With more than 200 miles of ocean coastline, 2,000 boat-friendly lakes, and thousands of miles of rivers to explore, canoeing in Oregon is an easy way to get out on the water, relax and unwind.

Kayaking in Oregon can be just as peaceful or as exciting as you’d like.

There are moonlit trips on sparkling Cascade lakes, adventures along coastal estuaries, and thrilling rides through Oregon’s famous rapids. Grab your paddle and meet us on the water.

Oregon kind of lucked out with waterfalls.

We have more than our fair share of cascades, hundreds actually, many of which are taller than skyscrapers and last year-round. Some require short or long hikes, while many are accessible to people with different mobilities. Oregon’s outdoors are for all, after all. With so many amazing waterfalls, we just can’t help but go chasing them. What makes our waterfalls so unique? 

• Thanks to the state’s abundant rainfall and snowmelt, many flow robustly all year long.
• Formed by ancient lava flows and carved by ice-age floods, Multnomah Falls (Oregon’s tallest at 620 feet) showcase layers of volcanic rock that tell a story millions of years old.
• Oregon offers areas where you can see multiple falls in a single hike, like the Trail of Ten Falls at Silver Falls State Park or the Eagle Creek Trail in the Columbia Gorge.

 Popular spots like Multnomah Falls may require timed-use permits during peak season due to limited parking. Read below to find how to get your permit, as well as waterfalls to see in every season and region of the state.

You can learn a lot about Oregon from its rivers and streams.

Crystal-clear waterways stretch across the state, giving life to the land like veins on a body, changing the scenery with the seasons. These rivers and streams are the life force of Oregon communities. And they’re also really pretty places to float, paddle, fish or just stare and think.

Here are more simple steps you can take to keep your whole crew safe in the water:

• Wear a properly fitted life jacket — it’s required for ages 13 and under and highly recommended for others regardless of age. It may just save your life if you end up splashing into the water unexpectedly, especially in cold water temperatures. Many lake areas have free life jacket loaner kiosks if you don’t have your own.
• Once you’re on the water, beware of changing winds or other boats creating large waves or wakes. Know how to maneuver into waves to avoid being swamped.
• Ask an expert about the right type of leash to purchase for your board, since the wrong type can be fatal if you fall and get tangled. Quick-release leashes attach to your life jacket and board, and are highly recommended when paddling on any moving water with obstructions like fallen trees from riverbanks.
• Stay close to shore and avoid fast-moving waters if you’re newer to boating.
• Finally, paddlers are required to purchase and have on hand their Waterway Access Permit, which can be purchased online.

There’s nothing quite like the great outdoors — and Oregon has a lot of it.

To be exact, Oregon has 11 national forests, 21 national wildlife refuges, 361 state parks, a National Scenic Area and a national grassland. With so many pristine and wild spaces to experience, it might be difficult to choose one to visit. Let us help you decide. Whether you’re ready to ramble through a historic forest, a land of lava rocks, beaches sprinkled with agates or a peaceful wildlife refuge, Oregon has the great outdoors you’ve been looking for.

It’s true, many of Oregon’s incredible mountains are in fact extinct volcanoes.

All these ancient peaks can leave you pretty starstruck. And it’s not just because you’re that much closer to the sky. You’ll be inspired by the majesty of Mt. Hood’s towering spires, the craggy tips of the Three Sisters, the Steens Mountain’s deep gorges, the bird’s-eye view from the Wallowas and all the awe-inspiring ranges in between. Here’s all the inspo you need, plus don’t forget to pack the Ten Essentials where ever you go.

Oregon isn’t just about trees. The lakes and reservoirs deserve the spotlight too.

After all, this is the home of Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States, located in an ancient volcano basin. It’s one of many picturesque Oregon lakes — like Wallowa, Trillium, Detroit and Sparks, to name a few. Take a swim or a paddle, hike, fish from an accessible dock or simply sit and stare. With all these beautiful lakes and reservoirs in Oregon, we wouldn’t blame you for starting a bucket list.

Here are more simple steps you can take to keep your whole crew safe in the water:

• Wear a properly fitted life jacket — it’s required for ages 13 and under and highly recommended for others regardless of age. It may just save your life if you end up splashing into the water unexpectedly, especially in cold water temperatures. Many lake areas have free life jacket loaner kiosks if you don’t have your own.
• Once you’re on the water, beware of changing winds or other boats creating large waves or wakes. Know how to maneuver into waves to avoid being swamped.
• Ask an expert about the right type of leash to purchase for your board, since the wrong type can be fatal if you fall and get tangled. Quick-release leashes attach to your life jacket and board, and are highly recommended when paddling on any moving water with obstructions like fallen trees from riverbanks.
• Stay close to shore and avoid fast-moving waters if you’re newer to boating.
• Finally, paddlers are required to purchase and have on hand their Waterway Access Permit, which can be purchased online.

Ready to hit the road? In Oregon it’s about the journey as much as the destination.

And the destinations are pretty great here. Go ahead, take a look around.

Indigenous people have lived in Oregon since time immemorial.

More than 50 tribes fished wild rivers and great waterfalls, like the now submerged Celilo Falls on the mighty Columbia River. They scored petroglyphs in rock canyons like Picture Rock Pass and left behind the world’s oldest pair of footwear at Fort Rock.Proud ancestors of those first people make up nine federally recognized tribes of Oregon: the Burns Paiute Tribe; the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians; the Coquille Indian Tribe; the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians; the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde; the Klamath Tribes; the Confederated Tribes of Siletz; the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation; and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.