Oregon reigns as one of the prime adventure states in the US. However you get your adrenaline kick, the inspiring landscapes, mountains, coastline, and rivers deliver. With so much to do, you could easily spend every day living on the edge, and to help organize your epic efforts, we’ve put together the ultimate Oregon adventure bucket list.
Treks Through Lush Majesty
Everywhere you turn in Oregon, you’ll find a peak in the distance tantalizing you. Some of the best trails give you the opportunity to fully immerse in nature for days on end. At 46 miles long, the Three Sisters Loop is one of the more notable feats to tick off your to-do list. It boasts three peaks with breathtaking vistas, and the South Sister is the third largest peak in Oregon, so it isn’t for the faint of heart. Steens Mountain Gorges Loop offers spectacular vistas and unique terrain.
For a day’s worth of butt-kicking climbs, check out the Misery Ridge Trail – which lives up to the name – Trail of the Ten Falls, or Maxwell Lake.
Some hikes and treks to aspire to are:
- Three Sisters Loop – 46 miles
- Steens Mountain Gorges Loop – 28 miles
- Eagle Cap Wilderness Loop – 38 miles
- Broken Top Trail to No Name Lake – 9 miles
- Maxwell Lake – 8 miles
- The Misery Ridge Trail – 5.5 miles
- Ramona Falls (near Mt. Hood) – 7.1 miles
- Trail of the Ten Falls – 7.8 miles
- Hamilton Mountain Trail – 7.5 miles
- Green Lakes/Soda Creek Trail – 9 miles
- Tom, Dick & Harry Mountain Trail – 9 miles
- Paulina Peak Trail – 6.1 miles
Ride the Ridge
Mountain biking is aplenty in this rugged and varied state. Surveyor’s Ridge totes the acclaim of being an International Mountain Biking Association’s “epic trail,” winding up the ridge to awe-inspiring views. What’s more, it’s sure to test your limits. Test your mettle even further by racing out along the Sterling Mine Ditch Trail, and reward yourself with the return trip.
Check out some of the better and more expert-oriented mountain biking in Oregon with:
- Surveyor’s Ridge – 24 miles
- Sandy Ridge Trail System – 13.3 miles
- Boulder Lake Loop - Mt. Hood National Recreation Area – 16.8 miles
- Cline Buttes Trails – 8.1 miles
- Alpine Trail - Oakridge – 24.2 miles
- Wilson River Trail – Tillamook State Forest – 19.1 miles
- Sterling Mine Ditch Trail – 33.9 miles
- Mountain Bike Loop from Crescent –16.1 miles
- Fat Rabbit Trail Loop from Vista Rim – 11.9 miles
Powder Heaven
There’s no shortage of snowboarding and skiing. Across the Oregonian noble peaks from Mt. Hood to Mt. Bachelor, you’ll find seven powder-fresh parks to carve. Timberline is known for its year-long seasons, where the sheets of ice make for hair-whooshing blasts down the mountain in the summertime. Mt. Hood Meadows might only be open during the winter, but it has a lot to offer, ranging from beginner to advanced runs, with 11 chairlifts and a freestyle park to boot.
Take to the slopes at:
- Mount Hood Meadows
- Timberline Lodge
- Mount Hood Ski Bowl
- Mount Bachelor
- Hoodoo Ski Area
- Willamette Pass
- Mount Ashland
Conquer Some Faces
Don’t skimp on the actual hand-to-rock action. Rock climbing and outdoor bouldering are everywhere in Oregon. Trout Creek outside Madras provides the best crack climbing experience, and Smith Rock stands in the cool high desert for some of the more grueling challenges.
Some vertical routes to touch the sky are:
- Trout Creek outside Madras
- Smith Rock outside Terrebonne
- Bulo Point near Mt. Hood
- Lost Lake Boulders in Mt. Hood
- Skinner Butte in Eugene
- Broughton Bluff outside Troutdale
- Mary’s Peak in Corvallis
- Emigrant Lake outside Ashland
- Spring Mountain in the Blue Mountains
Take It Further
Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten all the other major thrills. Columbia River Gorge is an exceptional location for the extreme seekers. In this spot, where the Columbia River meets the Cascade Mountains, you’ll find cliff divers, windsurfers, kiteboarders, and kayakers, among other sundry enthusiasts.
Get more stomach-dropping action out of the Oregon area with:
- Central Oregon Bungee Adventures in the Crooked River Gorge – This offers the highest bungee jump in North America. It’s a whopping 250-foot plunge over a 300-foot drop to the river.
- PNW Skydiving – Go for one jump or get that parachuting license. Some people even take it further after 100-200 jumps and start base jumping. Base jumping is legal in some states with some great locations at Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls Idaho, the Royal Gorge Bridge in Canon City Colorado, and the New River Gorge Bridge in Fayetteville, West Virginia.
- Kayaking, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing – Check out the coastline or Columbia River Gorge.
- Cliff Diving – Splash into the deepest lake in the US at Crater Lake, the popular 3 Pools spot, or the Columbia River Gorge.
- Whitewater Rafting – Power through some frothy waves at North Umpqua River, the Lower Deschutes River, the Rogue River, the Owyhee River, and the McKenzie River.
- ATV – For some high-intensity off-roading on your ATV, check out Morrow-Grant County OHV Park, Prospect OHV Trail System, Crooked Finger OHV Trails, Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, and the Sand Lake Recreation Area.
Make Room. Then Make It Happen.
Grab your gear and get out for your next adventure. Oregon has it all for whatever rush you want. Your journey is just getting started, and you’re going to need plenty of equipment. Whether you’re picking up your kayak to hit the water or grabbing your skis for the slopes, StorQuest is your start and end to an epic Oregon adventure.