After living in Oregon for over a decade, we still feel like we have barely scratched the surface of what this incredible state has to offer. With dozens of amazing coastal towns, remote eastern outposts, little-visited glaciated mountains, and thriving cities, there is always a new adventure to embark on.
But what we have found during our travels are plenty of places that keep calling us back. Places that we can include on any trip and never get tired of visiting.
These include bustling cities where there is always something new and remote getaways where we can recharge in nature.
Here are our favorite places to visit across Oregon and spots that keep us coming back again and again.
Astoria
If I could live anywhere in Oregon and money was no object, I’d have a hard time picking anywhere other than Astoria. For an Oregon coast town (even though it technically is a river town), Astoria has so much soul and history.
While tourism does play a huge part in the town’s economy, it doesn’t feel like a tourist town.
With its vibrant downtown with buildings that wouldn’t look out of place in any major West Coast city, a revitalized waterfront, and stately homes lining the hillside, this place will always hold a piece of our hearts.
Joseph
One of the most out-there towns in the entire state, being well off the beaten path is part of what makes Joseph such an incredible place. Day-trippers need not apply here as just getting here is a trek in and of itself for most folks.
Once you’re there, you’ll be greeted by some of the nicest people in the entire state as you sit down for lunch at The Blythe Cricket or stop in at Joseph Fly Shoppe.
And with the Wallowa Mountains right next door, the town also serves as a base camp for some of the best backpacking and hiking in the entire state.
Crater Lake
It is impossible to leave Oregon’s only national park off of this list. We make a visit to Crater Lake nearly every year as the view of the lake’s incredible blue waters just never gets old.
For one of the most unique experiences in the entire state, plan a visit to Crater Lake in September when most of the rim road shuts down, and bikers and hikers can enjoy the park in a car-free environment.
Portland
The reports of Portland’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.
Portland was home for nearly a decade, and we still love returning as much as possible to try out new restaurants, wander through Forest Park, and enjoy the moody fall days when a drizzle hangs over the city and the days are best spent sipping a latte in a coffee shop.
While Portland may not have a top-tier attraction like Seattle (Pike Place, Space Needle) or San Francisco (Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman Wharf), we feel that is part of what makes Portland such a great city. So much of its visitability is found in the little hidden gems throughout its neighborhoods just waiting to be discovered.
Smith Rock State Park
While Oregon is home to A LOT of spectacular state parks, it is hard to pick one that is more beautiful than Smith Rock State Park.
This recreation lovers paradise is home to world-class climbing, technical mountain bike trails, and miles of paths for hikers and trail runners to enjoy.
While there are plenty of incredible vantage points throughout the park, it is a little humorous that the best (in our opinion, at least) is the one from the parking lot.
Silver Falls State Park
While the Columbia River Gorge may get all the press for waterfalls in Oregon, it is tough to argue that any place in the state has a better payoff than the Trail of Ten Falls hike in Silver Falls State Park.
This loop hike will take you above, next to, and even behind, ten waterfalls along its 7.4 miles.
Plan a visit during the shoulder seasons, as peak runoff occurs during the spring months, and during the fall, the big leaf and vine maples throughout the park turn a brilliant kaleidoscope of orange and yellow.
Depoe Bay
Depoe Bay is well known for two things: being home to the world’s smallest harbor and a pod of grey whales that spend the summer directly offshore.
This means that you don’t have to brave the winter and spring weather on the Oregon coast in hopes of catching a glimpse of the migrating whales making their way to and from warmer waters to the south and Alaska. Instead, you can watch for them from inside the Whale Watching Center or from its large decks.
We love Depoe Bay for its small-town feel and rocky shorelines, which offer spectacular tide pooling when the tide goes out.
Metolius River
The Metolius River is well known as a world-class fly fishing river that is home to massive trout and has a very discerning taste for flies. But you don’t have to be a fly fisherman to enjoy this peaceful retreat.
We head out to the campgrounds along the Metolius when we just need some time away from the hustle and bustle of life. With trails along both sides of the river, it is the perfect place to wander and enjoy the sounds of nature and the river.
With towering ponderosas and the crystal clear waters of the river, it is hard to find a more relaxing place to visit.
Steens Mountains
Southeastern Oregon is one of the most remote places in the entire country. Here, you can easily go days without seeing a single other person.
And smack dab in the middle of all this nothingness is the massive Steens Mountain that rises up out of the sagebrush and towers over nearby Alvord Desert.
During the summer months, you can drive all the way to the top and enjoy 360-degree views of these wild landscapes.
Mt. Jefferson Wilderness
Standing only 700 feet shorter than Mt. Hood, Mt. Jefferson is an equally imposing and majestic mountain that sees only a tiny fraction of the visitors as its taller neighbor to the north.
This is because there are no roads leading to the mountain, so your only option is to make the long hike from the forests that line its west flanks. Because of fires in recent years, many of the trailheads previously used to access the wilderness surrounding the mountain have been shut down, so odds are, if you make the trek in, you will be there in almost complete solitude.
Mt. Hood
Standing as the tallest mountain in Oregon, and also its most developed, there are endless things to do on and around this rugged peak.
With numerous lakes, hundreds of miles of trails, world-class mushroom and berry foraging, remote fire lookouts, and the historic Timberline Lodge, you could spend every weekend here and never run out of things to do.
Some of our favorite places to visit around the mountain include the Tilly Jane Cabin, Trillium Lake, Timberline Lodge, and McNeil Point.
