Your list is good, just too long. Instead of cutting out individual activities, you’re best off just picking a region (Gorge, Coast, or Central Oregon), filling your days with activities in that region, then if you have a day left you can add on a day trip to another region on your way home. Oregon is a lot bigger than many people think.
This is the answer. Your coast itinerary will take one week alone. If you have never been to Oregon, I highly suggest just doing the coast route. Central Oregon is beautiful too, but the Oregon coast is amazing.
I am in Lincoln City. I drive all over the state. All these times are off by 30 min. Also I would bet the Blue Pool will be closed among other things like paddle boarding in October at Hosmer. I bet it will be raining and lightning that day lol. That Crater Lake to Ocean side will take 6 hours not 5.
Oh dang, I didn't even see the second page with the coast itinerary. Yeah, this is a ton of driving and not much time to enjoy any of the sites. OP would be better slimming it down to one or two areas and diving deep there rather than trying to catch a glimpse of everything.
What are you actually trying to do though? This is mostly just a list of places.
Do you want to see as much of that as possible, even if that means spending most of your time in the car or sleeping? Speaking of, are you looking to camp or stay indoors? Drive in or hike in destinations?
If it were me, I'd start with no more than 4 things I can say I spent my time doing. Something like, I went to the coast, went to the woods and went to the gorge. Or, I spent a few days hiking, a couple days visiting wineries and eating around Portland, and couple days in a state park. Or, I spent a few days along a river, a few days around Portland, and a few days around Bend.
Without knowing what you enjoy or want to do means most of these replies are going to make your list longer and the analysis paralysis real.
this is so true.. i am trying to see as much as possible nature wise. i will be staying at airbnbs/hotels, but i want hiking destinations. i don’t plan to do any wineries or go to portland or anything like that. but yes very much to your last sentence
Cut multnomah falls. It’s always packed, and you’ll have to buy a parking permit. Yes it’s pretty, but as someone who is from the gorge, it’s extremely overrated and honestly not worth it.
An alternative would be to park at viento state park (you’ll want the north lot) and walk the trail from there to starvation creek. It’s a nice trail that takes you alongside I-84 (so yes it’s noisy), but the end result is definitely worth it.
The hike isn’t too long. And it’s not that far from Multnomah Falls either, (~20 minutes east) so it should fit in pretty nicely to your trip, and also possibly save you some time.
There are also plenty of other things to do in the Hood River area that will definitely make up for you not going to Multnomah Falls.
If you want more stuff to do in the Gorge that aren’t necessarily hikes, and you want to stay on the Oregon side, there’s the Airplane museum in Hood River, there are crap ton of wineries literally everywhere. The Hood River waterfront could be fun, but it’s mostly for windsurfers and people with little kids that want to go to the beach without going to the coast.
Pro tip: if you stop in cascade locks at any point and go to Eastwind, get a small ice cream… you’ll thank me later
> Yes it’s pretty, but as someone who is from the gorge, it’s extremely overrated and honestly not worth it.
Back in the day when you could just park and walk wherever with very little people or visit the restaurant and just chill, it was great. Always worth going, even if you lived in the area. Just a beautiful place. Now, you're struggling to find parking, people are everywhere, and it's tough to even walk to the first bridge without getting held up by a group. If you get a good day and it's not busy, it's well worth it. Otherwise, it's probably worth a stop just to see and then keep going. It's very worth it, but that's also why it's always so packed, which makes it less attractive...
Also, the ice cream. Small is enough. :) Had a few friends that worked there (who didn't that lived in Cascade Locks?) back in the 90's. Now THAT is worth it!
And if they really want a lot of falls in a short time frame silver falls is probably better. 7+ water falls in one day hiking. Have one really big one, some small ones, and everything in between.
Permits for Multnomah are only required until September 4th, and maybe it’s just me, but I’ve almost never actually found it to be so crowded that it ruined the experience. Maybe I’m going at an odd time, but usually I get a parking spot right off the scenic highway. OP could drive the scenic highway and only stop at Multnomah falls if it’s convenient.
Whenever I’m passing through to go visit family, Multnomah is always packed. It doesn’t matter what time of day or when in the year, but it is always packed.
Idahoan who stops at Multnomah Falls every time we go through Oregon. Idk how you can say it's overrated. It gets me every time I see it! But to each their own.
Agreed. Eastwind ice cream is absolutely nothing special and their burgers are pretty terrible. My kids and I have gotten sick from eating there. Never again.
It also always has a huge line.
Also in the gorge (well, Washougal, and otherwise lifelong Oregonian). I'd say the Gorge should definitely be the last area they visit. On a later trip, for the reasons that you said. But there's more at Multnomah than just that falls. The small hike to the end of Oneonta is so much fun.
Bridge of the Gods is an amazing view. So crazy to see the mighty Columbia get so narrow. Drive out to see some of the frontier stuff at the Dalles or even the hills in Goldendale.
But if I were this person I'd start on the Oregon Coast for sure.
I disagree with everyone saying only do the coast.
One of the most amazing parts of Oregon is it's varied landscapes that are in close proximity, and 10 days is plenty of time to experience a taste of all of them. 3 days in Eastern Oregon, 3 days in the Willamette Valley, and 3 Days on the coast will be an amazing experience.
Just give yourself some breathing room by narrowing things down to 1, maybe 2 things per day, and give yourself room to explore.
I grew up on the Mckenzie watershed of the Willamette national forest, cougar hot springs is a burn site from 2020 but they did clean up the pools, sehalie falls is a great hike but would recommend skipping to make your trip into more of a loop. Assuming you fly into Portland or start there, either way it's a straightforward loop to the coast or up the Columbia gorge then south to loop back up the other way, Willamette national forest sites seems to be the only part that sticks out from the loop.
if i had to would you skip the gorge area or willamette? and if i could do both would it be worth it to do willamette? i thought sahalie falls looked so beautiful
Not the person you asked this question to, but the area of the Willamette forest you mention is currently very affected by fire. Multiple road closures, smoke, etc. This might not be the time to go there. If I were you, this is the area I would skip (but try again in the future- it's gorgeous!).
We have fires all over atm so hard to say atm. The whole Willamette atm is blanketed in smoke and air quality is horrible. Hiking is almost impossible at the moment of it and I just say no to rafting down the river in it. Hopefully October will be all good.
Agreed.
With Crater Lake- it’s a bit of a zen experience. Try to visit in the morning and have a picnic and chill, instead of seeing it and driving on 30 minutes later.
I like the Astoria column as the view from even the parking lot is impressive. No reason to go if it’s foggy. Try to get there before 5pm and buy a balsa wood airplane at the gift shop before you climb.
I really like Cannon beach but usually spend one of the days traveling down to Garibaldi area, stopping at many beach and view spots along the way.
Tilamook smells like stinky cheese. Just so you know.
Is there a Umpqua National Park, or is it it just a National Forest?
I love Hood River but sure do t like driving through/past Portland to get there. Make sure to especially avoid rush hour traffic. Also, keep your eyes on the road and consider not speeding in that area- not because of cops, but it’s just a really strange driving experience.
The Portland Japanese garden is very special and I will also use that word again- zen. It’s not cheap, and the tea house is for snacking,’not lunch. Try to get a free tour- I usually like to do things on my own, but they say a few helpful and interesting things on the tour.
> Try to get there before 5pm and buy a balsa wood airplane at the gift shop before you climb.
Just look around in the woods and fields nearby and there's a good chance you will find someone's lost plane.
>Tilamook smells like stinky cheese. Just so you know.
Nah mate that's cow shit.
How long are you here for? That is *a lot* for one week and you'll end up spending most of your time driving, especially since you have multiple stops in the Cascades that don't have direct routes between them.
You'll also want to keep your plans flexible since there may be wildfire closures in some areas.
If you take Washington off the list, then you should have no problem with your Oregon itinerary as it is currently.
But if you’re needing to pare down, I’d try to pick one hot spring and one lake (assuming you’re spending most of the day hanging out at each location).
Skip Toketee Falls if you’re doing the falls at the Gorge.
Honestly I’d probably skip Umpqua altogether, and Crater Lake as well. Crater Lake is hit or miss depending on the weather and it’s pretty far out of the way. If it’s smoky or foggy (both very possible in early October) then you won’t see anything.
There is tons to do and see around Sisters/Bend, so you really won’t have to venture too far out of the area. One recommendation (ok two) would be the High Desert Museum and the Lava Monument.
I’d make the coast a 2 night trip, and between Yachats and Cannon Beach. Other points along that route to check out would be Cape Meares, Proposal Rock, Ona Beach (low tide only) and Hug Point (low tide).
I didn't see you were going to be in Washington, as well. You may as well stay north. If you want to make a day of it, there's [Silver Falls State Park](https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=151). It's about an hourish south of Portland. [Trail of Ten falls is great](https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Trail_of_Ten_Falls_Loop_Hike).[ You will go near and under falls (https://i.imgur.com/I3KsmWi.jpg). Then you can take the long way back and see [Trillium Lake](https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mthood/recarea/?recid=84295), it's at the foot of Mount Hood. And make a quick rest stop at Wildwood, [it's a recreation site on BLM land. Worth a stop. If you hang a left after the bridge there's spots to put your feet in the cold cold water](https://www.shareoregon.com/things-to-do/en/listings/127154-wildwood-recreation-site-a-magical-escape-near-portland).
If you come to Central Oregon, you will see [Smith Rock](https://i.imgur.com/eAQAqNV.jpg) from the highway. But getting back on the highway is annoying. Stopping at the park for the view is worth it. But I don't know that the walk back up is worth going down to the river unless you're spending the day [hiking to the top](https://i.imgur.com/juuEdYD.jpg).
If you go to Sisters, you should absolutely see Sahalie and Koosah Falls. But, park at Koosah and do the little hiking loop.
