Welcome to the bigroads.com travel guide to Oregon! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to Oregon.
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Oregon is renown for
its rugged coastline, lush green forests, waterfalls, wineries, and beautiful mountains. If you enjoy the outdoors, you'll find a lifetime of adventures in the state. In addition to world-class hiking, there's also excellent rock climbing, skiing, and whitewater rafting. Wine lovers flock to Oregon, especially in Willamette Valley and Rogue Valley. If you like waterfalls, the Columbia River Gorge will deliver on that. The entire coastline is public-access, and the scenery is as good (or maybe even better) than the coastal scenery you'd find along the California coast. History buffs will appreciate the various Lewis & Clark attractions found in the state.
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TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN OREGON
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Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in Oregon? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in Oregon, in no particular order:
✮ Spend a week driving the entire Oregon coastline on US-101 (and the side roads that lead to various sites and attractions)
✮ Visit the deepest lake in the U.S. at Crater Lake National Park
✮ Take an underground cave tour at Oregon Caves National Monument
✮ Go whitewater rafting on one of Oregon's wild rivers
✮ Ride a dune-buggy in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
✮ Drink your way through a few wineries in the Willamette Valley
✮ Hit the slopes at Mt. Bachelor Ski Area, one of the premier winter resorts of the U.S.
✮ Hunt for waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge
✮ Find great reads at the massive Powell's City of Books in Portland
✮ See colorful desert scenery at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
If I could select only one place to visit in Oregon, I would choose the Columbia River Gorge. There isn't a better cluster of 5-star waterfalls like this anywhere else in the U.S. Take note that timed entry permits may be required to travel on some roads in the Columbia River Gorge.
For a list of 10 great attractions in each U.S. state, click here.
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5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN OREGON
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Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in Oregon. I believe each of these attractions should be on your Oregon bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Oregon Coast: Northern (including Astoria, Cannon Beach, Seaside, and Tillamook)
✮ Arcadia Beach State Recreation Site, Arch Cape - a scenic beach with tide pools that is just south of Cannon Beach; known for "singing sands"
✮ Astoria Column, Astoria - climb up a 125-foot tall concrete and steel historic landmark for scenic views
✮ Astoria-Megler Bridge, Astoria - a long and impressive steel cantilever through truss bridge over the Columbia River
✮ Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa, Astoria - an iconic 5-star luxury hotel built out on a pier on the Columbia River; "every room has a view"
✮ Cannon Beach - one of the Oregon Coast's most popular towns and famous beaches; home of the iconic Haystack Rock
✮ Cape Lookout State Park, Tillamook - a scenic park on a sand spit between Netarts Bay and the ocean; great hiking trails and beaches
✮ Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint, Tillamook - offers scenic views, a lighthouse, and a giant Sitka spruce tree
✮ Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria - one of the top maritime museums on the West Coast
✮ Ecola State Park, Cannon Beach - offers dramatic views of the Oregon coastline, including Indian Beach
✮ Fort Clatsop National Memorial, Astoria - visit a replica of the winter fort used by the Lewis & Clark expedition; the park also has hiking trails
✮ Fort Stevens State Park, Astoria - a diverse park with a historic fort, many forms of outdoor recreation, and the Peter Iredale shipwreck
✮ Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach - a 235-foot tall seastack on Cannon Beach; one of Oregon's most iconic natural landmarks
✮ High Life Adventures, Warrenton - offers excellent mile-long zip-lining tours; reservations required
✮ Hug Point State Recreation Site, Cannon Beach - features a beach, sea caves, rocky ridges, and a waterfall; beware of the tides!
