Inside the only art museum on the Oregon coast

Klamath Wetlands Week highlights one of the West's largest wetland ecosystems

The Western Grebe with chicks is photographed in the Klamath Basin. The Bird Alliance of Oregon is hosting a week-long series of events called Klamath Wetlands Week, which concludes June 6, 2026. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d01d9ad/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1500x929+0+0/resize/792x491!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F33%2F2d%2Fbd69e3b3494cba6d3a467daac556%2Fwestern-grebe-with-chicks.jpg]The Western Grebe with chicks is photographed in the Klamath Basin. The Bird Alliance of Oregon is hosting a week-long series of events called Klamath Wetlands Week, which concludes June 6, 2026. (Mary Williams Hyde / https://birdallianceoregon.org/ ) Often called the "Everglades of the West [https://www.doi.gov/ocl/klamath-river-basin]," the Klamath Basin is home to one of the largest wetland ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest. The Bird Alliance of Oregon [https://birdallianceoregon.org/our-work/learn/adult-programs/free-sliding-scale-programs/klamath-wetlands-week/] is highlighting that landscape through Klamath Wetlands Week, a series of events designed to connect residents and visitors with the region's wetlands and the wildlife that depend on them. Teresa Wicks, the organization's Eastern Oregon field coordinator and the event's lead organizer, said she was inspired to create the event after returning to the basin in 2025. While the area is well known for its winter bird migrations, she wanted to highlight the abundance of wildlife present during the breeding season. “One of the things that I really love about the basin is the amount of life that you see in the wetlands during the breeding season,” Wicks said. Historically, the Klamath Basin watershed supported about 300,000 acres of wetlands across Southern Oregon and Northern California. Participants have already experienced some of that wildlife during events such as a white-faced ibis flyout, where more than 7,500 birds were counted. “At one point, we had about 500 white-faced ibis in different-sized groups flying out toward the alfalfa fields," Wicks said. "It was a pretty cool thing to see.” Black-necked Stilts in flight over the Klamath Basin. The Bird Alliance of Oregon is hosting a series of birding events for Klamath Wetlands Week, which concludes June 6, 2026. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/93b7841/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1500x985+0+0/resize/792x520!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbc%2Fa5%2Fb34de5dc45e4954a94c0b3321429%2Fblack-necked-stilts-in-flight.jpg]Black-necked Stilts in flight over the Klamath Basin. The Bird Alliance of Oregon is hosting a series of birding events for Klamath Wetlands Week, which concludes June 6, 2026.(Mary Williams Hyde / https://birdallianceoregon.org/ ) The week also highlights ongoing restoration efforts, including the Barnes and Agency Lakes reconnection project [https://www.ijpr.org/environment-energy-and-transportation/2025-01-22/water-flows-as-part-of-a-massive-habitat-restoration-in-the-upper-klamath-basin], one of the largest freshwater wetland restoration projects in the western United States. Wicks said the event aims to help people better understand the variety of wetland habitats in the basin and the role those habitats play in supporting wildlife. "My biggest goal is to connect people to the wetlands in the basin and to the fact that birds rely on a diversity of wetland types," she said. GUEST * Teresa Wicks [https://birdallianceoregon.org/about-us/our-staff/], Eastern Oregon field coordinator, Bird Alliance of Oregon [https://birdallianceoregon.org/]

