Flanked by the mighty Pacific in the west to Mt. Hood in the east and scenic Columbia river highway in the north to the massive Crater lake in the south; Oregon, a coastal state in the United States boasts its beautiful natural wonders. With its boundless beauty and charm, Oregon has a little treasure for one and all!
If you are ready to hike up a few trails, explore the deepest lakes and endless desserts, enjoy snow clad peaks, sip on local brews and explore the quirky town of Portland, then a visit to Oregon is all you need!
Our 4-day trip to Oregon towards the end of May left us with a great surprise as the state was still recovering from its winter. There were parts of Oregon in south such as the Crater Lake, where we were able to enjoy snow with amazingly high temperatures (~70 degree F).
This blog covers our itinerary for the round-trip from Portland covering various locations in the Beaver State.
Historic Columbia River Highway
The Columbia River separating the states of Oregon and Washington offers spectacular overlooks along its entire route. The 75-mile long Historic Columbia River Highway (Interstate 84) built in 1916 along the river, was the first highway to be designated as a “Scenic Highway” in the United States and was fondly called the “King of Roads”.
Starting from Corbett along this route we visited the following series of stunning waterfalls and overlooks along the Basalt cliffs. Some of these points are accessible directly via a drive while few others are accessible by a short hike.
Women’s Forum Overlook
Vista House
Latourell Falls
Shepard’s Dell
Bridal Veil Falls
Multnomah Falls
Multnomah Falls: The tallest year-round waterfall in Oregon, this magnificent 2 drop fall (at 620 feet) is one of the most visited sites along the scenic highway. A paved trail provides access to visit the first drop and also continues to an elevation
of 785 ft offering views overlooking the edge of the falls.
Some of the areas were affected by the wildfire of the Eagle creek fire in 2017. Please check for the updated status of these points before you plan your visit. For a map of these areas, please click here.
Mount Hood
After enjoying the refreshing waterfalls and hikes, we then headed to explore the highest peak in Oregon, Mount Hood. Covered with 11 different glaciers, Mount Hood provides skiing activities all year round in the United States making it a paradise for the ski enthusiasts.
From the Multnomah falls, we drove on I 84 and then took the Oregon route 35 South and entered the Mount Hood from the East side. On a clear day we could see the Mount Hood from the Portland city, however the closer we got, the more we fell in love with it.
We drove up to the Timberline Lodge near the summit of the mountain. At an altitude of 5960 feet, it can get really chilly, so a thick jacket is highly recommended. With decent drive to the top, this place provides magnificent views of Mount Hood. We sat by the window in the Ram’s Head Bar and Restaurant, as the setting sun glorified Mount Hood with its golden color.
As we were planning to head to the Crater lake next day, we drove approximately 3 hours after the sunset from Mount Hood and stayed in La Pine at Best Western Newberry Station.
Crater Lake
The scenic treasures of Oregon had stunned us, and the Crater lake was no exception. From La pine we drove to the North Entrance Station of the Crater Lake. The deepest lake in the country, quenching the thirst of the dormant snow-clad volcanic crater, the Crater Lake looked like a glittering blue sapphire ring.
We started our drive along the west rim of the lake from the North Entrance Station. There are numerous overlook points which offer breathtaking views of the Crater lake and the wizard island. Here are some of our recommended ones:
Merriam Point This is the first point recommended when you come from the North Entrance.
Watchman overlook: This point offers the amazing views of the Wizard Island and the lake.
Discovery Point: This spot can be reached by a short hike uphill above the parking area.
During the summer, you could also plan to hike down to the Crater lake and take ferry rides to the Wizard island. Make sure to reserve your spots ahead of time to enjoy this amazing experience.
After exploring the serene beauty and calmness of the Crater Lake we wanted to experience the mightiness of the Pacific Ocean. We headed to coastal town of Coos Bay to relax and enjoy the coast and stayed at Quality Inn & Suites at Coos Bay.
Pacific Coast Scenic Byway and Sand Dunes
Starting from Coos Bay we headed north to explore the beautiful Pacific Coast and the vast sand dunes along the west coast of the Oregon. By this time we had explored different topographies of the state and discovered it’s surreal beauty in every form. Our first stop for the day were the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area in Florence.
Florence sand dunes
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area expanding over 40 miles along the Pacific coast of Oregon is the largest stretch of coastal sand dunes in the country. The best way to experience these enormous deserts was by going inside and being a part of it.
The ATV rides were the best option to explore the vast desert at your own pace and leisure time. We rented our ATVs from Torex ATV rentals. The serenity of the blue ocean from the golden desserts was awe inspiring.
If you are not interested to ride an ATV then they also have an option of the buggy tours to explore the deserts.
Pacific Coast Scenic Byway
While savoring the blue waters of the pacific, we ascended the coast along the 101 Highway to reach our next destination of the Sea Lion Caves. It’s a popular tourist destination along the highway and a difficult one to miss. Acclaimed as the largest sea caves in the US, it is home to the sea lions and its cubs. We did not really spend for the tickets ($14.00) to go down to the caves as we were able to get spectacular views of the sea lions just ahead of actual museum.
Just few miles from the sea caves, you will hit an exit for the Heceta Beach and the Lighthouse. The beach opened up to the glorious Pacific Ocean with its radiant waters! On our way up north we also explored Thor well and the little town of Yachats. If you have more time, visit the Cannon beach and the town of Astoria along the pacific coast as well.
After the long refreshing drive along the pacific coast, we headed back to Portland.
Portland
‘Keep Portland Weird’ is the unofficial mantra of the city. What we found most weirdest in the city apart from everything, was walking down the Alberta street with live music and vendors on either side with locals dancing around in Halloween costumes (not in November).
The city brings out the best culinary experiences with arrays of food trucks in downtown; two of my favorite Indian inspired restaurants - Bollywood Theater and Tiffin Asha. One will find many local cafe serving local brews adding a unique taste to your palate.
~ Nomadic Traveler ~
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