The area offers many recreational choices. Fishing and hunting are popular throughout Oregon. For salmon and trout fishing, the Santiam River flows through Sweet Home and Lebanon, less than half an hour away. To the south, the McKenzie river is also known for excellent fishing. Deer and Elk are hunted throughout the area, as well as upland game birds like grouse, pheasant, quail, wild turkey and chukar. As in most rural settings, deer are plentiful and an everyday sight and game birds are common. Elk have been observed on the property.
Boating on lakes and rivers is another popular pursuit throughout western Oregon, as is white water rafting on the McKenzie near Eugene. Foster Lake, near Sweet Home, is the nearest large reservoir.
The Oregon Cascades are famous for hiking and camping, most notably along the Pacific Crest Trail that runs from California to Canada. Mt. Jefferson, surrounded by wilderness, is the nearest Cascade peak, rising to more than 10,000 feet. Other central Cascades peaks include Three Fingered Jack, the Three Sisters, and Mt. Washington.
The nearest major ski areas are Mt. Bachelor (near Bend) and Mt. Hood (near Portland). Both offer excellent downhill skiing. Cross-country skiers have many options from which to choose.
Golf in Western Oregon is largely a spring to fall activity. Mallard Creek is an excellent course near Lebanon, about half an hour away. Other fine courses are Diamond Woods (near Monroe), Tokatee (near Blue River), and Trysting Tree in Corvallis. The area around Sisters, Oregon (just over the Santiam Pass from Sweet Home) features great courses too numerous to mention.
The Central Oregon Coast is reachable through either Eugene or Corvallis. The Eugene route ends in Florence, and the Corvallis route in Newport. Both coastal cities are on estuaries with sheltered bays, and are popular tourist destinations at all times of year. Camping, deep sea fishing, crabbing, surfing, beachcombing and golf are all excellent coastal activities. The Oregon coastline is one of the most beautiful in the world, with sheer cliffs, lighthouses, sea stacks, and sandy beaches interspersed along it.
Portland, less than two hours away, is the largest city in Oregon, and the largest city between Sacramento and Seattle. Western Oregon residents regularly visit Portland for day trips or weekends. The Rose City is known for music and the arts, diverse restaurants, and its casual lifestyle. Eugene (150,000) and Corvallis (50,000) are less than an hour away and are home to Oregon and Oregon State Universities, respectively. Both offer a diverse array of educational and cultural opportunities.