Inside the only art museum on the Oregon coast

Visitors at the PNW Community Coral Reef Project exhibit in the Perkins Gallery of the maritime-themed exhibition "Surge" at the Coos Art Museum. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3300293/2147483647/strip/false/crop/8064x6048+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5f%2F8c%2F614345d04f1289b70a5cad19cac7%2Fcoos-art-museum-exhibit.jpg]Visitors at the PNW Community Coral Reef Project exhibit in the Perkins Gallery of the maritime-themed exhibition "Surge" at the Coos Art Museum.(https://coosartmuseum.org/event/maritime-art-surge/ ) The Coos Art Museum [https://coosartmuseum.org/] in Coos Bay is the only art museum on the Oregon coast and is housed in a historic Art Deco post office building that opened in 1936. Executive Director Lydia Heins said the museum is marking the building's 90th anniversary this year while continuing to showcase work by local, regional and national artists. Coos Art Museum is housed inside an old 1930s former post office with Art Deco style architecture. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0677cae/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1859x738+0+0/resize/792x314!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2F86%2Fa78127324c60ba49099305befcb7%2Fcoos-art-museum.png]Coos Art Museum is housed inside an old 1930s former post office with Art Deco style architecture. This summer, the museum's featured exhibition is "Surge," its annual maritime-themed show. The exhibit explores the movement and power of the ocean through a variety of artistic media. "The ocean is so powerful," Heins said. "There's so much going on even beneath the surface." Featured works include River Reishi's best-in-show sand sculpture and a driftwood orca created by local artist Terry Woodall. The museum also invests in emerging artists through Vision 2026, a program that provides high school students with opportunities to exhibit their work in a professional setting. Sculpture on display for the Coos Art Museum's maritime exhibition, "Surge." [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/de549f0/2147483647/strip/false/crop/2560x1920+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F82%2Ff8%2Fb96104a945abba1634f68c99df6d%2Fcoos-art-museum-exhibit-whale-sculpture.jpg]Sculpture on display for the Coos Art Museum's maritime exhibition, "Surge." ( Coos Art Museum) The museum also invests in emerging artists through Vision 2026, a program that provides high school students with opportunities to exhibit their work in a professional setting. Heins said the program helps students develop creative skills and gain experience presenting their work to the public. In addition to its exhibitions, the museum offers youth scholarships, adult art classes and a gallery where museum members can rent or buy artwork. Heins said she hopes visitors leave with a deeper appreciation for the ocean and the artists who interpret it through their work. GUEST * Lydia Heins, executive director, Coos Art Museum [https://coosartmuseum.org/]

How Wildlife Images cares for Oregon's injured and orphaned animals

'Gilbert' is a young Grizzly bear who was saved after the death of his mother. He lives at Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center in Grants Pass, Oregon. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/973c56a/2147483647/strip/false/crop/3007x1956+0+0/resize/792x515!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F07%2Fa0%2Fe137f57248a39f96b4ee6a44842b%2Fgilbert-grizzly-when-he-first-arrived.jpeg]'Gilbert' is a young Grizzly bear who was saved after the death of his mother. He lives at Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center in Grants Pass, Oregon.(https://wildlifeimages.org/) In Grants Pass, a 25-acre wildlife sanctuary gives injured and orphaned animals a chance to recover and return to the wild. Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center [https://wildlifeimages.org/], now in its 45th year, cares for about 1,000 animals each year. Executive Director Dave Siddon said the nonprofit's mission is to "involve, educate, inspire." Siddon said connecting with young people can be challenging in an age dominated by screens. 'Albert,' the barn owl, lives at Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center in Grants Pass, Oregon. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/41af152/2147483647/strip/false/crop/6016x4016+0+0/resize/791x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2F2d%2F516768ce4282bfbd866e27b00860%2Falbert-the-barn-owl.JPG]'Albert,' the barn owl, lives at Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center in Grants Pass, Oregon. (https://wildlifeimages.org/ ) "The best way we found to communicate is basically to involve them in something we're doing," he said. That can include helping prepare animal diets or participating in up-close animal encounters. The center is currently in the midst of baby season, when staff may receive as many as 40 young animals in a single day. Siddon said Wildlife Images releases a higher percentage of rehabilitated animals than the national average. Some animals cannot return to the wild. Those animals remain at the facility as wildlife ambassadors, including Gilbert, a 400-pound grizzly bear, and several retired film animals. Visitors can see a wide variety of wildlife throughout the park. For an additional fee, guests can book animal encounters such as feeding river otters, meeting a grizzly bear or joining a guided walk with a wolf-dog hybrid. A golden eagle at Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center in Grants Pass, Oregon. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3948e67/2147483647/strip/false/crop/6016x4016+0+0/resize/791x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff8%2F3f%2F41ce75cd482c867ead2feda4f688%2Fgolden-eagle.JPG]A golden eagle at Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center in Grants Pass, Oregon. (https://wildlifeimages.org/ ) Operating the facility is expensive. Siddon said the nonprofit's annual budget exceeds $1 million. Wildlife Images does not charge for animal treatment and relies on memberships, volunteers and donations to support its work. Reflecting on his years at the center, Siddon said, "It's been a chunk of heaven." GUEST * Dave Siddon, executive director, Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center [https://wildlifeimages.org/]

