Ecola State Park requires paying a $5 Day Use Fee. We came on Tuesday 7/27 around 3 pm. We did not have any issues finding parking. In the parking lot is a machine for you to purchase the $5 ticket. Credit cards are accepted and the Pass is placed on your dash. You can walk around and even see the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse which sits on an island. We also drove to Indian Beach which is part of Ecola State Park.See more..
5.0Cape Perpetua Scenic Area(1.182 reviews) - Beautiful Park, nice trails State Parks • Scenic Drives
Great hikes and well marked trails. We spent the late afternoon here and hiked the discovery trail, very scenic through the forest area with glimpses of the ocean. It has a pretty good uphill climb until you get to the high point then it gradually comes back down. There are other trails that branch off and all signage clearly marks distance and direction. The visitor center had closed while we were on our hike (4pm), but had maps and other information if you visited when it was open. A sandwich board out front had some information on hours. The trails to the Devil’s Churn, Spouting Horn and Thor’s Well were very nicely paved and clearly marked. These trails had a few steps but were easy to hike.See more..
This is great place to go on a clear day even if you don't want to hike. Great views even just from the parking lot. It was well worth the 2 hour and minute drive for me to get there. Multiple trails to hike. Free maps of park and I would get one because on some of the trails farther away from the parking lot I wasn't sure exactly I was at. It shows that you could ride your bike or ride horses on these trails but I wouldn't recommend it. On most the trails there are places you could stop and just sit and look/rest for a while if you wanted to. The parking fee is $5 for a day pass so well worth it even if just staying for an hour to sit and look. I know I will coming out here at least once I year from now on.See more..
4.5Fort Stevens State Park(1.108 reviews) - Outstanding Oregon State park Sunday: 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM State Parks
This is a really beautiful park and a great camping experience. It's big; something like 4,300 acres with literally hundreds of campsites, a lake with picnic areas, hiking trails and beach access. Very well managed and maintained. Very quiet at night. They rent bikes, even though the website indicates the bike rentals are closed. Be warned; the bikes are old beaters but they'll get you there and back.See more..
Very interesting geological wonder at the end of a short road through a cute little area with a winery and some restaurants/coffee houses (?) - all closed due to wildfire smoke unfortunately. The gaping formation is thought to be a result of some sea caves collapsing. I think you used to be able to walk around in it, but it’s all fenced off from what I can see. You might be able to access it from the beach somewhere but we weren’t able to thoroughly explore due to the smoke and fog. Also could be dangerous if the tide is coming in. I think we caught it at low tide. It’s a beautiful area, with rocks and caves and water swishing and swirling around deep in the “bowl”! It’s a quick visit but may take up more time when the little shops are open or if you can hike around the area! Definitely something to see! See more..
A park located in the state's only rain forest, with beautiful waterfalls and hiking trails.See more..
5.0Shore Acres State Park(835 reviews) - Visit a beautiful garden and an spectacular view of the ocean Spent More than 3 hours State Parks
The park has created a "garden for all seasons" and an observation building which offers spectacular views of seascapes and migrating whales.See more..
The beach here has a lot of cool sea caves, and if you time your visit to low tide you can go around the point. In general, on the Oregon coast you will have to pay a lot of attention to the tide charts. If you get tired of the crowds at Cannon Beach, this is a good alternative.See more..
We were staying in Bandon during our Oregon Coast trip and made a visit to Cape Arago State Park. Prior to visiting the State Park, we had lunch at The Boat in Coos Bay (highly recommended). We came on Sunday, 7/25. The weather was cloudy and a bit gloomy. No one collected a Day Use fee when we entered Cape Arago. However, when we visited Shore Acres State Park, we paid the $5 Day Use.See more..
Scenic state park encompassing nearly 2,500 acres of mostly undeveloped land, which is ideal for a variety of outdoor recreation including surfing, kayaking, bird watching, hiking and camping.See more..
