Independence, Oregon

If you're thinking of hiking the Trail of Ten Falls Loop and staying overnight, there are 42 tent campsites (available from April – Oct) as well as 14 rustic cabins. With multiple beds, heat, electricity, a covered porch, and a small fridge, they provide the perfect respite after a long day of ex...

From the parking area, the Valley of the Giants trail crosses the Siletz River and passes a tranquil picnic spot before beginning a 1.3 miles loop trail through some of Oregon's oldest and largest Doug Fir trees. Many reach 500 years in age and heights exceeding 200 feet. In fall, vine maples exp...

Located three miles west of McMinnville and available for public hiking and activities, Miller Woods is owned and operated by Yamhill SWCD. You may choose different trails to take.From the parking lot the trails are marked by colors to go on the 4.0 mile loop go to the meadow and follow the red m...

Starting at the visitor center, the trail begins west heading into the forest where you’ll only gain around a couple hundred feet of elevation. While you are hiking on this trail you are surrounded by conifer trees, little open areas of sitting water, and look outs that are hidden within the trai...

When you arrive to the park there are 3 parking lots, lower, middle and top. I like to park in the middle or top lot. From the middle parking lot take the trail to the fork and go right. This will take you to some picnic tables, great spot to have lunch. Follow the trail past the tables and it...

The Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge Trail, located near Gaston, Oregon, offers a peaceful, educational, and family-friendly outdoor experience. Opened to the public in recent years, this refuge protects vital wetland and prairie habitats while providing an easy walking trail ideal for birdwa...

From Road's End State Park, map your way to the end of NE Port Street and park on a pull off next to the described gate: on your right you'll see the gate with three skinny trees to the right of it. You'll want to park as close to this gate as possible, this will be in between some houses on a hi...

The Siletz Bay region of Lincoln City offers a wide variety of activities. With miles of public beach, there is a lot to see and explore.  Despite being the "quiet" part of town, getting here and finding parking will be your biggest issue this whole trip. Parking although free, is very limited, s...

Wecoma Beach is a district of Lincoln City and the beach actually stretches along all of the districts in Lincoln City. This means you can access the beach from practically anywhere, but the beach by Wecoma offers a bit more solitude.  The beach is dog-friendly, so take your four-legged-friend ou...

The trail is a washed out, old mining road making its way through a lush forest with a mix of ferns, moss covered trees, and towering Douglas Firs with trees blown over from wind storms lining both sides of the trail. I call those Big Foot traps. The trail comes to a fork, stay to the left you ar...

To get there from Salem, Follow Hwy. 22 east to Mehama. Turn on Little North Santiam Road (FS 2209) and proceed for 12 miles to Three Pools Day Use Area. Three Pools is by far one of the most popular swimming holes in the Northwest. With multiple swimming holes within just feet from one another i...

It all started when a man, in my grandad's age, initiated a conversation outside a rest stop just off the coastal highway, 101. I, then, was alone waiting for my travel companions outside the restrooms. He approached me without warning, and began asking intricate details of my travel plans and th...

Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint is a stunning coastal gem on the Oregon coastline. Boiler Bay offers up picturesque panorama views of the Pacific Ocean and rugged cliffs. Located just north of Depoe Bay, this state scenic viewpoint is a great stop for not only taking in the landscape but also ...

You'll never stumble upon Canemah Park unless you're really looking for it. Tucked away in the hills of Oregon City above the Locks, this residential park has a miniature-sized set of everything you'd expect in a children's park: Playground, picnic benches, bathrooms, and wide, forested trails. D...

This beach break in Newport Oregon, is very fickle and doesn’t break cleanly very often. It's a wide open beach break, so it is usually exposed to too much swell. However, when the waves do line up, it's a fun beach break with several different peaks to choose from. It offers both lefts and right...

Agate beach is a beach break in Newport Oregon. Bring your booties and gloves because the water temperature up there is very cold. The wave is a fun rippable wave with both lefts and rights. There is a rip that you can use to get out into the lineup right next to the headland.  Note: During winte...