2016’s Favorite #NeverHaveIEver
Oregon
In 2015 I fell in love with America’s southwest, in 2016 Oregon stole my heart. The state is absolutely a nature lover’s dream. While Portland and Multnomah Falls are popular and well known sites to visit, Oregon has so much more to offer. Travel Oregon complied a list called 7 Wonders of Oregon. I did 5 out of the 7.
Trip Overview
August 28th – September 1st. 5 days to explore north, east, central, and south Oregon. To be honest, Instagram inspired much of this Oregon trip. I had seen various photos and couldn’t believe how many amazing sites were neighboring California. I didn’t know when I’d be back to visit Oregon, so I figured I’d get as much in as possible.
Day 1: Los Angeles, CA – Portland, Oregon
Los Angeles to Portland: 962.7 miles / a 15 drive. Yup, 15 (+/-) hours in the car. A beautiful drive but yea, I won’t be doing that again.
Been to Portland #neverhaveiever
Day 2: Portland, Oregon
Our Walking Itinerary/Map
Stumptown Coffee Roasters
Location:
Thoughts:
- A trip to Portland would not be complete without coffee. I admit I love my Starbucks and I know you coffee snobs will roll your eyes, but I’m always open to trying and supporting local businesses.
- To learn more about the high quality coffee served at Stumptown Coffee Roasters, click here.
Voodoo Donuts
Location:
Parking:
- Various parking lots are near by and street parking
- We paid for all day parking
Hours of Operation:
- Open 24/7
- Closed on major holidays
Good to Know:
- Cash only
- Stand in line and wait
Verdict:
- Good but doesn’t beat my favorite California Donuts or Portland’s other well known Blue Star
Maak Lab
Location:
Parking:
- Street parking available
About:
- Scent Lab carrying various items such as candles, soaps, and shampoo/conditioners
- We happened to walk by on our way to Powell’s City of Books
- More info here
Powell’s City of Books
Location:
About:
- The largest independent chain of bookstores in the world
- Third generation family operated
- More info here
Thoughts:
- Fun to stop by and check out
The Good Mod
Location:
About:
- A mid-century modern furniture store/showroom
- More info here
Thoughts:
- I’m a big fan of mid-century modern design
- Enjoyed seeing a variety of items and vintage pieces
Food Carts
Location:
About:
- While Los Angeles may be known for our food trucks (especially our taco trucks) on different street corners, Portland is known for their assortment of food carts
Thoughts:
- We walked here by chance and tried out a New Orleans Cajun food cart
- I wish we spent more time trying out some of the better known carts. Next time!
- Here is a list by Eater – Portland Oregon Edition of their top 19 picks
Serra
Location:
About:
- A cannabis dispensary for both medical (OMMP) and recreational users
- 21+ to enter or 18 years of age OMMP
- Out of state not a problem
- Cash only
- They carry flower, edibles, topicals, concentrates, and lifestyle accessories
- More information here
Thoughts:
- I’m not a cannabis user; however, it was still very interesting to experience a high-end modern shop. Very fun to browse!
Pine Street Market
Location:
About:
- A variety of restaurants/food vendors in an open shared space
- More info here
Thoughts:
- We grabbed a beer and enjoyed this quick stop
This ended our walking journey. Hopped in the car to:
International Rose Test Garden
Location:
About:
- The test rose garden was created in 1915 then further established as a refuge in efforts to preserve European hybrid roses during World War I
- Today it is the oldest official continuously operated public rose test garden in the U.S. with more than 7,000 roses
Thoughts:
- If you love flowers like I do, it’s a must do!
Forest Park – NW Leif Erikson Dr Trail
Location:
About:
- One of the largest urban forest in the U.S. with 5,200 acres and more than 80 miles of trails
- More information here
Thoughts:
- We walked only half a mile of the 11.6 mile NW Leif Erikson Dr Trail because of time constraints
- If we had more time, I would have loved to spend more time exploring various hikes
- You’ll feel like you’re instantly transported out of the city
Heart Coffee Roasters
Location:
About:
- What makes Heart so good? More info here
Thoughts:
- Couldn’t leave Portland without trying another highly recommended coffee shop!
- After all the walking we did, I needed that extra cup
- Not going to lie, I’m still learning what makes a good coffee good and can’t taste the difference between one versus the other. But again, I’m open to trying!
From here, you can walk across the street to:
Multnomah Whiskey Library
Location:
About:
- Monday – Thursday 4 pm to 12 am & Friday/Saturday 4 – 1 am
- Literally a whiskey library with 1500 various whiskeys available
- Drinks are made at your table — it’s a seated bar
- To make your reservation, click here
Thoughts:
- The menu can be overwhelming but thankfully the knowledgeable (and well dressed) bartenders will help you navigate and select a great glass of whiskey
- Expect a wait, usually a long one, but the experience was worth the wait
Day 3: Multnomah Falls, Lower Oneonta Falls, Mt. Hood, Smith Rock State Park, & Painted Hills
Multnomah Falls
Location:
About:
- From Portland: 29.6 miles / 36 mins
- Free parking
- Less than a five minute walk from lot to see the falls
- Oregon’s tallest waterfall
- The most visited recreational site in the Pacific Northwest
- Considered one of the 7 Wonders of Oregon
- More info here
Lower Oneonta Falls
Location:
About:
- From Multnomah Falls: 2.3 miles / 4 mins
- 0.8 mile round trip hike
- The trail is a hike through the river, over a log jam section (you have to climb), and finally through waist-to-chest deep water. The reward: a 100-foot waterfall flowing down a volcanic rock covered in moss and ferns.
