One of the many gorgeous views from the top of the Columbia River Gorge
If ever you need a reason to be more spontaneous during your adventures, then this is it. I was living in San Diego, planning my move to San Francisco – which itself was very impromptu – when I found out that my good travel buddy Steve was in the area.
Knowing he would be passing through the Bay Area to get back to his home in Oregon, I asked if I could join in the car ride back. He suggested we do a California Pacific Coast road trip. Just before making it to San Francisco, Steve suggested that I come back with him to Oregon for a week to explore the state with him as he had some free time. Being my usual spontaneous self, I had booked nothing in San Francisco at that point – so I had no reason to say no to this generous offer.
It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but from my experience, these often make for the best happenings – and my time in Oregon reinforced this sentiment!
The weather at the Natural Bridges was a little wild, but beautiful nonetheless
To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t that interested in Oregon – but reflecting on why, it was because I just didn’t know anything about it (like zero). It’s so close to California, but at the same time it’s a world away. Oregon is somewhere you can escape from the usual crowds, the hiked-up prices, and the heat (if you have a heat intolerance) of its next-door neighbor.
Nature lovers listen up, this is definitely one of the best states for you! Oregon has it all, from rugged landscapes, luxuriant forests, and best of all; over 200 waterfalls spread across the entire state boundaries. Its untapped nature makes up a significant portion of the overall area too, so expect to find an abundance of spots for quiet reflection and general peacefulness away from other humans.
By the time I had to head back to California, I felt as though I had barely scratched the surface of this amazing place. I had an inner feeling of incompleteness here, as if I knew I had to come back some day. That day hasn’t quite come around yet, but I look forward to it when it does.
Where to go
- Natural Bridges
Our first stop was just not far past the state border with California, located along the Pacific Coast Highway.
The Natural Bridges are impressive, but its better not to get too close as some areas have sheer cliff drops into the ocean below
Natural Bridges is a dense forest area which leads down to some cliff edges and has some amazing natural formations below – namely the natural bridges.
It was a short stop-over, but a breathtaking place nonetheless (and broke up the journey nicely). It really gives you a sense of the mysterious powers Mother Nature maintains.
The climb down is steep and there are several points with sheer cliff edges leading straight off into the ocean. I would absolutely not recommend coming here in times of wet/damp weather conditions, as it will be way too dangerous. Some of the natural bridges can be climbed, but again, this should be done at your own discretion and should not be attempted in poor weather.
- Crater Lake National Park
This happens to be the state’s only national park, so maybe it has a lot to live up to. Either way, my expectations were thoroughly met during our visit.
Crater Lake, a volcanic crater in South-Central Oregon (the island in the middle is actually the volcano's central point)
Forming part of the Cascade Mountains of Southern Oregon, the lake (i.e. the crater) was formed by a now collapsed super volcano, Mount Mazama. Wizard Island is a cinder cone near the western edge of the lake, while Rim Drive (a road that surrounds the lake) offers visitors wonderful views of the park’s volcanic formations. The park has numerous trails that vary greatly in length and difficulty. A notable one is Sun Notch, with its spectacular views of the Phantom Ship, a small island in the middle of the lake which derives its name from the fact that it resembles a ghost ship in times of poor visibility.
A personal highlight for me was getting to see dozens of chipmunks (for the first time in my life) in their natural habitat. They are surprisingly very friendly and will come right up to people ( usually looking for food, which you should not give them).
The rock formations at Toketee Falls are just as impressive as the waterfall
- Toketee Falls
I did say that Oregon is famous for its waterfalls. Well, Toketee is just the first of many that you can visit. These majestic falls are one of the best that we have visited, however, and forming part of the larger Umpqua National Forest, there is so much more to discover here when you visit. Some of the rock formations I witnessed were so otherworldly, it was hard to believe that they were shaped by nature.
The trailhead that leads to the falls is 0.4 miles long (0.6 km) from the parking and entrance, leading up to a platform with a prime view of these amazing two-tiered waterfalls. The upper falls drop about 40 feet (12.2 meters), while the lower descent plunges 80 feet over a sheer wall of basalt.
It is possible to go lower to the base with the help of some ropes (and we saw several people do this), but there are several signs placed around the platform which warn against this.
- Portland
My friend’s family were based in Woodburn, which itself is a separate city. While we were staying here, not much time was spent exploring as it was a 35-40 minute car ride (traffic conditions permitting) over to the state’s biggest city, Portland.
The Japanese Garden provides a moment of quiet reflection in an otherwise bustling city
Portland quickly became one of my most beloved cities in the United States. In a way, it is like every other big city in the US – full of skyscrapers, large shopping malls/outlets, and traffic. Yet, it provided me with such a unique experience. There is so much worth exploring here, from the large parks and museums, right down to the fabulous eateries and craft breweries.
