Hangry Backpacker

Updated July 2020 – The US State of Oregon is a nature-lover’s playground. Home to towering mountains, high desert and 362 miles of coastline, Oregon is a land of natural wonders.

Oregon has natural wonders all across the state. Some are very popular, and others are often empty. Deciding which piece of Pacific Northwest perfection to see can be a difficult choice. Here are several natural wonders of Oregon – some of my personal favorites – that may (or may not) make that decision easier:

Crater Lake NP – The Apex of Oregon Natural Wonders

The State of Oregon is surprisingly home to only one national park. Crater Lake National Park, the most prominent of Oregon natural wonders, is that place. The result of a massive volcanic eruption, the caldera of the Central Oregon geological wonder slowly filled with rain over hundreds of years, creating the nearly-2000-feet-deep lake.

A web search of “things to do in Oregon” always leads to Crater Lake. Countless beautiful photos can be found, but this is truly an instance where pictures are inadequate. The sheer enormity is lost in images, and there is no blue like the blue of Crater Lake. If you can only visit a single place on this list, make it Crater Lake.

33-mile-long Rim Drive circles the lake and is evidence of the massive size of the most famous of Oregon natural wonders.

Images also fail to adequately show the vibrant colors. The water is a deep shade of blue that only the eyes can comprehend. Contrast the towering evergreens, steep gray rock face and bright pockets of snow, the landscape is one found only at Crater Lake.

The long, sunny days of Summer are the best time to visit Crater Lake National Park. At over 7000 feet above sea level, snow makes visits impractical for several months each year. Check the park website for more info.

Rim Drive is narrow and winding. The road may cause anxiety in some passengers, but it is the only way to see the lake. The trick to safely navigating Rim Drive is to take your time and stop often. The beauty of Crater Lake will have you planning your return before you leave. 

Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia River Gorge, known by locals as the Gorge, is a remarkable example of the force of nature. For millions of years, the Columbia River’s tireless flow has been carving a spectacle of power and wonder. The canyon walls tower over the river for 80 miles, with drastic landscape changes from one end to the other.

US Interstate 84 runs the entire length of the Gorge. Even in the absence of traffic (i.e. never), the drive is dangerous due to the scenic distractions in every direction.

Huge mounds and dry, open land dominate the landscape at the eastern end. Continuing west towards Portland, the Gorge is wet and green, and the walls steepen. The steep canyon walls provide more than a dramatic backdrop. They make waterfalls!

There are several famous waterfalls in the Gorge, the crown jewel being Multnomah Falls. With 620 feet of drops, Multnomah Falls is one of the most popular natural wonders of Oregon. The Historic Columbia River Highway is the perfect waterfall route. Several large waterfalls, one after another, are steps off the highway in a short stretch of road.

Other famous sights align the Gorge. Beacon Rock towers on the Washington side of the river, and the picturesque slot canyon, Oneonta Gorge, hides just off the road.

The Gorge is equally famous for outdoor activities. Boating, windsurfing, kitesurfing and hiking are popular, but hiking is the number one activity in the Gorge. There are thousands of miles of trails, each unique in scenery and varying in degree of difficulty.

Hiking, waterfalls and stunning terrain are a few of the reasons the Columbia River Gorge is a must-see for any tour of natural wonders in Oregon.  

Cape Meares

The Oregon Coast has 362 miles (all open to the public!) of natural wonders. To claim a single spot along the coast as the spot to visit is an injustice. However, for an epic view of the Pacific Ocean and Oregon Coast, Cape Meares is the place.

Cape Meares is a headland on the Northern Oregon Coast, a short drive from the city of Tillamook. The small park is quiet, rarely having more than a few visitors. The historic lighthouse is the perfect point for photographs and views over the ocean.

The reason Cape Meares is one of Oregon’s natural wonders is for those rare, clear days on the Oregon Coast. Usually foggy and wet, when the sun shines, this is one of the best places to catch a sunset. With sea birds diving and nesting in the steep cliffs, waves crashing onto the rocks and never-ending blue sea before you, catching a sunset here is surreal. It is a sight made for postcards.

Opposite the lighthouse is a short trail leading to another overlook. Along this trail is one of the most bizarre trees in the world, the Octopus Tree. The origin of the massive, 300-year-old beast with eight trunks is a mystery.

The overlook past Octopus Tree has a view down to Short Beach, a rocky beach that is usually empty. This point has another fantastic view of the coastline and is a good location to watch the ocean at work a couple hundred feet below.

The tedious drive to Cape Meares is worth the time for the incredible views. With luck, you may catch one of the best sunsets at any of the natural wonders in Oregon.

Silver Falls State Park

Silver Falls State Park is one of the most popular parks in Oregon. Serious hikers and outdoors enthusiasts normally avoid busy parks, but Silver Falls is an exception. Even Oregonians who love arduous hikes in isolation find themselves returning to the waterfall hub of Oregon natural wonders.

The park has plenty of room to enjoy warm days with a picnic and Frisbee. There are streams and rivers to hop in and cool off, too. But the reason people flock to Silver Falls is just that, the waterfalls. The most popular loop through the park is pretty easy, and it is popular with families and people of all ages.