I second silver falls. Amazing waterfall experience. More falls closer up. I like the whole experience a lot more. It isn't such a fucking zoo.
Multnomah is cool, but it burned recently and it's very crowded. A bit overhyped imo.
Depends on where you're starting from and where you're ending up.
But just looking at the list, I'd scrap the coastal towns from Lincoln City south. As beautiful as the southern coast is, I don't think you'd have enough time to really explore it fully. Plus you'd have to backtrack, which would eat up even more time.
Skip Sisters. It's very touristy and not worth going out of your way for.
Willamette and Deschutes forests have had a lot of fires recently, as well as some current ones, so there will likely be closures to deal with. Umpqua and Mt Hood National Forests will likely be in a better state, and have just as much to offer.
This would include Sahalie and Koosah falls as well. The hot springs can be really gross sometimes so if you’re not getting there super early I would skip it.
Are you going to be here for a week? That is way too much ground to cover and you’ll be spending most of your time driving. Also, you have to consider forest fires and air quality if doing hikes in the Central Cascades. Weather will certainly be a factor in your plans so you need to be flexible. As for places, Smith Rock is a must if you rock climb and temps are nice but I would skip it otherwise.
yeah i’ll be there for 10 days. but thanks good to know! which should i skip out of the forests? deschutes, willamette, umpqua or columbia river gorge? i know i can’t make it to all
I haven’t done most of the hikes in the list but have been to most of those National Forests except Umpqua. I would visit Crater Lake, then pick one hike on the eastern crest (I would pick something in Deschutes NF since some areas you plan to visit at Willamette NF might be affected by fire closures), head to the Gorge and do a hike there (Multnonah Falls is cool, but you could explore more in the area), and then see parts of the coast (I’ve only been there once so I can’t recommend much). One thing to keep in mind is that the western and eastern crests of the Cascades had different landscapes, with the eastern side being a bit drier and things getting even drier as you keep going east. You’ll see the green at the Gorge and you’ll also see the drier forests at Deschutes NF. Also, the drive from Bend north to I-84 via US 197 is very scenic
Crater lake is so far from everything. It is a big cold lake they will not likely go into. I would literally skip that whole area. Do the coast (best drive in ORegon) and Bend area.
It really depends what you want to see. If you prefer the Coast, I would skip Crater Lake and spend more time there. Personally, I don’t care much about the Coast and Crater Lake is far more interesting since it’s hard to see a crater of that size with a lake in other places
Yachats is my favorite area on the coast. It is mostly lava flows and little beach. It's a cute little hippy town.
Seaside is mostly touristy. The lighthouse is not accessible other than by air.
Oceanside is really neat, but mostly just rental houses as far as town goes. The beaches are beautiful. Cape Meares lighthouse is close and accessible.
Newport has a neat mix on the wharf. It is both touristy and commercial fishing mixed together with sea lions of the season is right.
I’m from the south coast originally. It is my opinion that it (Coos Bay and south) and northern CA are the most scenic parts of the coast and the least crowded. That said I think it would be tough to do anything south of Yachats for you and maybe even south of Newport.
A few thoughts on the coast:
- I love Oswald West State Park/Cape Falcon. Probably worth a stop.
- just north of Seaside is Del Rey beach. You can drive your car out on the beach there and then drive north maybe 4 miles on the beach and pull out at fort Stevens state park. You could even get a sedan out on the beach there without a problem.
- If you are in Newport thenOregon coast aquarium is worth a stop though admission is a bit pricey.
If OP is in the Coos Bay area, I highly recommend Shore Acres State Park at any time of the year. The garden is amazing, there are great (very scenic) hiking trails, and tons of awesome ocean views. I think the place is underrated because a lot of people will only visit the park in the winter for the light show in the garden.
Golden and Silver Falls are inland a bit more, but those are pretty spectacular as well.
There’s a bunch of people living up in that area in their cars. People aren’t mindful of keeping the springs tidy. The place isn’t as nice as it used to be sadly.
Like super dirty/slimy/filled with people soup water lol. I went there a year ago and I was gravely disappointed. Also worried at times that drunk people were going to fall off the cliff. Ymmv but it's pretty far from other things so I'd skip that.
Frankly, I'd limit yourself to a specific geographic region and just come back for the other stuff. The Coast alone would easily fill up those 10 days if you want to work your way down Highway 101 to the California border. Even if you're more of a mountain kind of person, the Coast Range (though smaller) has surprisingly diverse offerings.
There's a lot to see in Oregon, and it's a bigger state than it first appears to be!
Smith rock canyon is amazing. If you’re an avid rock climber then you’re in for a treat. Even if you’re not into rock climbing the trail through the canyon is spectacular.
Smith Rock is a must. Crater Lake is beautiful, but there’s not much to do and it’s pretty far from the rest. Check purpleair.com close to the trip for smoke levels as that will affect where you’ll want to go as well.
Hosmer for sure. Sparks just had a good view of the mountains but hosmer water is Caribbean blue. Cascade lakes highway is under evacuation for fire right now so make sure to check the fire reports. Also, umpqua is a national forest. Not a national park
Go to crater lake, it’s incredible. It’s far out of they way from most things but it’s worth it in every way. And there’s plenty to do if you like the outdoors/hiking.
Lake Billy Chinook is close to Smith Rock and is very scenic. If you do end up choosing to do Central Oregon there is Black Butte just outside Sisters and Camp Sherman along the Metolius River that is super cool.
None. Crater is the only lake of real significance. Unless you find yourself in the North Eastern part of the state. Wallowa lake is pretty awesome.
If you do end up in sisters take a drive up the Metolius river to Camp Sherman. That is one of my favorite spots.
I know Multnomah falls is a must for most people , if you are going I think you need to reserve a time slot and buy a ticket online. Honestly it’s a bit tourist trappy. Don’t park in the lot off the freeway take the historic highway and go to vista house. There are a bunch of falls along the way to the back parking lot.
Hood River is a cool town and has great breweries if you are into that type of thing. Good lunch stop in between the gorge and Mt. Hood. Also the fruit loop should be prime.
yeah, don't tell that to Waldo, Odell, Crescent, Wickiup, Elk, East, Paulina or Billy Chinook. And those are just some of the central high desert lakes...
I’m not necessarily saying that but given everything on her schedule for a week I don’t think there are any musts, or at least nothing I’d go out of my way to see.
Newberry crater and Paulina peak (same place) are between crater lake and smith rock. Easily accessible and it's another volcano lake. Worth the stop in my opinion.
Sort of in the same area are some other neat places to explore, like Fort Rock, the ancient juniper forest trail, & another trail called Scout Camp Trailhead which is absolutely stunning
Had to look for a minute to find this answer.
We made a week long trip a few years ago and I would definitely say standing under the waterfall at silver falls as a highlight.
know a lot of people are saying you’ve got too much, but if you have 10 days to play with - that looks possible.
Just a couple of thoughts…
McKenzie Bridge is close to a big fire right now, it should be contained by October but there are a lot of reasons why it might still be an issue. Pivoting towards the north might be safer, the Metolius area is awesome and closer to Sisters. Suttle Lake Lodge is a nice substitute lunch/meal stop as well (probably better).
If you’re doing a coast run, there are some east adds in the Newport area to round out your list (you’re driving through there anyway). Moolack Beach is a fun stop. Lots of easy to find fossils.
There are a few spots along the parts of the coast you’re visiting that really stand out for food/drink.
Pelicans new spot in Siletz is nice. Local Ocean in Newport is maybe one of the best restaurants on the whole coast. Pacific Sushi in Brookings (if you run that far south).
Are you camping along the way? Planning to find AirBnbs/hotels? Are you flying into Portland? And you said ending in WA? Flying out of Seattle?
You should figure out the checkpoints and how to squeeze things in along the route. But agreed with others, for a week’s worth of time this is way too much. Without a sense of your route, people are just going to give you advice that will likely send you zig zagging.
This would be my suggestion:
Gorge waterfalls to Hood River
South on 35 to Government Camp (stay at the Timberline lodge overnight perhaps?)
26 south-97-126 to Sisters
20 east-101 south to Yachats (OR if you’re going to Crater Lake, take the scenic route 138 to I5, then 126 from Eugene to Florence and head north)
101 north to Cannon Beach
26 back to Portland
Or do it in reverse.
Hug Point is just south of Cannon Beach… so so amazing. At low tide you can explore so much more of it so seriously make sure to plan it out. At low tide you can walk around this section of the cliffy rocks to the other beach on the opposite side. It’s been my favorite section of the Oregon coast, way more unique and less busy than Cannon Beach. Cape Kiwanda was also quite awesome
Are you flying in to PDX and renting a car or driving in from out of state? If you're flying in, Multnomah Falls is a relatively quick drive from the airport, and is worth visiting, but DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING IN YOUR CAR. There have been a lot of car break-ins there. The same would go for anywhere else, but especially Multnomah Falls.
As others have mentioned, this is wayyy too much to cram into a week. I would either stick to Crater Lake/Umpqua area then go to Central Oregon. Or skip both of those places and just do the coast.
are you starting in portland? If so, I’d drive to the coast for maybe 2-3 days. hit florence and drive east to central OR (hit sahalie on your way). do deschutes and smith rock (1-2 days) and then drive back the long way through the gorge. skip the southern coast, umpqua and most of the willamette, and crater lake. while your in central or you could do newberry crater where you can dig your own little hot springs right next to the lake.
I really like this route if you're looking to see the coast! I'd trade out mckenzie hwy for hwy 58 maybe. Stop at salt creek falls and odell lake, and take cascade lakes hwy north around crescent OR continue to 97 and check out Paulina lake!
This would be a good route to get a general idea of Oregon's beauty without ending up at an insta-famous tourist trap!
Not sure if anyone had mentioned this, but the lava caves has a winter closure period for bat hibernation. Some, if not all close the 15th of September, check the Deschutes National Forest page for info.
