Tag: shevlin-park-bend-oregon

Shevlin park loop trail to Fremont meadow and back. Bend Parks and Recreation.

This is my second visit to Shevlin park, Robin and I chose to hike the part of the park that heads up Tumalo creek southwest. I hadn’t been here and also wanted to explore that portion of the park. It was fun going with a guide who had hiked the park several times. Robin said that this park is always different every time you hike it no matter what the weather and season is. I can’t wait to see it in other weather situations. Monday was a nice clear crisp day. A good day to get out before the weather changes.

The trails are well used and free of tripping hazards, making them usable for anyone year around whether they are hiking, biking, or with mobility issues.

Since this was my first trip I really found myself photographing impressions. like the sunlight hitting the yellow leaves of the brush under the Ponderosa Pines

the silver bark of young aspen trees after all of their leaves have fallen.

The early afternoon light on Tumalo Creek from the bridge

the red stems of brush along the creek.

Rose petals tossed into the water, maybe to honor someone lost or to symbolize a happy event.

A tamarack / larch tree glowing against the darker pine trees.

We reached the southern most point of our hike at Fremont meadow then started back to the main parking area. I photographed more impressions on the way back.

A fallen bird’s nest captured by the brush along the trail.

Horse tail rushes glowing in a spot of sunlight.

A memorial for a loved family member.

White Snowberries and red Rose hips. Fruits of the brush along the trail and food for the critters who live here.
I also noticed the different light on Tumalo creek, at different times of the day.

Looking up stream and downstream from the bridge at about 12:30 in the early afternoon,

and from the same location at 2:15 in the afternoon.


The deep shadows along Tumalo creek as the sun is lowering for the day.

We ended our trip back at the parking area feeling a bit tired after a 4 mile hike but pleased with the photo opportunities.
Like our hiking trip to the east side of Shevlin Park My camera decided to go a bit rogue. However I did catch it pretty quickly and decided to keep the shots.

I am also thinking that I need to budget for another used camera, this next year.

Shevlin Park and Tumalo Creek. A beautiful place to hike

I first learned about Shevlin park more than 30 years ago when I would go to Bend on the back roads. But I never stopped. I always meant to. It was the site of a major fire the year we were building our log house here, and always on my radar to go. However, like many close destinations I will go later. Now being a member of the Bend Parks and Rec. system, I am looking at these parks close to home and saying why not? They are close, they are easy to get to, and I have friends through the park system who also like to hike. We all need a little exercise in nature that doesn’t require a major hiking plan with permits and large backpacks filled with food, bedding. and tents. A simple way to enjoy what Mother Nature has given us and the parks and rec. has preserved.

I had shared a post about Shevlin park on Facebook and said I wanted to go hike there one day… Thank You Robin for saying ” Why not Friday or Saturday?”
Saturday dawned bright and sunny a perfect day for a little hike. Three of the four of us met at the parking lot where the Aspen Hall is, and we started out. I admit I kind of forgot to take my camera out of the backpack, I as enjoying it so much. but the sight of the yellow Tamarack /Larch tree against the green evergreens and the red willow stems was too much to pass by without the photos. I let my hiking partners get ahead and sure enough they walked through the photo (in the center of the top photo). Then I concentrated on that bright yellow tamarack.

Because I dawdled on this shot, I had to hustle to catch up with both Robin and Susan. Not that difficult for me, but unusual since I usually am ahead.
I found them both waiting for me and checking the maps downloaded on their phones.

I couldn’t resist this shot. The hiker in the back actually stopped and asked if we needed any help. We were ok they were just trying to figure out where we were in relation to the end of the trail and a couple other parks that are adjacent to Shevlin but on the other side of Tumalo ck.

A few feet further down we came to this little bridge and Robin said “Photo time” we continued on to the weir.

there was a lot of interesting things to photograph along the way

looking upstream from the dam. There is a nice picnic area there to stop and eat. We sat and rested then decided to continue on to see where the trail ends.

At about this point we were about a mile and a half out and should be thinking about the return trip. This portion of the trail was a bit rougher than the trail below the weir, and we knew that the trail ended a few more feet ahead of us so we turned around.

Susan took this shot of Robin and me, because we all know the photographer never gets in the photos and wasn’t really there….


we crossed several of these little bridges along the trail

I so loved the bright yellow colors against the darker evergreen trees.

As we were coming around the corner towards the weir I spotted this bank of yellow Aspens, I didn’t notice it as we were going up the trail


We stopped and had a little lunch/ snack, chatted and just enjoyed the sun along the creek. then headed back to the Aspen Hall and parking area.

As usual I was stopping and taking photos so got behind a bit.
I soon caught up to Susan and Robin who were sitting at one of the picnic tables outside the hall chatting and watching the families fishing on the small pond.

we sat, chatted some more and enjoyed the nice sunny day. All the while making more plans for hiking the parks of Bend Parks and Recreation.
I am ready to go again… any time.