- The slot canyon walls are covered by rare ferns, mosses, and liverworts (a plant that only lives in the Columbia River Gorge)
- Recommend wearing water shoes and swim wear
Thoughts:
- Lower Oneonta Falls is often missed but I would highly recommend this short but fun hike!
Mt. Hood
Location:
About:
- From Lower Oneonta Falls: 65.4 miles / 1 hour 11 mins
- One of the 7 Wonders of Oregon
- It’s one of only a few places in the world that offers skiing year round
- More info here
Thoughts:
- We knew we wouldn’t have time to fully enjoy Mt. Hood, but this location gave us a decent view of the highest mountain in Oregon
Smith Rock State Park
Location:
About:
- From Mt. Hood: 87.4 miles / 1 hour 37 mins
- $5 day use parking
- One of the 7 Wonders of Oregon
- These rock formations (tuff) were created from solidified volcanic ash approximately 30 million years ago
- Smith Rock State Park has a little bit of everything to offer:
- Cyclists: 11 official scenic bike ways
- Mountain biking: considered a mecca with a nice varety
- Hikes: easy to difficult trails available. I did the Misery Ridge Trail — 3.8 mile loop (just did .68 to the submit). 3,360 foot summit elevation. Amazing views of Oregon’s central mountain range
- Rock climbing: considered the birth place of sport rock climbing
- More info here
Painted Hills (John Day Fossil Beds)
Location:
About:
- From Smith Rock State Park: 68.8 miles / 1 hour 35 mins
- Free parking and entrance
- One of the 7 Wonders of Oregon
- The various colors of the hills reflect the geological climate changes over 35 million years ago. Each layer represents a period from a particular climate
- Many short trails ranging from .25 miles to 1.26 miles
- There are barely any gas stations as you head in this direction. Definitely fill up before leaving for here
- Also, limited cell service. Highly recommend saving return directions
- More info here
Day 4: Skylight Cave, Sahalie and Koosah Falls, & Umpqua Hot Springs
Skylight Cave
Location:
About:
- From Smith Rock State Park: 40.6 miles / 1 hour 5 mins
- Open only during summer months to protect bat habitat
- Free parking off the main road
- No cell service so download a map before going
- 5-6 mins on a dirt road. There are signs marking the entrance to the cave
- Climb down a ladder. To your left are three holes in the cave’s ceiling creating the “skylights”
- More info here
Sahalie and Koosah Falls
Location:
About:
- From Skylight Cave: 31.1 miles / 49 mins
- Free parking lot
- 2.6 mile loop hike next to the McKenzie River. (We started at Sahalie)
- Approximately 3,000 years ago, lava flowing from San Mountain created this pathway that now flows with such beauty
- More info here
Thoughts:
- A must see! It’s like someone took the saturation button and turned it all the way up! The colors are so rich and the air so fresh
Tamolitch Falls (also known as Blue Pool)**
This beautiful place was also on my original list and is only 3.5 miles / 5 mins south of Sahalie Falls. Unfortunately, there was a fire near by and the Tamolitch Falls hike was closed. I recommend adding this stop to your trip if you can.
Umpqua Hot Springs
Location:
About:
- From Sahalie and Koosah Falls: 177 miles / 3 hours 19 mins
- $5 day use parking
- 0.5 mile hike up the hill
- Nudity is common so don’t be surprised
Thoughts:
- This was the perfect way to end our day. Soaking in this warm natural hot spring is something I’ll always remember!
Day 5: Toketee Falls & Crater Lake
Toketee Falls
Location:
About:
- From Umpqua Hot Springs: 4.8 miles/ 15 mins
- Free parking; No fees
- 0.8 mile round trip hike
- There’s an overlook built into the side of a hill that provides a nice view of the the falls. However, if you want to be adventurous and seek a front row view of the falls, you can climb down the side of the hill with ropes that are attached
Thoughts:
- While every place was beautiful and unique, Toketee Falls was my absolute favorite waterfall and place visited in Oregon!
Crater Lake
Location:
About:
- From Toketee Falls: 28 miles/ 29 mins
- $25 summer / $10 winter per car. Good for 7 days
- One of the 7 Wonders of Oregon
- 32.9 mile loop around Crater Lake
- Formed by a collapsed volcano almost 8,000 years ago, it is the deepest lake in the United States (ranking 9th in the world)
- The lake is also famous for its deep blue color, clarity, and purity.
- Learn more info here
Thoughts:
- Unfortunately when I visited this national park, a forest fire in California caused clouds and haze to form over the lake. I was not able to see the deep blue color but was still able to appreciate its grandeur
Final Thoughts
I hope this detailed trip log has inspired you to think about adding Oregon to your travel bucket list! I look forward to returning to Oregon. Next time, I intend to fly into Portland, eat more of Portland’s favorites, and explore the entire west coast including sites such as Cannon Beach, Oregon Dunes, and Brookings.
Thoughts and comments? They’re welcomed below 🙂
Until the next trip…