dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Want to nail down some air travel for a spring trip via PDX. I've been to the western side of Oregon in late April and in the second/third weeks of May. There was quite a difference in the leafing out stages between those two weeks. So I would really love some feedback from any of you Oregonians who could give me some idea of what to expect in either the first week of May verses the first week of June (the two dates we have available) for nice color and least turbulent weather.

It appears that neither date will afford us the opportunity to do Santiam/McKenzie Pass or much of Crater Lake--so, with those areas inaccessible, what would be the photographic appeal for the coastal region, the valley, and the Columbia River Gorge for either week? Could anyone look back at their photo dates to see when the leaves began putting color back in the trees?

Away from the coast, the waterfalls I want to include are Toketee, Sahalie, Koosah, and Silver Falls S/P. Are any/all of those settings coloring up at the beginning of May?

This is probably my last trip to Oregon so I want to see it at its best. :)

IShootEverything Loc: TN

I've never been to that part of Oregon but I have been to the south east tip and let me tell you it's ugly! as fer as weather lol it will always be raining. Hope this helps a little

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

Be Prepared For Scattered Weather Throughout The Entire Area.

Unless there would be a strike by the Weather Employees Federation of Labor - Local 32.5 & Falling. THEN there would be NO WEATHER AT ALL.

Seriously....

Most of the time so called "BAD WEATHER" can mean really great photographs.

I would Checkout the WEATHER CHANNEL On-Line or on your TV. If you are in the area - as when I am on any location for extended amounts of time, I carry a Weather Radio.

OR Just LOOK UP :-)

btbg

Tom McCall State Park on the east end of the Columbia Gorge will be filled with wild flowers the first week of June. There will be some flowers there in May, but not as many.
All of the waterfalls in the Columbia Gorge will be good in either May or June.
Your two trips will be just off for the Rhododendron near Sahalie falls and at Hendricks park in Eugene. You are a little early in May and just past the peak in June, but either one will have some color.
Crater Lake is good in May, you just have to go in the South entrance and don't have access to the entire park.
You shouldn't worry about the weather. June will probably have a little bit better weather, but the advantage of May is that if you get rain it makes the colors pop more and the vegetation that is just leafing out will be really bright.
If you go in June I would recommend that you go up the west side of McKenzie Pass and go to upper and lower Proxy Falls they are a lot more interesting than Koosah.
In the Columbia Gorge there are a couple of lesser known falls that are really worth the trip. If you can wade Oneonta Gorge is beautiful as is the falls at the upper end of the gorge. Most of the wade is shallow, but there is one deep portion just before the falls. On the same creek upstream is triple falls which is really unique. Also above Horstail falls Ponytail falls is really nice. You can walk behind the falls and can shoot them from either side.
Silver Creek falls is probably best in May, the others are pretty much a coin flip.

mjbrock2012 Loc: Grants Pass,Oregon

I'm in Southern Oregon, and expect the weather in May to be very nice. Possible rain. Crater Lake is a must. Then come over to Grants Pass and do the Jet Boats down the Rogue River. Then down Redwood Highway through the Redwoods,to the South Coast, and go up the coast through Brookings, Gold Beach, Bandon etc. Spectacular scenery!

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Actually, the rain has usually been light and brief whenever I've been to Oregon in the spring and the cloud cover makes the colors more saturated. I'm just not familiar with when the leaf season begins in the different elevations and latitudes. I'm not a huge fan of bare tree branches.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Back in May of 2007 we ended up doing a figure '8' from Lincoln City to Coos Bay, then over through Roseburg and Crater Lake, down through Grants Pass to the the Redwoods, up the southern coast, crossed over to Silver Falls and finished up along the Columbia River Gorge--and never had a day of rain! (Kept up with the weather forecasts.) That I should be so lucky the next trip out there. :lol:
And I agree wholeheartedly, storms can create the most dramatic scenes.

Japakomom Loc: Originally from the Last Frontier

June would give you a better chance of nice days. The summers are very nice!

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Thanks for all the insightful feedback btbg--you've understood my query by advising when the rhododendron blooms peak and when to see the wildflowers along the CRG. I was in the Gorge this May and didn't see much color until we got to the Zumwalt Prairie.
I haven't been to Proxy Falls--how much of a hike is it--and how strenuous?
I hate to miss going by the Dee Wright Observatory and Scott Lake but, from what I can read, the road won't open until sometime in late June. Is that opening date pretty consistent?
Never went above Horsetail Falls, but would have more time to do it on this next trip. Oneonta would be a dream shoot but I understand spring is riskier with the higher water levels.
If you look at the whole region between the coast and the Cascades, by what week would you say the leaves have reached budding stage or better?

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Agreed! I did that loop back in 2007 and even went to the Big Cats Sanctuary and the Wildlife Safari. Had beautiful weather and scenery. Is the rain less pervasive down around Grants Pass? I remember finding a delightful spot along Hwy. 62 at the reservoir full of wildflowers (picture below).
I mentioned the jetboats to my friend and think we'll make that a must-do just for fun...definitely not for the photo ops. :lol:

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

June is the only month between the months of April and last of September I haven't been there. Which region are you in? I've always thought June might be the rainiest month--no?

Japakomom Loc: Originally from the Last Frontier

I am no longer in Oregon, used to live in the Portland area. Summer was always the nicest, driest time of the year. Starting in fall and ending in the spring is when they get the most wet, drizzly days.

Here is some information that can help you on the climate.
http://portlandor.about.com/od/cityservicesgovernment/a/PDX_weather.htm

Western Oregon is a beautiful place and it is because of all the rain! Unlike the dry, treeless region I live now. Enjoy your trip!

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Thanks Japakomom, that's reassuring information in the link. Oregon is my favorite state to visit!

Japakomom Loc: Originally from the Last Frontier

Oregon is a great state, but so is North Carolina. I was just there over Thanksgiving and I love all the trees and the terrain.

btbg

Proxy Falls is about a mile round trip on mostly flat trail. It may or may not be open that early. McKenzie Pass has opened as early as Memorial Day weekend, and as late as the first week of July. All depends on how much snow and how cool the spring is.

Leaves should be budded out completely in the Willamette valley by the first week of may. The higher you go the later spring comes. The Cottonwood between Sahalie falls and Eugene are usually in full bloom by Memorial Day weekend, but depends on the year when they leaf out completely.

You will probably have more color in June for a lot of what you are looking at, but it just depends.

As for Oneonta Gorge, even if you can't get clear to the falls you can wade up far enough to take photos of the gorge itself very safely in the spring.

I know it's considered poor form to post photos on other people's posts. All three of these were taken before the first week of June.

Hope it gives some idea of how much the foliage has leafed out by then.