Oregon is a state with natural grandeur. Look up and you'll see Mt. Hood at 11,240 feet. Covered in glaciers and surrounded by Mt. Hood National Forest, the tall peak displays the very definition of wilderness. Multnomah Falls is a bit lower, but you still have to tip your head all the way back to see the magnificent 620-foot falls cascading down into the Columbia River Gorge.
Across 10-mile-wide Hells Canyon, you can peer into North America’s deepest gorge dropping 7,983 feet into the Snake River. Paddle across the deepest lake in America to Wizard Island and cast a line into Crater Lake. At 1,949-feet deep, Crater Lake’s cold waters support rainbow trout and Kokanee salmon drawing anglers from all over.
A misty frost settles on the forest floor as you sit at your base camp. Hot orange embers crackle and, in the distance, you hear an elk bugle echo throughout the expansive forest. An eerie yet welcome sound as you anticipate the morning’s hunt in the middle of some rugged, diverse and breathtaking landscape. The refreshing mountain air is enhanced by the western hemlock and Douglas fir that stretch through much of the millions of acres of forests. After whitetail, elk is the second most hunted big game in Oregon. Located in the heart of the state, in the Cascade range, an excursion here leads you to high altitudes and forested, low-lying valleys. The amazing terrain you see in hunting documentaries is right under your feet in Oregon.
The sharp, citrusy scent of pines invigorates your senses while hiking in Oregon’s vast forests. Pines are found throughout the woodlands, and timber covers 50% of the state. It's among Oregon's top agricultural commodities.
Greenhouse and nursery products rank first in the state’s agricultural production, and a large portion of that comes in the form of Christmas trees. Some of the biggest Christmas tree farms in the world ship pines and firs throughout the United States. The Noble Fir is the most popular and easiest to grow in the pacific northwest. To say Oregon has a thriving, diverse timber industry is an understatement.
Driving from north to south on the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway is the perfect way to experience another side of Oregon. With Pacific Ocean views and coasts bouldered with rocks and lined with forest, places like Cannon Beach are sure to take your breath away. Offshore 235-foot high Haystack Rock juts out of the water becoming an enormous perch for seabirds. Hike these west coast beaches with their salty breezes and explore tidal pools thriving with ocean life. Hermit crabs, anemones, sea stars and muscles are all creatures you can expect to find.
