From coast to desert, Oregon is packed full of amazing places to explore. Check out these 12 wondrous, lesser-known state parks to visit in Oregon. The unique beauty of the Beaver State knows no bounds!
- Oswald West State Park
flickr/ USFWS - Pacific Region Located south of the iconic Cannon Beach, Oswald West State Park is an amazing nature area on the Oregon Coast that’s full of picturesque scenery, old growth forests, hiking trails, hidden beaches, vast coastal views, and more. To learn more, visit Oswald State Park’s website. Oswald West State Park, Arch Cape, OR 97102, USA
- White River Falls State Park
flickr/ Jeff White River Falls State Park is a gorgeous hidden gem located near the Typh Valley in Wasco County. It’s a great place to picnic, hike, visit an abandoned hydropower plant, and explore the stunning White River Falls. Visit White River Falls State Park’s website to learn more. White River Falls State Park, White River Rd, Maupin, OR 97037, USA
- Harris Beach State Park
flickr/ JD Hascup Harris Beach is a unique stretch of coastline near Brookings. The tranquil landscape is dotted with incredible sea stacks, and there’s a wonderful campsite beside the beach where you can fall asleep listening to the sound of waves crashing nearby. To learn more, visit Harris Beach State Park’s website. Harris Beach State Park, U.S. 101, Brookings, OR 97415, USA
- Wallowa Lake State Park
flickr/ Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife Located at the base of the Wallowa Mountains in northeastern Oregon, Wallowa Lake is a spectacular body of water surrounded by mountain peaks. It’s a great summer destination, where you can camp, hike, fish, swim, boat, and more. To learn more, visit Wallowa Lake State Park’s website. Wallowa Lake State Park, Joseph, OR 97846, USA
- Cascadia State Park
Wikipedia/ Sword Fern Located in Linn County, Cascadia State Park is home to incredible hiking trails, campsites, woodsy scenery, the South Santiam River, Lower Soda Creek Falls, and more. To learn more, visit Cascadia State Park’s website. Cascadia State Park, Cascadia, OR 97329, USA
- Fort Stevens State Park
flickr/ Keira Morgan Located on the northwestern tip of Oregon, Fort Stevens State Park is a truly one of a kind place. This oceanside state park is full of history and natural beauty. It’s home to an incredible shipwreck (pictured above) and an abandoned military fort, as well as numerous hiking trails, a campsite, and expansive, breathtaking scenery. For more information, check out Fort Stevens State Park’s website. Fort Stevens State Park, 1675 Peter Iredale Rd, Hammond, OR 97121, USA
- Cape Lookout State Park
flickr/ Kirt Edblom As its name insinuates, Cape Lookout State Park is packed full of breathtaking views. Located in Tillamook County, this waterfront state park also has beaches, amazing hiking trails, a campground, picturesque bluffs, and more. For more information, check out Cape Lookout State Park’s website. Cape Lookout State Park, 13000 Whiskey Creek Rd, Tillamook, OR 97141, USA
- Tumalo State Park
wikipedia/ Robert Ashworth Located in Central Oregon near the city of Bend, Tumalo State Park is a perfect destination for a day trip or overnight getaway. You can view waterfalls, fish, hike, swim, camp, and more. Check out Tumalo State Park’s website to learn more. Tumalo State Park, 64170 O. B. Riley Rd, Tumalo, OR 97703, USA
- Ecola State Park
flickr/ Thomas Shahan This amazing state park is made up of a nine-mile expanse of the Oregon Coast, in which you’ll unforgettable hiking trails, sandy coves, mountaintop views, tide pools, and more. Check out Ecola State Park’s website for more information. Ecola State Park Road, Ecola State Park Rd, Cannon Beach, OR 97110, USA
- Nehalem Bay State Park
flickr/ Scott McCracken Rimmed to the north by Neahkahnie Mountain, Nehalem Bay State Park is a wondrous place where you’ll find rolling sand dunes, a campsite, pristine beaches, an amphitheater, and of course, amazing ocean views. Visit Nehalem Bay State Park’s website to learn more. Nehalem Bay State Park, 9500 Sandpiper Ln, Nehalem, OR 97131, USA
