Oregon

Klamath County

Crater Lake National Park

Volcano Legacy Scenic Byway, OR

Our rating:

*5 out of 5 stars* Crater Lake National Park is truly a site to see and so incredibly peaceful. Highly recommend staying at a campground close by and stopping to enjoy the sunset before or after enjoying the park during the day.

Watchman Overlook

About the place:

Crater Lake was formed when Mount Mazama erupted approximately 7,000 years ago, so aggressively that it caused the land to cave in on itself. The water in the crater that we see today is a result of thousands of years of rainfall and snow melt. Crater Lake is known for it’s extremely blue water and beautiful views. When we visited at sunset, we took in the stunning view from the Miriam Point Overlook and were lucky enough to have the spot all

Miriam Point Overlook

to ourselves. There’s no hike needed to get to this view, just park and walk the short distance to the edge of the crater. You can also take Rim Drive which is a 33-mile long scenic drive that follows along the rim of the entire crater, giving you viewpoints from every angle. The most famous viewpoint in the park is the Sinnott Memorial Observation Station, this is a beautiful structure built back in 1931 located right on

Rim Drive

the edge of the crater behind the Visitors Center. There’s a stunning view from this location as you stand 900 feet above Crater Lake. Another popular stop in this park is the Phantom Ship Overlook. Although this can be seen from many different spots along the crater, this overlook gives you the best view of this small island that resembles an old ship. According to www.nps.gov, “Phantom Ship is actually a resistant remnant of an ancient volcanic cone that was engulfed in the growing Mazama volcano. This vent shared the underground chamber that fed Mount Mazama and was part of its early mountain building phase. These rocky spires remained after Mount Mazama's massive eruption and collapse, displaying the oldest rock in the Crater Lake basin over 400,000 years old.” We also really enjoyed the Watchman Overlook, which provides a stunning view of the lake.

Watchman Overlook

There are two ways of getting into this park, your entry all depends on which direction you’re coming from. If you’re coming from the north you’ll need to turn off of Crater Lake North Hwy onto Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway. Follow this road South and you will eventually come up to the first overlook, Miriam Point. If you’re coming from the North you’ll need to get onto Oregon Route 62 until you reach Munson Valley Road. Continue along this road to reach the park. We opted into staying at the Diamond Lake Campground which is only 20 mins from Miriam Point.

How to get there:

 

Places near by:

  • Diamond Lake Campground 14.7 miles away (20 mins)

  • Watson Falls 34.1 miles away (40 mins)

  • Toketee Falls 38.5 miles away (45 mins)

Columbia River Gorge ~ Multnomah County

Latourell Falls

Historic Columbia River Hwy. Oregon 97019

About the place:

Latourell Falls is one of the many beautiful waterfalls located along the Columbia River Gorge. This 294’ tall waterfall only takes a short 5 minute walk to reach the base of the falls. You can also opt into taking the 2.4 mile loop trail that takes you to the top of the falls. This is actually a two-tier waterfall so if you follow the trail you not only get to see the bottom tier but you’ll get to see the upper one as well. If you don’t want to stress over parking, you can purchase a ticket to ride the trolley that will take you to 10 popular scenic spots along the highway, this being one of them.

Our rating:

*5 out of 5 stars* Latourell Falls is a must see stop when visiting the Columbia River Gorge. We didn’t have enough time to do the hike to the upper falls but I’ve heard it’s worth the trip!

How to get there:

Latourell Falls is very easy to find thanks to Columbia River Gorge’s great signage. There’s a parking lot located on the Historic Columbia River Highway near the trailhead but parking is limited. If you’re taking the Trolley, this waterfall is located at stop # 6. If you’re looking for more info on the trolley stops, pricing & more this website is helpful - https://www.waterfalltrolley.com/#:~:text=We%20do%20not%20stop%20at,(ages%200%2D5).

