Ontario State Recreation Site ~ Oregon

​Flickr album link: Ontario State Recreation Site

Things start greening up quickly during the spring season and the invigorating clean air outdoors certainly will revitalize the senses. There is no better time of year to pack a picnic basket for an afternoon outing and fun in the sun, so when the urge strikes, just go for it! East of the Rockies the old fashioned riverside parks are always at the top of the list for spreading the picnic blanket. Alternatively out west, because there are so many vast desert regions, not every riverside park is guaranteed to be lush and green during the spring season. The riverside parks in the towering mountain ranges will still be blanketed with snow this time of year, so this leaves a narrow range of suitable riverside picnic spots in elevations lower than a mile high.

The Snake River headwaters are located in Yellowstone National Park and this waterway meanders all the way to the lower Columbia River on the way to the Pacific Ocean on the border of Oregon and Washington. Water runs downhill and west of the Idaho Rockies the Snake River passes through the lower elevations where comfortable spring season temperatures can be found. In this same area the river supports vast agricultural areas that are reminiscent of riverside farms back east. Everything is lush, green and the flowers are blooming, which is like a dream come true for those who live in the desert southwest.

Oregon boasts having some of the best riverside parks in the west and there are a few of these parks along the mighty Snake River that are well worth checking out when planning a spring season picnic venture. The Ontario State Recreation Site is one such place and it is conveniently located next to Interstate Highway 84 on the Idaho-Oregon Border. The Ontario Recreation Area is a lush green riverside day use site that offers walking trails, plenty of open space, basic facilities and a boat ramp. This is a cozy little spot to cast a fishing line in the water while lazing the day away under a shade tree. The Ontario State Recreation Site is managed like a city park and it definitely is like those found back east. There is a lot of old west pioneer history to experience along this section of the Snake River, so a full day can be spent exploring the surroundings. Be sure to pack an extra heavy picnic basket because once there, you will likely not want to leave this comfortable riverside park anytime soon!