- Cottonwood Canyon State Park
flickr/ Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington Cottonwood Canyon State Park is a little known Oregon destination located in north central Oregon. The park is centered around a unique high desert canyon formed over the years by the beautiful John Day River. It’s a great place for fishing, hiking, and more, and it just so happens to be the second biggest state park in Oregon. To learn more, visit Cottonwood Canyon State Park’s website. Cottonwood Canyon State Park, Wasco, OR 97065, USA
- Shore Acres State Park
flickr/ Jon Hathaway Shore Acres State Park is a wonderful place that you have to see to believe. The two main elements of the park are the marvelous, intricately manicured botanical garden, and the rocky shoreline where you’ll find truly breathtaking views. To learn more, visit Shore Acres State Park’s website. Shore Acres State Park, Coos Bay, OR 97420, USA
Have you been to any of these hidden gems? What are your favorite state parks to visit in Oregon? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
flickr/ USFWS - Pacific Region
Located south of the iconic Cannon Beach, Oswald West State Park is an amazing nature area on the Oregon Coast that’s full of picturesque scenery, old growth forests, hiking trails, hidden beaches, vast coastal views, and more. To learn more, visit Oswald State Park’s website.
Oswald West State Park, Arch Cape, OR 97102, USA
flickr/ Jeff
White River Falls State Park is a gorgeous hidden gem located near the Typh Valley in Wasco County. It’s a great place to picnic, hike, visit an abandoned hydropower plant, and explore the stunning White River Falls. Visit White River Falls State Park’s website to learn more.
White River Falls State Park, White River Rd, Maupin, OR 97037, USA
flickr/ JD Hascup
Harris Beach is a unique stretch of coastline near Brookings. The tranquil landscape is dotted with incredible sea stacks, and there’s a wonderful campsite beside the beach where you can fall asleep listening to the sound of waves crashing nearby. To learn more, visit Harris Beach State Park’s website.
Harris Beach State Park, U.S. 101, Brookings, OR 97415, USA
flickr/ Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
Located at the base of the Wallowa Mountains in northeastern Oregon, Wallowa Lake is a spectacular body of water surrounded by mountain peaks. It’s a great summer destination, where you can camp, hike, fish, swim, boat, and more. To learn more, visit Wallowa Lake State Park’s website.
Wallowa Lake State Park, Joseph, OR 97846, USA
Wikipedia/ Sword Fern
Located in Linn County, Cascadia State Park is home to incredible hiking trails, campsites, woodsy scenery, the South Santiam River, Lower Soda Creek Falls, and more. To learn more, visit Cascadia State Park’s website.
Cascadia State Park, Cascadia, OR 97329, USA
flickr/ Keira Morgan
Located on the northwestern tip of Oregon, Fort Stevens State Park is a truly one of a kind place. This oceanside state park is full of history and natural beauty. It’s home to an incredible shipwreck (pictured above) and an abandoned military fort, as well as numerous hiking trails, a campsite, and expansive, breathtaking scenery. For more information, check out Fort Stevens State Park’s website.
Fort Stevens State Park, 1675 Peter Iredale Rd, Hammond, OR 97121, USA
flickr/ Kirt Edblom
As its name insinuates, Cape Lookout State Park is packed full of breathtaking views. Located in Tillamook County, this waterfront state park also has beaches, amazing hiking trails, a campground, picturesque bluffs, and more. For more information, check out Cape Lookout State Park’s website.
Cape Lookout State Park, 13000 Whiskey Creek Rd, Tillamook, OR 97141, USA
wikipedia/ Robert Ashworth
Located in Central Oregon near the city of Bend, Tumalo State Park is a perfect destination for a day trip or overnight getaway. You can view waterfalls, fish, hike, swim, camp, and more. Check out Tumalo State Park’s website to learn more.
