Posted: Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Author: Jesica Hicks, Broker | Licensed in OR
Considering a move, but not sure where the ideal location might be? Check out Central and Eastern Oregon!
When people picture Oregon, they often think of the coastline, beaches, sea life, and warm, wet climate. However, Central and Eastern Oregon have a more varied geography and climate. These areas feature multiple mountain ranges, valleys and plateaus, deep, rocky-walled canyons, glacially cut gorges, sagebrush steppe, juniper woodlands, mountain lakes, forests, and meadows. They see all four seasons and tend to have dry summers. With this diverse climate comes a more diverse culture, for both urban and rural lifestyles.
The weather in Central and Eastern Oregon is not necessarily the ‘rainy rainforest’ found closer to the coastline. East of the Cascade Mountain Range, the topography changes from sandy and rocky beaches to high deserts. With over 300 days of sunshine, there are unlimited outdoor recreational opportunities and endless beauty.
With seasonal changes and varied geography, Central Oregon, often referred to as ‘the outdoor playground,’ offers a multitude of opportunities to recreate. Winter sports enthusiasts enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. Most of Oregon’s ski resorts are located in Central Oregon, receiving around 300-400 inches of snowfall annually. Generally, ski season starts in early to mid-November and can go as late as May. Timberline Lodge Resort, located on Mt. Hood, offers one of the longest ski seasons in North America.
In the summer, Oregon residents gravitate toward the rivers and lakes—there are over 100,000 miles of rivers and streams, and over 1,400 named lakes. Fishing, boating, water skiing, and paddle boarding are all popular pastimes. There are also numerous pristine, forested trails and parks. Smith Rock State Park, located in the high desert near the communities of Redmond and Terrebonne, offers hiking, rock climbing, trail running, mountain biking, slacklining, or horseback adventures.
Fall brings many hunters to the area in search of deer, elk, sheep, and other big game. Eastern Oregon’s Blue Mountain ecoregion supports some of the finest big game hunting in the state, offering scenic lakes and rivers, geologic features, and alpine areas. It includes the Prineville- Bend-Redmond area, one of the fastest-growing areas in the state.
Central Oregon cities like Bend, Redmond, and Prineville boast craft breweries, Farmers’ Markets, museums, music festivals, and concerts, along with many other amenities. Widely known as “the Palm Springs of the North,” Bend is home to more than two dozen golf courses!
Farming and ranching communities make the rural lifestyle an attractive option for those looking to make a change. There is a large agricultural industry in Central and Eastern Oregon. The state produces 225 agricultural commodities using 60% of the private land for farming. Between 2012 and 2021, two thousand new farms and ranches were established in Oregon, allowing the state to increase its agricultural exports each year. With such a large portion of the state dedicated to agriculture, there are various employment opportunities for residents. The Blue Mountain’s broad, alluvial-floored river valleys support ranches, surrounded by irrigated hay meadows or wheat fields. Wood products and cattle production dominate the economy of the ecoregion, but dryland wheat and alfalfa are significant in the river valley.
In Central and Eastern Oregon, you can have it all: urban, suburban, rural, and wild!
