Farewell Fall Foliage 2012!

Leaves are coming down all over the state as we slowly start to slip into winter. We hope that this blog has been helpful to all who have followed it. We are grateful for all those leaf watchers, photo snappers, and commenters who have made it possible. We would like to help you one last time as we transition into winter with a reminder of all the possibilities that lie before us here in Oregon, because we are lucky enough to enjoy four beautiful seasons.

Eugene from Skinner Butte

Eugene, Cascades & Coast
Fall foliage is almost over throughout Lane County, but that doesn’t mean you need to head indoors.

5th Street Market

The 5th Street Public Market comes alive tonight with Night of a Thousand Stars. Welcome the holiday season with live music, performances and snow!

Many adventures await you this winter. Christmas tree permits are on at the Eugene, Cascades & Coast Adventure Center. There are also many sno-parks on our mountains. Frolic in the snow at Ray Benson Sno-Park, only an hour away from Eugene. However, if staying indoors sounds like your cup of tea, this weekend is the start of the Eugene Holiday Market at the Lane County Fairgrounds. Peruse the crafts of local artisans this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Oregon Coast
The Oregon Coast is famous for being beautiful regardless of the season. With the leaves gone, leave the foothills of the Coast Range and walk along the beach for some grays and blues. This Friday, enjoy wine and pleasant company at the North Bend Sip and Stroll. Then on Saturday head over to Charleston and learn how to Feed Birds in the Winter.

Willamette Valley
In the Willamette Valley the colors are almost all over, with some resilient stray trees here and there with remnants of beautiful color.

Albany (courtesy: Oregon Bliss)

Indoor activities this weekend include In Windsor Forest, a musical take on Shakespeare’s “Merry Wives of Windsor,” and Thoreau’s ramblings. The Oregon Coast Aquarium will be putting on Things That Fly at Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville this Saturday.

Greater Portland
Portland’s fall color is over. The Rose City will be bustling with different events this weekend. For foodie fare you should celebrate Japanese Pub Culture this weekend at Izakaya. For the more cosmologically minded, view the extraordinary discoveries made by the Hubble Telescope at the Washington County Museum.

Mt Hood/ The Gorge
Fall colors at Mt Hood are over, and the Gorge is fading, but rangers say that a trip out to the Gorge to see the fall colors is still worth it. Look forward to skiing and snowboarding at Mt. Hood.

Mt. Hood (courtesy: Jack Crocker Photography)

Central Oregon
Fall colors are over in Central Oregon, but snow season is just beginning. With ski areas like Mt. Bachelor and Hoodoo, skiers and snowboarders have a lot to look forward to.

Eastern Oregon
Fall colors are over in Eastern Oregon, but as this door closes look for winter fun in Eastern Oregon. Look for cross country skiing at places like Anthony Lakes. Also, head out to Condon on Tuesday for their Fall Festival.

Southern Oregon
Colors in Southern Oregon are fading, and locals would like to remind us of all the beauty of their snow covered peaks. Diamond Lake offers a good base camp for winter activities like skiing and snowmobiling, and it is very close to Crater Lake National Park. You can also head to Roseburg this weekend for holiday activities. This Sunday, head out to Umpqua Community College for the Nutcracker Ballet. After it is over, drive through the Umpqua Valley Festival of Lights, which reopens for the season.

Update 11/08/12

Hello and happy Veteran’s Day weekend! Fall foliage is starting to wind down all around the state, but we are still hard at work looking for the best places to see the foliage. Make sure to thank Veterans this weekend for their service, and look for Veteran’s Day events near you.

Eugene, Cascades & Coast
Lane County colors are starting to fade. Expect to get the best remaining colors at lower elevations.

Chambers Railroad Bridge, Cottage Grove

Head up the McKenzie River and along the Aufderheide to catch a glimpse of the fading bigleaf maples before the snow level drops.

This is the last weekend of the Eugene Saturday Market at the downtown park blocks. Next week, the market moves indoors for the Holiday Market. Bundle up, get your coffee to go and celebrate with the artists, musicians, farmers, brewers and staff that made this year’s market such a huge success.

