Southern
Southern Oregon is home to wild and scenic rivers, exquisite forests, captivating waterfalls, splendid mountain lakes, and the bluest water in the world at Crater Lake National Park. The landscapes of Southern Oregon are so colorful and idyllic that they feel unreal. Southern Oregon is also home to Oregon Caves National Monument, Fremont-Winema & Rogue River National Forests, and Siskiyou National Monument.
The Ariel chairlift of the Mt. Ashland Ski Resort sits idle in the summer breeze as Mount McLaughlin (9495' / 2894m) the tallest peak in Southern Oregon dominates the horizon. Mount Ashland is an amazing place. Somewhat easily accessible by car/foot in the summer, it is only accessible by this chairlift during the winter. Location: Mount Ashland
The Siskiyou Mountains of Southern Oregon glow in the setting sun. Ridge shadows give way to the evening haze. It feels like you can almost see the Pacific Ocean from here if it were not for the last bit of the Coast Range in the distance. Location: Oregon Siskiyou Mountains
If you have ever been to Klamath Falls you know it has several mountainous peaks that dominate the landscape. One of which is Stukel Mountain south of town. The Lost River runs around the base of Stukel Mountain as it carves its way through the basin floor. The most majestic place on the river is a near lake like area behind the Horseshoe Dam. On a late spring evening, I came down to those area knowing that the moonlight and Milky Way were going to line up for an iconic shot on the water. Location: Klamath Falls, Oregon
At 7532' / 2296m of elevation, Mount Ashland is a dominant peak in the Southern Oregon Skyline as is Mount McLaughlin seen in the distance. Atop of Mount Ashland sits the only ski resort in Southern Oregon. Its tallest and most iconic double chairlift, Ariel, is a skiers bucket list ride. The views from the top of the lift extend over one hundred miles in every direction possible. Here we stand on granite boulders on a clear evening looking north across the Siskiyous, over the Rogue Valley, and into the Cascade Mountain Range. In the very far distance, the peaks of the Crater Lake rim Diamond Peak can be seen. Location: Mount Ashland, Oregon.
The Siskiyou Mountains of Southern Oregon glow in the setting sun. Ridge shadows give way to the evening haze. It feels like you can almost see the Pacific Ocean from here if it were not for the last bit of the Coast Range in the distance. Location: Oregon Siskiyou Mountains
In the high desert of South Central Oregon, the Aurora Borealis danced across the night sky for several hours. Location: Gerber Reservoir, Oregon.
In eastern Klamath County, Gerber Reservoir rests quietly. On this warm April night, the Aurora Borealis made a dramatic appearance. As seen here through a fence. Location: Gerber Reservoir, Oregon.
A thin crescent moon lights the foreground as the Northern Lights dance in the Southern Oregon sky. Location: Eastern Klamath County, Oregon
The Northern Lights dance with meteors in the South Central Southern Oregon sky of the high desert. Location: Eastern Klamath County, Oregon
The shores of Agency Lake provided a fantastic viewpoint to watch a fast-moving thunderstorm travel north along the crest of the Southern Oregon Cascades in August 2022. As bats flew overhead feasting on summer insects, lighting illuminated the basin. Location: Chiloquin, Oregon
A summer thunderstorm rolled quickly through the Wood River Valley near the base of Crater Lake and the community of Fort Klamath in August 2022. On this night, I set up at one of my favorite locations along a creek to capture the passing storm. Location: Fort Klamath, Oregon
A single bolt of lighting illuminates the Southern Oregon Cascades as the sky is filled with rain on the right and fire smoke on the left. Location: Chase Mountain, Oregon
In the middle of the 2022 fire season portions of Northern California were burning to the ground. One of these locations was in the view of this fire lookout tower in southern Klamath County. (glow seen in the lower left) . Now occupied by cameras and computers, this tower once housed a couple of full-time scouts that scanned the Southern Oregon Cascades for new and fresh hotspots. Today, the tower automatically scans for new fires but still stands tall 6000 feet over the landscape. On this night, I was just outside of the river of smoke to see witness the lit tower, fire, and Milky Way. Location: Chase Mountain, Oregon
Southern Oregon is full of spectacular views - mountains, valleys, forests, rivers, and so much more. One of those special locations is the vista from Chase Mountain in southern Klamath County. On this afternoon, thunderstorms were rolling across the basin. Clouds were zooming by thanks to the high upper level winds. For a split moment, a rift opened up in the canopy allowing a bright shine of light to gleam through into the Klamath River Canyon below. I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time to capture this unreal phenomenon. Location: Klamath County, Oregon
The stars shine bright over the Southern Oregon Cascades and Upper Klamath Lake as the glow from the lights of Klamath Falls illuminates the clouds. Location: Rocky Point, Oregon
A lone pine tree sits under the high water line of Gerber Reservoir. Location: Gerber Reservoir, Oregon.
The golden sun peeks over the hills west of Gerber Reservoir in Oregon. Location: Gerber Reservoir, Oregon.
A cool crisp blue hour morning at Gerber Reservoir in Southern Oregon just before the sun rises over the horizon. Location: Gerber Reservoir, Oregon.
