Whether you’re visiting for the first time or lived here all your life, chances are you don’t know everything about Oregon. Test your knowledge with some Oregon fun trivia below.
Fortunately for those who need travel advice, there are local experts located at eight Travel Oregon Welcome Centers across the state, ready to answer your questions and help guide your next journey. We invite you to stop in at any of these spots, conveniently located off the major highways. At Oregon’s southern border, for instance, the Travel Oregon Welcome Center in Ashland (at the I-5 northbound Siskiyou Rest Area) is a perfect pit stop with comfortable places to relax, plug in and play (literally, there’s a children’s play area), plus countless opportunities to learn about Southern Oregon and the rest of the state.
Ready to test your Oregon knowledge? Answer the trivia below.
- When is Oregon’s birthday?
- What is Oregon’s official state tree?
- What is Oregon’s state motto?
- How many federally recognized Native tribes are located in Oregon?
- How long is the Oregon Coast?
- Can you see the actual Oregon Trail route in Oregon?
- How many designated Wild & Scenic Rivers are in Oregon?
- What movie was filmed at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood?
- How big is Forest Park in the Portland Region?
- Why is there Oregon lava rock on the moon?
- Oregon is home to how many historic covered bridges?
Answer key:
1. When is Oregon’s birthday?
Oregon became the 33rd U.S. state on February 14, 1859.
2. What is Oregon’s official state tree?
The Douglas fir is Oregon’s official state tree.
3. What is Oregon’s state motto?
Oregon’s state motto is “She flies with her own wings.”
4. How many federally recognized Native tribes are located in Oregon?
Oregon is currently home to nine federally recognized Native tribes: Burns Paiute of Harney County; Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians; Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde; Confederated Tribes of Siletz; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation; Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs; Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians; Coquille Indian Tribe; and The Klamath Tribes.
5. How long is the Oregon Coast?
The Oregon Coast is 363 miles long — and thanks to the landmark Beach Bill, the state’s entire coastline is open to the public.
6. Can you see the actual Oregon Trail route in Oregon?
Oregon Trail wagon ruts are still visible in Eastern Oregon. You can see them at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Baker City, the Keeney Pass Interpretive Site near Vale, or Blue Mountain Crossing near La Grande.
7. How many designated Wild & Scenic Rivers are in Oregon?
Of the 200 Wild & Scenic Rivers in the United States, 58 of them are here in the state of Oregon — more than any other state.
8. What famous horror movie was filmed at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood?
Timberline Lodge served as the backdrop for the classic horror film, “The Shining.”
9. How big is Forest Park in the Portland Region?
At 5,200 acres, Portland’s Forest Park is one of the largest urban nature preserves in the U.S. It features more than 80 miles of trails, including the 30-mile Wildwood Trail.
10. Why is there Oregon lava rock on the moon?
From 1964 through 1966, astronauts trained for lunar missions at Newberry Crater in Central Oregon. Decades later during the Apollo 15 mission, astronaut James B. Irwin commemorated the events by leaving a lava rock from Oregon on the moon.
11. Oregon is home to how many historic covered bridges?
Oregon has more than 50 historic covered bridges. Twenty of them are in Lane County, home to more remaining covered bridges than any county west of the Mississippi River. To see several on one route, ride the Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway in Cottage Grove.
Bonus trivia: How much do you know about Crater Lake?
- How deep is Crater Lake?
- Roughly how old is Crater Lake?
- What do The Klamath Tribes call Crater Lake?
- Why is Crater Lake so blue?
- How cold are Crater Lake’s waters?
- What else can you do at Crater Lake National Park?
Crater Lake trivia answers
How deep is Crater Lake? At a depth of 1,943 feet, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the U.S.
Roughly how old is Crater Lake? The eruption of Mt. Mazama created Crater Lake some 7,700 years ago.
What do The Klamath Tribes call Crater Lake? Crater Lake is also known as “Giiwas” (spiritual place) to The Klamath Tribes.
Why is Crater Lake so blue? Crater Lake’s water is intensely blue due to its depth and purity with only rain and snowmelt serving as the water source.
How cold are Crater Lake’s waters? Crater Lake’s average temperature (below 300 feet deep) is 38°F.
What else can you do at Crater Lake National Park? Crater Lake National Park has 90 miles of hiking trails. In the summer, mountain biking and road cycling are popular activities — especially during the vehicle-free Ride the Rim days in September. Guided boat tours to Wizard Island are also offered in the summer, as are narrated Crater Lake Trolley rides. In the winter, the park hosts free ranger-guided snowshoe walks. For more things to do at Crater Lake National Park, visit the National Park Service.
