Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center

08/13/2026

🌲It's peak summer, and our expeditions trips are rolling right along! Last week, Youth Expeditions went to Mt. Jefferson Wilderness where middle schoolers explored the forest, visited alpine lakes, climbed rocks, met forest critters, and made friendships to last a lifetime. Where are you spending your summer days?

07/24/2026

🏔 Every summer, Opal Creek guides spend time scouting the best routes for our Expeditions trips. The week is spent deepening their knowledge of backpacking skills and deepening their connections to one another. All to create the best backpacking experiences for you. Join us! https://opalcreek.org/backpacking-expeditions/

06/27/2026

Adventure awaits in Oregon's backcountry — and there's a trip made for you! Opal Creek Expeditions is offering three small-group adult backpacking trips this late summer and fall:

🏕️ BIPOC Affinity Backpacking | Aug 28–30
Three Sisters Wilderness — old-growth forest, stunning views, and community

🏕️ Backpacking Fundamentals | Sept 4–6
Mount Hood Wilderness — perfect for beginners ready to learn the ropes

🏕️ LGBTQ+ Affinity Backpacking | Sept 11–13
Mount Hood Wilderness — meadows, mountain lakes, and good company

All trips are 3 days/2 nights with a 1:5 guide-to-participant ratio. Food and group gear provided — just bring your pack, sleeping bag, and pad.

Scholarships available from 15–100% tuition coverage. Everyone is encouraged to apply. 💚

👉 Learn more and register:

2026 Registration is Live! For 3 days/2 nights, adults can join us for a unique and rewarding backcountry adventure experience. Our one-of-a-kind model teaches backcountry skills, local ecology, Leave No Trace, and fun! With two guides leading a group of up to 10 adults, we offer a 1:5 guide to part...

06/16/2026

Join us this Thursday for Salem Talks Science - a pub talk where we'll be discussing the Opal Creek recovery!

Join us for our 7th Science pub with Salem Talks Science!
Jennifer Johns (Chemeketa Community College) and Megan Selvig (Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center) teamed up in 2022 to create a community science project that investigates the recovery of six culturally relevant locations in the Opal Creek Scenic Recreation and Wilderness Areas following the 2020 Beachie Creek Fire. Four years into their data collection efforts with students, community members, and colleagues, Jennifer and Megan will share what they’ve been finding in the plant, lichen, and bird communities from areas that were severely burned to areas that were left mostly unburned. Join us for an evening with lots of photos, group activities, and hope for the future!
See you at downtown Salem on Thursday, June 18th at 630pm!

🔥 all ages welcome
🔥 free event
🔥arrive early, some events have resulted in standing room only
🔥 no food or drink purchase required but we do encourage you to support our hosts at Venti's and order delicious food/drink to accompany the talk
🔥speaker starts promptly at 630pm, there will be time for Q&A and mingling at the end

RSVP helps us estimate a head count. Tickets not required

Current and previous Poster credits to creator Meghan Ferry
Photo credit to “Abandoned Structure in Opal Creek Ancient Forest, Oregon” by Thomas Shahan, CC BY-NC 2.0

06/11/2026

🏔️ ONLY 1 SPOT LEFT — don't miss out!

Attn girls & non-binary middle and high schoolers: Our Mt. Hood backpacking expedition is almost full, and there's just ONE spot remaining for an adventure you'll never forget.

Nestled in the shadow of Mt. Hood, participants will:
🌿 Trek through ancient old-growth forests
🏕️ Camp among towering giants at Hunt's Cove
💧 Splash in refreshing alpine lakes
🌱 Forage for edible plants
🥾 Day hike to the PCT with sweeping Cascade views

This trip is designed with beginners in mind — approachable mileage, basecamp-style backpacking, and a supportive group of girls and non-binary youth to adventure alongside. It's the perfect blend of challenge, discovery, and connection.

📅 August 11–15, 2026
📍 Mt. Hood
🎒 Difficulty: Easiest
✨ Ages: Middle & High School Girls/Non-Binary Youth

⚡ Claim the last spot before it's gone — https://opalcreek.org/youth-expeditions/

05/30/2026

Reconnect with Jawbone Flats this summer — and witness a landscape in beautiful transformation.

Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center is now offering Cabin & Tent Site Rentals at the historic Jawbone Flats. We have limited availability for rentals on the July 3-5 holiday weekend, August 22-23, and September 12-13. Don't wait — book before June 2, 2026 to secure your spot!

Vibrant green regrowth rises against the silver backdrop of the post-fire forest — a living reminder of transformation, resilience, and reciprocity. Whether you're returning to reconnect or visiting for the first time, this is a rare and meaningful opportunity.

👉 Reserve your stay: opalcreek.org/jawbone-rentals

05/23/2026

🏔️ Summit a volcano. Share meadows with mountain goats. Raft a wild river. 🌊

This summer, we're taking middle schoolers on an unforgettable journey into the heart of Oregon's backcountry — and spots are limited!

🎒 Middle School Backpacking & Rafting: Mount Jefferson + McKenzie River

Your young adventurer will explore the stunning Mount Jefferson Wilderness, hiking through glacial moraines, ancient lava flows, and mountain hemlock forests — all while trekking a stretch of the iconic Pacific Crest Trail. Then cap it all off with an exhilarating raft trip down the McKenzie River with our partners at Horse Creek Rafting!

📅 Dates: August 4–10, 2026
👟 Ages: 13–15 years old
📍 Mount Jefferson Wilderness, Willamette & Deschutes National Forest
💪 Difficulty: Moderate to Moderate Plus
💛 Scholarships available!

This is the kind of trip they'll be talking about for years. Is your kid ready?

🔗 Learn more & register: https://opalcreek.org/youth-expeditions/

05/16/2026

Rain or shine, Opal Creek's Outdoor School program transforms forests into classrooms, curiosity into discovery, and students into confident, engaged learners. Thank you to Four Corners Elementary School for joining us in this adventure!

05/15/2026

⛅Rain or shine, at Opal Creek's outdoor school, we transform forests into classrooms and curiosity into discovery. From day one, students learn how trees, birds, lichen, fungi and many other “forest friends” interact and depend on one another. By the end of the week, they've developed a deep connection to Oregon’s natural world.

We were thrilled to recently welcome Four Corners Elementary to our Outdoor School home in the temperate rainforests of Silver Falls State Park!