3 Reasons to Visit Oregon!
My husband and I moved to the Pacific Northwest over a year ago and I am still constantly amazed by the unique, magnificent, and changing landscapes throughout. The mysterious fog, overcast mornings, dripping moss, and bounty of pines makes it the perfect setting for landscape and portrait photography. I wanted to share 3 reasons to visit Oregon, and some tips on magical places to see whether you are a local or planning a visit.
1. Chasing Waterfalls
In Oregon alone there are over 238 waterfalls. We all have heard of the famous Multnomah Falls, while quite impressive and a must-stop destination while visiting Portland, some of my favorite waterfalls are the ones off the beaten path where you get a bit dirty, snowy, and of course wet! Looking for more waterfalls around the Pacific Northwest, the Northwest Waterfall Survey is a great tool to see an overview of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho's waterfalls. Here are a few of my favorites:
2. National Forests & Dispersed Camping
I recently visited the World Forestry Center to learn more about the history of Oregon forests and public lands. Oregon is made up of over 63 million acres with about 48% classified as forestland and 25% of that designated as national forest as reported by the Oregon Forest Resource Institute and the US Forest Service. Those statistics are incredible!
Dispersed camping is one of my husband and I's favorite things to do in the national forests. We like to get away from developed campgrounds, and try to find a piece of solitude away from the hustle and bustle. The best part of dispersed camping is the cost...it's FREE! Although you can't reserve dispersed camping sites, the fun is to search and hunt for one along the secluded forestry roads. To find a national forest near your area, check out wikipedia's page. Don't forget your forestry passes, check the parks website on rules for dispersed camping, and most importantly practice "Leave no trace". Our favorite dispersed camping areas within 3ish-hours of Portland:
Gifford Pinchot National Forest/ Mount St. Helens area
3. Activities for Each Season
The one thing I heard over and over again from locals when I first moved out here was the constant rain between October and June (or was it July?). I tried not to let the overcast days bog me down! Besides it's neat to live in a place where we actually see the 4-seasons, from Spring blooms to the leaves changing, and snow dawning the mountain tops. For every season there is still a chance to stay active and play in the wild. I have shared some of my favorite seasonal PNW sports:
Winter: Snowshoeing at sno-parks or skiing at Timberline and Meadows
Spring: Hiking among blooming wildflowers in the Columbia River Gorge at Dog Mountain or Rowena Crest
Late Summer/Fall: Crowds begin to disappear around Labor Day weekend so this is the best time to hit some of the PNW backpacking trails. Spend a night up at the fire tower on Hidden Lake Lookout, Broken Top, Three Sisters Loop or the Wonderland Trail in Rainier and sleep among a thousand stars. Not all are in Oregon, but only a 3 to 5 hour drive to access.
Summer: Surfing at Ecola State Park or Short Sands Beach. Hike, camp, backpack your Summer days away. Daylight ranges from 6:30am sunrise to almost 10:00pm. Long days to adventure!
Although the 3 reasons to visit Oregon are all outdoor related... there are still plenty of other activities to do and sites to see around. The rich history, food, breweries, wine country, music & art scene also make Oregon and the rest of the PNW a wonderful place to come play. If you have questions on visiting or moving to the PNW, let's chat: anchorandpinecollective@gmail.com . Happy adventuring!!! Check out my adventure coaching, trip planning and elopement services. Would love to work with you!