Wasco County

Wild balsamroot flowers, overlooking the Columbia River.

Rowena Crest, once known as "Rowena Bluffs", is the high point on the Oregon side of the Rowena Gap, and is located along the Historic Columbia River Highway at Columbia River Mile (RM) 180.5. Rowena Crest is part of Oregon's Mayer State Park. Downstream is Tom McCall Nature Preserve. Parking at the top of the crest provides spectacular views of the Columbia River, Mayer State Park, and across to Lyle, Washington and the mouth of the Klickitat River.

The 271 acres is located on the Rowena Plateau high above the Rowena Dell, which leads directly into the Columbia River Gorge. The plateau is covered in wildflowers, including lupine and balsamroot. There are even varieties of wildflowers here that are unique to the Gorge!

The wildflowers appear from late February to June, although they are in their prime in April and May.

Celestial Falls is the second step of the major falls of the White River, and was formerly considered to be part of White River Falls itself. The falls drop 41 feet over a uniform ledge, plunging into a large pool at the base of the formation, with White River Falls visible just 180 linear feet upstream. The falls feel oddly out of place in the gently undulating foothills on the east side of the Cascades near the town of Maupin. The White River originates on Mount Hood some 40 miles upstream, gathering lots of smaller tributaries as it rolls downhill towards its confluence with the Deschutes River. By the time it reaches the Tygh Valley its a fairly substantial river.

Frog Lake Campground is located east of Government Camp on Mount Hood just off of Highway 26. While it is not far from the highway it is shielded well from engine noise and is named after the many, many frogs that make this area their home. The southside of the lake has a nice little picnic day use area that delivers amazing views of Mount Hood. Frog Lake provides several activities including fishing, hiking and swimming. The lake sits at an elevation of 3800 feet.

It's a mystery to me just how that lavender became so pronounced when I posted it here on Flickr. On my regular photo program on my computer the lavender is more pale.

The Deschutes (deh-Shoots) River is a major tributary of the Columbia River. The river provides much of the drainage on the eastern side of the Cascade Range in Oregon, gathering many of the tributaries that descend from the drier, eastern flank of the mountains. The Deschutes provided an important route to and from the Columbia for Native Americans for thousands of years, and then in the 19th century for pioneers on the Oregon Trail. The river flows mostly through rugged and arid country, and its valley provides a cultural heart for central Oregon.