First of all, I highly recommend getting a road trip app so it will break down exactly how long it will take for each segment of the entirety of your trip, including all possible routes and detours. I’ve used inRoute and been happy with it, but there’s a bunch more new ones now so there might be better options. Having the big picture visualized out will help you prioritize which sites are most important to you. You can start by adding everything you want to see and eliminate things until it’s a reasonable trip for you. Some people enjoy tight schedules and getting everything in. Some people enjoy a more relaxed trip. I would hate to tell you to not see something that you would regret missing, just because it’s too ambitious. It’s also important to note that the first week of October there might still be fires going on.
Sahali and Koosah falls are currently closed I believe. Lots and lots of closures around the Willamette forest land. Shits on fire. You need to make sure you are checking for fire closures before you come out here.
Lol I didn't notice there was a 2nd page of your itinerary. That's...a lot.
10 days? I would maybe start by heading to the coast from Portland. Start at seaside and road trip down the coast, stopping at whatever viewpoints you want to see, (maybe stay the night in Yachats or thereabouts), then head inland. Be aware that if you go all the way to Brookings and you want to head inland from there, last I heard the Smith River highway is affected by fire closure so that might mess you up, but normally you could get to the crater lake area pretty easily from there.
Then you could head north into the Umpqua area, on to bend/ sisters etc. You *could* head to the terwilliger hot springs/ Mckenzie Bridge area from there BUT- I would probably scratch this from my list entirely, as it's on fire right now (although a stunning area that is worth visiting someday).
So, for me, from bend, I would probably go to Mt hood, then on to hood River-->gorge->> back to Portland.
You're gonna be driving a whole lot, but if you're into power road trips you could cram most of this into 10 days pretty easily. Have fun! Definitely look up current fire conditions because some areas/ roads are not accessible at times. Google "Oregon TripCheck".
this is a really good overview thank you! if it weren’t for the fires do you think i should for sure see both willamette and deschutes? or is one better than the other if i only have time for one of those
I'd recommend not trying to focus on half of the coast at most so you can include an inland trip. Since WA is also on the itinerary, you may want to stick to the north coast. And give yourself time to spend in some places.
Brookings and the south coast are lovely, but currently Hwy 199, which is the route inland from there is closed because of fire damage and I don't think they know exactly when it will reopen.
The advice given about using an air quality app and also researching current fire activity is probably going to be a big help to determine where to go and where to visit the next trip. Unfortunately wildfires are a reality for us here and we all live by monitoring that activity.
Crater like is a national treasure and if the fires and smoke allow it, it definitely should stay on your list. Smith Rock as well, since you’ll be in the area. The gorge is amazing. The coast is beautiful. You’ll need to narrow down your geographic areas (like stay north and central coast because that will be easier if you include the gorge), and save the rest for another visit. Oregon is a big state with lots to offer, including the entire eastern half of the state with lots of places to explore!
I would start by asking where you're coming from and what you've seen. For example, if you've *never* been to a hot spring, do that. If you have, it's not *necessary.* If you've never been to the Oregon Coast, it's a must, but you can whittle that trip down a LOT:
All Oregon beaches are going to be similar, but with their own nuances, and everyone has their favorites. Unless you're definitely nearby, you can skip Yachats, Bandon, and especially Brookings who just made it illegal for churches to feed homeless people.
Instead, make an Oregon coast checklist of what you want to see, and spend more time in one concentrated area finding those things:
Lighthouses
Tide Pools
Mushrooms
Wildlife
Eat oysters
One can have a great time staying at a beach house for 2-3 nights in a central location, and then spending each day hiking around different locations.
Then, same deal with the forests - they are all beautiful, but they are all forests, and you don't have to see every one. Pick a state forest and spend some time in it, you don't have to see every one. You probably gotta see the Gorge. Multnomah Falls is cool but probably the most touristy thing on your list. Central Oregon is a different habitat and is great on it's own, but for perspective, if I'm coming from Portland, I'm staying at *least* 2 nights down there to make it worthwhile.
Absolutely worth it to skip the northern spots on the coast and go straight to Yachats and Bandon. I live in Portland and Yachats is where I go, it’s worth the longer drive. Make sure to stop at smelt sands park (lots of waves crashing on rocks). Then stop at Shore acres state park on the way to Bandon.
Glad to see you have waclellah falls on there. That’s my favorite in the gorge. There is a whole area around the base of the falls you can explore and play in the water.
I think your driving route might help point out other places along the way. Like depending on where you're going, I'd skip the hot springs and together falls, and add silver falls state park out of salem.
Keep an eye on your willamette national forest places since that area is currently closed due to wildfire danger, but weather seems to be in our favor next couple weeks and I'd be hopeful they'd be back open.
Currently Umpqua is in better shape than Willamette/Deschutes NF. There are two fires burning currently near the McKenzie River Hwy, and Tamolich/Sahalie/Koosah are currently closed. Hopefully will be better by October (assuming those areas don’t actually burn)
Maybe others can chime in, but last time I was at the hotsprings, it was pretty run down and dirty. Lots of garbage and people who looked like they'd been living there for a while. If you visit on weekend, it can be overcrowded.
You can see the same caliber water falls at salt creek falls on hwy 58, tumalo falls, any of the mckenzie waterfalls or at silver falls.
A good route would be fly in to Portland, take a day to drive to the gorge, see the waterfalls and take a short hike. Make sure to make a reservation or get the permits you need.
Take 1 day to drive up to Mt. Hood, do a hike grab food and see Timberline.
3rd day drive south to silver falls state park then head over the pass to sisters.
4th day head to redmond see smith rock, and maybe crooked river high bridge. Then head to bend.
5th day drive to crater lake and back.
6thday drive cascade lakes hwy and choose a lake.
7th day head back to Eugene stop at the waterfalls and skip blue pool. Then drive to Portland.
It'd be alot.
Without knowing anything about you, Cougar hot springs is mostly folks that are rough around the edges from hippies to drifters/outlaws.
Belknap hot springs is a lodge that is very clean and has a couple of pool options that you can rent at a few bucks to enjoy.
Pass on sparks lake and tumalo falls. I’d rather go to smith rock than those places. Hosmer is very pretty, but it’ll be very cold (it’s too cold now to swim) so it’s more of a paddle and look thing.
Skip clear lake as well.
I would personally condense some of your coastal stops. The Oregon coast is great and very scenic but its a long way to go all the way down to Brookings and there isn’t much there that you can’t also experience further North. If you go that far South I’d say go even further into Northern Cali and hike some trails in the Redwoods. If it were me I’d spend some more time on Central Oregon near Bend and Sisters because I love that area. The Tillamook cheese factory is a neat stop and so are the Outlet Malls in Lincoln City.
I’m with you, the coast is gorgeous but after riding along the road for 3 hours to pass two small towns…you seen one overlook you seen em all. Many of these are stops to break up the long crawl between areas.
blue pool has been closed to the public because too many tourists couldn't figure it out.
Sisters isn't in the Willamette and it's about as fake as a town can come but if you buy a cowboy hat when you get there it totally makes you look like you belong there
That's not true at all. Blue pool is closed due to fire. Prior to that they said you weren't allowed to jump in it, but it was never closed to the public.
To OP: nuch of the WNF and DNF may be closed due to fire as well, not active but mop up.
Oh, I'm real sorry. Blue Pool will be closed to public swimming soon because too many tourists couldn't figure it out.
So, you better get there real soon there because it wont be legal for long because too many tourists couldn't figure it out.
What's your favorite beautiful corner of this state that you'd like to see destroyed by tourists? Tell us all about your best place to find solitude so we can announce it on Reddit for internet clout from random strangers.
The corner with accurate information is my favorite, but I just watched you destroy it soooo 🤷♂️
Also. Gatekeeping the wilderness is a bad take. A better take would be teaching people how to engage with the wilderness properly.
Seriously.
tell us about that quiet place that you love to appreciate the beauty and the quiet. I really want to make sure to announce your favorite spot to every tourist thread out here. Tell us where it is because apparently not wanting tourists there is gatekeeping. Where is your spot? With a name like yours, you must know some amazing spots in the forest. Where?
Don't gatekeep the forest. I need a lat and long please
Highly recommend choosing either the cascades or the coast. You’re just going to drive and drive and drive. This is a month long itinerary.
I’m not as familiar with the drive times in the Cascades but as for the coast, your times are very optimistic. Because you’re going to stop way more than you think and traffic is slow.
Idk what you want at the coast but the South Coast is much more remote than the North Coast. Way less crowded which is why I prefer it. If you’re coming in October the weather should be good or it might suck. Be prepared.
I wouldn’t skip Newport or Old Town Florence either.
So most of the stuff on your list is great so you probably aren't going to get a ton of help from people telling you to skip them. But you have to cut out at least 3/4 of this list for it to be possible factoring in drive time and time to hike/explore/enjoy and time to eat/sleep. I would start plotting stuff on a map and making a route and see what you can really connect in a practical way and where you could stay the night. I would try to get a little bit of mountains, water falls, forest and beach but don't try to do too much.
Check out [crack-in-the-ground](https://www.blm.gov/visit/crack-ground) out in Christmas Valley. Beautiful and haunting landscape, a location many people overlook to their own loss.
If you’re able to make reservations at the [cowboy dinner tree](https://cowboydinnertree.com/) for an amazing dinner that will send you home with a pound of leftovers. Its near crack-in-the-ground and an absolutely amazing hidden gem of central Oregon. They also have cabins on site if you want to reserve one to sleep off dinner.
The roads up and around Mt Bachelor are beautiful with many little lakes and amazing scenery.
The town of Sisters can also be a nice place to stop but it is pretty tourist-trappy. Good food there however and some nice trails in the area if you like to hike.
I’m not a fan of bandon, it’s a massive tourist trap that sold their souls to billionaires.
