Regenerative Trip - Willamette National Forest Tour

Regenerative Trip - Willamette National Forest Tour

First Nature Tours brings you this unique and enriching experience in partnership with Global Family Travels and Cascade Volunteers!  Lace up your boots and hit the trails of the Willamette National Forest, in the Cascade Mountain Range of Oregon, where some of our country’s worst wildfires recently took place in 2020. This adventure supports the McKenzie Regenerative Travel Project spearheaded by Cascade Volunteers, an initiative to support multiple communities along the McKenzie River corridor with wildfire recovery. 

A treasured destination with outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities, such as hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and rafting, these communities depend on quality recreation sites that are currently in need of repair and revitalization.  On this Learn, Serve and Immerse adventure, you’ll learn about wildfire recovery and prevention, and experience local outdoor adventure activities, and partake in trail-building projects. Each lead by a naturalist guide from First Nature Tours and focusing on a different project hosted by a local stewardship group managed by Cascade Volunteers.

These adventures will take place over four weekends between April - September 2021, however you may also contact us for custom dates for your group.


April 16-18: Tree Planting with Cascade Volunteers, Worthy Garden Club and Operation Appleseed
May 14 – 16 : Trail Maintenance with Cascade Volunteers
August 27 - 29: Wilderness Restoration with Friends of the Central Cascade Wilderness
September 24-26: Mountain bike trail work with Disciples of Dirt

Quick Summary

Itinerary Detail

Day 1: Portland / Eugene / McKenzie River

Portland / Eugene / McKenzie River
Daily Summary

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
9:00AM - Group meets in downtown Portland
11:00AM - Additional pick-up in downtown Eugene
1:00PM - Lunch and check in at Horse Creek Lodge
Afternoon - Outdoor Adventure & Education
7:00 PM - Group Dinner at Lodge or Obsidian Grill

Evening - Fireside Session with Community Partner
(Weather permitting we’ll have a campfire with s’mores and hot beverages, enjoy storytelling about the region with a local community
organization, followed by a Q&A)

Day 2: McKenzie River

McKenzie River
Daily Summary

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
8:00AM Breakfast at Lodge
10:00 - 1:00 Service Activity (box lunch onsite)
Afternoon - Outdoor Adventure: Whitewater Rafting or Mountain Biking
7:00PM Group dinner

Evening Fireside Session
(Weather permitting we’ll have a campfire with s’mores and hot beverages, enjoy storytelling about the region with a local community member, followed by a Q&A)

Day 3: McKenzie River / Eugene / Portland

McKenzie River / Eugene / Portland
Daily Summary
  • Meals: B, L

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
8:00AM - Breakfast and check out of accommodation
10:00 - 1:00 - Service activity (with box lunch)

Mid Afternoon Departure
5:00 p.m. - Estimated drop off in Eugene
7:00 p.m. - Estimated drop off in Portland

Accommodation

Horse Creek Lodge

Horse Creek Lodge

Located in the town of McKenzie Bridge, Horse Creek Lodge is a friendly little enclave of cabins, event center and outdoor adventure outfitter specializing in whitewater rafting and mountain biking.

Why First Nature Tours?

Why First Nature Tours?

FIND YOUR FIRST NATURE

First Nature is an outfitter based in Portland, Oregon that provides professional guide services for private luxury tours of the Pacific Northwest as well as small group trips to several international destinations. We can be your personal concierge here in the Cascade region, helping you to create a custom adventure that combines beautiful destinations, exciting activities and unique local attractions to create an experience that is truly one of a kind and perfectly suited to your interests.

Sustainability

There are many facets to sustainability. At First Nature we strive to meet the highest standards of sustainability, whether social, ecological, economic, or cultural. We provide knowledgeable tour guides and luxury bio-fueled transportation to connect travelers to sustainable adventures like hiking, kayaking, cycling and rock climbing. It is part of our mission to educate each of our guests about the natural and cultural history of a place we visit together, while leaving no trace of our passage.

Ethos

First Nature aims to enhance the communities we come in contact with by connecting travelers with unique destinations that are not overrun with tourists. Destinations that welcome the economic stimulation that tourism brings. First Nature is an equal opportunity employer that encourages workplace diversity and donates to organizations that promote social justice and education. First Nature uses products that are fair-trade, local and organic whenever possible. We eliminate excess waste by offering re-usable and recyclable products on our tours. First Nature partners with other businesses that share the same philosophy