✮ Lewis & Clark National Historical Park, Astoria - includes a small museum, historic canoe landing, and some hiking trails; the fort is gone
✮ Neahkahnie Mountain - hike to one of the best elevated views on the Oregon coastline
✮ Nehalem Bay State Park, Nehalem - features a beach, kayaking in Nehalem Bay, a short cycling trail, and good crabbing and fishing
✮ Oregon Coast Highway (US-101) - one of the finest coastal drives in the U.S.; there are many scenic viewpoints and state parks to explore
✮ Oswald West State Park, Arch Cape - features four miles of scenic coastline and excellent hiking trails
✮ Seaside Beach, Seaside - a large beach adjacent to a lively beach boardwalk and tourist area
✮ Silver Point Interpretive Overlook, Cannon Beach - one of the standout scenic wayside stops along the Oregon coast
✮ Tillamook Cheese Factory, Tillamook - features a "Creamery experience"; stop in to try their famous cheeses and ice cream; one of OR's most popular tourist attractions
Oregon Coast: Central (including Depoe Bay, Florence, Newport, and Yachats)
✮ Cape Perpetua Scenic Area, Yachats - scenic, highly-elevated coastal views from "one of the jewels of the Oregon coast"; Thor's Well is here
✮ Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area, Otter Rock - rocky coastline with tide-pools and a thunderous pothole
✮ Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint, Florence - one of the finest scenic views along the Oregon coast; has a famous lighthouse
✮ Oregon Coast Aquarium, Newport - one of the best aquariums in the U.S. and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Oregon
✮ Oregon Coast Highway (US-101) - one of the finest coastal drives in the U.S.; there are many scenic viewpoints and state parks to explore
✮ Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Reedsport - hike or ride a dune-buggy vehicle on an extensive series of sand dunes
✮ Sea Lion Caves, Florence - the largest sea cave in the U.S.; the best time to see the famous sea lions that reside here is in fall and winter
✮ Thor's Well, Yachats - a geologic formation that looks like it is draining the ocean; the "drainpipe of the Pacific Ocean"
✮ Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, Newport - one of 11 lighthouses remaining along the OR coast; this is different from the Yaquina Head Lighthouse
✮ Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, Newport - a scenic area that includes the Yaqiuna Head Lighthouse (the tallest lighthouse in OR)
Oregon Coast: Southern (including Bandon, Coos Bay, and Gold Beach)
✮ Bandon Beach, Bandon - one of Oregon's most famous beaches; the beach features huge seastacks and tide pools
✮ Cape Arago State Park, Coos Bay - scenic headlands located a few miles north of Bandon; in some months you can see migrating whales
✮ Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint, Bandon - features views of some of the best seastacks on the Oregon coastline
✮ Harris Beach State Park, Brookings - offers miles of beaches and scenic coastline views
✮ Jet boat tours in Hellgate Canyon - at least two companies offer exhilarating jet boat tours up the Rogue River
✮ Oregon Coast Highway (US-101) - one of the finest coastal drives in the U.S.; there are many scenic viewpoints and state parks to explore
✮ Prehistoric Gardens, Gold Beach - a roadside attraction with more than 20 dinosaur sculptures; some may not appreciate this tourist attraction
✮ Samuel H. Boardman State Park, Brookings - a 12-mile long linear park with secluded beaches, interesting rock formations, and tall bluffs
✮ Shore Acres State Park, Coos Bay - the highlights of this state park include rugged coastline views and a variety of plant-life
Portland (see below for the rest of Northwestern Oregon)
✮ Boat tours in Portland - e.g. sightseeing cruises, dinner cruises, sailing charters, jet-boat rides, etc.
✮ Donut shops in Portland - there are several famous donut shops in Portland to try (e.g. Voodoo Doughnuts, Annie's, Pip's, etc.)
✮ Forest Park - a huge urban park with 80 miles of trails, fire lanes, and forest roads; many different parking areas provide trail access
✮ Grotto, The - a famous Catholic outdoor shrine and sanctuary
✮ Guided food tours in Portland - Portland is a dining destination, and several companies offer excellent guided food tours
✮ International Rose Test Garden - a famous garden that is the "centerpiece of Portland's famous rose blooms"
✮ Lan Su Chinese Garden - visit an authentic Ming Dynasty-style garden that was built by Suzhou artisans
✮ Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) - a great science and technology museum with a theater, planetarium, and submarine
✮ Oregon Zoo - a good medium-sized zoo with more than 1,800 animals
✮ Pittock Mansion - tour a historic home museum that was built in 1914
✮ Portland Art Museum - visit one of the oldest art museums in the U.S.
✮ Portland Japanese Garden - visit the "most authentic Japanese garden in the U.S."