Driving the Columbia River Gorge historic highway 30 and stopped to view the falls. Parking was tough as it was busy, but someone was leaving as we drive in so we were lucky. There are picnic areas, restrooms, a nature trail as well as the trail to the falls. The trail to the falls is about .5 miles each direction and is fairly easy to hike. The falls are beautiful and can be seen from the bridge on the trail, but are only fully viewed from the overlook stop a little further up the trail. It was busy the day we visited and people were climbing rocks and wading in the water at the base of the falls but we were able to get to the overlook and enjoy the site.See more..
I went in October…it was crisp fall-like weather. Stayed in a yurt. Great experience for my disabled family. Loved it, so much that I’m Moving to joseph. In just over a week. The yurt was warm, clean and suitable for at least six people. The heater and air purifier were a bonus, and they worked fine. The rangers were knowledgeable and courteous, allowed me to check in a few hours early. Points for that! Next day the deer came to investigate enforce.. they came so close begging for food they nuzzled my wife’s hand and sons arm. incredible. My son was enthralled and amazed. He too was hooked. Bathrooms were clean. Shower was sufficient. It’s a campground shower, So, it had its detractors. But was clean and hot. Definitely going back. Great time is the off season. Been there in the summer months. Not a spot, site or yurt to be had. Will ever go in peak season again.See more..
This is arguably the best view in Oregon's Columbia Gorge. It's now called Portland Women's Forum State Scenic Viewpoint but in the old days was known as Chanticleer Point. A plus is that looking to the east, you have a good view of Crown Point with the Columbia Gorge in the background.See more..
My daughter got married there and it was amazing! It was a beautiful day and the facilities were incredibly nice (rustic). These are just a few of the great photos we got that day. The price was very reasonable and the park rangers helped us a lot. We booked the area for Friday, Saturday and Sunday so we had plenty of time. And we paid the parking fee for everyone (ranger collected it at the end of the evening). We also used a party trolley so people didn't have to drive if they didn't want to. Good time had by all!See more..
4.5Tryon Creek State Natural Area(176 reviews) - Nice trails lead into wonderful natural area Sunday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM State Parks
A beautiful, thickly wooded park lined with over 14 miles of hiking and biking trails.See more..
4.5Tumalo State Park(172 reviews) - A wonderful park to hike Sunday: State Parks
This is an absolutely lovely state park located in the city of Bend, and a great place to spend the day hiking! It was only $5 to park for the day which I thought was very reasonable! I spent about two hours at this park, but you could easily spend the whole day! I choose one hike, the Canyon Loop Trail. I'd say it was a moderate level hike, and very scenic along the river, tall rocks and forest. I saw an otter and many small birds. It was not too crowded on the Saturday I visited. There is very helpful signage along the trail so you do not get lost. It was chilly but sunny and a perfect day to hike.See more..
Good views, rock formations that make for excellent photography. We enjoyed exploring this area. Moody weather made for fun photos and some evening golden light gave us some great portrait opportunities. See more..
Friendly hosts to answer questions about the area. Clean bathrooms and showers. Quiet and safe park, did not have any problems at all. Courteous neighbors. During our evening walks along the trails, everyone waved or greeted us. One jogger went by with a smile and said, “Aloha!” That made our evening! *;)See more..
We stayed in our RV. Many sites are on the river with access to the trail that leads along the river and to the logging museum nearby. The river trail is just beautiful, we only stayed one night, but walked the trail twice. The only downside was because of Covid and the bathrooms were closed and....there were no trash receptacles. I’m glad they were open and the camp host was very gracious.See more..
We were out to Cascade Licks in Labor Day to buy fresh caught salmon, so we stopped on the way back for a dip in the Columbia River at Rooster Rock. I have been here several times over the years. It’s a great park for a picnic and an ideal spot for a cool swim. Yeah, there’s a clothing optional area but that’s way far away from where the families and kids play and picnic in the sand. On a warm weekend expect lots of people but the park is huge and there is a lot of parking.See more..
