Oregon State Parks

There are so many state parks in Oregon that it would be best to do research on the location, interest or the type of stay that is wanted. There are parks with campgrounds, day use parks, or parks with beaches, mountains, deserts, canyons or waterfalls. Researching by each region of the state is another option to take, such as the North, Central or South Coast areas, just to name a few.

The North Coast has 19 parks, most of which are day use only. Cape Lookout State Park is about a ninety minute trip west of Portland. There are many scenic stops to enjoy along the way that include waterfalls and spectacular views. The park is a popular campground area with views of the ocean. Saddle Mountain State Natural Area offers beautiful scenery, but is for more of a hiker than a stroller, as the elevation and terrain can get rough. The Columbia Gorge part of Oregon offers 21 different parks, such as the historic Lewis and Clark State Recreation Site, which the namesakes had explored and camped in during 1805. Another historic area is the Columbia River Highway State Trail, which is where motorists of old Highway 30 once traveled.

The Willamette Valley area offers 24 different parks, one of which is the Bald Peak State Scenic Viewpoint. This area is hopping with restaurants, shopping, nightlife, plus fruit stands, wineries and farms. The scenic drives, plus the snowcapped peaks of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Ranier, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood and Mt. Jefferson, are all something to experience. The entire state of Oregon is something to see, especially with all of the splendid state parks to tour.