Astoria is beautiful and so is Yachats.
the crack in the ground looks really cool. i’ll have to add that. i have so many beaches on the coast list and i would like to go to at least 2-3 so that’s good to know about bandon!
Silver Falls. Three Sisters Wilderness. Obsidian Limited Entry area if you get a permit. Definitely drive 242 if it’s open and see the lava fields on the way to Sisters or Bend.
Terwilliger Hot Springs is nice if you’re alone but you won’t be. High possibility of creepy naked people.
Belknap Hot Springs is actually a pool at a private resort campground but the grounds have a very nice old garden. Worth a stop if in the area.
I’d prioritize either the coast or central Oregon. I’d skip Multnomah area and do it during a future Portland trip.
If you’re down by Crater Lake hit Ashland for a play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival if it’s still in season. It starts in spring/summer and ends in October?
i wish i had longer, there is so much more than i realized. makes me think multnomah i might should skip on esp since there are other very pretty waterfalls. i will def check out the maps though. how do you feel about mt hood /the gorge area?
I love how ambitious you are!! I live in Oregon and haven't been to like a 1/4 of the places on this list. You're going to have a great trip no matter which areas make the cut.
I’ve lived in Southern Oregon, the Gorge, Bend and Portland. It is incredibly hard to narrow your list down because everything is so beautiful and varied. Each area would require a week to even scratch the surface.
If you like volcanic, high desert landscapes with beautiful mountains, then Deschutes/Willamette NFs for sure. Also the Metolius River area outside Sisters is amazing in the area.
If you are looking for rugged coastline, the Samuel Boardman Corridor is the most stunning place in Oregon in my opinion. I go to this area a dozen times a year and never tire of it.
The Columbia Gorge is also beautiful. We lived there two years and loved all the hiking. However, it’s not a place that I yearn to visit. If you decide to check this area out. One thing to do is visit “She who Watches” and other petroglyphs in Horsethief Park. You will need to reserve a tour time as only tribe members and escorted groups can visit the site. The ranger who led our tour was a wealth of information. Very impactful.
If you are a waterfall lovers, just pick an area and they all have amazing waterfalls.
Everyone has their personal opinion but here’s mine. Also as others have said, check current fires and air quality closer to your trip. Currently a lot of stuff in the Willamette National Forest is closed due to the Lookout Fire, and Bend/Sisters area is really smokey.
Skip:
- Skylight Cave (hard drive in and very dependent on being there at the perfect time of day)
- Lava River Cave (closed after Sept 15 to protect the bats)
- Umpqua & Tewlinger Hot Springs (has gotten kind of sketchy)
Suggested Changes:
- Pick one or two of the cascade lakes for time. I personally like Sparks Lake, but the road in can be very rough. Devils Lake is beautiful turquoise blue and easy to get to.
- Focus on the North and Central Oregon coast. Brookings is beautiful, but you’ll eat up a lot of time driving all the way down there. I’d head south as far as Florence and Bandon. That would let you hit some of my favorite coastal places (Cape Perpetua near Yachats, Heceta Head Lighthouse near Florence, the Oregon Dunes, and Shore Arces near Coos Bay)
- If you can work it in, I love the Scenic Hwy 242 drive which takes you up to Dee Wright Observatory and the Lava River Trail (0.5 miles). (Note this is also currently closed for wildfire, so you’ll have to check closer to Oct)
Edit: corrected name of the lava river trail
Tamolitch is really cool but do not jump into the water expecting to be able to handle it. Ita a long hike and youll be hot and sweaty but many people have gone into shock and even died from getting into the frigid pool. They're discussing shutting it down permanently from the public because of it. Just double check that it's still open if you go and be careful!!
I also highly recommend wildwood falls east of cottage grove!!
As a former Oregonian you have to change Crater Lake to a must. There’s nothing like it anywhere. And besides Toketee and the hot springs, there are numerous waterfalls all up the Hwy 138 corridor that are seeing. Lemolo falls is much quieter than Toketee but just as spectacular. Watson falls is the third highest waterfall in Oregon and is a quick hike off the highway. If you’re coming from Roseburg, stop at Colliding Rivers on the way, one of the only spots in the world where two rivers meet head on. Not super spectacular but a quick stop and a neat spot.
WAAAAY to much here. Most of these are destinations in and of themselves, not quick stops along a route.
Many of your must do's are not really that great. First one for instance: Umpqua Hot springs, will take most of a day to get to and a hike in, if the forest is even open, and then when you get there it's just okay. Then a hike and long drive out.
Sahalie and Koosah falls take about 5 minutes from the parking area, then about 15 minutes to walk from one to the other, but they are hours from civilization. The McKenzie river route is a day trip by itself.
Look at a map.
yes i’ve mapped out how far everything is and i am absolutely trying to condense my list and just have must sees. do you think koosah and sahalie are worth it? good to know about the hot springs
Something you don't seem to understand is how long travel here takes. Yeah 101 is a highway, but you aren't going to be able to blast down it at 80 mph. Mountain roads are curvy and steep and you probably aren't going to be going 55 the whole time.
Yes to smith rock and yes to Tamolitch and Sahalie Falls. Also, we stayed at a fantastic little Airbnb farmhouse in Walterville.
Also yes to Ecola.
Saddle mountain is great with a view/ not great if it is raining. Also check to be sure road is passable .
I’d pass on seaside and on Multnomah falls
If you are in sisters then take the Old McKenzie highway east- it’s only open until it snows. The fall leaves are amazing. And there’s waterfalls and a weird lava rock observatory.
126 should be closed too since it's basically the eastern fireline for the Lookout fire, but instead they closed 242 which is further away lol.
edit: Just saw the update that they finally closed 126 near McKenzie Bridge.
You may or may not see naked people at Terwilliger. I’m not sure if you’re aware, some are surprised. This is a lot of driving and Terwilliger espeicially is out in the middle of bumblefuck nowhere. I also feel that some of the lake related activities in October could get a bit cold and gusty depending on the weather.
This may be a minor nit, but National Parks are a very big deal and I am pretty sure there is no Umpqua National Park. Umpqua National Forest has some impressive spots, but I would not say that any of them are deserving of a National Park designation.
Umpqua National Park doesn't exist. Guessing you're looking for Umpqua National Forest, and while many in the area may "toke trees," the waterfall you're looking for down there is probably "Toketee" Falls
Make sure to travel through downtown Portland. Especially The Pearl district. Go down by the bus station. Take in the sights of the tweeker transvestites washing their buttholes in the Benson Bubblers and the Fentanyl Zombies on the street corners. You might even rent out a tent and stay the night on NW Couch to get the full experience of Oregon. It will be a great trip! Literally.....
[удалено]
i know i want to condense it some, but just unsure what to pass on
Your list is good, just too long. Instead of cutting out individual activities, you’re best off just picking a region (Gorge, Coast, or Central Oregon), filling your days with activities in that region, then if you have a day left you can add on a day trip to another region on your way home. Oregon is a lot bigger than many people think.
This is the answer. Your coast itinerary will take one week alone. If you have never been to Oregon, I highly suggest just doing the coast route. Central Oregon is beautiful too, but the Oregon coast is amazing.
I am in Lincoln City. I drive all over the state. All these times are off by 30 min. Also I would bet the Blue Pool will be closed among other things like paddle boarding in October at Hosmer. I bet it will be raining and lightning that day lol. That Crater Lake to Ocean side will take 6 hours not 5.
Blue Pool is definitely closed.
Oh dang, I didn't even see the second page with the coast itinerary. Yeah, this is a ton of driving and not much time to enjoy any of the sites. OP would be better slimming it down to one or two areas and diving deep there rather than trying to catch a glimpse of everything.
What are you actually trying to do though? This is mostly just a list of places. Do you want to see as much of that as possible, even if that means spending most of your time in the car or sleeping? Speaking of, are you looking to camp or stay indoors? Drive in or hike in destinations? If it were me, I'd start with no more than 4 things I can say I spent my time doing. Something like, I went to the coast, went to the woods and went to the gorge. Or, I spent a few days hiking, a couple days visiting wineries and eating around Portland, and couple days in a state park. Or, I spent a few days along a river, a few days around Portland, and a few days around Bend. Without knowing what you enjoy or want to do means most of these replies are going to make your list longer and the analysis paralysis real.
this is so true.. i am trying to see as much as possible nature wise. i will be staying at airbnbs/hotels, but i want hiking destinations. i don’t plan to do any wineries or go to portland or anything like that. but yes very much to your last sentence
There are lots of coastal hikes. You get the best of both worlds doing that. Cape Lookout is a great location.
Cut multnomah falls. It’s always packed, and you’ll have to buy a parking permit. Yes it’s pretty, but as someone who is from the gorge, it’s extremely overrated and honestly not worth it. An alternative would be to park at viento state park (you’ll want the north lot) and walk the trail from there to starvation creek. It’s a nice trail that takes you alongside I-84 (so yes it’s noisy), but the end result is definitely worth it. The hike isn’t too long. And it’s not that far from Multnomah Falls either, (~20 minutes east) so it should fit in pretty nicely to your trip, and also possibly save you some time. There are also plenty of other things to do in the Hood River area that will definitely make up for you not going to Multnomah Falls. If you want more stuff to do in the Gorge that aren’t necessarily hikes, and you want to stay on the Oregon side, there’s the Airplane museum in Hood River, there are crap ton of wineries literally everywhere. The Hood River waterfront could be fun, but it’s mostly for windsurfers and people with little kids that want to go to the beach without going to the coast. Pro tip: if you stop in cascade locks at any point and go to Eastwind, get a small ice cream… you’ll thank me later
> Yes it’s pretty, but as someone who is from the gorge, it’s extremely overrated and honestly not worth it. Back in the day when you could just park and walk wherever with very little people or visit the restaurant and just chill, it was great. Always worth going, even if you lived in the area. Just a beautiful place. Now, you're struggling to find parking, people are everywhere, and it's tough to even walk to the first bridge without getting held up by a group. If you get a good day and it's not busy, it's well worth it. Otherwise, it's probably worth a stop just to see and then keep going. It's very worth it, but that's also why it's always so packed, which makes it less attractive... Also, the ice cream. Small is enough. :) Had a few friends that worked there (who didn't that lived in Cascade Locks?) back in the 90's. Now THAT is worth it!
