When it comes to natural grandeur, few places do it as boldly and enthusiastically as Oregon. This magnificent Pacific Northwest state has it all: ancient forests, glacier-carved mountains, roaring rivers, peaceful lakes, and green plains. And, with nearly 95,000 square miles, you’re never far from a whole different type of landscape or a completely new adventure.
Oregon has some of the most eye-catching scenery on the West Coast. There’s something for every traveler, from the spectacular natural landscape to eccentric, avant-garde culture. Do you enjoy challenging your boundaries on difficult ski slopes and tough mountain climbs? Or do you prefer to unwind in hot springs or go fishing from the docks of the peaceful wooden cottages?
Beyond what greets the eye, there are many fantastic things to do in Oregon. Here are some of the best places to see in Oregon!
Thor’s Well
This is unlike any other sinkhole you’ve ever seen.
Thor’s Well is so large and powerful that it regularly sweeps tourists out to sea due to its fierce force. When they get too close, the God of Thunder unleashes a torrent of gut-churning, rock-crushing force on them.
Thor’s Well is a large rocky protrusion with a deep pit in the midst. The waves slam into the rocks, sending water flying in all directions, and the hole appears to act as a drain, draining the area until the next wave arrives.
Thor’s Well attracts visitors from all around the world. It’s a perfect example of nature’s fury in action, and it’s certainly one of Oregon’s coolest spots.
Mount Hood
Backpacking in Oregon is a time-honored Pacific Northwest tradition. Mount Hood is Oregon’s highest point, but it’s not the only one. The mountain was named Wy’east by the Multnomah tribe, and it is known as the crown jewel of the Columbia River Gorge. Mount Hood, one of Oregon’s seven wonders, offers a variety of backpacking, skiing, snowboarding, and climbing activities.
Farms, wildflowers, and orchards, as well as various lodges, may be found in the Mount Hood foothills, which are well worth visiting. Sailing, windsurfing, hang-gliding, and parasailing are among the thrill-seeking activities accessible beneath the towering shadow of Mount Hood.
Tumalo Falls
In the Cascade Range, Tumalo Falls is located in the Deschutes National Forest, west of Bend. Hiking the Tumalo Falls Trail, which leads to a viewing deck with an incredible view of the cascade, is the greatest way to experience Tumalo Falls.
A picnic park is also nearby, a nice spot to get some food and rest. Hawks, deer, and squirrels have been spotted in the area by visitors to the falls, so keep a watch out.
Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm
Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is famed for its agricultural expertise, producing wine, fruit, vegetables, and forty acres of flawlessly organized and color-coordinated tulips on the Iverson family farm. It’s nourished by rain and sun and subjected to the four seasons.
Tulips of every color are grown in rows upon rows. Pinks and purples combine, while reds and whites contrast with yellows and oranges.
Mount Hood stands magnificently in the background, like something out of a postcard. The tulips can be seen on a walking tour or a tractor ride provided by the farm owners.
It’s like a small piece of the Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse in the Netherlands, right here in Oregon.
Haystack Rocks
One of Oregon’s most amazing natural wonders is the Haystack Rocks. The rocks, located near Cannon Beach in Clatsop County, are accessible by foot at low tide and are popular every year.
The area is also rich in wildlife, with puffins and terns making their homes on the cliffs. Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach also has smaller rocks known as The Needles, and there are numerous rocks to explore around the state, including one near Portland in Tillamook County.
Owyhee Canyonlands
Oregon is often associated with lush forests of moss-drenched trees and frequent mist and rain. Driving east of the Cascades Mountains, though, you’ll come across scenery that is more similar to the Southwest or perhaps Mars.
The well-known Owyhee Canyons are a great example. This huge stretch of sage-covered hills, flowing rivers, and dilapidated gorges carved by desert rivers is rafting, hiking, and rock climbing paradise.
Leslie Gulch and the Honeycomb are two of the most spectacular red-rock canyons in the area, with tiered cliffs of sculpted rock that glow different colors in the sunlight.
Boardman Tree Farm
Oregon is already ideal Instagram bait, thanks to its rustic wildernesses. However, there are a few spots where man-made masterpieces are equally enchanting, one of which is the Boardman Tree Farm.
This 25,000-acre farm of perfectly-aligned hybrid poplar trees, located about 2.5 hours from Portland near the town of Boardman, is a delightful site to meander down the immaculate rows. One of the reasons it’s such a beautiful photo opportunity because the trees are not only nicely planted in rows, but they’re also all nearly the same size and height.
The park is awash in deep greens during the spring and summer, but the greatest time to visit is in the fall when all of the trees are dressed in their stunning fall foliage at the same time. This place must be on your rustic wedding theme shoot!
Crater Lake
The glittering lake with its renowned island is hidden in the caldera base, which has grown woods along its steep slopes and rim, measuring more than six miles in length and five kilometers in width from rim to rim.
Crater Lake (now a National Park) is not only one of Oregon’s most beautiful spots but indeed the deepest lake in the country, with snow- and rain-fed water that’s among the cleanest on the planet. Visitors can now drive, ride, and walk the perimeter of this prehistoric natural monument thanks to roads and hiking trails that run along its rim. Well, there is one location where you can swim.
Cannon Beach
You’ve probably seen the misty, rocky coastline of Oregon in movies like Twilight, Point Break, and The Goonies, even if you’ve never been there. Snorkeling and swimming are among the activities available at the beach. Every year, sandcastle competitions are organized, and fireworks are set off over the sea on the Fourth of July. Cannon Beach is also culturally appealing, with restaurants, boutique stores, and excellent hotels.
The picturesque Ecola State Park and Tillamook Head, located north of Cannon Beach, provide historic and scenic settings to explore. The beautiful community of Seaside is also accessible from Ecola State Park’s other end, providing even more family-friendly attractions on the Oregon coast.
Oregon Dunes
The Oregon Dunes is a sand wonderland of undulating, pure white-sand dunes. Some dunes are nearly 500 feet above sea level, sculpted by winds that create gorgeous ripples over the sun-warmed surfaces!
This panorama of skyscraping sandy peaks linked by valleys is a siren call to outdoor recreation enthusiasts, who flock to the area all year for hiking, sandboarding, horseback riding, and, most notably, dune buggy racing.