4.0Detroit Lake State Recreation Area(72 reviews) - Beautiful Lake, Great Fishing and Nice Full Service Camping Sites Sunday: State Parks
Located in Willamette Valley, Detroit Lake State Park is a scenic fishing and camping area.See more..
4.5Fort Stevens State Park(50 reviews) - The nicest place ever Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours State Parks
Ended up here after being turned away at KOA for the type of dog I had. Park rangers went out of their way to find us a place to camp! This place is clean and beautiful. Elk walk the grounds every day and there are all kinds of things to do. We will be back!See more..
Evaluation ordered at Lassen volcanic National Park (Lake Manzanita area) in CA. Park closed. Traveled NW and found this Park on route 62 south of Crater lake headed to interstate 5. Friendly helpful staff and beautiful park area. They found me an Electric site for Friday- Thursday. Had not planned on staying a Joseph H Stewart State Park, but I’m glad we found each other.See more..
Hiking along Mission Lake, which was completely covered with algae, we saw a log with a couple of large turtles sunning themselves. And we noticed disc golf baskets near where we parked, so we got a little practice in while we waited for the rest of the group to get here. Such a great day!See more..
4.5Brian Booth State Park(41 reviews) - Brian Booth State Park is NOT Ona Beach State Park... State Parks • Parks
Yes, the sign is just north of Ona along Hwy 101 and there is a beach pull out.. However, what the general public doesn't seem to know is there's a whole lot more to Brian Booth Park. If you drive up Beaver Creek Road there is a visitor center and a whole lot of walking/hiking. You can walk beaver creek loop which has a handful of trails off of that-The view from the top is so beautiful and there's even a picnic table up there. Find the visitor center and explore... You wont regret it.See more..
4.0Hat Rock State Park(34 reviews) - Peaceful, quiet picnic spot. State Parks
The park is peaceful and relaxing. There are several picnicking areas in the park. We chose to have lunch near the fishing pond and boat ramp. There are big shade trees and lots of tables available on Mother's day.See more..
Wonderful place to visit not crammed full of tourists. Good view of falls from short path from parking lot but take the time to go down to the old power plant at the bottom. Trail is a tad steep but there are old stairs about half way down that make it easier. Best view of falls is about one third way down. Not too far from the Columbia River gorge area but a dramatic change in scenery! Absolutely worth the drive.See more..
We stopped here after the Bridal Veil Falls loop because it was way less crowded. It was one of the better stops we made along the route. Very lush area with the wonderful sound of rushing water. It was quite relaxing to just sit and rest for a bit when we got to the water falls area. Take a moment to look at the bridge too, it's a beautiful piece of architecture.See more..
4.0Molalla River State Park(32 reviews) - Beautiful Park on 3 rivers, lots of wildlife State Parks
Molalla River State Park is a beautiful park on the Willamette River with two other rivers running through it ie: The Pudding River and the Molalla River. There is usually lots of wildlife to see here, many birds and other small animals. Fisherman launch their boats from the boat launch or stand near it to fish from shore. You can see the Canby Ferry cross the river just downstream, too. There are many trails to explore and dogs love the off leash area. We come here often.See more..
We stayed here over the 4th of July weekend. 100 degrees, amazing breeze, great views of the river. We loved the campsite and it's proximity to Hood River. Strange access, as you have to pass the park on the way East, and then turn around... Our big complaint, our campsite had a HUGE Poison Oak on the outskirts of the site. Our dog got into it, and only afterwards did my husband notice that it was Poison Oak. We alerted the Ranger, to confirm that it was Poison Oak - sure enough it was. We were appalled that they were so nonchalant about it - stating that because it's a native species they didn't take it out. They are very lucky that our dog got into it and not a small child. In my opinion, if something so dangerous is directly next to a site, they should remove it. At the VERY least put up a sign. If you have small children, or dogs - watch out for Poison Oak in this park!See more..
