The van den Bergs Travel

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The van den Bergs Travel Couple + two dogs exploring the West | Van trips, trail days, repeat
đź“Ť Bend, OR

11 years with this guy today.We’ve taken him just about everywhere. Camping, hiking, road trips, beach days. You name it...
16/02/2026

11 years with this guy today.

We’ve taken him just about everywhere. Camping, hiking, road trips, beach days. You name it, he’s come with.

It’s not always easy. You can’t do every hike. You can’t walk into every restaurant or stay anywhere you want. Some plans just don’t work with a dog. You have to think ahead, adjust constantly, and be ready if something goes sideways.

All totally worth it.

Dogs experience the world with this unbridled joy. Every trail is the best trail. Every lake is the best lake. Where are we going? It doesn’t even matter. They’re just fired up to be there.

That kind of joy is contagious. Sharing the world with Nimoy has been one of the best parts of our travels.

So yeah. Always bring the dog.

Happy 11, Nimoy.

23/01/2026

Already packing.

22/01/2026

Finally saw a wolf in Central Oregon.

It was a total bucket-list moment for us. A sighting so rare we could hardly believe it.

But the reactions we’ve gotten since have been the most telling part of the experience.

A lot of people don’t say, “That’s amazing.”
They say, “That’s scary.”

The wolf wasn’t menacing, or particularly dramatic. It wasn’t even phased by us. Just an animal moving through the landscape, trying to survive like everything else out here.

The reality: Wolves are elusive, wary of people, and a vital part of a healthy Oregon ecosystem.

The myth: The big, dangerous stories we’ve inherited since we were kids.

It’s a strange paradox. People move here to be closer to wilderness, but feel uneasy when the wilderness actually shows up.

So here’s the real question:
If you saw this in the woods, would you feel lucky or uneasy?

20/01/2026

WHERE: The Oregon Outback

Follow for more west coast itineraries.

➡️ Send this to the person you want to do this road trip with in 2026!

If you’ve ever wanted to check out remote Eastern Oregon we can’t think of a better long weekend route than this. This is a lot of miles, but the payoff is unreal.

3 days of hot springs, glacial gorges, salt flats, crazy geology and the darkest skies in the country. Long days of driving but 100% worth it… save this one for your road trip bucket list 👇

Day 1: Start in Crane (2.5hrs from Bend, stay overnight at and start the day early)

- Soak at Crane Hot Springs
- Visit the historic Pete French Round Barn
- Explore the Diamond Craters “Moonscape”
- Drive the Steens Mountain Loop (those 5,000ft glacial gorge views!)
- End the day soaking under the Milky Way at Alvord Hot Springs and stay the night there. (Call ahead and reserve - camping or rustic bring-your-own-linens accommodations)

Day 2: The Alvord -> Hart Mountain/Antelope Hot Springs

-Morning soak (Purchase some of the local beef at the hot springs office - it is no joke out of this world…)
- Drive out onto the Alvord Playa (check for dry conditions)
- Grab a world-famous milkshake at Fields Station (gas up!)
- Head back west across the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge and stop at the hot springs campground (~50mi gravel washboard)
- If you’re not camping, head over to in Lakeview.

Day 3: Back to Bend via the Oregon Outback Highway
- Morning soak #3!
- Hike through Crack in the Ground (a 2-mile volcanic fissure)
- Explore the towering walls of Fort Rock
- Dinner at (cash only, reserve way in advance)

You will want to plan this trip for when Steens Mountain Loop is open and the playa is dry. Usually Jul-Oct - Google is your friend here.

Quick Tips: 🚗 Tires: This is rugged terrain. Ensure you have a full-sized spare and a jack. ⛽ Fuel: Pumps are few and far between. Fill your tank at every station you see. 📵 Service: Expect zero bars. Download offline maps & have a paper version ⛔️DO NOT drive on the Alvord if it is wet.

20/01/2026

WHERE: East Rim Overlook, Steens Mountain, Southeastern Oregon

Take Steens Mountain Loop Road, a 50+ mile scenic drive skirting the Steens Mountain Wilderness. About 3 hours from Bend, 4 from Boise, and 6 from Portland to Frenchglen at the northern end of the loop.

This is one of the most remote and least visited places in Oregon. Glacial gorges fall away beneath you, with a roughly 5,000 foot drop from the summit to the Alvord Desert below. The scale feels unreal. Pronghorn and wild horse sightings are common.

The full loop takes about half a day if you’re taking your time. The short hike up to Steens Summit is absolutely worth it, with sweeping desert views on one side and Wildhorse Lake on the other.

The road is gravel, washboarded, and steep and windy in places, but generally doable in 2WD. It’s only open seasonally, typically summer through early fall depending on snow. Download offline maps ahead of time, cell service is very sparse.

There are *no* services on the loop. Have plenty of gas (Fill up in Burns or Denio). Bathrooms are limited to the BLM campgrounds, so plan accordingly.

This place makes the most sense as part of a bigger eastern Oregon road trip. We’ll follow this up with itinerary ideas that connect Steens with some of the very best hot springs and more.

Send this to the person you’d road trip here with.

If you’re into this kinda stuff too, we’re Pieter & Rachael and we’re glad you found us.We’re busy professionals who lov...
18/01/2026

If you’re into this kinda stuff too, we’re Pieter & Rachael and we’re glad you found us.

We’re busy professionals who love our work but also love to get outdoors, travel, and bring our dogs along for the adventure. Whether it’s weekends away, whirlwind road trips or working from the road, we try and always find a way to make it happen. Life isn’t guaranteed, so we’re choosing to live it now.

We started this page to share the places and experiences we love, (hopefully) a little inspiration and a few useful tips. Also an occasional dumb meme.

So if that all sounds like what you’re into, you’re in the right place and we hope you’ll follow along.

14/01/2026

There’s nothing insightful to say about it.

There’s a lot going on in the world right now. It makes sense if you’re overwhelmed or worn down or carrying more than you show.

If that’s you, please reach out to someone.

Even if we hardly know each other, even if we haven’t spoken in years, we’d rather hear from you than find out too late that you’re gone.

Please stay.

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