They have the shuttle buses that drive through the gorge to hop on hop off at the waterfalls. I liked that.
How neat
And if they really want a lot of falls in a short time frame silver falls is probably better. 7+ water falls in one day hiking. Have one really big one, some small ones, and everything in between.
Agreed. Silver Falls is an amazing hike
Permits for Multnomah are only required until September 4th, and maybe it’s just me, but I’ve almost never actually found it to be so crowded that it ruined the experience. Maybe I’m going at an odd time, but usually I get a parking spot right off the scenic highway. OP could drive the scenic highway and only stop at Multnomah falls if it’s convenient.
Whenever I’m passing through to go visit family, Multnomah is always packed. It doesn’t matter what time of day or when in the year, but it is always packed.
IDK I drive by it twice a month and it is always packed with very little parking and annoying tourists. I get baked there usually.
Idahoan who stops at Multnomah Falls every time we go through Oregon. Idk how you can say it's overrated. It gets me every time I see it! But to each their own.
It’s just relative. We are so spoiled with waterfalls.
Good point.
Eastwind is overrated. Go to Sugarpine for the best ice cream in the gorge.
Agreed. Eastwind ice cream is absolutely nothing special and their burgers are pretty terrible. My kids and I have gotten sick from eating there. Never again. It also always has a huge line.
Go to Sugarpine for one of the best restaurants in Oregon period.
Sugarpine also has huge lines, but they move fast and they're worth it.
Also in the gorge (well, Washougal, and otherwise lifelong Oregonian). I'd say the Gorge should definitely be the last area they visit. On a later trip, for the reasons that you said. But there's more at Multnomah than just that falls. The small hike to the end of Oneonta is so much fun. Bridge of the Gods is an amazing view. So crazy to see the mighty Columbia get so narrow. Drive out to see some of the frontier stuff at the Dalles or even the hills in Goldendale. But if I were this person I'd start on the Oregon Coast for sure.
With a stop in the Washington gorge side at Carson hot springs for s soak in the tubs. It's right by the bridge of the gods
Lots of free waterfalls in the area, I totally agree that there is no need to pay to park at Multnomah!
There is a shuttle bus service to Multnomah Falls from Troutdale. https://www.ridecatbus.org/columbia-gorge-express/
I disagree with everyone saying only do the coast. One of the most amazing parts of Oregon is it's varied landscapes that are in close proximity, and 10 days is plenty of time to experience a taste of all of them. 3 days in Eastern Oregon, 3 days in the Willamette Valley, and 3 Days on the coast will be an amazing experience. Just give yourself some breathing room by narrowing things down to 1, maybe 2 things per day, and give yourself room to explore.
i really wanted to go to the willamette area but i think it’s out bc of the fires :(
I grew up on the Mckenzie watershed of the Willamette national forest, cougar hot springs is a burn site from 2020 but they did clean up the pools, sehalie falls is a great hike but would recommend skipping to make your trip into more of a loop. Assuming you fly into Portland or start there, either way it's a straightforward loop to the coast or up the Columbia gorge then south to loop back up the other way, Willamette national forest sites seems to be the only part that sticks out from the loop.
if i had to would you skip the gorge area or willamette? and if i could do both would it be worth it to do willamette? i thought sahalie falls looked so beautiful
Not the person you asked this question to, but the area of the Willamette forest you mention is currently very affected by fire. Multiple road closures, smoke, etc. This might not be the time to go there. If I were you, this is the area I would skip (but try again in the future- it's gorgeous!).
We have fires all over atm so hard to say atm. The whole Willamette atm is blanketed in smoke and air quality is horrible. Hiking is almost impossible at the moment of it and I just say no to rafting down the river in it. Hopefully October will be all good.
Yeah. Thats a big list for Oregon. Maybe if they dont sleep or ever stop moving even for a second.
Agreed. With Crater Lake- it’s a bit of a zen experience. Try to visit in the morning and have a picnic and chill, instead of seeing it and driving on 30 minutes later. I like the Astoria column as the view from even the parking lot is impressive. No reason to go if it’s foggy. Try to get there before 5pm and buy a balsa wood airplane at the gift shop before you climb. I really like Cannon beach but usually spend one of the days traveling down to Garibaldi area, stopping at many beach and view spots along the way. Tilamook smells like stinky cheese. Just so you know. Is there a Umpqua National Park, or is it it just a National Forest? I love Hood River but sure do t like driving through/past Portland to get there. Make sure to especially avoid rush hour traffic. Also, keep your eyes on the road and consider not speeding in that area- not because of cops, but it’s just a really strange driving experience. The Portland Japanese garden is very special and I will also use that word again- zen. It’s not cheap, and the tea house is for snacking,’not lunch. Try to get a free tour- I usually like to do things on my own, but they say a few helpful and interesting things on the tour.
> Try to get there before 5pm and buy a balsa wood airplane at the gift shop before you climb. Just look around in the woods and fields nearby and there's a good chance you will find someone's lost plane. >Tilamook smells like stinky cheese. Just so you know. Nah mate that's cow shit.
Umpqua National Forest. For OP, it’s Toketee, not Toketree
How long are you here for? That is *a lot* for one week and you'll end up spending most of your time driving, especially since you have multiple stops in the Cascades that don't have direct routes between them. You'll also want to keep your plans flexible since there may be wildfire closures in some areas.
10 days, but going to washington too. what do you think i should take off the list? i don’t plan to see all this even though i want too.
If you take Washington off the list, then you should have no problem with your Oregon itinerary as it is currently. But if you’re needing to pare down, I’d try to pick one hot spring and one lake (assuming you’re spending most of the day hanging out at each location). Skip Toketee Falls if you’re doing the falls at the Gorge. Honestly I’d probably skip Umpqua altogether, and Crater Lake as well. Crater Lake is hit or miss depending on the weather and it’s pretty far out of the way. If it’s smoky or foggy (both very possible in early October) then you won’t see anything. There is tons to do and see around Sisters/Bend, so you really won’t have to venture too far out of the area. One recommendation (ok two) would be the High Desert Museum and the Lava Monument. I’d make the coast a 2 night trip, and between Yachats and Cannon Beach. Other points along that route to check out would be Cape Meares, Proposal Rock, Ona Beach (low tide only) and Hug Point (low tide).
if i had to pick one hot spring, one waterfall, and one lake what do you think each should be?
For falls, I would say silver falls. 7+ falls in one hike. Place to cool off in water. Walk behind a water fall. It is a nice gem.
I didn't see you were going to be in Washington, as well. You may as well stay north. If you want to make a day of it, there's [Silver Falls State Park](https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=151). It's about an hourish south of Portland. [Trail of Ten falls is great](https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Trail_of_Ten_Falls_Loop_Hike).[ You will go near and under falls (https://i.imgur.com/I3KsmWi.jpg). Then you can take the long way back and see [Trillium Lake](https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mthood/recarea/?recid=84295), it's at the foot of Mount Hood. And make a quick rest stop at Wildwood, [it's a recreation site on BLM land. Worth a stop. If you hang a left after the bridge there's spots to put your feet in the cold cold water](https://www.shareoregon.com/things-to-do/en/listings/127154-wildwood-recreation-site-a-magical-escape-near-portland). If you come to Central Oregon, you will see [Smith Rock](https://i.imgur.com/eAQAqNV.jpg) from the highway. But getting back on the highway is annoying. Stopping at the park for the view is worth it. But I don't know that the walk back up is worth going down to the river unless you're spending the day [hiking to the top](https://i.imgur.com/juuEdYD.jpg). If you go to Sisters, you should absolutely see Sahalie and Koosah Falls. But, park at Koosah and do the little hiking loop.
thank you! this information is very helpful. i really want to do koosah and sahalie they look so pretty
I second silver falls. Amazing waterfall experience. More falls closer up. I like the whole experience a lot more. It isn't such a fucking zoo. Multnomah is cool, but it burned recently and it's very crowded. A bit overhyped imo.
Depends on where you're starting from and where you're ending up. But just looking at the list, I'd scrap the coastal towns from Lincoln City south. As beautiful as the southern coast is, I don't think you'd have enough time to really explore it fully. Plus you'd have to backtrack, which would eat up even more time. Skip Sisters. It's very touristy and not worth going out of your way for. Willamette and Deschutes forests have had a lot of fires recently, as well as some current ones, so there will likely be closures to deal with. Umpqua and Mt Hood National Forests will likely be in a better state, and have just as much to offer.
Take everything off the list that isn't on the coast. Especially if you are doing Washington too.
this may be what ends up happening. especially with the fires. i can always go back thought and do central!
I live in Bend and can attest to the fact that it is gorgeous, but so is Oregon as a whole. Best to not rush yourself. Enjoy!
Blue pool is a real maybe with the Lookout fire burning right now.
This would include Sahalie and Koosah falls as well. The hot springs can be really gross sometimes so if you’re not getting there super early I would skip it.
I think Clear Lake is also closed right now.