✮ Powell's City of Books - supposedly the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world; an "empire of new, used and rare books"
✮ Washington Park - a diverse park that has an archery range, arboretum, rose garden, several memorials, a zoo, Japanese garden, and more
Northwestern Oregon (including Hood River, Salem, Mount Hood, and the Columbia River Gorge; see above for Portland)
✮ Columbia River Gorge Natural Scenic Area - an area just east of Portland that is world-famous for its spectacular waterfalls
✮ Eagle Creek Trail, Cascade Locks - one of the best hiking areas in the Pacific Northwest; visits several great waterfalls
✮ Enchanted Forest Theme Park, Salem - a popular theme park for children and families
✮ Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, McMinnville - see more than 200 historic aircraft & exhibits on display
✮ Latourell Falls, Corbett - one of the prettiest of Oregon's waterfalls; requires a short walk within the Columbia River Gorge
✮ Mountain biking the Sandy Ridge Trail System, Brightwood - some of the best mountain biking in Oregon
✮ Mount Hood, Government Camp - Oregon's tallest mountain; a challenging mountaineering effort is required to summit
✮ Mount Hood National Forest - a wilderness of forested mountains, lakes, and streams
✮ Multnomah Falls, Bridal Veil - this waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge is widely considered one of the five best in the U.S.; 620-feet tall
✮ Oneonta Gorge, Corbett - a fantastic slot canyon in Columbia River Gorge; may be closed and/or require permits (do research before visiting)
✮ Pumpkin Ridge Zip Tour, North Plains - excellent zip-lining tours with two suspension bridges
✮ Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro - an great rock/mineral/gem museum
✮ Rogue Valley ZipLine Adventure, Central Point - excellent zip-lining tours
✮ Silver Falls State Park, Sublimity - this state park has 10 waterfalls, five of which are more than 100 feet tall; 24 miles of hiking trails
✮ Timberline Lodge, Government Camp - a historic hotel at the base of Mt. Hood; there's a ski area and hiking trailheads here too
✮ Trillium Lake, Government Camp - a beautiful lake that reflects Mt. Hood, Oregon's tallest mountain
✮ Vista House, Corbett - a stone building that offers elevated scenic views of the Columbia River Gorge
✮ Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum, Hood River - lots of "still-flying and driving" historic aircraft and autos on display
✮ Whitewater rafting the Deschutes River - one of many rivers in Oregon that offer excellent whitewater rafting
✮ Whitewater rafting the Hood River - one of many rivers in Oregon that offer excellent whitewater rafting
✮ Wineries in Willamette Valley - there are more than 700 wineries in the Willamette Valley; this area is famous for its Pinot Noir wines
Central Oregon (including Bend, Eugene, and Sisters)
✮ ATV/ORV-ing in/near Bend - the area around Bend is excellent for ATV/ORV-ing
✮ Autzen Stadium, Eugene - a large college football stadium; home of the Oregon Ducks
✮ Boyd Cave, Bend - explore an 1,880-foot long lava tube within Deschutes National Forest; bring a headlamp!
✮ Breweries in Bend - there are more than 20 breweries in Bend, and more in nearby towns
✮ Cascades Raptor Center, Eugene - visit a raptor rehabilitation; self-guided and guided tours are offered
✮ Dee Wright Observatory, Blue River - a unique stone observation building at the summit of McKenzie Pass that offers scenic views
✮ High Desert Museum, Bend - an excellent history museum with live animal demonstrations
✮ John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Kimberly - a colorful desert park with badlands-like formations
✮ Lava River Cave, Bend - grab a headlamp and take a self-guided tour of a mile-long lava tube; timed entry reservations may be required
✮ McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway - a paved 82-mile scenic driving loop around two of central Oregon's Cascade Mountain passes
✮ Mt. Bachelor Ski Area, Bend - one of the largest and best ski resorts in the U.S.
✮ Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Bend - known for its volcanic landscapes (lava flows, lava tubes, etc.); explore some lava tubes!
✮ Paulina Falls, La Pine - an 80-foot waterfall in Deschutes National Forest that is about 45 minutes south of Bend
✮ Proxy Falls, Sisters - a towering 226-foot waterfall in Willamette National Forest
✮ Sahalie & Koosah Falls, Sisters - a pair of excellent waterfalls in Willamette National Forest
✮ Simpsons Murals, Springfield - the city of Springfield, Oregon has dozens of murals of the famous TV cartoon show
✮ Smith Rock State Park, Terrebonne - world-famous for rock-climbing, but the park also has excellent hiking trails and scenic views
✮ Terwilliger Hot Springs, Willamette National Forest - a popular set of natural geothermal pools (hot springs)
✮ Toketee Falls, Idleyld Park - a beautiful two-tiered, 120-foot waterfall in Umpqua National Forest
✮ Tumalo Falls, Bend - a stunning 97-foot waterfall in Deschutes National Forest
✮ Whitewater rafting the McKenzie River - one of many rivers in Oregon that offer excellent whitewater rafting
Southcentral Oregon (including Ashland, Klamath Falls, Medford, and Crater Lake National Park)
✮ Crater Lake National Park - visit the deepest lake in the U.S and one of the most pristine bodies of water on Earth.; gorgeous in all seasons
✮ Crater Lake ZipLine, Klamath Falls - popular zip-lining tours
✮ Great Cats World Park, Cave Junction - a medium-sized, privately-owned big cat zoo (e.g. tigers, jaguars, lions, leopards, etc.)