4.5Blue Lake Regional Park(28 reviews) - Beautiful park, small lake!! Sunday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM State Parks
Metro's Blue Lake Regional Park, located just 20 minutes from downtown Portland, offers a wealth of recreational opportunities for people of all ages. Blue Lake is a 64-acre natural lake fed by underground springs. Children under 5 years of age are not allowed in the lake to help keep the water clean, but there is a spray ground for all ages with colorful features that shower, gush, dump and pour water. Visitors can also rent a paddle boat, row boat or canoe to explore Blue Lake. Blue Lake Regional Park provides opportunities for boating, fishing and swimming, and makes a beautiful backdrop for hundreds of family picnics, community events and special programs throughout the year. Water spray ground. Splash into Blue Lake's action-packed spray ground with colorful features that shower, gush, dump and pour water. On hot summer days the spray ground is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Picnic reservations. Covered shelters and reservable picnic areas are available for gatherings of family and friends. Reservations are necessary for groups of 25 people or more. First-come, first-served tables for small groups are available along the lake front. The Lake House: in a beautiful garden setting overlooking Blue Lake, The Lake House provides a tranquil setting for weddings, receptions, recitals, memorial services, corporate functions and meetings. Boating at the lake. Paddle boats, row boats and canoes are available to rent at Blue Lake between May 1 and Sept. 30. For more information about boat rentals, call 503-661-6087. Privately owned watercraft are allowed on the lake for the purpose of angling between Oct. 1 and April 30, as long as they do not exceed 14 feet in length (17 feet for canoes) and 3.0 horsepower in motor capability.See more..
This beautiful Oregon State heritage site is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is located a few miles off the Interstate 5 highway. You will not see a sign about this site from the highway, but the site is easily located off the alternate route of 99E. The interpretive camp hosts or park rangers provide 45 minute to one hour tours of the mill at 10:00 am, 12:00 noon, and 2:00 pm, plus there is an interactive display which will walk you through the main floor of the building if you are unable to attend the tours. The site offers a view of the historic farmhouse, numerous outbuildings, and a wonderful array of free range farm poultry which are so fun to watch and enjoy. The site is a great location to stop and have a picnic or a snack, too.See more..
Cottonwood Canyon is one of Oregon's newer state parks and it is a great one. The park is probably better experienced hiking or on the water. I had done some hiking at the fossil beds earlier in the week and was not quite ready to hike again. I will have to go back and experience the canyon more on foot. The information center was closed, but walking around the old barn with the equipment was really fun. Back behind the barn is a short trail to the river which is fun too. There are trails on both sides of the highway. There is a nice big day use area and if you want to spend the night, there are some cabins and a campground. The park is a bit out of the way, but well worth the effort to go to. I got a nice taste of the park and it was enough to want me to go back for a lot more.See more..
I have visited this lake since I was 2 years old. My great-grandparents owned the resort for a few years in the late 60s. As a kid, my family would fish, boat, camp and explore this lake regularly during the summer. It has changed over the years but every time I visit, I love it. Great place to go and have a good time whether you're boating, fishing, hiking, hunting or just doing nothing. I literally grew up on this lake. It never gets old. Except that last couple miles up to the dam. That always scares me!See more..
4.0Cascadia State Park(23 reviews) - Beautiful park for day hikes, picnicking, swimming! State Parks
I have been visiting Cascadia Park since I was a small child. It's our local favorite! Lots of huge fir trees and maples for shade and beauty in the spring, summer, fall with lots of picnic tables and easy walking trails between sections of the park. The river is a short walk for swimming, wading, catching crawdads, or fishing and for the more adventuresome there is a more difficult trail uphill to the falls. Walking to the falls is worth doing! So is a trek along the river (up river) from the park to the site of the Indian Caves. I think it's about a 1.5 mile easy walk on flat ground to see original Native American petroglyphs. See more..