Step inside a Coos Bay museum where visitors can climb aboard historic trains

"Old 104" is a century-old steam locomotive on interactive display at the Oregon Coast Historical Railway in Coos Bay. The railroad engine once hauled logs from the woods to the bay's edge to be rafted to local sawmills during the early 20th century. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e336ad3/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1800x1438+0+0/resize/661x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fff%2F8a%2Fb2ec464146c39edf36ef3379676d%2Foregon-coast-historical-railway-display-for-jefferson.jpg]"Old 104" is a century-old steam locomotive on interactive display at the Oregon Coast Historical Railway in Coos Bay. The railroad engine once hauled logs from the woods to the bay's edge to be rafted to local sawmills during the early 20th century.(http://orcorail.org/ ) The clang of bells and the steel frames of historic locomotives offer a glimpse into the industries that helped build Oregon's South Coast. The Oregon Coast Historical Railway [http://orcorail.org/] in Coos Bay preserves equipment from the region's railroad and logging history under the motto, "Ensuring a future for our past." Museum manager Tom Baake said railroads have been part of the South Coast's social and economic fabric since the area's early days. What began as a collection centered on a single locomotive has grown to include logging equipment, reflecting the close connection between the two industries. One of the museum's most prominent exhibits is Old 104, a 100-year-old steam locomotive that once hauled logs from the forest to the edge of Coos Bay, where they were assembled into rafts and transported to sawmills. Baake recalled a friendly rivalry with Toledo, home to another century-old locomotive. The communities once marked the engines' anniversaries with weeklong celebrations. Today, the museum continues to commemorate that history. Visitors can also see Old Yellow, a switch engine that operated at both the Panama Canal and Bonneville Dam. Baake said the museum's interactive exhibits are especially popular with families. Unlike many museums, the Oregon Coast Historical Railway allows visitors to climb aboard some equipment. "The kids love to pretend to drive these things, and several of them have bells and whistles," Baake said. The museum includes a gift shop, blacksmith area and annual holiday light display. It is currently open Wednesdays and Saturdays. Baake said the organization is seeking additional volunteers to help maintain exhibits and preserve the region's railroad history. GUEST * Tom Baake, manager, Oregon Coast Historical Railway