✮ Lithia Park, Ashland - a nice public park with gardens, hiking trails, and a variety of other outdoor activities
✮ Oregon Caves National Monument, Cave Junction - the best guided cave tours in Oregon
✮ Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland - a world-renowned repertory theatre
✮ Rogue Valley Wine Country - there are more than 80 wineries in this region
✮ Whitewater rafting the Klamath River - one of many rivers in Oregon that offer excellent whitewater rafting
✮ Whitewater rafting the Rogue River - one of many rivers in Oregon that offer excellent whitewater rafting
✮ Whitewater rafting the Umpqua River - one of many rivers in Oregon that offer excellent whitewater rafting
✮ Wineries of Umpqua Wine Country/Roseburg - there are roughly 30 wineries to be enjoyed in this region
Northeastern Oregon
✮ Eagle Cap Wilderness - offers some of the finest backpacking opportunities in the Pacific Northwest
✮ National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Baker City - one of the finest Oregon Trail museums/attractions
Southeastern Oregon
✮ Whitewater rafting the Owyhee River - one of many rivers in Oregon that offer excellent whitewater rafting
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in Oregon? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
For a list of 5-star attractions in neighboring states, click on any of these links:
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BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN OREGON
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These towns and cities in Oregon are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
Oregon Coastline
✮ Astoria - a small city known for its Victorian architecture, the Astoria Column, Lewis & Clark history, and The Goonies movie set locations
✮ Bandon - a small town with beautiful coastal scenery, seafood shacks, historic buildings, great golfing, and a historic lighthouse
✮ Cannon Beach - a very lively small town with beaches, huge sea stacks (e.g. Haystack Rock), art galleries, and boutique shops
✮ Depoe Bay - a small town with great coastal scenery; the "whale watching capital of Oregon"; many outdoor recreation activities nearby
✮ Florence - a small town with beaches, historic buildings, sand dunes, and the famous Heceta Head Lighthouse
✮ Newport - a small town with great coastal scenery, two lighthouses, great bird-watching, an excellent aquarium, and a historic bayfront
✮ Seaside - a small town with beaches, a boardwalk, Lewis & Clark history, and the excellent Ecola State Park
✮ Yachats - a small town with beautiful coastal scenery, great hiking, and the famous Cape Perpetua Scenic Area; "gem of the Oregon coast"
Inland Oregon
✮ Ashland - a small city known for its Victorian architecture, many B&Bs, and its highly popular Shakespeare Festival theater
✮ Bend - a medium-sized city that offers an abundance of breweries and outdoor recreational opportunities (e.g. hiking, mtn biking, skiing)
✮ Hood River - a small city that is the eastern gateway to the Columbia River Gorge; offers many breweries and great views of Mt. Hood
✮ Portland - a major city famous for its green spaces, cycling trails, breweries, and hip culture; western gateway to the Columbia River Gorge
✮ Sisters - a small town near Bend that is closer to many excellent outdoor recreation areas / nature parks; it has a lively tourist area
My favorite large city in Oregon is Portland - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 nights there
My favorite medium-sized city in Oregon is Bend - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 4-5 nights there
If you want to visit the Columbia River Gorge, stay in Portland or Hood River.
If you want to visit Crater Lake National Park, try to stay inside the park since the towns around the lake are generally small with limited services.
If you want to visit Mount Hood, stay at the Timberline Lodge or in nearby Government Camp or Hood River.
Here are the interesting towns along the Oregon coastline, listed in order from north to south:
Astoria, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Depoe Bay, Newport, Yachats, Florence, Bandon.
Click here if you'd like to see a complete list of towns and cities that I find interesting across the entire U.S.
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WHAT IS OREGON FAMOUS FOR?
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Here are some things that Oregon is famous or well-known for:
✮ Asian gardens
✮ beaches
✮ breweries
✮ capes
✮ covered bridges
✮ hippies
✮ hot springs
✮ Lewis & Clark history
✮ lush green forests
✮ mountains
✮ Oregon Trail history
✮ public access to the entire coastline
✮ rocky coastline
✮ seafood
✮ sea stacks
✮ tree-huggers
✮ waterfalls
✮ whitewater rafting
✮ windsurfing
✮ wineries / wine tastings / wine tours
Click here if you'd like to explore what other U.S. states are famous for.
