I actually grew up in South Dakota so I definitely want you to have an amazing time. And I am absolutely sure you will! Highway 101 down the Coast is an amazing drive. I’d highly, highly recommend this over taking I-5 South. There are tide pools, the Goonies House, crabbing, local surf spots, delicious seafood…
Ten days is the perfect amount of time to have the greatest vacation, ever. If you’re starting in Portland, I’d recommend taking a day to check out the city. It sounds like you and I like all of the same things, so I’m going to give you a hot and fast list of what I…
First things first: Winter rules Crater Lake National Park. It can start closing seasonal roads in mid-October and last through June. An average year sees 44 feet of snow dropped on the park. Obviously 2015 hasn’t been an average year. So with that in mind, things can change dramatically but if I were to place…
This is a really great question! I actually took a driving tour through this same area of Oregon at the end of October last fall. So, for starters, I’d say that time is one of the best to go. I don’t think you’d want to go any later than the middle of November (too cold!)…
I’m glad you brought this question up, because I was a little hesitant to bring my dog along with me to Bend last weekend. Fortunately, U.S. Forest Service regulations allow dogs, leashed or unleashed, on the south side of Century Drive, en route to Mt. Bachelor. I’d highly recommend Wanoga and Edison Sno-Parks. There’s also…
The first few options for zip-lining that come to mind are Tree to Tree, Rogue Valley Zipline, and High Life Adventures, depending on which part of Oregon you’re traveling in. Another recommendation that is family and kid-friendly is Camp Dakota Adventures. They offer 6 different zip lines as well as a Challenge Course for you and…
Thanks for the question! There are some very easy-to-follow routes for waterfall lovers. I recommend you either order a free copy of the Oregon Scenic Byways magazine or view it online as it really outlines the routes with beautiful pictures. As far as the time of year, there will be more water at other times…
There are some really cool places to visit where you can enjoy a vacation rental with access to kayaking. Twin Lakes Resort is a paddler’s dream as no motorized boats are allowed. It is in a rather remote area between the Willamette Valley and Bend. The drive is beautiful along the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway….
Thanks for the question. I suggest a trip east on Highway 126 from Eugene. You can raft on the McKenzie River. There are numerous guided trips. I highly recommend Helfrich Outfitters and if you want to begin and end at Belknap Hot Springs Resort check out High Country Expeditions. To get a great view of the Cascades…
Thanks for the question! As you can imagine there are a ton of great places to camp and fish in Oregon. The following is a list of my favorites based on region. Coast: Gold Beach or Loon Lake near Reedsport. There are some really cool coastal campgrounds in both locations. Tugman State Park and Umpqua Lighthouse…
Thanks for the question! There are a couple of camping options near Eugene. I think the best one is Armitage County Park. It’s about equal distance to Hop Valley and Agrarian Ales. You could actually bike to both, there is a very wide shoulder or bike lanes. The campground is also conveniently located to Coburg…
Great question! The McKenzie River Trail is one that is near and dear to my heart. I like to think of the trail as 3 different sections. The upper portion begins at Clear Lake. You can hike around the lake which is very beautiful (or rent row boats by the hour). The trail continues on…
Thanks for the question! I will give you a basic breakdown of the state’s adventure offerings and once you decide where in Oregon you would like to visit I can narrow down the options and give you some more detail. Also, the time of year changes what is available. The Coast – The Oregon Coast…
Oakridge (50 miles east of I-5 near Eugene) has hundreds of miles of trails. You can camp at Salmon Creek Campground and ride from your campsite about 50 feet onto the Salmon Creek trail. For some of the more challenging and thrilling trails in the area you’ll need a shuttle to various trailheads which are…
Thanks for the question! I biked the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway in 2011 (read my blog from the ride) and it was one of the best trips I’ve ever been on. I rode in the opposite direction you’re planning, finishing the ride at Champoeg State Park. Champoeg State Park offers RV spaces that you can reserve online….
Thanks for the question! One person’s definition of “moderate” can vary greatly than the next person’s. I would say that a good number of the trails in Oregon are moderate. I would recommend rideoregonride.com as a resource and also look for local bike groups in the areas where you want to ride. A lot of…
Mt. Pisgah in Eugene is a great place to take dogs and go hiking. For an easier hike, look for the arboretum trails. If the weather is right there are some creeks in the parking area that a dog could play in. Tryon Creek Trail near Portland is dog-friendly and just friendly, in general. Wahclella…
This is a tough question because there are so many “top” hikes. I decided to answer this with the 20 best hikes based on what they are best for. Check out this story to see my Top 20 Oregon Hikes. Happy Travels!
Thanks for the question! Waldo Lake is a true Oregon gem. The Willamette National Forest does an excellent job maintaining the webpages for this area (http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/willamette/recarea/?recid=4528). Their interactive map will give you the overview. Shadow Bay, Islet, and North Waldo are developed campgrounds with pit toilets and drinking water. There really aren’t bad places to…
Thanks for the great question. I am the Ask Oregon expert on outdoor recreation and the Assistant Manager of the Eugene, Cascades & Coast Adventure Center, and these are my recommendations for easy hikes in Oregon away from the city. Since Oregon is so rich in variety, I’ve included hike suggestions for northern Oregon, central…