Probably be fine by the first week of october
Are you going to be here for a week? That is way too much ground to cover and you’ll be spending most of your time driving. Also, you have to consider forest fires and air quality if doing hikes in the Central Cascades. Weather will certainly be a factor in your plans so you need to be flexible. As for places, Smith Rock is a must if you rock climb and temps are nice but I would skip it otherwise.
yeah i’ll be there for 10 days. but thanks good to know! which should i skip out of the forests? deschutes, willamette, umpqua or columbia river gorge? i know i can’t make it to all
I haven’t done most of the hikes in the list but have been to most of those National Forests except Umpqua. I would visit Crater Lake, then pick one hike on the eastern crest (I would pick something in Deschutes NF since some areas you plan to visit at Willamette NF might be affected by fire closures), head to the Gorge and do a hike there (Multnonah Falls is cool, but you could explore more in the area), and then see parts of the coast (I’ve only been there once so I can’t recommend much). One thing to keep in mind is that the western and eastern crests of the Cascades had different landscapes, with the eastern side being a bit drier and things getting even drier as you keep going east. You’ll see the green at the Gorge and you’ll also see the drier forests at Deschutes NF. Also, the drive from Bend north to I-84 via US 197 is very scenic
Crater lake is so far from everything. It is a big cold lake they will not likely go into. I would literally skip that whole area. Do the coast (best drive in ORegon) and Bend area.
It really depends what you want to see. If you prefer the Coast, I would skip Crater Lake and spend more time there. Personally, I don’t care much about the Coast and Crater Lake is far more interesting since it’s hard to see a crater of that size with a lake in other places
Ya I live behind Drift Creek Falls. I am partial to the coast.
There is no such place as Umpqua national park
[удалено]
they weren't even being rude they were just telling you omfg
That coast day is wild. All of them are, but the coast all in one day. Spending 5 mins at each spot will not be satisfying.
no i’m not doing all that in a day. that’s a list i’m trying to decide which beaches/towns to visit in general!
Yachats is my favorite area on the coast. It is mostly lava flows and little beach. It's a cute little hippy town. Seaside is mostly touristy. The lighthouse is not accessible other than by air. Oceanside is really neat, but mostly just rental houses as far as town goes. The beaches are beautiful. Cape Meares lighthouse is close and accessible. Newport has a neat mix on the wharf. It is both touristy and commercial fishing mixed together with sea lions of the season is right.
I’m from the south coast originally. It is my opinion that it (Coos Bay and south) and northern CA are the most scenic parts of the coast and the least crowded. That said I think it would be tough to do anything south of Yachats for you and maybe even south of Newport. A few thoughts on the coast: - I love Oswald West State Park/Cape Falcon. Probably worth a stop. - just north of Seaside is Del Rey beach. You can drive your car out on the beach there and then drive north maybe 4 miles on the beach and pull out at fort Stevens state park. You could even get a sedan out on the beach there without a problem. - If you are in Newport thenOregon coast aquarium is worth a stop though admission is a bit pricey.
If OP is in the Coos Bay area, I highly recommend Shore Acres State Park at any time of the year. The garden is amazing, there are great (very scenic) hiking trails, and tons of awesome ocean views. I think the place is underrated because a lot of people will only visit the park in the winter for the light show in the garden. Golden and Silver Falls are inland a bit more, but those are pretty spectacular as well.
Agreed, really the whole cape arago area. Sunset beach is one of my favorite spots too.
The Umpqua Hot Springs is pretty iffy these days unfortunately.
Yeah, that place is gonna be jam packed with people and the pools are unfortunately very gross.
That’s Oregon hot springs in general. Not worth it. Go to Colorado for hot springs.
how so?
There’s a bunch of people living up in that area in their cars. People aren’t mindful of keeping the springs tidy. The place isn’t as nice as it used to be sadly.
Agreed, and the water can range from ok to hazardous. I haven’t gone back.
yikes.. hazardous how?
Like super dirty/slimy/filled with people soup water lol. I went there a year ago and I was gravely disappointed. Also worried at times that drunk people were going to fall off the cliff. Ymmv but it's pretty far from other things so I'd skip that.
Needles...diseases
that is really unfortunate thanks for letting me know!
Drug addicts on the way there. Tourists and wooks ruin the land. The whole area down there is sketch meth addicts.
I was just up there. They were fine.
Well that’s good to know. I went up to that area in June and it wasn’t great.
Frankly, I'd limit yourself to a specific geographic region and just come back for the other stuff. The Coast alone would easily fill up those 10 days if you want to work your way down Highway 101 to the California border. Even if you're more of a mountain kind of person, the Coast Range (though smaller) has surprisingly diverse offerings. There's a lot to see in Oregon, and it's a bigger state than it first appears to be!
Smith rock canyon is amazing. If you’re an avid rock climber then you’re in for a treat. Even if you’re not into rock climbing the trail through the canyon is spectacular.
Agreed but it is currently closed due to bridge repairs. You can only explore the parking lot side of the river for the rest of the season
It re opened the 22nd of this month so it’s good to go
Smith Rock is a must. Crater Lake is beautiful, but there’s not much to do and it’s pretty far from the rest. Check purpleair.com close to the trip for smoke levels as that will affect where you’ll want to go as well.
that’s good to know. what lake do you think is worth seeing?
Hosmer for sure. Sparks just had a good view of the mountains but hosmer water is Caribbean blue. Cascade lakes highway is under evacuation for fire right now so make sure to check the fire reports. Also, umpqua is a national forest. Not a national park
Go to crater lake, it’s incredible. It’s far out of they way from most things but it’s worth it in every way. And there’s plenty to do if you like the outdoors/hiking.
Lake Billy Chinook is close to Smith Rock and is very scenic. If you do end up choosing to do Central Oregon there is Black Butte just outside Sisters and Camp Sherman along the Metolius River that is super cool.
None. Crater is the only lake of real significance. Unless you find yourself in the North Eastern part of the state. Wallowa lake is pretty awesome. If you do end up in sisters take a drive up the Metolius river to Camp Sherman. That is one of my favorite spots. I know Multnomah falls is a must for most people , if you are going I think you need to reserve a time slot and buy a ticket online. Honestly it’s a bit tourist trappy. Don’t park in the lot off the freeway take the historic highway and go to vista house. There are a bunch of falls along the way to the back parking lot. Hood River is a cool town and has great breweries if you are into that type of thing. Good lunch stop in between the gorge and Mt. Hood. Also the fruit loop should be prime.
Really? No other lake in the state is worth seeing? 🙄
yeah, don't tell that to Waldo, Odell, Crescent, Wickiup, Elk, East, Paulina or Billy Chinook. And those are just some of the central high desert lakes...
I’m not necessarily saying that but given everything on her schedule for a week I don’t think there are any musts, or at least nothing I’d go out of my way to see.
Newberry crater and Paulina peak (same place) are between crater lake and smith rock. Easily accessible and it's another volcano lake. Worth the stop in my opinion.
Sort of in the same area are some other neat places to explore, like Fort Rock, the ancient juniper forest trail, & another trail called Scout Camp Trailhead which is absolutely stunning
Silver falls is one to add to a future trip. It’s magical
Had to look for a minute to find this answer. We made a week long trip a few years ago and I would definitely say standing under the waterfall at silver falls as a highlight.
know a lot of people are saying you’ve got too much, but if you have 10 days to play with - that looks possible. Just a couple of thoughts… McKenzie Bridge is close to a big fire right now, it should be contained by October but there are a lot of reasons why it might still be an issue. Pivoting towards the north might be safer, the Metolius area is awesome and closer to Sisters. Suttle Lake Lodge is a nice substitute lunch/meal stop as well (probably better). If you’re doing a coast run, there are some east adds in the Newport area to round out your list (you’re driving through there anyway). Moolack Beach is a fun stop. Lots of easy to find fossils. There are a few spots along the parts of the coast you’re visiting that really stand out for food/drink. Pelicans new spot in Siletz is nice. Local Ocean in Newport is maybe one of the best restaurants on the whole coast. Pacific Sushi in Brookings (if you run that far south).
I would skip a bunch. And add some. Where do you start? Where do you end? Source: native Oregonian who spends lots of time outdoors enjoying it.
i want to start around cannon beach but i am open to suggestions. can you tell me what to skip/add i would greatly appreciate it!!
Are you camping along the way? Planning to find AirBnbs/hotels? Are you flying into Portland? And you said ending in WA? Flying out of Seattle? You should figure out the checkpoints and how to squeeze things in along the route. But agreed with others, for a week’s worth of time this is way too much. Without a sense of your route, people are just going to give you advice that will likely send you zig zagging.
This would be my suggestion: Gorge waterfalls to Hood River South on 35 to Government Camp (stay at the Timberline lodge overnight perhaps?) 26 south-97-126 to Sisters 20 east-101 south to Yachats (OR if you’re going to Crater Lake, take the scenic route 138 to I5, then 126 from Eugene to Florence and head north) 101 north to Cannon Beach 26 back to Portland Or do it in reverse.
Hug Point is just south of Cannon Beach… so so amazing. At low tide you can explore so much more of it so seriously make sure to plan it out. At low tide you can walk around this section of the cliffy rocks to the other beach on the opposite side. It’s been my favorite section of the Oregon coast, way more unique and less busy than Cannon Beach. Cape Kiwanda was also quite awesome
Are you flying in to PDX and renting a car or driving in from out of state? If you're flying in, Multnomah Falls is a relatively quick drive from the airport, and is worth visiting, but DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING IN YOUR CAR. There have been a lot of car break-ins there. The same would go for anywhere else, but especially Multnomah Falls.
As others have mentioned, this is wayyy too much to cram into a week. I would either stick to Crater Lake/Umpqua area then go to Central Oregon. Or skip both of those places and just do the coast.
are you starting in portland? If so, I’d drive to the coast for maybe 2-3 days. hit florence and drive east to central OR (hit sahalie on your way). do deschutes and smith rock (1-2 days) and then drive back the long way through the gorge. skip the southern coast, umpqua and most of the willamette, and crater lake. while your in central or you could do newberry crater where you can dig your own little hot springs right next to the lake.
I really like this route if you're looking to see the coast! I'd trade out mckenzie hwy for hwy 58 maybe. Stop at salt creek falls and odell lake, and take cascade lakes hwy north around crescent OR continue to 97 and check out Paulina lake! This would be a good route to get a general idea of Oregon's beauty without ending up at an insta-famous tourist trap!
