At 2:30 a.m. my wristwatch alarm sounds. A usual snooze button fan, I jolted awake in my tent in the valley between Broken Top and South Sister. My knees were tender, back tight and hips gridlocked ...

If you’re dreaming of a final challenging backpacking trip this summer or wanting a stunning adventure for early fall, the 22.9-mile Broken Top Loop trail might just be your answer. With emerald green ...

Central Oregon is an outdoor wonderland — a stunning landscape of high desert vistas, pine forests, rocky river gorges, and snow-capped volcanic peaks. From this crystalline lake hidden in the ...

The snow continues to melt in the mountains, and now most all high-elevation trails in the Central Oregon Cascades are accessible to hikers. As you make plans for memorable alpine treks, below is a ...

Broken Top, the spectacular volcanic crag facing the Three Sisters, has become such a popular summer destination that the U.S. Forest Service now requires visitors between June 15 and Oct. 15 to buy a ...

It seems to happen every time I ride this quintessential Central Oregon loop. Just when I think the climbing is over after arriving at Happy Valley, it only becomes increasingly steeper and imposing.