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There is currently one national park in Oregon. There is also a slew of other federally-managed parks and properties in the state, including:
National Parks
✮ Crater Lake National Park - visit the deepest lake in the U.S and one of the most pristine on Earth.; a drop-dead gorgeous park in all seasons
National Monuments
✮ Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument
✮ John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
✮ Newberry Volcanic National Monument
✮ Oregon Caves National Monument
National Recreation Areas
✮ Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
✮ Mount Hood National Recreation Area
✮ Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
National Forests
✮ Deschutes National Forest
✮ Fremont-Winema National Forest
✮ Klamath National Forest
✮ Malheur National Forest
✮ Mount Hood National Forest
✮ Ochoco National Forest
✮ Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
✮ Siuslaw National Forest
✮ Umatilla National Forest
✮ Umpqua National Forest
✮ Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
✮ Willamette National Forest
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks & Properties
✮ California National Historic Trail
✮ Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
✮ Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail
✮ Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
✮ Lewis & Clark National Historical Park
✮ Nez Perce National Historical Park
✮ Oregon National Historic Trail
For more information on Oregon's national parks, visit the Oregon page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all U.S. national parks, click here.
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Oregon has hundreds of state parks and other state-run recreation sites and natural areas. I believe Oregon has one of the five best state park systems in the country. Here is a list of many of Oregon's finest state parks:
Oregon Coast: Northern (including Astoria, Cannon Beach, Seaside, and Tillamook)
✮ Arcadia Beach State Recreation Site, Arch Cape - a scenic beach with tide-pools that is just south of Cannon Beach; known for "singing sands"
✮ Cape Lookout State Park, Tillamook - a scenic park on a sand spit between Netarts Bay and the ocean; great hiking trails and beaches
✮ Ecola State Park, Cannon Beach - offers dramatic views of the Oregon coastline, including Indian Beach
✮ Fort Stevens State Park, Astoria - a diverse park with a historic fort; offers many outdoor activities; the Peter Iredale shipwreck is here
✮ Hug Point State Park, Cannon Beach - features a beach, sea caves, rocky ridges, and a waterfall; beware of the tides!
✮ Nehalem Bay State Park, Nehalem - features a beach, kayaking in Nehalem Bay, a short cycling trail, and good crabbing and fishing
✮ Oswald West State Park, Arch Cape - features four miles of scenic coastline and excellent hiking trails
Oregon Coast: Central (including Depoe Bay, Florence, Newport, and Yachats)
✮ Cape Perpetua Scenic Area, Yachats - scenic, highly-elevated coastal views from "one of the jewels of the Oregon coast"; Thor's Well is here
✮ Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area, Otter Rock - rocky coastline with tide-pools and a thunderous pothole
✮ Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint, Florence - one of the finest scenic views along the Oregon coast; see the famous lighthouse
✮ Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, Newport - a scenic area that includes the Yaqiuna Head Lighthouse (the tallest lighthouse in OR)
Oregon Coast: Southern (including Bandon, Coos Bay, and Gold Beach)
✮ Cape Arago State Park, Coos Bay - scenic headlands located a few miles north of Bandon; in some months you can see migrating whales
✮ Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint, Bandon - features views of some of the best seastacks on the Oregon coastline
✮ Harris Beach State Park, Brookings - offers miles of beaches and scenic coastline views
✮ Samuel H. Boardman State Park, Brookings - a 12-mile long linear park with secluded beaches, interesting rock formations, and tall bluffs
✮ Shore Acres State Park, Coos Bay - rugged coastline views and variety of plant-life
Northwestern Oregon (including Hood River, Portland, Salem, Mt. Hood, and the Columbia River Gorge)
✮ Silver Falls State Park, Sublimity - this state park has 10 waterfalls, five of which are more than 100 feet tall; 24 miles of hiking trails
Central Oregon (including Bend, Eugene, and Sisters)
✮ Smith Rock State Park, Terrebonne - world-famous for rock-climbing, but also has excellent hiking trails and scenic views
To see my list of the top 100 state parks in the country, click here.
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BEST WATERFALLS IN OREGON
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Oregon has more than 1,000 natural waterfalls, making it a top five U.S. state for waterfall hunting. Here are some of the best waterfalls in Oregon:
Columbia River Gorge area (northcentral/northwestern Oregon)
✮ Bridal Veil Falls
✮ Dry Creek Falls
✮ Fairy Falls
✮ Gorton Creek Falls
✮ Horsetail Falls
✮ Latourell Falls
✮ Multnomah Falls
✮ Oneonta Gorge
✮ Punchbowl Falls
✮ Tunnel Falls
✮ Wahclella Falls
✮ Wahkeena Falls
Mt. Hood National Forest (northcentral Oregon)
✮ Ramona Falls
✮ Tamanawas Falls
Willamette National Forest (central Oregon)
✮ Proxy Falls
✮ Sahalie & Koosah Falls
✮ Salt Creek Falls
Umpqua National Forest (southcentral Oregon)
✮ Fall Creek Falls
✮ Toketee Falls
✮ Watson Falls
The rest of Oregon
✮ Abiqua Falls in Santiam State Forest
✮ Drift Creek Falls in Siuslaw National Forest
✮ Tumalo Falls in Deschutes National Forest
✮ South Falls in Silver Falls State Park
✮ White River Falls in White River Falls State Park
For a listing of all known waterfalls in Oregon, visit the World Waterfall Database.
