Sunday Funday: Hiking in the Rain

(Photo: Oregonian)

People who live in arid areas of the U.S., like Southern California, don't understand how we Oregonians can ever leave the house because it rains and rains and rains.  How silly.  Meanwhile, I am not sure how anyone who lives in Georgia in the summer can ever leave the house *wink*  But we do.  We have real lives and do things.  

Portland averages 43 inches of rain a year; the national average is 38.  Between Seattle and Portland, it depends on the year.  Seattle's average is 38 inches a year.  But Seattle rains more days with lighter rainfalls.  Portland has more rain per day, but less days raining.
Of course, most of us are without an umbrella in both cities because umbrellas are for tourists ;)

Okay now that we have that out in the open, let's get hiking!  A little rain shouldn't stop you from getting out in the elements and checking out the sights.  We would select a spot to hike around, grab a few extra towels and some water, put the harness on the pup and hit the hills.  We felt like we were unstoppable!  We also thought we wouldn't find many people along the trails. We were wrong!  It seems like rain brings everyone out.  Boy howdy.

Columbia Gorge is a great hiking place.  Plenty of trails for the kids and the dogs and you to run off some winter steam.  There are 11 hard trails and many easy children and old people like me trails.  

(Photo: Chris Henry / Kitsap Sun)

Silver Falls State Park is an incredibly beautiful hiking area, with more than 24 miles of walking trails.  The park has 10 waterfalls, dog-friendly trails, and an off-lease area but note that some trails dogs are not allowed, including in the canyon.

(Photo: bobcat)

Sometimes we simply drive over to a Portland park that we had never walked and played around through the spaces.  We live near Pier Park in the North. We were enchanted on our first visit. The park is almost all shade, with Douglas-firs, sequoias, madrones, and cedars forming the canopy.  All those trees help keep the rain out of your collar. There are over 90 acres of park that hold many interesting aspects, like moss engulfed power stations.  Conjoined is Chimney Park, an off-leash dog park.  There is now a steel truss bridge from one park to the other over the train canyon. This is part of the 40-mile regional 40-Mile Loop trail system. The trail eventually will connect Cathedral Park to the Smith and Bybee Natural Area and Kelley Point Park. Pier Park is one of my favorite parks in Portland.

(Photo: Jensen Adams)

But so is Forest Park.  Incredible hiking trails. Incredible views.   With 5,200 acres, it is one of the largest urban forests in the United States. It has more than 80 miles of trails. You can hike day-after-day and see something new each time. Overlook the Willamette River.  Hike to the other side to the Pittock Mansion.  Find an overgrown castle.  Forest Park has everything a rainy day can offer.

So get up and get those kids and pups out of the house for some fresh air and puddle splashing.  Enjoy your Sunday Funday.

And so it goes
peace~~~