Not sure if anyone had mentioned this, but the lava caves has a winter closure period for bat hibernation. Some, if not all close the 15th of September, check the Deschutes National Forest page for info.
Got a good laugh out of “Mutlonomah Falls” lol
I was on a flight into Portland once seated behind a group of people trying to pronounce it and I could barely keep my giggles inside.
Did they try pronounced Willamette river it pronounced ( will-a-mette ) just kidding I know I live all my but have heard it pronounced that way
The Umpqua National Forest is not a National Park. It's just a forest. The hot springs are filthy.
First of all, I highly recommend getting a road trip app so it will break down exactly how long it will take for each segment of the entirety of your trip, including all possible routes and detours. I’ve used inRoute and been happy with it, but there’s a bunch more new ones now so there might be better options. Having the big picture visualized out will help you prioritize which sites are most important to you. You can start by adding everything you want to see and eliminate things until it’s a reasonable trip for you. Some people enjoy tight schedules and getting everything in. Some people enjoy a more relaxed trip. I would hate to tell you to not see something that you would regret missing, just because it’s too ambitious. It’s also important to note that the first week of October there might still be fires going on.
Sahali and Koosah falls are currently closed I believe. Lots and lots of closures around the Willamette forest land. Shits on fire. You need to make sure you are checking for fire closures before you come out here.
Many fires in Oregon and road closures. Download the ‘WATCH DUTY’ app. Shows fires, road closures, etc.
Do not skip Crater Lake unless it’s because of smoke. These people are idiots. Make that your number 1 destination if possible.
haha thank you! i’ll def go to it if there is no smoke
Lol I didn't notice there was a 2nd page of your itinerary. That's...a lot. 10 days? I would maybe start by heading to the coast from Portland. Start at seaside and road trip down the coast, stopping at whatever viewpoints you want to see, (maybe stay the night in Yachats or thereabouts), then head inland. Be aware that if you go all the way to Brookings and you want to head inland from there, last I heard the Smith River highway is affected by fire closure so that might mess you up, but normally you could get to the crater lake area pretty easily from there. Then you could head north into the Umpqua area, on to bend/ sisters etc. You *could* head to the terwilliger hot springs/ Mckenzie Bridge area from there BUT- I would probably scratch this from my list entirely, as it's on fire right now (although a stunning area that is worth visiting someday). So, for me, from bend, I would probably go to Mt hood, then on to hood River-->gorge->> back to Portland. You're gonna be driving a whole lot, but if you're into power road trips you could cram most of this into 10 days pretty easily. Have fun! Definitely look up current fire conditions because some areas/ roads are not accessible at times. Google "Oregon TripCheck".
this is a really good overview thank you! if it weren’t for the fires do you think i should for sure see both willamette and deschutes? or is one better than the other if i only have time for one of those
What's Umpqua National Park?
I'd recommend not trying to focus on half of the coast at most so you can include an inland trip. Since WA is also on the itinerary, you may want to stick to the north coast. And give yourself time to spend in some places. Brookings and the south coast are lovely, but currently Hwy 199, which is the route inland from there is closed because of fire damage and I don't think they know exactly when it will reopen. The advice given about using an air quality app and also researching current fire activity is probably going to be a big help to determine where to go and where to visit the next trip. Unfortunately wildfires are a reality for us here and we all live by monitoring that activity.
Crater like is a national treasure and if the fires and smoke allow it, it definitely should stay on your list. Smith Rock as well, since you’ll be in the area. The gorge is amazing. The coast is beautiful. You’ll need to narrow down your geographic areas (like stay north and central coast because that will be easier if you include the gorge), and save the rest for another visit. Oregon is a big state with lots to offer, including the entire eastern half of the state with lots of places to explore!
I would start by asking where you're coming from and what you've seen. For example, if you've *never* been to a hot spring, do that. If you have, it's not *necessary.* If you've never been to the Oregon Coast, it's a must, but you can whittle that trip down a LOT: All Oregon beaches are going to be similar, but with their own nuances, and everyone has their favorites. Unless you're definitely nearby, you can skip Yachats, Bandon, and especially Brookings who just made it illegal for churches to feed homeless people. Instead, make an Oregon coast checklist of what you want to see, and spend more time in one concentrated area finding those things: Lighthouses Tide Pools Mushrooms Wildlife Eat oysters One can have a great time staying at a beach house for 2-3 nights in a central location, and then spending each day hiking around different locations. Then, same deal with the forests - they are all beautiful, but they are all forests, and you don't have to see every one. Pick a state forest and spend some time in it, you don't have to see every one. You probably gotta see the Gorge. Multnomah Falls is cool but probably the most touristy thing on your list. Central Oregon is a different habitat and is great on it's own, but for perspective, if I'm coming from Portland, I'm staying at *least* 2 nights down there to make it worthwhile.
Absolutely worth it to skip the northern spots on the coast and go straight to Yachats and Bandon. I live in Portland and Yachats is where I go, it’s worth the longer drive. Make sure to stop at smelt sands park (lots of waves crashing on rocks). Then stop at Shore acres state park on the way to Bandon. Glad to see you have waclellah falls on there. That’s my favorite in the gorge. There is a whole area around the base of the falls you can explore and play in the water.
FYI — Skylight cave is closed seasonally after Sept 15th to protect bat habitat. The road in is also a little rough.
thanks that’s good to know!
I think your driving route might help point out other places along the way. Like depending on where you're going, I'd skip the hot springs and together falls, and add silver falls state park out of salem. Keep an eye on your willamette national forest places since that area is currently closed due to wildfire danger, but weather seems to be in our favor next couple weeks and I'd be hopeful they'd be back open.
so you think i should skip out on umpqua? but thanks for the info!
Take their advice on Silver Falls if possible. Google some pics of what it looks like in the fall. It is majestic!
Currently Umpqua is in better shape than Willamette/Deschutes NF. There are two fires burning currently near the McKenzie River Hwy, and Tamolich/Sahalie/Koosah are currently closed. Hopefully will be better by October (assuming those areas don’t actually burn)
Maybe others can chime in, but last time I was at the hotsprings, it was pretty run down and dirty. Lots of garbage and people who looked like they'd been living there for a while. If you visit on weekend, it can be overcrowded. You can see the same caliber water falls at salt creek falls on hwy 58, tumalo falls, any of the mckenzie waterfalls or at silver falls. A good route would be fly in to Portland, take a day to drive to the gorge, see the waterfalls and take a short hike. Make sure to make a reservation or get the permits you need. Take 1 day to drive up to Mt. Hood, do a hike grab food and see Timberline. 3rd day drive south to silver falls state park then head over the pass to sisters. 4th day head to redmond see smith rock, and maybe crooked river high bridge. Then head to bend. 5th day drive to crater lake and back. 6thday drive cascade lakes hwy and choose a lake. 7th day head back to Eugene stop at the waterfalls and skip blue pool. Then drive to Portland. It'd be alot.
Without knowing anything about you, Cougar hot springs is mostly folks that are rough around the edges from hippies to drifters/outlaws. Belknap hot springs is a lodge that is very clean and has a couple of pool options that you can rent at a few bucks to enjoy.
Pass on sparks lake and tumalo falls. I’d rather go to smith rock than those places. Hosmer is very pretty, but it’ll be very cold (it’s too cold now to swim) so it’s more of a paddle and look thing. Skip clear lake as well.
I agree with these assessments!
thanks!!
I would personally condense some of your coastal stops. The Oregon coast is great and very scenic but its a long way to go all the way down to Brookings and there isn’t much there that you can’t also experience further North. If you go that far South I’d say go even further into Northern Cali and hike some trails in the Redwoods. If it were me I’d spend some more time on Central Oregon near Bend and Sisters because I love that area. The Tillamook cheese factory is a neat stop and so are the Outlet Malls in Lincoln City.
There are beautiful redwoods near Brookings in Oregon too.
I’m with you, the coast is gorgeous but after riding along the road for 3 hours to pass two small towns…you seen one overlook you seen em all. Many of these are stops to break up the long crawl between areas.
blue pool has been closed to the public because too many tourists couldn't figure it out. Sisters isn't in the Willamette and it's about as fake as a town can come but if you buy a cowboy hat when you get there it totally makes you look like you belong there
That's not true at all. Blue pool is closed due to fire. Prior to that they said you weren't allowed to jump in it, but it was never closed to the public. To OP: nuch of the WNF and DNF may be closed due to fire as well, not active but mop up.
There's talk of banning swimming entirely at blue pool unfortunately
Correct. But that's not "closed to the public because tourists can't figure it out"
Oh, I'm real sorry. Blue Pool will be closed to public swimming soon because too many tourists couldn't figure it out. So, you better get there real soon there because it wont be legal for long because too many tourists couldn't figure it out. What's your favorite beautiful corner of this state that you'd like to see destroyed by tourists? Tell us all about your best place to find solitude so we can announce it on Reddit for internet clout from random strangers.
The corner with accurate information is my favorite, but I just watched you destroy it soooo 🤷♂️ Also. Gatekeeping the wilderness is a bad take. A better take would be teaching people how to engage with the wilderness properly.
Seriously. tell us about that quiet place that you love to appreciate the beauty and the quiet. I really want to make sure to announce your favorite spot to every tourist thread out here. Tell us where it is because apparently not wanting tourists there is gatekeeping. Where is your spot? With a name like yours, you must know some amazing spots in the forest. Where? Don't gatekeep the forest. I need a lat and long please
John Day Fossil Beds. The painted hills are pretty unique and access is easy, few trails are more than an hour round trip.
what app is that? Also, good luck getting to all those things!
it’s my notes app on iphone. i know i can’t make it to all that’s why i want to know like just sees and then the not worth it haha
Yup, way too much planned for one week. If you do end up doing the coast, go to Hug Point at low tide to walk north along the beach.