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BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN OREGON
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Here is a list of the best scenic drives in Oregon:
✮ Historic Columbia River Highway - a 75-mile paved route from Troutdale to The Dalles with scenic views and many waterfall trailheads
✮ McKenzie-Santiam Scenic Byway - a seasonal 82-mile paved loop over Santiam Pass and McKenzie Pass using US-20, WA-126, and WA-242
✮ Mount Hood Scenic Byway
- a 105-mile paved loop around Mt. Hood (e.g. US-26, OR-35) that includes the Historic Columbia River Highway
✮ Oregon Coastline/US-101 - an exceptional 363-mile paved route along the Oregon coastline that is on par with the Big Sur Highway in CA
✮ Rim Drive, Crater Lake National Park - a seasonal 33-mile paved route that encircles Crater Lake
✮ Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway - a 120-mile paved route from Roseburg to Prospect using OR-138, OR-230, and OR-62
✮ Three Capes Scenic Route - a 40-mile paved loop along the Oregon coast that includes Cape Meares, Cape Lookout, and Cape Kiwanda
The Elkhorn Drive Scenic Byway, Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, and Journey Through Time Scenic Byway are all very nice drives, but their scenery is just not on par with the roads listed above.
I haven't driven the 66-mile Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway or the 220-mile West Cascades Scenic Byway yet, but it's possible those are good scenic drives.
The "Fruit Loop" drive near Hood River is more about farms and wineries than scenic views, but there are some scenic views along on it.
For a list of great scenic drives in each U.S. state, click here.
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BEST RAIL TRAILS IN OREGON
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Here is a list of some of the best rail trails (or similar cycling paths) in Oregon:
✮ Banks-Vernonia Trail - northwestern Oregon (and west of Portland); often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
✮ Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail - three disconnected paved paths along highway OR-30 in the Columbia River Gorge
✮ Row River Trail near Eugene
For detailed information on all known rail trails in Oregon, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.
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BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN OREGON
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There are only a few notable amusement parks in Oregon. They include:
✮ Enchanted Forest Theme Park, Salem
✮ Oaks Amusement Park, Portland
✮ Wings and Waves Waterpark, McMinnville
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Oregon has several great museums. The best museums in Oregon include:
Oregon Coast: Northern (including Astoria, Cannon Beach, Seaside, and Tillamook)
✮ Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria
✮ Fort Clatsop National Memorial, Astoria
✮ Lewis & Clark National Historical Park, Astoria
Northwestern Oregon (including Hood River, Portland, Salem, Mount Hood, and the Columbia River Gorge)
✮ Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, McMinnville
✮ Oregon Historical Society, Portland
✮ Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), Portland
✮ Oregon Rail Heritage Center, Portland
✮ Pittock Mansion, Portland
✮ Portland Art Museum, Portland
✮ Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro
✮ Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum, Hood River
Central Oregon (including Bend, Eugene, and Sisters)
✮ Erickson Aircraft Collection, Madras
✮ High Desert Museum, Bend
Northeastern Oregon
✮ National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Baker City
✮ Tamastslikt Cultural Institute, Pendleton
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Oregon offers some of the finest hiking in the United States. The central and western portions of the state are absolutely packed with 5-star trails. Here is a list of many of the premier day hikes in Oregon:
Oregon Coast: Northern (including Astoria, Cannon Beach, Seaside, and Tillamook)
