Finding Your Flow in the Blue Mountains
LA GRANDE, OREGON
About 260 miles from Portland, this eastern town is one of the state’s best-kept outdoor secrets. Here, rivers, singletrack, and lonely wilderness footpaths weave through the Pacific Northwest’s lesser known mountain ranges. On day one, grab your hardtail and head to the Mount Emily Recreation Area, which boasts 45 miles of trails that are perfect for hiking, running, and riding. Find your flow on the MERA Loop, a six-mile-long intermediate option with some 1,500 feet of vertical gain. Come evening, soak in the 106-degree springs at the Lodge at Hot Lake Springs, a 15-room, 158-year-old hotel that reopened last year after extensive renovations (from $160). The next morning, order a walnut-pesto sausage breakfast sandwich at the Liberty Theatre Café, then…
