond.com/fort-cascades/ Windsurfing on the Columbia River, Spring Creek Hatchery Rd Underwood WA Hwy 141 to Mt Adams You can take Hwy 141 north just east of Underwood and the White Salmon River, but the more picturesque and awesome route is to continue east on Hwy 14 into Bingen, where you can take Hwy 141 up the hill through White Salmon. You'll be above the White Salmon canyon with some spectacular views. The two routes merge as you continue north. For more info and photos of Bingen and White Salmon (as well as Spring Creek Hatchery and Underwood), scroll down at https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/columbia-gorge-wa-hwy-14 Husum WA 1st views of Mt Adams from Hwy 141 BZ Corner WA BZ Corners Forest Service launch site-- https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/crgnsa/recarea/?recid=30012 2nd fantastic views of Mt Adams Trout Lake Forest Service Ranger Station https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/giffordpinchot/recarea/?recid=31184 I was anxious to talk to the ranger to find out what places I could go, what is accessible around Mt Adams, and get a map. The ranger station has a window to talk with the ranger, no access or amenities available inside the building. The ranger was friendly and helpful, but it seems Mt Adams recreation is pretty much for horses, hikers, and hardy campers. We were able to get some maps and directions, and she told us where to find some great photo ops, on Lake Rd (very near the ranger station) and Warner Rd (south of Trout Lake). She also gave us the 2019 Gifford Pinchot National Forest Visitor Guide (with great info and map), and an old publication “Barrier-Free Recreation [in] the Gifford Pinchot National Forest”. It shows 2 accessible sites in the Mt. Adams Ranger District, now that I have a chance to look it over. Neither has a restroom. Peeled Cedar Tree Interpretive Trail has a compacted gravel 650’ trail max 5% grade, 5 interpretive signs. Sawtooth Berryfield Handshake Site has a 200’ asphalt trail max 3% grade, 1 accessible picnic table (nearest restroom at Surprise Lake 1 mi away). The ranger cautioned that the sites have not been maintained. From Google Maps I see an intriguing Mt Adams viewpoint further up Mt Adams Rd as it becomes NF-23 (stick to NF-23, when other choices come up) between NF-531 and NF-8810. The places I had wanted to check out from their website are accessed from other routes. Adventures for other days. Check out John Williams’ excellent video “Between the Peaks” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLqRNFBPvUU&ab_channel=ForestService  Mt Adams from Hwy 141 near the Ranger Station Lake Road, Trout Lake marsh--Note: there is barely room for 3 small cars to park, and very difficult turning around (sign warns there is no turn around ahead). If you can, you might want to walk in. Otherwise it's chancy. Warner Road & Stoller Road Trout Lake Abbey Interestingly, the Trout Lake Abbey not only features a Zen Buddhist Temple, but neo-Druid monuments. They ordinarily host all kinds of events and retreats, but those were postponed during COVID-19. We were still able to walk around and enjoy the beauty and peace of the grounds, and the views.  neo-Druid monument, Trout Lake Abbey, south of Trout Lake WA--courtesy Juli Spruill We drove back on the lower route of Hwy 141, along the White Salmon River. I caught tantalizing glimpses of the river, and there were some pull-outs to get a better look, but without getting out of the car it's difficult to see much of the river between the trees and brush. We did catch some good vistas of Mt Hood from Hwy 141, as well as Hwy 14 (especially good at Underwood and Spring Creek Hatchery--scroll down at https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/columbia-gorge-wa-hwy-14 ) Dog Mtn Trailhead, Sternwheeler paddling up the Columbia Gorge  Columbia River from the top of Dog Mountain--taken by RMT The Columbia Gorge looking west along Hwy 14--missed getting photos of the best of the spectaculuar scenes as we whizzed along, generally unprepared as chances to pull over appear suddenly. Prindle WA--Usually I'm flying by and miss the turn to get a picture of the quaint Prindle School, so when I got the chance, I took it! Somewhere I got the notion of there being a Prindle Park, but it was a challenge to find. It’s not where you expect it. It has a Washougal address, but it’s not really in Washougal, either. Between the Cape Horn pull-out and the Prindle School (Prindle Rd), Salmon Falls Rd goes north up the hill (immediately to the right is the Cape Horn Trailhead, and a bus stop). Continue up Salmon Falls Rd to Canyon Creek Rd and turn left (west). In about 2 miles Prindle Park is on the left. It's actually a Skamania county park. From Prindle WA it's only about 45 min to Portland and the end of a truly happy, glorious day!
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Wheelchair WomanI've been in a wheelchair for 30+ years. It poses some challenges for traveling. Maybe others can benefit from my experiences. Archives
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