Tumalo State Park, 64170 O. B. Riley Rd, Tumalo, OR 97703, USA
flickr/ Thomas Shahan
This amazing state park is made up of a nine-mile expanse of the Oregon Coast, in which you’ll unforgettable hiking trails, sandy coves, mountaintop views, tide pools, and more. Check out Ecola State Park’s website for more information.
Ecola State Park Road, Ecola State Park Rd, Cannon Beach, OR 97110, USA
flickr/ Scott McCracken
Rimmed to the north by Neahkahnie Mountain, Nehalem Bay State Park is a wondrous place where you’ll find rolling sand dunes, a campsite, pristine beaches, an amphitheater, and of course, amazing ocean views. Visit Nehalem Bay State Park’s website to learn more.
Nehalem Bay State Park, 9500 Sandpiper Ln, Nehalem, OR 97131, USA
flickr/ Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington
Cottonwood Canyon State Park is a little known Oregon destination located in north central Oregon. The park is centered around a unique high desert canyon formed over the years by the beautiful John Day River. It’s a great place for fishing, hiking, and more, and it just so happens to be the second biggest state park in Oregon. To learn more, visit Cottonwood Canyon State Park’s website.
Cottonwood Canyon State Park, Wasco, OR 97065, USA
flickr/ Jon Hathaway
Shore Acres State Park is a wonderful place that you have to see to believe. The two main elements of the park are the marvelous, intricately manicured botanical garden, and the rocky shoreline where you’ll find truly breathtaking views. To learn more, visit Shore Acres State Park’s website.
Shore Acres State Park, Coos Bay, OR 97420, USA
For more outdoor adventures, check out these incredible natural wonders in Oregon.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
state parks to visit in Oregon January 11, 2022 Elisa Regulski What hikes in Oregon are short and sweet? You don’t have to work up a sweat in order to experience Oregon’s exceptional beauty. Simply drive to the Proxy Falls Trail, located off the McKenzie Pass Highway. This lovely walking path is only 1.25 miles long, but it has a huge payoff. At the end of your hike you’ll get a breathtaking view of these splendid waterfalls. Of course, this is just one of our favorite things to do outside in Oregon. If you need more ideas, check out our full list of the best short hiking trails in Oregon. What are the best outdoor adventures in Oregon? One of the best ways to explore parks in Oregon is to embark on our Great Outdoors road trip! This exciting itinerary leads you to some of the most gorgeous places in the Beaver State, such as Trillium Lake, Silver Falls State Park, Opal Creek Wilderness, and Tamolitch Pool.
The OIYS Visitor Center
state parks to visit in Oregon
January 11, 2022
Elisa Regulski
What hikes in Oregon are short and sweet? You don’t have to work up a sweat in order to experience Oregon’s exceptional beauty. Simply drive to the Proxy Falls Trail, located off the McKenzie Pass Highway. This lovely walking path is only 1.25 miles long, but it has a huge payoff. At the end of your hike you’ll get a breathtaking view of these splendid waterfalls. Of course, this is just one of our favorite things to do outside in Oregon. If you need more ideas, check out our full list of the best short hiking trails in Oregon. What are the best outdoor adventures in Oregon? One of the best ways to explore parks in Oregon is to embark on our Great Outdoors road trip! This exciting itinerary leads you to some of the most gorgeous places in the Beaver State, such as Trillium Lake, Silver Falls State Park, Opal Creek Wilderness, and Tamolitch Pool.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
You don’t have to work up a sweat in order to experience Oregon’s exceptional beauty. Simply drive to the Proxy Falls Trail, located off the McKenzie Pass Highway. This lovely walking path is only 1.25 miles long, but it has a huge payoff. At the end of your hike you’ll get a breathtaking view of these splendid waterfalls. Of course, this is just one of our favorite things to do outside in Oregon. If you need more ideas, check out our full list of the best short hiking trails in Oregon.
What are the best outdoor adventures in Oregon?
One of the best ways to explore parks in Oregon is to embark on our Great Outdoors road trip! This exciting itinerary leads you to some of the most gorgeous places in the Beaver State, such as Trillium Lake, Silver Falls State Park, Opal Creek Wilderness, and Tamolitch Pool.