There are several huge waterfalls along the aptly-named Trail of Ten Falls. The trail leads by all of the falls and even behind a few of them. A rain jacket is something to consider. Expect to get a little wet!

The park is open year-round, but the best time to visit is Spring. The falls are roaring from the rainy season, and the weather is pleasant.

As the most popular place on this list of natural wonders in Oregon, crowds are a bigger factor at Silver Falls. Arrive early in the morning. There will be no issue with parking and a largely empty trail. Arriving late in the day may also yield sparse trails. But this is no guarantee, and limited daylight can affect the hope for a leisurely stroll. Go early and enjoy Silver Falls State Park, a spectacular display of waterfalls!

Check out this comprehensive guide of Silver Falls for more specifics!

Bald Butte – Mount Hood

Mount Hood is a sleeping volcano 50 miles east of Portland. One of the most beautiful mountains in the world. Hood, the peak of natural wonders in Oregon, keeps watch over Portland and the Oregon Cascades.

Crowds flock to areas around Mount Hood, such as Trillium Lake, searching for the perfect photo. The sight of the peak towering above and reflecting on the water does make for a marvelous photo. With its relative ease of access from Portland, Trillium Lake and many of the campgrounds in this area are often busy.

Bald Butte has a phenomenal view of Mount Hood without the rest of Portland by your side. Lying to the east of Hood, Bald Butte has a brilliant view of the mountain in the distance, with orchards and vineyards of the fertile Hood River Valley below.

A hiking trail, beginning at the Oak Ridge Trailhead, winds up through the forest. The trail breaks through several meadows, each with its own unique view of Mount Hood. The best time to take this route is mid-Spring when the wildflowers are in bloom. The trail is only a few miles in length, but it is not an easy one, traversing over loose rocks and dirt while climbing over 2500 feet. At the top – after catching your breath – hikers are witness to an incredible view.

At the summit of Bald Butte, nearly 4000 feet above the valley floor, Mount Saint Helens and Mount Adams are also visible in the distance. On clear days, Mount Rainier is visible over 100 miles away!

Bald Butte offers a beautiful view of Mount Hood and the Hood River Valley. The trek up has several photo opportunities and is a rigorous workout – best of all, no crowds!

Painted Hills

The Painted Hills are striking natural wonders of Oregon. Sitting in the middle of an arid, rural part of the state (less than 2,000 people in a county about the size of Delaware), it takes a bit of effort to reach the hills. The most popular natural wonders in Oregon are predominantly in greener settings, and the Painted hills show the unique climatic differences across the state.

The Painted hills stand out in a landscape that is otherwise unchanging for miles. The stripes on the hills catch the eyes of photographers and attract curious roadtrippers.

Due to the remote location, the Painted Hills of Oregon fall down the list for many travelers. Fortunately, there is plenty of hiking and camping in the area to justify a visit. Ochoco National Forest is nearby and perfect for a quiet weekend in nature.

Eagle Creek Trail

The Eagle Creek Trail is in the Columbia River Gorge, but deserves special mention. The trail was one of the most popular hiking trails in Oregon, with several stunning waterfalls. Punch Bowl Falls, Twister Falls and Tunnel Falls are three particularly noteworthy falls along the trail.

The trail deserves notation among Oregon natural wonders not only for it’s fantastic scenery, but for events that took place in late 2017. Eagle Creek Trail is currently closed due to a wildfire that was started by careless teenagers and fireworks. The fire raged for months, consuming 50,000 acres and even shrouding Portland (about 40 miles away) in a sea of smoke and ash.

Although the Eagle Creek Trail is not currently open to visitors, it serves as a reminder of the fragile state of the natural wonders of Oregon and the world.

The Blue Mountains & the Oregon Alps

Most people touring the various natural wonders of Oregon rarely venture east of the Cascades. For travelers and tourists that take the time to explore Eastern Oregon, the reward is incredible natural beauty without the Western Oregon crowds.

Much of Eastern Oregon consists of rolling hills, high desert and farmland, but there are plenty of spectacular highlights. The Blue Mountains contain a few sub-ranges including the Wallowas and Elkhorns. This small mountain range is truly a spectacle of nature. Aptly nicknamed the Oregon Alps, these mountains in Northeast Oregon are surrounded by relatively uninteresting countryside as far as the eye can see.

The Oregon Alps rise dramatically (nearly 10,000 feet) from the predominantly flat landscape. After traveling through miles and miles of flat, dry farmland, the Oregon Alps welcome visitors to an oasis of Pacific Northwest natural wonder. The area is home to mountain goats, cougars, bears, bighorn sheep, wolves, thousands of elk and more. There are alpine lakes and picturesque towns.

The Blue Mountains are the perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Winter brings skiing opportunities. Summer is the perfect time for backcountry hiking or camping. In true Oregon fashion, the natural wonders are complemented by some of Oregon’s best breweries nearby.

---

Oregon is larger than Great Britain, and people spend years in the state without seeing everything. These natural wonders are a good starting point for any visitor to Oregon. To make the most of your time in Oregon, the best thing to do is take it slow and enjoy the view.