Away from the Crowds in Oregon

In southeastern Oregon you’ll find the Alvord Desert. The desert is a massive dry lakebed with the Steens Mountain towering over it. If you like you can spend a night camping beneath the stars. : Located about a seven-hour drive from Portland, it is a remote destination ideal for those seeking solitude and natural beauty.

Enjoy the Alvord Hot Springs.

Check out the Blue Pool located along the McKenzie River Trail. A crystal-clear blue pool of cold spring water filtering up through ancient lava rock. It is an easy hike through mossy trees and black volcanic terrain. It is a relaxing natural setting.

In the Siuslaw National Forest, enjoy Cape Perpetua, a dramatic spot along the Oregon coast. A rugged headland rises hundreds of feet over the Pacific. There are trails that lead hikers through dense forest with views of crashing waves.

Hike to the Stone Shelter for amazing views of the coastline.

Enjoy wandering to the edge of Devil’s Churn to see incoming wave action. You can find tide pools with starfish, crabs, and anemones.

Start at the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center with a walk through coastal forest and rugged lava formations to Thor’s Well. This is a collapsed sea cave that fills and empties with the tide. It is fascinating to see the rocks capture the swirling action.

Nearby at Fort Stevens you can see the old military bunkers. In Fort Stevens State Park you’ll find the wreck of the Peter Iredale. This is one of the most haunting coastal landmarks in Oregon. The steel skeleton of this shipwreck has been stuck in the sand since the 1900s.

The Peter Iredale was a four-masted steel barque that ran ashore on October 25, 1906, on the Oregon coast while heading to the Columbia River.

Fort Stevens State Park has natural beauty.

In Eastern Oregon, enjoy the dramatic beauty of Hell’s Canyon. It is part of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest and runs deeper than the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

The best way to experience this canyon is by rafting down the Snake River. Steep rock walls surround you, and you might meet up with bighorn sheep.

In the Willamette National Forest you’ll find the Opal Creek Wilderness. This is a lovely forest with ancient trees, some over 500 years old. Lacy moss hangs over the branches, and there are natural swimming holes. The area features eight trails totaling 36 miles, primarily single-destination, in-out trails. The forest is home to various species, including deer, black bears, cougars, and elk, particularly during the summer months.

You can hike to Jawbone Flats, a ghost town, hiking past canyons, wooden bridges, and waterfalls.

Experience the beauty of the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. This is a 12-mile stretch along the southern coast. It offers awesome scenery in the Pacific Northwest. You’ll enjoy rocky cliffs, beaches, and forest trails leading to lovely ocean views.

Discover Secret Beach, a quiet cove.

At Natural Bridges, the trail opens to a natural rock formation.

Enjoy the beauty of the Painted Hills in Wheeler County. (pictured above) Here you can see layers of red, gold, and black ripple across the hillsides. This was created by millions of years of shifting climates and volcanic ash.  Several hiking trails offer different perspectives of the hills, suitable for various skill levels.

Carroll Rim Trail is a 1.6-mile roundtrip trail featuring a climb of over 400 feet, leading hikers to a panoramic viewpoint that showcases the unique geological formations of the area.

In North-Central Oregon, explore the Shaniko Ghost Town. At one time this was a booming wool town in the early 1900s. Today it whispers of the past with abandoned dusty roads, creaky storefronts, and ghostly spirits. The remaining buildings are the old hotel, the jail, and the city hall. In August during Shaniko Days, the town comes alive with reenactments and festivities reliving the days of old.