Bald Peak is a GREAT place to go in order to look at the surrounding mountains of the region. If you get there at just the right time, some of the mountains are far enough away that they appear to just be floating in the sky with the clouds. It's a very cool sight to behold!See more..
3.0Viento State Park(21 reviews) - Location, location, location... Spent More than 3 hours State Parks
This is a nice little campground, except for the noise. Good space between spots. Clean newer showers, and free. I'd say close to 1/2 the campers here are wind surfers. Has electric and water, but no sewer and no dump station here. Heavily shaded. The bad part is the noise. If not for that, I'm sure there would be a lot of 5 star ratings. The comments other than noise are just nit-picky complainers. The train tracks are right up against the river side of Viento. I'd estimate there are 4-6 trains every night, maybe more. There is a track crossing for Viento, so every train blows its horn loudly going by. Then, I-84 is pretty much right up against the other side of Viento. I spent 3 nights at Viento, and got more and more used to it. Still, the trains woke me up. I'd stay here again if I had no other choice, but I'd try to get into another adjacent first.See more..
The drive to the park is beyond beautiful...Our son was married here and there was a meeting house used for the reception/dance. Most of the wedding party stayed at the cabins which were close to the meeting house. I appreciated how private it seemed and yet there were others in the area enjoying the beauty of the park.See more..
This is not as crowded as Multnomah Falls and you should put it on your radar to visit. Short hike and great photo opportunities. Parking could be a bit challenging. See more..
We were waiting for the rain to ease up and check this trail out. It's very easy not much to it. Very northwest style we are used to since we live in the Columbia gorge. Very kid friendly path.See more..
Erratic Rock State Park should be a stop if you're traveling between the Portland metro area and Lincoln City or Newport. Located between McMinnville and Sheridan just off of Hwy 18, it is a great place to take in the valley view, see the Cascades on a clear day, take photos and learn a little bit about some interesting Willamette Valley geological history. A paved pathway leads uphill to the rock. It is wheelchair accessable, but can be a bit steep towards the top. Getting up to the main attraction is only about a quarter mile from the small parking area and there is an informational kiosk explaining how the rock got here from so many miles away (I'll let you find out the answer). One downside is that are no restrooms or picnic tables, but produce stands, wineries, art galleries and a Dairy Queen are close by. Enjoy the blackberries on the hike as well, when they're in season of course.See more..
Convenient access from the highway 84 - just watch for Exit sign! Large parking lot and restrooms behind. To see Starvation Creek Falls you need to walk to left - just in 5-6 minues you will get there. Nice asfalt path with slight angle going up. A lot of shadow - just enjoy your experience. If you go to your right from the parking lot there are 3 more waterfalls to visit!See more..
This park is for the outdoor enthusiast. Great for swimming in the river, fishing, picnicking and group get togethers large or small. One of the overlooked features of the park is the trail system. This is a fantastic area for Bird watchers. There can be a dark side to this park so caution is in order for a couple items. The Rogue River should always be treated with respect and caution. The water can be cold and the currents can vary. Use caution around the river at all times. Second, and not well known while the park is pet friendly and they do require that you keep your pet on a leash they do allow trapping around the park. Pets in the past have been injured and killed in these traps. Keep your pets on a leash. This Park is also close to the Upper and Lower Table Rocks. Great day hikes. No overnight camping is allowed and there is a fee to enter the park.See more..
The town of Champoeg had a brief but memorable life. Instigated by geographic advantage in the 1830s, Champoeg was swept away by devastating Willamette River floods in December 1861 and is currently a ghost town. You can see the old French Prairie here and they have the streets labeled with stone markers. Interesting piece of Oregon History.See more..
My family and I stopped for about an hour to take a break from driving on our cross-state road trip. This was a great place to go wading on a hot summer day. The water in the creek was shallow and cool. The rocks were a bit slippery due to the algae, but we didn't mind that at all. Just a bit of bushwhacking required to get from the parking area to the water's edge. Need a break? Have kids who like to play in water? Stop here!See more..