✮ Cape Falcon Trail,
Oswald West State Park
✮ Cape Lookout, Cape Lookout State Park
✮ Ecola State Park trails
✮ Neahkahnie Mountain, Oswald West State Park
✮ Saddle Mountain, Saddle Mountain State Park - currently closed as of July 2023
Oregon Coast: Central (including Depoe Bay, Florence, Newport, and Yachats)
✮ God's Thumb via the Knoll, Siuslaw National Forest
✮ Hobbit Trail, Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park
✮ Lower Cascade Head Trail, Cascade Head Scenic Research Area
✮ Sweet Creek Trail, Siuslaw National Forest
Oregon Coast: Southern (including Bandon, Coos Bay, and Gold Beach)
✮ Oregon Coast Trail-Sunset Bay to Cape Arago, Sunset Bay / Shore Acres State Parks
✮ Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor trails
✮ Umpqua Dunes, Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Northwestern Oregon (including Hood River, Portland, Salem, Mt. Hood, and the Columbia River Gorge)
✮ Angel's Rest, Shepperd's Dell State Natural Area
✮ Bald Mountain from Lolo Pass Trail, Mount Hood National Forest
✮ Cooper Spur, Mount Hood National Forest
✮ Dry Creek Falls, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
✮ Eagle Creek Trail / Punchbowl Falls, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
✮ Horsetail Falls to Triple Falls, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
✮ Latourell Falls Loop, Guy W. Talbot State Park
✮ Lookout Mountain, Badger Creek Wilderness
✮ McNeil Point Trail, Mount Hood National Forest
✮ Multnomah Falls, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
✮ Paradise Park / Zigzag Canyon, Mount Hood Wilderness, Mount Hood National Forest
✮ Ramona Falls, Mount Hood National Forest
✮ Tamanawas Falls, Mt. Hood National Forest
✮ Tom Dick and Harry Mountain, Mount Hood Wilderness, Mount Hood National Forest
✮ Wahclella Falls, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
✮ Wahkeena Falls Loop Trail, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
✮ Yocum Ridge, Mount Hood Wilderness, Mount Hood National Forest
✮ Zigzag Overlook, Mount Hood Wilderness, Mount Hood National Forest
Central Oregon (including Bend, Eugene, and Sisters)
✮ Abiqua Falls, Santiam State Forest
✮ Camp Lake & Chambers Lakes, Three Sisters Wilderness, Willamette National Forest
✮ Crooked River Trail, Smith Rock State Park
✮ Drift Creek Falls, Suislaw National Forest
✮ Green Lakes via Fall Creek, Three Sisters Wilderness, Willamette National Forest
✮ Green Lakes Trail, Deschutes National Forest
✮ John Day Fossil Beds National Monument trails
✮ Koosah and Sahalie Falls, Willamette National Forest
✮ Misery Ridge Loop, Smith Rock State Park
✮ No Name Lake, Deschutes National Forest
✮ Obsidian Trail, Three Sisters Wilderness, Willamette National Forest
✮ Painted Hills Overlook, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
✮ Paulina Peak Trail, Newbury National Volcanic Monument
✮ Pilot Butte, Pilot Butte State Park
✮ Proxy Falls Loop, Willamette National Forest
✮ Smith Rock State Park trails
✮ South Sister Mountain, Three Sisters Wilderness, Willamette National Forest
✮ Tamolitch Falls / Blue Pool, Willamette National Forest
✮ Trail of Ten Falls, Silver Falls State Park
✮ Triangulation Peak & Boca Cave Trail, Willamette National Forest
✮ Tumalo Falls, Deschutes National Forest
✮ Tumalo Mountain, Deschutes National Forest
Southcentral Oregon (including Ashland, Klamath Falls, Medford, and Crater Lake National Park)
✮ Cleetwood Cove Trail, Crater Lake National Park
✮ Garfield Peak, Crater Lake National Park
✮ Mount McLoughlin, Sky Lakes Wilderness, Rogue River National Forest
✮ Mount Scott, Crater Lake National Park
✮ Mount Thielsen, Mount Thielsen Wilderness, Umpqua National Forest
✮ Toketee Falls, Umpqua National Forest
✮ Umpqua Hot Springs, Umpqua National Forest
✮ Watchman Peak, Crater Lake National Park
✮ Watson Falls, Umpqua National Forest
✮ Wizard Island, Crater Lake National Park
Northeastern Oregon
✮ Chimney Lake, Eagle Cap Wilderness
✮ Maxwell Lake, Eagle Cap Wilderness
Southeastern Oregon
✮ Wildhorse Lake, BLM land
The highpoint of Oregon is Mount Hood (11,239'). A serious mountaineering effort is required to reach the top.