Newberry Crater if you like volcano stuff. It's on your way between Deschutes NF and Crater Lake
Highly recommend choosing either the cascades or the coast. You’re just going to drive and drive and drive. This is a month long itinerary. I’m not as familiar with the drive times in the Cascades but as for the coast, your times are very optimistic. Because you’re going to stop way more than you think and traffic is slow. Idk what you want at the coast but the South Coast is much more remote than the North Coast. Way less crowded which is why I prefer it. If you’re coming in October the weather should be good or it might suck. Be prepared. I wouldn’t skip Newport or Old Town Florence either.
So most of the stuff on your list is great so you probably aren't going to get a ton of help from people telling you to skip them. But you have to cut out at least 3/4 of this list for it to be possible factoring in drive time and time to hike/explore/enjoy and time to eat/sleep. I would start plotting stuff on a map and making a route and see what you can really connect in a practical way and where you could stay the night. I would try to get a little bit of mountains, water falls, forest and beach but don't try to do too much.
Honestly the whole coast is pretty similar so you may just want to do one spot like yachats or cannon beach area
It's weird to me that people are saying the whole coast is similar. I think it's dramatically different as you go north or south.
Check out [crack-in-the-ground](https://www.blm.gov/visit/crack-ground) out in Christmas Valley. Beautiful and haunting landscape, a location many people overlook to their own loss. If you’re able to make reservations at the [cowboy dinner tree](https://cowboydinnertree.com/) for an amazing dinner that will send you home with a pound of leftovers. Its near crack-in-the-ground and an absolutely amazing hidden gem of central Oregon. They also have cabins on site if you want to reserve one to sleep off dinner. The roads up and around Mt Bachelor are beautiful with many little lakes and amazing scenery. The town of Sisters can also be a nice place to stop but it is pretty tourist-trappy. Good food there however and some nice trails in the area if you like to hike. I’m not a fan of bandon, it’s a massive tourist trap that sold their souls to billionaires. Astoria is beautiful and so is Yachats.
the crack in the ground looks really cool. i’ll have to add that. i have so many beaches on the coast list and i would like to go to at least 2-3 so that’s good to know about bandon!
Silver Falls. Three Sisters Wilderness. Obsidian Limited Entry area if you get a permit. Definitely drive 242 if it’s open and see the lava fields on the way to Sisters or Bend. Terwilliger Hot Springs is nice if you’re alone but you won’t be. High possibility of creepy naked people. Belknap Hot Springs is actually a pool at a private resort campground but the grounds have a very nice old garden. Worth a stop if in the area. I’d prioritize either the coast or central Oregon. I’d skip Multnomah area and do it during a future Portland trip. If you’re down by Crater Lake hit Ashland for a play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival if it’s still in season. It starts in spring/summer and ends in October?
Don't do Crater Lake in October.
why not? it will be the first week of october
hit up sisters bakery while you’re here, worth the line. have a good trip!
[удалено]
i wish i had longer, there is so much more than i realized. makes me think multnomah i might should skip on esp since there are other very pretty waterfalls. i will def check out the maps though. how do you feel about mt hood /the gorge area?
That’s a lot to cover in one week. I’d be exhausted. Skip cougar hot springs, it’s busy af and it burned up a while back.
I love how ambitious you are!! I live in Oregon and haven't been to like a 1/4 of the places on this list. You're going to have a great trip no matter which areas make the cut.
I’ve lived in Southern Oregon, the Gorge, Bend and Portland. It is incredibly hard to narrow your list down because everything is so beautiful and varied. Each area would require a week to even scratch the surface. If you like volcanic, high desert landscapes with beautiful mountains, then Deschutes/Willamette NFs for sure. Also the Metolius River area outside Sisters is amazing in the area. If you are looking for rugged coastline, the Samuel Boardman Corridor is the most stunning place in Oregon in my opinion. I go to this area a dozen times a year and never tire of it. The Columbia Gorge is also beautiful. We lived there two years and loved all the hiking. However, it’s not a place that I yearn to visit. If you decide to check this area out. One thing to do is visit “She who Watches” and other petroglyphs in Horsethief Park. You will need to reserve a tour time as only tribe members and escorted groups can visit the site. The ranger who led our tour was a wealth of information. Very impactful. If you are a waterfall lovers, just pick an area and they all have amazing waterfalls.
Everyone has their personal opinion but here’s mine. Also as others have said, check current fires and air quality closer to your trip. Currently a lot of stuff in the Willamette National Forest is closed due to the Lookout Fire, and Bend/Sisters area is really smokey. Skip: - Skylight Cave (hard drive in and very dependent on being there at the perfect time of day) - Lava River Cave (closed after Sept 15 to protect the bats) - Umpqua & Tewlinger Hot Springs (has gotten kind of sketchy) Suggested Changes: - Pick one or two of the cascade lakes for time. I personally like Sparks Lake, but the road in can be very rough. Devils Lake is beautiful turquoise blue and easy to get to. - Focus on the North and Central Oregon coast. Brookings is beautiful, but you’ll eat up a lot of time driving all the way down there. I’d head south as far as Florence and Bandon. That would let you hit some of my favorite coastal places (Cape Perpetua near Yachats, Heceta Head Lighthouse near Florence, the Oregon Dunes, and Shore Arces near Coos Bay) - If you can work it in, I love the Scenic Hwy 242 drive which takes you up to Dee Wright Observatory and the Lava River Trail (0.5 miles). (Note this is also currently closed for wildfire, so you’ll have to check closer to Oct) Edit: corrected name of the lava river trail
Tamolitch is really cool but do not jump into the water expecting to be able to handle it. Ita a long hike and youll be hot and sweaty but many people have gone into shock and even died from getting into the frigid pool. They're discussing shutting it down permanently from the public because of it. Just double check that it's still open if you go and be careful!! I also highly recommend wildwood falls east of cottage grove!!
As a former Oregonian you have to change Crater Lake to a must. There’s nothing like it anywhere. And besides Toketee and the hot springs, there are numerous waterfalls all up the Hwy 138 corridor that are seeing. Lemolo falls is much quieter than Toketee but just as spectacular. Watson falls is the third highest waterfall in Oregon and is a quick hike off the highway. If you’re coming from Roseburg, stop at Colliding Rivers on the way, one of the only spots in the world where two rivers meet head on. Not super spectacular but a quick stop and a neat spot.
thank you for these suggestions def adding them!
Umm hello Mt St Helens
Isn't the road to the Johnson Ridge Observatory closed due to a washout?
You’d be correct. I don’t think WSDOT has an eta for reopening it either
yes i have that on my list as well i have a washington list too
The road to St Helens is closed right now, so you better take it off
There are multiple roads. I just hiked into the crater a few weeks ago (with a permit and a group) You can do some spectacular hikes there.
It is going to be cold and wet in October. Pack enough clothes to keep you warm and dry. Maybe extra hiking shoes too.
WAAAAY to much here. Most of these are destinations in and of themselves, not quick stops along a route. Many of your must do's are not really that great. First one for instance: Umpqua Hot springs, will take most of a day to get to and a hike in, if the forest is even open, and then when you get there it's just okay. Then a hike and long drive out. Sahalie and Koosah falls take about 5 minutes from the parking area, then about 15 minutes to walk from one to the other, but they are hours from civilization. The McKenzie river route is a day trip by itself. Look at a map.
yes i’ve mapped out how far everything is and i am absolutely trying to condense my list and just have must sees. do you think koosah and sahalie are worth it? good to know about the hot springs
Something you don't seem to understand is how long travel here takes. Yeah 101 is a highway, but you aren't going to be able to blast down it at 80 mph. Mountain roads are curvy and steep and you probably aren't going to be going 55 the whole time.
Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach is great but other than that you can skip the tourist town. Get some Sleepy Monk on your way out.
Tillamook creamery is a must if you go to the coast.
stop by literally any dispensary and enjoy the best part of Oregon
Trade out Cannon Beach for Neakahnie or Short Sands, you won’t regret it!
Yes to smith rock and yes to Tamolitch and Sahalie Falls. Also, we stayed at a fantastic little Airbnb farmhouse in Walterville. Also yes to Ecola. Saddle mountain is great with a view/ not great if it is raining. Also check to be sure road is passable . I’d pass on seaside and on Multnomah falls
If you are in sisters then take the Old McKenzie highway east- it’s only open until it snows. The fall leaves are amazing. And there’s waterfalls and a weird lava rock observatory.
242 is closed due to the fire :(
126 should be closed too since it's basically the eastern fireline for the Lookout fire, but instead they closed 242 which is further away lol. edit: Just saw the update that they finally closed 126 near McKenzie Bridge.
You may or may not see naked people at Terwilliger. I’m not sure if you’re aware, some are surprised. This is a lot of driving and Terwilliger espeicially is out in the middle of bumblefuck nowhere. I also feel that some of the lake related activities in October could get a bit cold and gusty depending on the weather.
Tent cities.
This may be a minor nit, but National Parks are a very big deal and I am pretty sure there is no Umpqua National Park. Umpqua National Forest has some impressive spots, but I would not say that any of them are deserving of a National Park designation.
yes i meant forest just all these national parks in my head
Good luck hiking 13 miles in 1.5 hrs.
the 1.5 hr is the distance from there to the gorge
Umpqua National Park doesn't exist. Guessing you're looking for Umpqua National Forest, and while many in the area may "toke trees," the waterfall you're looking for down there is probably "Toketee" Falls
Make sure to travel through downtown Portland. Especially The Pearl district. Go down by the bus station. Take in the sights of the tweeker transvestites washing their buttholes in the Benson Bubblers and the Fentanyl Zombies on the street corners. You might even rent out a tent and stay the night on NW Couch to get the full experience of Oregon. It will be a great trip! Literally.....