Faith Cathcart/The Oregonian
by Jamie Hale, The Oregonian | OregonLive
Still looking for a spot? See an updated list here: 20 last-minute places to stay for the solar eclipse in Oregon
Let me start by saying that “17 places” to watch this year’s total solar eclipse in Oregon is a little misleading. The truth is, there are dozens of places to see the rare cosmic event, from big music festivals to little state parks. This list is an attempt at corralling all those happenings into 17 groups, giving those of you without plans the chance to make them – and you should probably make them as soon as possible.
The eclipse is happening on Monday, Aug. 21, beginning at about 9 a.m. and reaching totality about 10:15 a.m. State officials expect some 1 million people to flood into Oregon for the eclipse, a mass gathering that will undoubtedly lead to clogged roadways, packed cities and overflowing campgrounds. Those traveling to the path of totality may want to plan ahead, and consider camping out for the weekend to avoid the crowds.
And if you're still wondering what this eclipse business is all about, here are 7 things you need to know about the 2017 solar eclipse.
Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
1. Campgrounds
If you haven't already booked a campsite for the eclipse, expect to scrap for one in the days or weeks leading up to it. It appears that all reservable campgrounds in the path of totality – at Oregon state parks, national forests and other public parks – have been booked. There are, however, a lot of first-come, first-served sites in the path, which should see some turf wars once we enter the 14-day maximum period for holding down a campsite.
2. State parks
There are a lot of Oregon state parks in the path of the eclipse, and most appear to be doing some kind of programming for visitors. Details will come out as we get closer to August, but plan on some kind of happenings at parks like The Cove Palisades, Silver Falls, Beverly Beach, Smith Rock and others.
3. Public land
This being Oregon, there’s plenty of public land in the path of the eclipse, including eight national forests, more than 50 state park sites, one national monument and small areas run by the Bureau of Land Management – that’s not including many city and county parks, too. Access to the land might be tricky, as some agencies will try to manage crowds to minimize the environmental impact.
4. Big festivals
There will be eclipse festivals galore in Oregon come August. Most will run for the weekend prior to the actual eclipse, and will pair live music and other festivities with the cosmic event. Here are some of the big ones:
Oregon Eclipse festival featuring music from Bassnectar, String Cheese Incident and some 300 other acts; Moonshadow Festival on a traditional western ranch; Total Eclipse of the Garden at the Oregon Garden in Silverton; a festival with camping at the Sublimity Festival Grounds near Salem; a big gathering at Marys Peak in the Siuslaw National Forest; and the annual Bi-Mart Willamette Country Music Festival which is tacking on an eclipse event on the Monday after it wraps.
Michael Lloyd/The Oregonian
5. Salem
There will be several events happening in the Oregon's capital, including a big event at the state fairgrounds hosted by OMSI (sold out), a viewing at the airport and a gathering at the capitol mall during the eclipse.
6. Madras
Hailed as one of the best places in the U.S. to see the eclipse, Madras is expecting to be packed as it hosts its own Oregon Solar Fest, a big event complete with camping, glamping, live music, scientific information courtesy of NASA and even hot air balloon rides.
7. Oregon coast
The first landfall of the 2017 eclipse will be at the Oregon coast, where the center of the path of totality will hit Boiler Bay. Expect smaller events in the coastal towns of Pacific City, Lincoln City, Depoe Bay and Newport, but lots of traffic as people travel down the two-lane Highway 101
8. Dallas
The town of Dallas is going all out for its four-day 2017 Total Eclipse event, bringing live music, vendors, guest speakers and eclipse-themed movies to the Polk County Courthouse lawn.
9. Corvallis
Corvallis scored major points early with an excellent name for its eclipse event – Total Eclipse of the Heart of the Valley – and while the details are a little less epic than the original name implied, it sounds like a good time. There will be three days of camping at the Crystal Lake Sports Fields, with live entertainment, disc golf and a beer garden courtesy of Block 15 Brewing Company and 2 Towns Ciderhouse.
Courtesy of the National Park Service
10. John Day Fossil Beds
Where better to see a cosmic event than at the otherworldly John Day Fossil Beds? The national monument in central Oregon will be gorgeous, but has a high potential for chaos, as almost all campgrounds in the vicinity are first-come, first-served. There are no details yet on the weekend's events, but the National Park Service has already made a great looking poster.
11. Independence
A five-day festival, Indy Goes Dark, will take over little Independence for the solar eclipse, hosting live music, beer and wine festivals, and outdoor excursions over the weekend, culminating in an eclipse viewing narrated by Dr. Melinda Shimizu from Western Oregon University.
12. Baker City
Baker City was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the 1918 total solar eclipse, when the town hosted a team from the U.S. Naval Observatory to see it. This year, Baker City will host several events, including happenings at Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort, the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center and Farewell Bend State Park, where visitors can also attend the annual Pioneer Days Celebration.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff/The Oregonian
13. Wineries
The path of totality will cross over part of Willamette Valley wine country, and you better believe local wineries are getting on board. You can attend special events at Eola Hills, Willamette Valley Vineyards, Brooks Winery, Arcane Cellars, Left Coast Cellars, Coria Estates, St. Innocent, Tyee Wine Cellars and others.
14. Private land events
Also looking to make a buck on the solar eclipse are private landowners in the path of totality, some of whom are renting out their land for special events. Tickets are on sale for the Totality Awesome Camp near Madras, the Roadtreking event in Prairie City, Camp Taloali southeast of Salem, and a campout and cider tasting at a farm in Sheridan, to name a few.
Terry Richard/The Oregonian
15. Dispersed camping
Since campgrounds will be full, people will undoubtedly be looking to camp out wherever they can to catch the eclipse. U.S. Forest Service officials have made it clear that while that's completely legal (as long a folks abide by the dispersed camping guidelines) they urge caution when it comes to campfires, as August is the height of wildlife season in Oregon.
16. Volcanoes baseball
The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes will be playing the Hillsboro Hops in what is touted as the only professional baseball game to be delayed by an eclipse. And while that requires scheduling a baseball game during an eclipse in the first place, it's certainly a unique way to view the event. The team's EclipseFest will also include games that Friday and Saturday, as well as special events on Sunday and Monday.
17. Luxury helicopter tour
One Bend-based company has summed up what might be the most extravagant eclipse viewing opportunity in five words: Helicopter Luxury Champagne Eclipse Basecamp. Book a ticket and you can see the eclipse in one of 10 remote "Dom Perignon Helicopter Champagne" basecamps in central Oregon, where you'll have food, seating, eclipse glasses and, of course, champagne. The price tag is a cool $1,000 a person.
AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu
MORE ECLIPSE COVERAGE
Forest Service taking reservations: The Siuslaw National Forest will be selling special permits to access Marys Peak and Mt. Hebo during the eclipse.
Hotels already booked for the eclipse: Hotels in the path of the eclipse are full. In some cases, whole blocks of rooms were booked more than a year in advance.
Haven't booked a campground? You may be out of time: Campsites at Oregon state parks went fast, and sites in national forests have too.
--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB
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