Summer brings new challenges, from trail running to climbing Mount Shasta

Snow-covered Mount Shasta rises above pine trees and rocky terrain as seen from the Bunny Flat trailhead in Northern California. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/57edd9d/2147483647/strip/false/crop/3840x2743+0+0/resize/739x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F42%2F82%2Fbc2483374c479f96f7c177f81bc0%2Fmount-shasta-as-seen-from-bunny-flat-1.jpg]Mount Shasta rises above Bunny Flat, a popular trailhead and staging area for climbers attempting to reach the 14,179-foot summit.(Frank Schulenburg / Wikimedia Commons) As summer arrives in Southern Oregon and Northern California, runners are hitting the trails while climbers prepare for Mount Shasta's busy season. Local outdoor enthusiasts say both activities offer physical challenges, personal rewards and opportunities to connect with the region's mountains. RUNNING FOR MORE THAN COMPETITION A number of trail-running events are scheduled across the region this summer, ranging from family-friendly fun runs to some of the West Coast's most demanding trail races. One of the most popular events is the Mount Ashland Hill Climb, a 13.5-mile race that gains roughly 5,600 feet in elevation. Other events include the Headwaters Trail Run near Mount Shasta and the new Lemurian Ascent Trail Run at Mount Shasta Ski Park. But longtime runner Nicole Larsen said the appeal of running extends beyond competition. "Running for me has really turned into more of a meditative practice and time alone in the mountains," Larsen said. Larsen said her priorities have shifted over time. In her 20s, she focused on speed and training. Later, she concentrated on improving performance. Today, she runs primarily for enjoyment and time outdoors. Jennifer Bray said running provides an opportunity to clear her mind and work through life's challenges. "I like the time to myself," Bray said. "I work through things in my head." She said endurance running often becomes as much a mental exercise as a physical one. "You can do one step farther," she said. The runners emphasized that trail running does not require expensive equipment. A good pair of shoes, gradual training and proper planning can help newcomers get started. They also encouraged runners to research routes ahead of time, carry water when appropriate and let someone know where they are going before heading into remote areas. For those looking for community, local organizations such as the Rogue Valley Runners and Siskiyou Mountain Runners host group runs and volunteer at regional races. A small dirt trail amongst a variety of different types of trees. Some mountains are visible in the distant, covered in trees. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/978bfd7/2147483647/strip/false/crop/2048x1365+0+0/resize/792x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F83%2F39%2Ffc5b6d5340f39bd7afa39d82ac81%2F50857654287-b272d090f2-k.jpg] The view of the Applegate Valley from the Sterling Mine Ditch Trail, January 17, 2021(Kyle Sullivan / Medford BLM ) THE LONG CLIMB TO THE SUMMIT For some athletes, trail running serves as a gateway to mountaineering. Chris Carr, owner of Shasta Mountain Guides [https://shastaguides.com/about], said running is one of the best ways to build the endurance needed for mountain climbing. "Running is a great training tool for the activity of climbing mountains," Carr said. But he cautioned that mountaineering requires a different level of preparation. Climbers on Mount Shasta travel across snowfields, loose rock and steep terrain using specialized equipment such as crampons and ice axes. "There are no trails to the summit of Mount Shasta," Carr said. The mountain rises to 14,179 feet and dominates the surrounding landscape. Carr said many first-time climbers underestimate both its size and the challenges posed by elevation, weather and route-finding. Summit attempts [https://shastaguides.com/articles/whenisthebesttimetoclimbmtshasta] often begin around 1 or 2 a.m. and can involve 12 to 14 hours of travel. Carr said most climbers should spend several months training before attempting the peak. Those without an established fitness base may need even longer. The risks of mountaineering became clear during Carr's first attempt to climb Mount Shasta more than 30 years ago. He chose to climb in November, when little snow covered the mountain and rockfall was common. During the ascent, a falling rock passed so close to Carr that it brushed his ponytail. Today, he points to that experience as an example of why preparation and timing matter. Among the region's best-known climbing events is Climb Against the Odds, a fundraiser supporting breast cancer prevention. Participants spend months preparing before joining a guided, multi-day climb of Mount Shasta. Bray, who has participated several times, said the experience creates strong bonds among climbers and often becomes deeply emotional. "We started calling it 'Cry Against the Odds' because it's so emotional," she said. For Carr, one of the most important lessons in mountaineering is knowing when not to continue. Weather, snow conditions and other hazards can force climbers to turn around before reaching the summit. "The mountain's not going anywhere," he said. EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES Trail running * June 6: Ashland Turtle Trot [https://runsignup.com/Race/OR/Ashland/TurtleTrot] (family-friendly; welcomes children and strollers) * June 7: Mount Ashland Hill Climb [https://www.ashlanduphillraces.com/] (13.5 miles and roughly 5,600 feet of elevation gain; registration may be full) * June 13: Redding Health Expo 5K Run/Walk [https://www.reddinghealthexpo.com/next-expo/] (family-friendly event on the Sacramento River Trail) * June 20: Headwaters Trail Run [https://www.headwaterstrailruns.net/] (10K, 34K and 52K options; considered one of the West Coast's most rugged trail races) * June 27: Lemurian Ascent Trail Run [https://www.skipark.com/ski-park-events/lemurian-ascent-trail-run] (at Mount Shasta Ski and good for both first-time and experienced runners) * July 4: Mt. Shasta Fourth of July Fun Run [https://mountainrunners.org/] (registration deadline June 10) * July 10-12: Siskiyou Outback Run Festival [https://siskiyououtback.com/] (multiple races, live music and food) Mountaineering * June 11: History of Mountaineering [https://www.mtshastamuseum.com/] (presentation by Chris Carr at the Mount Shasta Museum) * June 15-19: Climb Against the Odds [https://www.bcpp.org/get-involved/events/climb/] (a multi-day Mount Shasta fundraiser benefiting breast cancer prevention) Running clubs * Southern Oregon Runners Club [https://www.sorunners.org/] * Rogue Valley Runners Club [https://ultrasignup.com/groups.aspx?gid=317] * Mountain Runners Club [https://mountainrunners.org/about-us] GUESTS * Nicole Larsen, outdoor guide * Jennifer Bray, outdoor guide * Chris Carr, owner, Shasta Mountain Guides [https://shastaguides.com/]