Saint Helens, OR Outdoor Activities

With more than 960 skiable acres on the face of Mount Hood, many visitors to Mt. Hood Skibowl rarely glide past the same tree twice. Named for the bowl-like shape of the mountain's upper portion, the resort uses the natural landscape to its advantage on two terrain parks and 65 trails that descend the mountain's 1,500-foot vertical drop—34 of which are fully lit, and no more than 10 of which attract slaloming polar bears at any one time. Professional skier and mountain biker Petr Kakes and his team of instructors hold beginner and advanced ski and snowboard lessons to prep students for these slopes.

Though there's much to explore on the trails—the longest of which runs 3 miles—visitors can also cavort outdoors in the Snow Tube and Adventure Park. Here, the staff maintains carved, winding snow-tube paths in two tubing parks served by a conveyor lift. An indoor playground filled with climbing structures and slides entertains children as young as 3. Seven on-mountain lodges and restaurants provide places for visitors to refuel or change into ghost-prospector costumes to scare off meddling kids. During warmer months, the slopes transform into the Mt. Hood Adventure Park at Skibowl, which boasts more than 20 outdoor attractions such as ziplines, a bungee-jumping tower, a concrete luge track, and a mountain-biking park.

Come late July, plumes of lavender-scented steam arise from Mountainside Lavender’s still and drift through the cool mountain air. As the season winds down, the farm’s experts set to work extracting the essential oils from their sole crop via the millennia-old practice of steam distillation. With more than 20 varieties of french and english lavender dotting the side of Chehalem Mountain, farmers have more than enough buds to choose from for their small batches of oil, which many prize for its calming effects. What doesn’t end up bottled may debut in the farm’s selection of handmade soaps, massage oils, and eye pillows.

In addition to incorporating the potent herb into therapeutic goods, farmers open their fields to visitors, who can gather bunches of english and french lavender varietals that burst into purple, pink, and white blooms. They also welcome guests to pause from plucking, smelling, or explaining the concept of private property to bumblebees so they can savor a picnic lunch while soaking up views of Mount Hood and Saint Helens.

Embrace Oregon’s guides spotlight the charms of local businesses as they lead visitors through sightseeing and wine tours of the picturesque historic region. Jaunts through farmlands and shopping districts entice equestrian or antique enthusiasts, whereas nature lovers bloom with enthusiasm at seasonal events such as the Woodburn Tulip Festival. Visits to the Timberline Lodge and Chitwood covered bridge preserve a rich cultural heritage more easily than freezing Lewis and Clark in carbonite. Embrace Oregon’s online magazine provides additional information for travelers seeking spots to dine, sleep, and explore.

It must be terrifying to watch 20 arrows speeding at you at once. Luckily, the only ones watching this are the yellow targets attached to hay bales in the indoor archery lanes at Archers Afield. The whoops of shooters pierce the air as they examine their targets, congratulating each other on shots well aimed. This pattern of arrow shooting and retrieving continues throughout the day, as archers young and old trying their hand at target practice. In addition to supervising solo pursuits, Archers Afield’s seasoned staff of instructors takes to the floor to bolster shots with private lessons. They teach pupils of all abilities essential archery skills, such as bow handling and how to maintain a passable British accent while robbing from the rich and giving to the poor.

Locals who frequent the nine holes of Skyline Golf Course have taken to calling it Cathlamet’s “Emerald Gem.” With its undulating fairways and scenic views of the Columbia River Basin, the course offers little to challenge this honored epithet. Designed by architect Ralph Rodahl, its treacherous doglegs and ponds have been distracting hole-bound balls for nearly half a century. Among Rodahl’s most challenging designs are two holes at par 5 and two at par 3, each of which requires golfers to navigate a fairway rife with hazards and packs of feral golf carts.

Situated near the first tee, an ample driving range allows for long-distance practice before setting off to conquer the high-risk, high-reward course. After the round, players can replenish with a cold refreshment or savory snack on the clubhouse deck, or upgrade their golf gear with a new sleeve of golf balls from the pro shop or a cyborg caddy from the future.

Course at a Glance:

• 9-hole, par-35 course
• Length of 2,433 yards
• Course rating of 29.6
• Slope rating of 106:m]]