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Rough-skinned newt
Central Oregon
Hike This Place
GPS Coordinates: 45.4641701, -125.5340955
REGIONS > CENTRAL OREGON

The Cascades are an expansive mountain range extending from British Columbia, Canada, in the north to northern California. A huge part of the range bisects Oregon from north to south. The highest peak in the range is Mount Rainier in Washington at 14,411 feet (4,392 m). In Oregon, the highest point is Mount Hood. The range was formed largely through volcanic activity and is part of the eastern end of the "Ring of Fire." Many of the volcanoes in the mountain range are currently considered dormant, but major eruptions have occurred as recently at 1980 when Mount St. Helens (Washington) devastated a huge portion of wilderness country and dumped ash as far away as Portland. 

Due to their proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the Cascades receive a considerable amount of precipitation and parts are covered year-round in snow and ice. The high rainfall supports a dense forest, particularly on the west side of the mountains, which is dominated by conifers. Ponderosa pine, mountain hemlock and some varieties of larch are typical of the forests on the drier eastern side.

Explore the Cascades:

Bend and Vicinity
Columbia River
Crater Lake and Vicinity
Mount Hood Wilderness
Portland and Vicinity
Willamette National Forest

Representative Species of the Oregon Cascades:

American beaver
Black bear
Bobcat
Columbia lily
Cougar
COyote
Douglas-fir
Northern flicker
Oregon ash
Oregon iris
Oregon white oak
Ponderosa pine
Red-tailed hawk
Rough-skinned newt
Rufous-sided towhee
Salmonberry
Western hemlock
Western pond turtle
Western redcedar
Western skunk cabbage

Suggested Activities for the Cascades:

Art
Camping
Citizen science
Climate Change Action
Conservation Projects
Fishing
Geocaching
Hiking
Photography and Video
Picnicking
Reading and Writing
Treasure Hunting
Wildlife Spotting
Picture
Picture
About Oceanscape
The Oregon Coast Aquarium's Oceanscape Network is an educational program for youth designed to inspire curiosity in science, nature, conservation and outdoor exploration while providing valuable classroom resources for educators. MORE.
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2820 SE Ferry Slip Road, Newport, Oregon 97365
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