The land, the river, the silence—this phrase is how we sum up the call of Ravenwing Ranch. As 2023 is drawing to a close, we are considering the third component of this phrase, and talking about silence at The Ranch: what it sounds like, what it feels like, and what it looks like to be able to spend time in a naturally quiet landscape.

People love water—especially water views. But why, exactly? Ravenwing has been reading and researching to try to more fully understand our relationship to water, and we’re excited to share a few insights.

Before Charley Voorhis knew Ravenwing existed, he was drawn to the rugged landscape and unparalleled sunrises on this stretch of the Columbia. He’d been coming here for years. When he was approached by Developer Rob Hubbard about bringing his artistic, storytelling eye to work at the Ranch, it felt like a bit of fate.

At Ravenwing Ranch, we are called by the land, the river, and the silence. In this post, we’ll take a photo-driven tour of the land, and the particular combination of flora, fauna and geologic features that make life at the Ranch so uniquely rewarding.

In the spring of 2020, Ravenwing Developer Rob Hubbard began asking around about trailbuilders. He knew he wanted about four miles of trails traversing Ravenwing’s Dry Gulch and Columbia River waterfront, and he knew he wanted them to be exceptionally well-done. More than once, he was told there was really only one person for the job, and that person was Matt Rose.

At Ravenwing, we love outdoor recreation and adventure. We prioritize fun and fitness. But our connection to land, water and sky goes deeper than that. The outdoors is a place to be ourselves, without strategy or agenda. It’s a place to protect, with our thoughts, words and actions. And there’s new science that shows time in nature makes us happier and healthier.

The high desert landscape stretches in all directions—rocks and water, sky and sagebrush. For some, the scale can be a little daunting. But, for others, like Kent Lenssen, the wide open expanse of Ravenwing feels deeply right. It feels like home. He finds solace at the Ranch; the presence of stillness, and the absence of static.