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BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN OREGON
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Oregon offers some amazing backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes/areas in Oregon include:
Coastal Oregon
✮ Oregon Coast Trail
✮ Rogue River National Recreation Trail - includes some backcountry lodges
Northwestern Oregon (including Hood River, Portland, Salem, Mount Hood, and the Columbia River Gorge)
✮ Eagle Creek Trail in Mt. Hood National Forest
✮ Pacific Coast Trail
✮ Timberline Trail in Mt. Hood National Forest
Central Oregon (including Bend, Eugene, and Sisters)
✮ Mount Jefferson Wilderness - although a fire in 2017 heavily impacted this place
✮ Pacific Coast Trail
✮ Three Sisters Loop / Three Sisters Wilderness
Southcentral Oregon (including Ashland, Klamath Falls, Medford, and Crater Lake National Park)
✮ Pacific Coast Trail
Northeastern Oregon
✮ Eagle Cap Wilderness
✮ Elkhorn Crest National Recreation Trail
✮ Hells Canyon Loop in Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
✮ Strawberry Mountain Wilderness
✮ Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
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CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN OREGON
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Oregon offers a huge amount of excellent outdoor adventures, including these classics:
✮ Backcountry skiing Broken Top Bowl on Mount Bachelor
✮ Backcountry skiing to remote ski huts in the Central Oregon Cascades (e.g. Three Sisters Backcountry)
✮ Backcountry skiing Tumalo Mountain
✮ Backpacking the Eagle Cap Wilderness
✮ Backpacking the Rogue River National Recreation Trail - includes some backcountry lodges
✮ Backpacking the Three Sisters Loop / Three Sisters Wilderness
✮ Backpacking the Timberline Trail
✮ Bouldering at Carver Woods
✮ Bouldering at Lost Lake Boulders
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Tualatin River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Upper Klamath River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Willamette River (e.g. part of the 187-mile Willamette River Water Trail)
✮ Cycling the Banks-Vernonia Trail
✮ Day hiking in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
✮ Day hiking in Crater Lake National Park
✮ Day hiking in Smith Rock State Park
✮ Helicopter tours in Troutdale
✮ Hot air ballooning in Newberg
✮ Ice climbing in the Columbia River Gorge
✮ Kiteboarding / windsurfing in the Columbia River Gorge
✮ Mountain biking the Blackrock Mountain Bike Area
✮ Mountain biking the McKenzie River Trail
✮ Mountain biking at Mt. Bachelor Bike Park
✮ Mountain biking in Oakridge
✮ Mountain biking some or all of the Oregon Timber Trail
✮ Mountain biking the Phil’s Trail Complex in Bend
✮ Mountain biking the Sandy Ridge Trail System in Brightwood
✮ Mountaineering on Mt. Hood
✮ Mountaineering on South Sister
✮ Rock climbing at Broughton Bluff near Portland
✮ Rock climbing at Rattlesnake Rock in Umpqua National Forest
✮ Rock climbing at Smith Rock State Park (a world-famous climbing destination)
✮ Rock climbing at Spring Mountain in Pendleton
✮ Rock climbing at Trout Creek in Willamette National Forest
✮ Skydiving in Creswell, Madras, Molalla, or Mulino
✮ Snowmobiling in/near Bend
✮ Whitewater rafting the Clackmas River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Deschutes River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Hood River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Illinois River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Klamath River-Upper
✮ Whitewater rafting the Klickitat River
✮ Whitewater rafting the McKenzie River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Molalla River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Owyhee River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Rogue River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Sandy River Gorge
✮ Whitewater rafting the Umpqua River-North Fork
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There are just under a dozen actively-operating ski resorts in Oregon. These ski resorts are generally considered the best in Oregon:
Premier Ski/Snowboard Resorts:
✮ Mt. Bachelor - 101 trails; 3,365ft vertical drop; 9,065ft summit
✮ Mt. Hood Meadows - 85 trails; 4,477 vertical drop (includes hiking); 9,000ft summit
Other Notable Ski/Snowboard Resorts:
✮ Anthony Lakes
✮ Mt. Hood Skibowl
✮ Timberline Lodge
Mt. Bachelor is the 6th largest ski resort in North America, and widely considered one of the very best ski areas in the United States.
The Timberline ski area is the only ski area in the U.S. that is open for 10 months of the year. It also has the most vertical drop of any ski area in the U.S.
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UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN OREGON
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Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in Oregon:
✮ coffee houses
✮ crab louis
✮ hazelnuts
✮ marionberries
✮ marionberry pie
✮ Oregon clam chowder
✮ razor clams
✮ salmon
Fish and chips is also an enormously popular dish in Oregon.
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in Oregon (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each of the 50 U.S. states, click here.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in Oregon (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
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OTHER KEY OREGON INFORMATION
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Here is some helpful key information about Oregon:
State Capital:
Salem
Major Airports:
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Largest Cities:
Portland (666,249), Eugene (180,748), Salem (179,715), Gresham (115,977), Hillsboro (109,415), Bend (103,686), Beaverton (99,032)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-5, I-82, I-84
State Highpoint:
Mount Hood (11,239'); a serious mountaineering effort is required to reach the top
Professional Sports Teams:
NBA: Portland Trail Blazers
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Boring, Government Camp, and Nimrod
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
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Latourell Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
In addition to the information found on my website, I personally recommend purchasing these road trip/travel-related guidebooks. Click on any book cover to read reviews and/or purchase these books on Amazon.com.
 
 
 
 
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MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES
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Did you enjoy this state travel guide? If so, here are links to more of my comprehensive U.S. state travel guides:
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As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any Amazon.com link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or those that come highly recommended by trusted peers.
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