Oregon
Start at the coast, hit up breweries and food trucks in Portland, explore hundreds of waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge, ski or snowboard year-round on Mt. Hood and continue on to the Alvord Desert. Even with all of this adventure, you'll just be scratching the surface of what Oregon has to offer.
Top Spots in and near Oregon
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Cannon Beach, Oregon
Cannon Beach
4.7Start your adventure by heading to Cannon Beach, Or. Either head west on Highway 26 from Portland, OR. or Highway 101 south from Aberdeen Wa. Plan to arrive at the town a few hours before sunset, the beach stretches a couple miles, and it is awesome to walk along the beach during the day. There i...Read more -
Paisley, Oregon
Soak in the Summer Lake Hot Springs
5.0From Bend drive 32 miles south on Highway 97, through La Pine to Highway 31 (2 miles south of La Pine). Turn left (east) on Highway 31 and continue for 92 miles. Summer Lake Hot Springs is on the left side of the road at mile marker 92.This is a very rustic area, with old barns and farm equipment...Read more -
Bend, Oregon
Boyd Cave
5.00.69 mi / 66 ft gainLocated 20 miles southeast of Bend, Boyd Cave is a well preserved lava tube stretching close to a mile. To get there, take Highway 97 South through Bend and turn left on China Hat Road. Go straight for exactly 9 miles. Turn left at mile 9 onto the trail at FS242. You will know it has been 9 miles...Read more -
Mount Hood, Oregon
Snowshoe to Tamanawas Falls
4.53.6 mi / 590 ft gainStarting at the Sherwood Trailhead, follow the sign towards Tamanwas Falls. You will walk through the woods towards the river, and cross it on the log bridge. After crossing the creek, you will begin to head uphill. Keep going this way through the woods for nearly 2 miles, and you will reach the ...Read more -
Manzanita, Oregon
Camp at Nehalem Bay State Park
5.0Nehalem Bay State Park is a great central location on the Oregon Coast to use as a base camp, whether you want to go south to explore Cape Kiwanda or go north to photograph the famous Cannon Beach. There are six loops: A-F, and only A-C are open in the winter. The only first-come-first-served are...Read more -
Lane County, Oregon
Linton Falls
4.54.6 mi / 1026.68 ft gainNOTE: There is no development of viewing areas or trails, which makes for more of a wilderness experience than other waterfalls in the region. There may also be fallen trees blocking the trail, making this adventure more challenging. Hiking to Linton Falls accounts for the two larger waterfalls...Read more -
Deschutes County, Oregon
Skylight Cave
4.50.2 mi / -25 ft gainThe hardest part about getting to Skylight Cave is the drive. Start by coming from Sisters, Oregon, and use the driving directions below to find it. The Google Maps pin is accurate, and if you like coordinates, you can use 44°20'55.3"N 121°42'55.9"W as well. It's recommended you download an offl...Read more -
Cascade Locks, Oregon
Multnomah-Wahkeena Loop
4.45.11 mi / 2162 ft gainThe Multnomah-Wahkeena loop is a classic hike in the Columbia Gorge. Few hikes take you by as many waterfalls, and the tree cover makes it a great hike in the rain. Starting at the Multnomah Falls Parking Area, head to the main viewing area of Multnomah Falls. If you get there early in the morn...Read more -
Hood River County, Oregon
Camp at Elk Meadows
4.54.5 mi / 1200 ft gainThis is a great trip for those who are new to backpacking. The hike to the quiet, peaceful Elk Meadows is relatively short, but the Newton Creek crossing presents enough difficulty to make this a fun and challenging adventure.Start at the Hood River Meadows Trailhead parking lot. Though there are...Read more -
Bridal Veil, Oregon
Angel's Rest
4.34.45 mi / 1568 ft gainThe Columbia River Gorge is absolutely full of incredible hikes - that said, this is one of the best and requires less time and energy than some of the others. Starting at a paved parking lot right off the Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway (note: it's a very popular trail so arrive early or ...Read more -
Lane County, Oregon
Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs
4.20.9 mi / 249 ft gainSoaking in Terwilliger (otherwise known as "Cougar") hot springs is a great way to relax and wind back while exploring the Cascades. A spring flows from a small cave and cascades into multiple pools leading down a small gully, creating pools which have varying temperatures from hot (closer to the...Read more -
Lane County, Oregon
Salt Creek Falls
4.50.65 mi / 141 ft gainLocated off of the 58 Freeway, Salt Creek Falls is the second tallest waterfall in Oregon. The powerful cascade pours into a scenic canyon below, with beautiful surrounding views. You can drive almost right up to the falls, which is either great or anti-climactic, depending on your outlook. Turn...Read more -
Bend, Oregon
Tam McArthur Rim, Green Lakes, Park Meadow Tie Loop
3.322.58 mi / 3675 ft gainThis loop trip around Broken Top is one of the premier backpacking loops in Oregon. The trail winds past numerous alpine lakes, including the popular Green Lakes area, and offers near-constant views of Broken Top, the Three Sisters, and Mount Bachelor. To top it all off, the clear skies typical o...Read more -
Otter Rock, Oregon
Explore the Devils Punchbowl Arch
4.6Devils Punchbowl State Park is located just off of Highway 101. Finding the access path to the beach can be tricky since you need to be on the North side of the Punchbowl, but look for a path heading through the trees on C Avenue just north of 3rd. Once you get down to the beach head left.You may...Read more -
Portland, Oregon
Hiking the Ridge Trail in Forest Park
4.22.75 miThis is a great option for a quick hike when you don't have time to get out of the city but need to satisfy your craving to get outside and escape the noise of bustling Portland. Follow Firelane 7 from the Springville Trailhead up towards Leif Erickson Drive and the Ridge Trail. There are signs a...Read more -
La Pine, Oregon
Hike to Paulina Lake Hot Springs
5.02.4 miStarting at Little Crater Campground, head north toward the hot springs (43.730, -121.247). If you're really looking to stretch your legs, you can extend the out-and-back hike to a full loop around the lake just shy of 8 miles. The water in the springs is around 95 degrees, and doesn't smell of s...Read more
