Ape Caves / Photo by Eli Boschetto, courtesy of Washington State Tourism

About the Geotourism MapGuide to the Central Cascades

Travel Oregon and Washington State Tourism have entered an exciting partnership with the National Geographic Society to advance geotourism in the Central Cascades region through the Geotourism MapGuide. This is a pilot project that both states will be incorporating into their larger sustainable tourism plans, and aims to stimulate rural development, cultivate local pride and foster stewardship of the region’s unique natural and cultural assets by identifying, documenting and sharing them through print and online media. Through this effort, we hope to create thriving communities to support sustainable travel in this region.

The people of the Central Cascades laid the foundation of this MapGuide by nominating and telling the story of more than 1,100 important and authentic places that they would like to share with you. Sites for the map were selected by the Central Cascades Geotourism Council, a diverse alliance formed to engage visitors and residents in strategies that sustain and enhance the special qualities of this place.

Central Cascades Advisory Team

Coordinating this geotourism initiative in Washington and Oregon is the Central Cascades Project Advisory Committee, a coalition of Travel Oregon, Washington State Tourism, Sustainable Travel International, Rural Development Initiatives, Sustainable Northwest, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management.

Project Sponsors

Sponsorship is provided by Travel Oregon, Washington State Tourism, USDA Forest Service/National Forest Scenic Byways Transportation and Tourism Planning, USDI Bureau of Land Management, Oregon Cultural Trust, Clackamas County Tourism Development Council, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Oregon Visitors Association, Convention and Visitors Association of Lane County Oregon, Portland Metro and the Columbia River Gorge Visitors Association.

Sponsors

Bi-State Geotourism Stewardship Council Members

  • Craig Ackerman, Crater Lake National Park
  • Jeff Allen, Crater Lake National Park Trust
  • Patrice Barrentine, Washington State Department of Agriculture
  • Linda Bell, Clackamas County Tourism Development Council
  • David Bogan, Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation, Heritage and Historic Programs Division
  • Bryan Bowden, Mount Rainier National Park
  • Michelle Campbell, Washington State Tourism
  • Kristin Dahl, Travel Oregon
  • Christine D’Arcy, Oregon Arts Commission
  • Todd Davidson, Travel Oregon
  • Suzanne Hansche, Oregon Bed & Breakfast Guild
  • Chris Jaworski, Chemeketa Community College
  • David Lane, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • Bonnie Lippitt, U.S. Forest Service & Bureau of Land Management
  • Laurel MacMillan, Rural Development Initiatives
  • Marsha Massey, Washington State Tourism
  • Jed Mitchell, Sustainable Northwest
  • Scott Moore, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • Pat Moran, Oregon Department of Transportation
  • Brian Mullis, Sustainable Travel International
  • Mary Key Nelson, Visit Rainier
  • Jerry Norquist, Cycle Oregon/Three People Productions
  • Christi Norman, Audubon Washington
  • Mike O’Malley, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • Julie Davies O’Shea, FCA Resource Solutions for Rural Communities
  • Melissa Rhinehart, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • Greg Ringer, Royal Roads University
  • Carrie Sundstrom, Washington State Department of Transportation
  • Kris Tucker, Washington State Arts Commission
  • Margie Tuckta, Kah-Nee-Ta Resort and Casino
  • Jon Tullis, Timberline Lodge
  • Dave Uberuaga, Mount Rainier National Park
  • Gary VanHuffel, formerly with the Oregon Business Development Department
  • Mary Vasse, National Forest Foundation
  • Richard Walkoski, Oregon State Parks and Recreation
  • Carol Zahorsky, on behalf of Washington State Tourism

Central Cascades Website Credits

TheCentralCascades.com is a work of Substance, an interactive agency with geotourism tendencies, located in Portland, Oregon / findsubstance.com

Website copy is by Chris Santella of Steelhead Communications, Jim Moore of Word Jones, and Brandi Lane.

More Information

State Organizers

Kristin Dahl, Travel Oregon
email: Kristin@traveloregon.com
503-378-2104

Michelle Campbell, Washington State Tourism
email: michellec@cted.wa.gov
360-725-4181

National Geographic