Posted by Amy Lindsey on February 6, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Hi everyone,
I'm trying to plan a week-long photo trip to the Oregon coast and perhaps Columbia River Gorge. I would like your advice on when the best time to visit would be. I can do mid to late April, mid September, or mid to late October. I want to visit when the lighthouses aren't surrounded by tourists (like me), when the woods are green and the waterfalls are flowing, and when it's relatively warm outside. Having never been to OR, i'm at your mercy for a timeline. I've got several issues of Photograph America and a half dozen books i'm using for reference and i've been lurking on topics posted on this forum for advice on where to go. I'm also open to a photo workshop or tour.
Thanks in advance for your advice!
Posted by Ned Fenimore on February 6, 2009 at 6:04 PM
The best times for waterfalls run mid to late May - and into June.. The fall can be good, too.. waterflows will probably be somewhat lower on the major falls in the Gorge. The lighthouses seem to be always crowded with tourists - unless you shoot them early and late to capture the best lighting..
Posted by Laurie Wendt on February 6, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Hi Amy,
I've also been researching an upcoming trip to Oregon in April for about 6 months now. It seems May is popular if visiting the Gorge and the waterfalls. I've also read the coast would be good in mid-late Sept. thru 1st week of October.
I've choose April 18-25 for my trip. I want to try and hit the fruit trees blooming in the Hood River area. Hood River has their Blossom Festival April 18-19. Maybe get some shots of Mt. Hood with them in the foreground. I'm also going to check out some wildflower locations near Hood River. Then I'm heading to Florence and areas south on the coast. With a stop in Silver Falls State Park either on my way south or on my way back to Portland. I've found lodging prices were much cheaper in April so that also helped me decide to come in April. If you decide to visit Oregon when I'm there, if your interested, we could try and meet up.
The book "The Photographer's Guide to the Oregon Coast" by David Middleton and Ron Barbee has been very helpful with finding good coast locations to shoot.
No matter when you decide to come to Oregon, there will always be plenty of things to photograph. The bad news is that April is a little early for the best spring conditions in the Gorge. The coast in April can be pretty fun to shoot. There are usually plenty of rainstorms broken by short doses of sun that can make some awesome light. Usually by late april the coastal wildflowers are starting to show up. It might be possible to catch some Lupine, Trillium, and wild Iris. As for september, that would be my third choice of your possible timeframes. It's going to be early for fall colors, and most likely foggy on the coast. Late October this year was awesome for fall color. One of the best years that I can recall. The Coast in the late fall is always great. Its a fun time to be on the beach with fairly warm weather, yet still the having possiblity of big wave action and dramatic storm clouds.
So to sum it all up, it would be a toss up between late April or late October. It really depends on whether you'd rather catch waterfalls and wildflowers, or warmer weather and fall colors. I'd probably skip September if I had to cut one of those months out. Good luck, and have fun!
I'd also agree on the book Laurie mentioned. It's a pretty good jumpstart to the coast, covering most of the major stuff in pretty decent detail, although I have found a few mixups in driving directions for a few locations. No big deal though.
Posted by John Williams on February 8, 2009 at 10:01 PM
While Aaron's correct about the west end of the gorge, the east end can be spectacular in late April. As always flowers vary from year to year, but the eastern gorge can have amazing spreads of balsamroot and lupine in April. If I had to choose only one place to photograph, it would be that area and that time of year.
From Hood River it would be an easy drive (albeit an early start) to catch the sunrise from Rowena Crest, have brunch in The Dalles, and then head over to drive the Dalles Mt. Road up to the crest of the Columbia Hills. If you scout the whole way up, you can do a late picnic lunch at the top with spectacular views of Mt. Adams to the northwest and Mt. Hood to the southwest, and then head back down to photograph the areas that looked best on the way up in evening prime time.
Above is an example from April 23, 2006. (This photo has a lot of issues, but demonstrates the flower show well.)