 

Places near by:

  • Bridal Veil Falls State Scenic Viewpoint 2.1 miles away (5 mins)

  • Wahkeena Falls 5.4 miles away (10 mins)

  • Multnomah Falls 5.9 miles away (10 mins)

  • Triple Falls 7.9 miles away (15 mins)

  • Horsetail Falls 8.4 miles away (20 mins)

  • Portland 30.1 miles away (38 mins)

Willamette National Forest

Salt Creek Falls

Crescent, OR 97733

Our rating:

*5 out of 5 stars* You can’t miss Salt Creek Falls if you’re visiting western Oregon! The view here is beyond beautiful and easy enough for anyone to visit. It was also a huge plus that we only saw one other person here, beautiful stops are always better when you get to experience them without the crowds!

About the place:

Salt Creek falls stands at around 286 feet tall, creating a dramatic drop along Salt Creek. This waterfall is the 2nd tallest single-drop waterfall in Oregon. The view of the falls is easy to visit as it’s only 50 yards from the parking lot, making it a great stop for everyone. Make sure to hold onto your hats here, the rush of wind coming up from the falls is very impressive! You will need to pay a $5 Day Use Fee or have a Recreational Pass to visit.

How to get there:

Parking for this beautiful spot is easy to find and has great signage so you don’t miss it. As you drive West along Willamette Highway there will be a a turn onto Service Road 5893, this will take you to the falls parking lot. There are signs along the Highway and Service Road to help you locate it.

 

Places near by:

  • Diamond Creek Falls Trail 350 ft away (1 mins)

  • Crater Lake National Park 68 miles away (1 hour 15 mins)

  • Diamond Lake 71 miles away (1 hour 15 mins)

Marion County ~ Silver Falls State Park

South Falls at Silver Falls State Park

Silver Falls Hwy SE, Silverton, OR 97381

Our rating:

*5 out of 5 stars* This is a must see when visiting Oregon, the view as you walk along this short trail is unbelievably beautiful. It’s also a huge plus that the trail takes you behind the falls giving you views from every angle.

About the place:

South Falls is the tallest waterfall along the 7.9 mile Trail of Ten Falls loop, standing at 177 feet tall. If you’re looking to just see this waterfall, you can take the easy 1.1 mile lollipop loop trail that starts at South Falls Day Use Area. I definitely wouldn’t miss this one if you’re in the area, the trail takes you right behind the falls giving you incredible views from every angle.

How to get there:

To visit this waterfall you can park at the South Falls Lodge Trailhead located off of Silver Falls Highway.

 

Places near by:

  • Silver Falls Scenic Viewpoint 2.3 miles away (6 mins)

  • North Falls 2.6 miles (7 mins)

Columbia River Gorge Hwy ~ Multnomah County

Wahkeena Falls

Historic Columbia River Hwy. OR, 97019

Our rating:

*5 out of 5 stars* Wahkeena Falls is another one of Columbia River Gorge’s famous stops. This stunning waterfall is surrounded by the most beautiful and vibrant variations of moss. We loved how easy this viewpoint is to get to and how close of a view you get as you cross over the bridge in front of it.

About the place:

This tiered waterfall is one of Columbia Rivers Gorge’s 90+ waterfalls. This is a very popular stop since it’s one of the 5 that are found along the Columbia River Gorge Highway and has a bridge built directly in front giving you the perfect view and photo opportunity. The walk to this viewing point is an easy 0.4 mile round trip trail making it very convenient to visit. Since the most famous waterfall in the park, Multnomah Falls is right down the street, many people park here and walk along the 0.5 mile trail that takes you between the two falls. If you don’t want to deal with finding parking, you can purchase a ticket to ride the trolley that will take you to 10 popular scenic spots along the highway, including this one.

How to get there:

The parking area for this location is located along the Columbia River Gorge Highway and thanks to their great signage, it’s very easy to locate. If you’re taking the Trolley, this is located at stop # 6.

 

Places near by:

  • Multnomah Falls 0.6 miles away (2 mins)

  • Triple Falls 2.6 miles away (5 mins)

  • Horsetail Falls 3.1 miles away (7 mins)

  • Bridal Veil Falls State Scenic Viewpoint 3.4 miles away (5 mins)

  • Latourell Falls 5.3 miles away (10 mins)

  • Portland 29.8 miles away (34 mins)