We can’t tell you enough about the best places in Oregon. They’re tucked away in our mountains, along our rugged coastline and among our spectacular waterfalls. A back country run, a hidden fishing-hole, a secluded fire lookout, a teeming tide pool, a local trail head you stumble upon – they’re the things that bring visitors back.
Did You Know…
- Oregon is pronounced OR-UH-GUN, never OR-EE-GONE.
- Oregon has no sales tax.
- Oregon contains more than 5,900 registered campsites along with 230 state parks and 13 national forests.
- Oregon fuel stations are not self-service; they are required by law to have attendants pump their fuel for you.
Natural Wonders
- Oregon offers some example of every geographic terrain on the planet within its borders, with snow-dusted mountains, dramatic river canyons, lush valleys, rugged coast, arid plains and fertile fields.
- Nearly half of Oregon’s total area is forested – close to 30 million acres.
- The highest elevation point is Mt. Hood at 11,239 feet, and the lowest is at sea level.
- At 1,932 feet, Crater Lake, located in Southern Oregon is the deepest lake in the United States.
- Oregon has four National Historic Trails and 14 National Historic Districts.
- Oregon has more than 7,000 bridges, including 53 covered bridges.
- There are more than 6,000 lakes and 112,000 miles of rivers and streams.
- There are nine lighthouses and one light ship along the Oregon Coast.
- There are 16 known hot springs in Oregon.
- There are currently 17 ghost towns in Oregon.
- In the Klamath Forest National Wildlife Refuge, visitors can view more than 1,000 majestic bald eagles – the largest concentration of wintering bald eagles in the U.S.
- Luring rock climbers from around the globe with more than 1,400 climbing routes, Smith Rock towers above Central Oregon, challenging all who come to conquer its craggy surface.
- Located in the Northeastern corner of the state, Hells Canyon is the deepest river-carved gorge in North America. At 7,900 feet, it’s deeper than the Grand Canyon.
- The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is one of the richest fossil bed sites in the world.
- The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is home to the largest freshwater marsh in the U.S.
- Naturally carved within an outcropping of solid marble, Oregon Caves National Monument is one of southern Oregon’s oldest attractions.
- Oregon has 12 commercial downhill ski areas, with 400 trails in three mountain ranges.
Fun Facts
- The Oregon hazelnut is the state’s official nut, and Oregon grows 99 percent of the entire U.S. commercial crop.
- The pear is Oregon’s state fruit, ranking as the top-selling tree fruit crop.
- There are more than 700 vineyards in Oregon, planted on about 13,700 acres. Oregon produces more than 40 different varietals of wine grapes.
- The population of Oregon is only 3.4 million, with 1.5 million living in the Portland area.
- Oregon is the 10th largest state in the union, covering 97,073 square miles.
- Oregon’s birthday is Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1859.
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