Posted by Greg Vaughn on February 9, 2009 at 2:02 AM
Another vote for the end of April, and John's photo shows another reason beyond the wildflowers - lots of snow on Mount Hood, whereas in September and possibly October most of the snow will be gone and the mountain just isn't as pretty then. It makes a great backdrop for some Gorge views as well as the blossoming orchards in Hood River Valley.
Depending on the winter-spring weather, late April can be very good in the waterfall area of the Gorge, too. Plenty of flow in the streams and the deciduous trees should show some green, even if they're not in full leaf.
The coast should be very nice in April, also, as Aaron mentions. Just keep in mind that in April, all over the Pacific Northwest, the weather changes frequently and rapidly.
RE: your mention of interest in a tour or workshop - I know there are at least three members of this forum that lead photo tours in Oregon, so hopefully you've had some response about that.
Perhaps a little late for you in planning this trip, but in early April a new guidebook will be available. Check your bookstore or Amazon.com for "Photographing Oregon" from publisher PhotoTripUSA.
Discussion
6 repliesI'm trying to plan a week-long photo trip to the Oregon coast and perhaps Columbia River Gorge. I would like your advice on when the best time to visit would be. I can do mid to late April, mid September, or mid to late October. I want to visit when the lighthouses aren't surrounded by tourists (like me), when the woods are green and the waterfalls are flowing, and when it's relatively warm outside. Having never been to OR, i'm at your mercy for a timeline. I've got several issues of Photograph America and a half dozen books i'm using for reference and i've been lurking on topics posted on this forum for advice on where to go. I'm also open to a photo workshop or tour.
Thanks in advance for your advice!
I've also been researching an upcoming trip to Oregon in April for about 6 months now. It seems May is popular if visiting the Gorge and the waterfalls. I've also read the coast would be good in mid-late Sept. thru 1st week of October.
I've choose April 18-25 for my trip. I want to try and hit the fruit trees blooming in the Hood River area. Hood River has their Blossom Festival April 18-19. Maybe get some shots of Mt. Hood with them in the foreground. I'm also going to check out some wildflower locations near Hood River. Then I'm heading to Florence and areas south on the coast. With a stop in Silver Falls State Park either on my way south or on my way back to Portland. I've found lodging prices were much cheaper in April so that also helped me decide to come in April. If you decide to visit Oregon when I'm there, if your interested, we could try and meet up.
The book "The Photographer's Guide to the Oregon Coast" by David Middleton and Ron Barbee has been very helpful with finding good coast locations to shoot.
So to sum it all up, it would be a toss up between late April or late October. It really depends on whether you'd rather catch waterfalls and wildflowers, or warmer weather and fall colors. I'd probably skip September if I had to cut one of those months out. Good luck, and have fun!
From Hood River it would be an easy drive (albeit an early start) to catch the sunrise from Rowena Crest, have brunch in The Dalles, and then head over to drive the Dalles Mt. Road up to the crest of the Columbia Hills. If you scout the whole way up, you can do a late picnic lunch at the top with spectacular views of Mt. Adams to the northwest and Mt. Hood to the southwest, and then head back down to photograph the areas that looked best on the way up in evening prime time.
Above is an example from April 23, 2006. (This photo has a lot of issues, but demonstrates the flower show well.)
Depending on the winter-spring weather, late April can be very good in the waterfall area of the Gorge, too. Plenty of flow in the streams and the deciduous trees should show some green, even if they're not in full leaf.
The coast should be very nice in April, also, as Aaron mentions. Just keep in mind that in April, all over the Pacific Northwest, the weather changes frequently and rapidly.
RE: your mention of interest in a tour or workshop - I know there are at least three members of this forum that lead photo tours in Oregon, so hopefully you've had some response about that.
Perhaps a little late for you in planning this trip, but in early April a new guidebook will be available. Check your bookstore or Amazon.com for "Photographing Oregon" from publisher PhotoTripUSA.