A complete list of the best places in Oregon’s nature
By Coligny Dana, ‘22
As we enter the winter season and burrow into the darkness until spring, I want to pay tribute to the beautiful nature surrounding us in Oregon. I asked students and faculty at Catlin Gabel School (CGS) to share their favorite nature spots, what makes them special, and a photo of the place. Here is a complete list of seven places to be in nature in Oregon, according to the CGS Community.
CGS senior Caleb Cress shared via Snapchat his favorite place to be in nature. “I love the Wallowas,” he wrote. “The backpacking there is amazing and my favorite trail is this trail along Bear Creek.” Cress pointed to the solitude of this trail. He also appreciated the abundance of hikes along the mountain ranges, which give a view into the crisp and unique wilderness. “I backpacked it with my dad and we went 30 miles without seeing a single other person.” Below is a photo Cress shared of him backpacking across the bridge close to the trailhead.
Nate Harris, a CGS senior, shared that his favorite place is Forest Park. The 5200-acre park houses various wildlife, plants, and man-made structures. Harris explained he shares this space with friends, which makes it more special. “Me and my friends will go there and sniff the flowers,” he shared in an interview. “It’s a beautiful place of solitude. I listen to the birds chirping and I find harmony within the bliss.” Harris sent a photo of him walking along a bridge in Forest Park.
CGS Senior Aidan Bernard loves the ocean. This explains why Cannon Beach is his favorite place to be in nature. He explained his fondness for the coast. “The ocean is really cool and I’ve been going there since I was young. The sweeping dunes are beautiful.” Bernard’s memories of the coast bring together nostalgia and a sense of safety to signify his beautiful connection to the beach. He shared a photo of his younger self enjoying a hotdog right on the beach.
Soda Creek, a trail in the Deschutes National Forest, is the second home of George Zaninovich. Zaninovich, previously the Director of Community Engagement at CGS, expressed his love for the trail located at the base of the South Sister. “My wife and I almost got married there,” he shared with admiration. “We put three of our dogs’ ashes there, and that’s where I want my ashes to go.” Zaninovich first went to Soda Creek when he was in middle school and now gets to share the experience with his son, Burko. The quaint, secluded location was captured in a photo with Zaninovich and Burko.
Erica Babino, Assistant Director of Equity and Inclusion Team, loves to be in nature. Her niche is kayaking in different bodies of water across Oregon. In an interview via email, she wrote her connection to Kayaking. “Kayaking is symbolic for me.” She enjoys pushing her own strength and feels complete at the end of a run. “I challenge myself to paddle a little further each time knowing that it will strengthen me and if I go further, I'll have the chance to see a different and beautiful view. For me, that is inspiring.”
CGS sophomore, Abby Fisher, shared in an email that her favorite place in Oregon is Mt. Hood. “There's this one lift, Vista, that lets you see really far into the distance, and on a clear day, you can even see other mountains and the entire surrounding area.” Hood is a popular winter site for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing, but also acts as a summer escape for Fisher. “I also love going there in the summer to hike,” she wrote. “Mt. Hood has some really awesome hiking trails, and it's on my bucket list to hike the Timberline Trail around the mountain.”
My favorite place to be in nature is a small coastal town on the Oregon coast, called Neskowin. I started going with my friend and her family for their annual summer trip. You can taste the salty air as you drive in. Each year, we watch the sunset, hoping for a green flash. A green flash is a very rare phenomenon that occurs when the rays from the sun refract and create different colors. Although I’ve never seen one, it’s always exciting to anticipate and bet if we will.
In short, Oregon is one of the most beautiful places in the Pacific Northwest and it serves as an escape from reality for many members of the CGS community. From the sweeping dunes of cannon beach, to the moguls of Mt. Hood, CGS students and faculty find tranquility in the vast experiences of Oregon.