Oregon Travel Guide
Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Oregon is the Pacific Northwest at its greenest. The Columbia River Gorge's waterfall corridor, Crater Lake's impossible blue, the wild 580 km coastline, and the high desert east of the Cascades. Portland is the cultural capital: food carts, Powell's Books, and the rose gardens.
The wine story is serious: the Willamette Valley's pinot noirs rival Burgundy. The coast runs on sea stacks, tide pools and storm watching; the interior runs on Bend's breweries and Smith Rock's climbing.
Destinations in Oregon
Crater LakeThe 594 m deep caldera lake; Rim Drive in summer, snowshoeing in winter.
Multnomah FallsThe 189 m two-tier falls, 30 minutes from Portland; timed permits in season.
Columbia River GorgeThe Historic Highway's waterfall alley: Latourell, Wahkeena, Horsetail.- Smith RockThe birthplace of American sport climbing near Bend.
- Cannon Beach and Haystack RockThe 72 m sea stack and tide pools at low tide.
- Powell's Books, PortlandThe city block of new and used books.
- Willamette Valley winePinot noir country an hour southwest of Portland.
- Oregon DunesThe largest coastal dune expanse in North America.
Hover a state to explore it. Click a city pin to open its guide.
Top Cities & towns in Oregon
Regional food
- Marionberry pie (the Oregon-bred blackberry)
- Dungeness crab (Newport's crab shacks)
- Food-cart pods (Portland's street-food institution)
Getting there
Portland (PDX) is the gateway, on the MAX light rail. The Gorge is a day trip; the coast and Crater Lake need a car. No sales tax statewide.