There’s a lot to do, and there was no way I was going to get everything done on a short trip here. Habitually, I decided to make going to the Japanese Garden a priority. It is located in Washington Park; a huge urban public park, which contains various gardens, sports facilities, trails, playgrounds, a zoo, an amphitheatre, and a forestry museum. I didn’t get the chance to check all of this out, but wandering around for a few hours left me with the desire to come back. The Japanese Gardens themselves were not the best I’ve been to but were subtle and profound nonetheless – as Japanese Gardens should be.
There’s also a gorgeous Chinese Garden located downtown (the Lan Su Chinese Garden), but due to time and budget constraints I didn’t make it this time around.
We spent a lot of time checking out some of the city’s amazing bars and breweries. For such a comparatively small city, I didn’t expect Portland to have much to offer in the way of nightlife. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Portland is brimming with energy when evening comes. Slabtown is where we began our journey. Located in the northwest, it has a vast selection of bars, restaurants, and cafes open until late (and which offer outdoor seating on the sidewalk – which makes for a great atmosphere in the summertime). That is just the start though. You won’t have to walk far to find some great watering holes – no matter where in the city you might find yourself.
Oregon should be renamed the Waterfall State, as there are endless amount of stunning trails open that offer clear views of these natural wonders
I was also lucky enough to experience my first football/soccer game in the US here in Portland! Steve informed me that soccer outranks baseball (the country’s biggest sport) in both Oregon and Washington. We watched the home team; the Portland Timbers take on the Seattle Sounders. Anyone who knows me will know I don’t like sports much, especially not football/soccer, but the enthusiasm here was contagious, and I ended up having a fantastic evening watching the action!
- Silver Falls State Park Trail of Ten Falls
This is a big one. If you want to complete the trail, then definitely come prepared because you will be here awhile – and without any signs of civilization nearby, you won’t be able to buy anything once you arrive. There are various trails you can attempt, varying in both length and difficulty. My advice is to search online beforehand to see which ones best suit you, so that you can adequately prepare. The largest trail is 7.4 miles (11.9 km) long, and, wanting to get the full experience, this is the one we chose. It is one of the most popular hikes in the state, so expect to see a lot more people than in other places mentioned here.
This was by far the toughest hike of my time in Oregon, and an ample amount of time should be set aside if you want to complete the whole trail
We ended up spending about 6 hours here, so I was exhausted by the end of it – but it was worth the experience all the same. This place is a natural wonderland, and there was always some sense of reward when coming across the next waterfall ahead of the path.
- Willamette Valley Vineyards
Did you know Oregon also has its own wine country? I sure didn’t, so I was a little surprised to hear that we would be going to a local winery one afternoon! Willamette Valley Vineyards is most definitely one of the best known around, having built its reputation since its birth in 1983.
The public can visit the main estate, which has a midscale restaurant (which obviously serves a wide range of their own wines) and a gift shop where you can purchase their delicious wines direct.
- Drift Creek Falls
Drift Creek Falls is a huge waterfall that is found just outside of the Valley of the Giants (another great nature preserve), on the east side of Lincoln City. Home to countless large Douglas firs and western Hemlock trees, this place is another ideal hiking location if you want to be surrounded by natural beauty.
Drift Creek Falls is another impressive site to explore for any incoming visitors to the state
The local Forest Service has created a magnificent 73 meter (240 feet) long wooden suspension bridge which provides direct access over the valley and over to the opposing bluff ridge, whereupon you can easily walk down to see these amazing falls from ground level.
The main trailhead leading to Drift Creek Falls is approximately 2.6 miles (4.2 km) through the Central Oregon Coast Range Forest of Drift Creek Wilderness.
- Siletz Bay / Lincoln City
This is a lovely area of Oregon sitting on the Pacific Coastline. The weather wasn’t the best when we arrived, but that didn’t seem to be stopping anyone – there was always a steady stream of people along the beachfront.
The bay is a famous spot for both crabbing and clamming (not to mention fishing), and you are likely to see dozens of hopeful fishermen going about their business while you are here. This also means that there is a wide range of seafood restaurants nearby to choose from – all serving the freshest local produce!
Siletz Bay may not be your typical beach spot, but allows you to see the seal colonies in all their glory
We spent most of our time in the historic Taft District, which also sits along the waterfront. The beach here is littered with huge driftwood logs that have all ended up on the shoreline due to heavy storms. It looked almost apocalyptic to see. On the other hand, this is also the perfect place to see the native seals. There are hundreds of them, young and old. Most keep a safe distance from a nearby sand barrier away from human hands, but there were a couple of curious individuals that didn’t seem to mind flopping about on the main beach.
- Mount Angel
Mount Angel is a small city in Marion County and is just a short car ride away from Woodburn.
This is one of the more interesting places I have visited in the state, as the entire downtown area is modeled on German-Bavarian architecture.
This is no coincidence; the city’s history can be traced back to the mid-19th century when German-Catholic families and a group of Benedictine monks and sisters settled the area. Keeping up with tradition, the downtown area now boasts various German-inspired restaurants, bars and ornate churches. If you find yourself here in September, then be sure to join in on the annual Oktoberfest celebration!
