Rufus, OR

united states

Rufus is a small Columbia River community of about 200 people in Sherman County, reached via US Highway 97 running north-south through town. The highway connects to The Dalles 15 miles north and Bend 100 miles south, while State Route 14 runs along the Washington side across the Sam Hill Memorial Bridge. The high desert location brings hot summers and cold winters with strong year-round winds. Rufus sits beneath one of Oregon's largest wind farms, with dozens of massive turbines spinning across the surrounding hills.