Many Oregonians cite fall as their favorite season, and it’s easy to understand why. As the heat of summer subsides and the crowds wane, the sun tends to stick around to illuminate reddening foliage, ripening pears and August-warmed waters. It’s time to throw expectations into the increasingly cool winds since you’re just as likely to find a gorgeous warm day at the beach as you are an early-season snowstorm in the Cascades. Dress in layers and don’t forget the camera.
1. Get Cozy with Coffee & Tea in Portland
Cozy fall days are even better when paired with an excellent cup of coffee or tea, and luckily in Portland you’re just a stone’s throw from dozens of outstanding spots. Deadstock Coffee Roasters (located in Old Town/Chinatown) is a sneaker- and hype culture-inspired coffee shop that should be on your must-visit list. Stumptown Coffee Roasters is the Rose City’s original claim to fame, but did you know they have four cafes in Portland? Smith Teamaker Tea is beloved across the globe not just for its small-batch teas but also herbal infusions; book a seat at their tasting room for a lovely afternoon. Find even more inspired tea spots for your next chai fix.
Bonus: If you want someone to do the planning for you, book a guided food tour with a company like Lost Plate or Forktown. These pros will show you the top spots with curated recommendations to suit your taste.
2. Tour the Hood River Fruit Loop
Fall is apple and pear season, making it prime time to tour the Hood River County Fruit Loop. The drive out here itself is one of the most scenic in the West, but along the way, find a myriad of orchards where you can pick fruit and sample fresh cider. A handful of wineries, pumpkin patches and many more surprises sweeten the deal. Pro tip: Travelers with disabilities can find an abundance of accessible road trip ideas for the Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge region. In fact, each of Oregon’s seven regions welcome accessible travelers to top beaches, parks, lodgings and attractions. Get inspired by our accessible travel page.
Bonus: Have you heard of the Infinity Loop? You can spend a few hours or a few days following this self-guided trail for the region’s top food, drink, farm and outdoor experiences any time of year, particularly during harvest time.
3. Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Speaking of pumpkins, you’ll find pumpkin patches all across the state — a perfect fall rite of passage not just for u-pick gourds but also apple cider doughnuts, caramel corn, candy apples, kids’ games, tractor rides and more. In Central Oregon try DD Ranch with a great pumpkin patch as well as a hay maze and petting zoo, or Smith Rock Ranch with a giant corn maze, pony rides and more. Both are located near the towering spires of Smith Rock State Park, which is lit up to perfection at this time of year. It’s not just pumpkins that are the prize in autumn. Oregon is home to some amazing corn mazes that make for fun-filled adventures all season long.
Bonus: Level up your pumpkin game with a day at the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta, one of the Oregon’s wide range of fabulous fall events.
4. See Fall Foliage
You’ll find gorgeous fall foliage September through November, all across the state — everywhere from neighborhood streets to iconic attractions like the Portland Japanese Garden, Lithia Park and beyond. If you’d rather sightsee on the move, take advantage of fall’s crisp, cool days with a bicycle ride through Oregon wine country along the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway and admire the fall colors all around. While the walnut leaves turn golden, the grapevines contrast with bright reds and oranges. How about a scenic fall train ride? Check out Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad excursion train, the Eagle Cap Excursion Train or Sumpter Valley Railroad in Eastern Oregon or the Mt. Hood Railroad fall train.
Bonus: Oregon’s vineyards are absolute perfect during harvest season. Check with your favorite local wineries for harvest-season events. Outside Portland, the Vineyard & Valley Tour Route is a feast for the eyes — and the palate.
5. Take a Hike or go Backpacking
Each region of Oregon puts on its own spectacular color show in the fall. In Eastern Oregon, the turning leaves light up with citrus colors in the Eagle Cap Wilderness of the Wallowa Mountains, a backpacker’s paradise. The crowds have subsided, bugs are few and the crisp temperatures are perfect for short to long hikes in these stunning mountains, often dubbed “Little Switzerland.” Another stellar route, especially this time of year, is the McKenzie River Trail. The combination of waterfalls, river and old-growth forest make it one Oregon’s most enchanting recreation areas.
Bonus: All across Oregon you can find exceptionally dark skies and pristine conditions for stargazing, which is easy to do when you’re backpacking. Check out a guided stargazing experience or Central Oregon’s guide to dark skies for more inspiration.
6. Take a Scenic Drive
If pleasure driving is more your style, fall is a wonderful time to enjoy the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway. The volcanoes, cinder cones and lava flows look even more otherworldly when surrounded by fall colors. The route leads from Crater Lake National Park (open year-round) through forest and moon-like landscapes all the way to the California border. Wondering what the conditions are like at Crater Lake before you visit? Take a peek at the park’s three web cams, where you can see the lake itself, the entrance line and the visitor center parking lot. Fall is perhaps the best time of year to visit Oregon’s deepest lake since most of the crowds have gone, temperatures are crisp with bluebird skies and local businesses very much welcome travelers’ support.
Bonus: If road trips make you hungry, look no further than Oregon’s self-guided Food Trails for itinerary inspiration on where to grab a snack — from farm stands and u-pick orchards to bakeries, restaurants, wineries and more.
Before You Go:
Know that many communities in Oregon have been heavily impacted by recent wildfires, and many may still be underway.
- If you’re looking for today’s conditions, visit our Travel Alerts page.
- Use the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map in combination with Watch Duty and other sources to see if smoke or fires are in your area.
- Check Tripcheck.com to check road conditions; you can check highways cameras to see if there’s smoke in the area.
- Read up on ways to help during Oregon wildfires.
- Here’s more background and FAQs on what you need to know about wildfires in Oregon.