Mount Angel is one of several Bavarian towns you can visit in the Western United States
Otherwise, it’s more than enough to simply stroll the streets to get an insight into the rich history of the area, while seeing what interesting Bavarian-inspired architectural fancies you can come across.
Do not miss the daily performance of Mount Angel’s central clock tower, The Glockenspiel. At nearly 50 feet tall and covered in bright paintings along with hand carved figures, you are unlikely to miss it. The amazing spectacle happens 4 times daily; at 11am, 1pm, 4pm, and 7pm.
- Columbia River Gorge
This place was an absolute delight to visit and should not be skipped during your visit! Home of the famous ‘waterfall corridor’ and separating the neighboring state of Washington by means of the river, the gorge reaches maximum depths of up to 4000 feet (1,200 metres), while the entire canyon stretches for over 80 miles (130 km) in length.
Multnomah Falls was the most impressive waterfall I visited in Oregon - a tough choice to pick from!
There’s so much to see here, and you will probably find yourself making numerous stops in the car along the way. We stopped numerous times during our time, yet I felt like we barely saw half of what was on offer here.
By far the biggest spectacle here is Multnomah Falls. This is seriously one of the most wondrous waterfalls I have ever seen in my life. Indeed, it is the most visited natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest with over 2 million visitors stopping by each year to immerse themselves in the views of the falls. Fed by underground springs from Larch Mountain, the flow over the falls varies, but is said to be usually at its highest during the winter and spring months.
As mentioned, there are a lot of viewpoints that make for great stop-offs on the trip here. Rowena Crest’s viewpoint was undoubtedly one of the best. It sits high on a plateau and after a short hike from the parking lot you will find the famous horseshoe bend section of highway that often features in photographs. That’s not all though. The area features a round-vision view in which you will be able to clearly see the encircling river, lake, and cliff sides on a clear day.
If you're fortunate enough to visit the Columbia River Gorge on a clear day then you will see wondrous landscapes such as these
Another great pit stop is the Vista House at Crown Point. The house itself is normally a small museum but it was closed during our stop (with no indication as to why), but the main reason people came here is for the vistas (as the name suggests), so we weren’t really that disappointed.
This historical highway also has endless amounts of hiking paths set up along the route, so you will have no shortage of choice. We personally went on 2 short hikes to Horsetail Falls and Latourell Falls while driving along the side of the river.
- Black Butte Ranch
This is a private resort community found in the Cascade Range. It proves to be popular amongst Oregon natives though, as it is blessed with picturesque landscapes and has public access to its golf courses, horse stables, hiking trails and onsite restaurant.
Oregon has a lot of incredible recreational spots, Black Butte Ranch being just one example
This is a spot to go if you want to unwind and relax if you find crowds overwhelming and exhausting. You can easily spend an entire day here just lounging around and absorbing the surrounding nature. We opted to have a quick bite to eat and some fresh local wine from the restaurant before moving on.
- Tamolitch Falls (Blue Pool)
Last during my Oregon adventure, but not least, is the mysterious ‘Blue Hole’ (officially called Tamolitch Falls).
Found deep in the heart of the Willamette National Forest, this peculiar body of water is one of Oregon’s defining natural monuments. It’s truly spectacular to see in person. I assumed the color from the photographs I was shown prior was just enhanced by filters, but no – it is the most vibrant shade of blue! The clarity of the water prompts the illusion that the pool is shallow. When it’s really around 9.1 meters (30 feet) deep.
The Blue Pool is as mysterious as it is dangerous - so remember to keep back when visiting
The hike from the forest trail is about 2 miles (2.1 km) in total and makes for a lovely afternoon hike. I would describe the trail as medium in difficulty.
Like the other baffling ‘Blue Hole’ I visited in Albania, this place is freezing. The water’s temperature sits around 3°C/38°F – so cold in-fact that it is said nothing can live here (even microbes can only live on the surface and no lower). And as with the Albanian one, there have been fatalities in the past due to the cold shock response to the body, so swimming here probably is not the best idea – in fact, it is highly dissuaded by most.
The reason for the Blue Pools’ perplexing characteristics is simple; the water comes from deep underground where it is perpetually circulated. It is then purified by the rocks and sediment underneath the surface of the Earth.
Looking out over Rowena Crest's viewpoint
Other Things to Keep in Mind
As a lot of these are nature-based activities, you should always bring adequate supplies with you before your journey to the site. Things like large bottles of water, snacks, a rain jacket, proper footwear and basic first-aid supplies are essential.
While it is possible to deviate from many of the trails, it is not recommended due to a variety of factors (it’s easy to get lost, hidden dangers etc).
The risk of wildfire has increased dramatically in recent years, with major wildfires having taken yearly since 2020. Always follow the official advice should you find yourself in the state when one is taking place, and be sure to avoid the affected areas for your own safety.
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