Hiking Oregon's History

The stories behind historic places you can walk to see

By: William L. Sullivan
Copyright 2000, paperback, 320 pages
Book dimensions: 6" x 9"

Written both for the armchair traveler and the ambling hiker, this unique guidebook tells the history behind 56 of the state's most scenic historic sites. Author William L. Sullivan writes that the best way to explore Oregon's history is on foot. "On Tillamook Head, for example, you can retrace the Lewis and Clark's expedition steps through the rainforest, breathing the tangy salt air they breathed upon discovery of a sudden Pacific Ocean viewpoint. In Hells Canyon, you can hike amid towering badlands on the actual route of Chief Joseph's tragic trail of tears." He claims "this remarkable outdoor museum tells us much about ourselves as Oregonians, too." Each of the 56 sites contains an in depth discussion about the history, photographs, detail maps, ratings of the difficulty of each hike, tips on nearby activities and more. Sullivan describes seven areas in and around the Gorge, including the Bridge of the Gods, Multnomah Falls, Starvation Creek Falls and Tom McCall Preserve. If you're looking for a gift for an outdoor enthusiast, this could be your answer. Or, if you want to learn more about Oregon's history and complement your own hiking, then take one home for yourself.