Take the kids out to Mt. Pisgah for the 5th annual Play in the Rain Day. The free event includes horses, hikes, tree climbing, crafts, seed planting and more.

JJ loves fall color just as much as we do!

Oregon Coast
The Oregon Coast is starting to turn past peak; however it is still very lovely. Travelers at the Oregon Coast this weekend should make sure to listen to lively music at the Yachats Celtic Music Festival or visit the Seaside Downtown Wine Walk.

Willamette Valley
Colors in the Willamette Valley have started to fade, with winds and rain stripping leaves out of trees. However, what remains is still vivid and lovely.

Corvallis (courtesy: Visit Corvallis)

Highway 20 from Corvallis to Albany is gorgeous copper color at the moment, and a drive up to Mary’s Peak would be a great way to take in the last bit of fall scenery.

Line the streets Saturday to honor America’s heroes at the Albany Veteran’s Day Parade. Albany’s is one of the largest Veteran’s Day celebrations west of the Mississippi, attracting more than 30,000 people every year. The parade starts at 11 a.m. and winds through Albany’s Historic District.

The Willamette Master Chorus will be performing “In Remembrance” this weekend. Visit them in Salem and listen to an amazing tribute to our veterans.

Greater Portland
Colors in Portland are starting to fade. If you are in the Portland area this weekend, check out the Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival for an Oregonian lens on the craft.

Mt. Hood / The Gorge
Mt. Hood is fairly past peak, but it is still gorgeous.

Hood River (courtesy: Oregon Bliss)

Meanwhile the Gorge is just starting to pass peak, so hurry out for photos. Locals recommend Portland Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint for a view of the Gorge. Take Highway 84 East out of Portland, until you get to Exit 22 to Corbett. Drive down Corbett Hill Road until you reach Corbett, and then turn east on Highway 30.

Multnomah Falls (courtesy: Oregon Bliss)

Central Oregon
In Central Oregon, most of the leaves are now on the ground. However, a trip to Drake Park will give you one last chance this fall to see some resilient trees that continue to shine. While at the park, take a seat on a park bench and write a little poem for the passing of fall.

Shevlin Park, Bend (courtesy: Nils Eddy)

Bend will be celebrating literature this weekend at Nature of Words. Participate in workshops or just sit back and listen to readings and lectures.

Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon’s leafy trees are all but bare; however the tamaracks are still looking golden. You can find these trees in the forested areas surrounding the Grande Ronde Valley. If you would prefer to stay in a heated car, you can still see them from Highway 244, just look for the yellow spikes punctuating a dark green forest.

Baker County (courtesy: Base Camp Baker)

Travelers in Eastern Oregon should check out the Tamástslikt Cutlural Institute, which has just opened a new exhibit called “Native Kids Ride Bikes.” If a musical sounds like your thing, catch Forever Plaid at the Elgin Opera House in La Grande.

Southern Oregon
Colors are just a little past peak in Southern Oregon. Klamath Falls locals appreciate the fall colors of the Linksville Cemetery, while Roseburg residents love their town’s vibrant street trees, especially when they are contrasting the more subtle native oaks.

Southern Oregon will be taking a moment in honor of our veterans this weekend at A Salute to Our Heroes, and visitors and locals are more than welcome to join them. If you are in Roseburg, check out the Comedy Uncaged at Wildlife Safari.

Fall colors alive and well in November

What a beautiful state we live in! The fall colors are hanging around even into mid-November.

Eugene’s Ridgeline Trail is glorious right now, pure eye-candy for hikers, runners and bikers.

Hike to Spencer Butte, Eugene

The McKenzie River doesn’t disappoint with its fall foliage.

McKenzie River, Eugene

Our jaws dropped when we drove into Benton-Lane Winery over the weekend. Because it’s lower in elevation, it’s one of the few wineries where the leaves are still on the vines. The yellows, oranges and reds make the hillside come alive.

Benton Lane Winery, Monroe

We’ll keep posting updates until the leaves are gone, so keep the photos coming. Post them to the Oregon Fall Foliage Facebook page. Tweet them to @ORFallFoliage, or e-mail them to fall@eugenecascadescoast.org.

Check back tomorrow for more photos and an update from around the state.