Nestled between Washington and California, Oregon borders the Pacific Ocean and is home to the mighty Columbia River, the fertile Willamette River valley, and the imposing Cascade Range. The state's cities offer visitors museums and cultural attractions, and are never far from outdoor activities. From stunning lakes to scenic mountains and snow-capped volcanoes, travelers have many recreation opportunities including skiing, hiking, mountain climbing and fishing.
Crater Lake National Park is Oregon's only national park. With a depth of 1,943 feet, the lake is the deepest in the U.S. and features some of the clearest waters found in the world. Crater Lake lies in a volcanic basin created after an eruption collapsed Mount Mazama around 7,700 years ago. For much of the year, snow blankets the surrounding landscape. Visitors can drive or hike along the lake's rim when the area is clear of snow, as well as experience the lake by boat or with a swim.
Northwest Oregon's Mount Hood, a 11,245-foot volcano, is approximately a 90-minute drive from Portland. The mountain's Timberline Lodge has the longest ski season in North America, and is home to a 1937-era ski lodge and national historic site. The Hood River Valley is also one of the state's largest fruit-growing regions and home to several wineries. Other activities in the region include fishing and whitewater rafting, and attractions include the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Wasco County Historical Museum in Dalles.
Formed by a glacier approximately nine million years ago, visitors have been traveling to Wallowa Lake as early as 1880, when a hotel, restaurants, and boat services became available. The lake includes hiking trails to the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area and camp sites at Wallowa Lake State Park. Nearby is the quiet town of Joseph, home to many annual events including the Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Race in January, Oregon's only Iditarod and Yukon Quest qualifier, and the Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts in June.
Many of Oregon's main cities sit near Interstate 5, including the state capital of Salem. At the southern end of the approximately 110-mile route is Eugene, the state's second largest city and home of the Lane County Fair. At the northern end is Portland, where visitors can explore museums and gardens, including the International Rose Test Garden, the Portland Japanese Garden and the Lan Su Chinese Garden. Corvallis is just west of I-5 approximately midway between Eugene and Portland and is the host of the annual Da Vinci Days in July, Oregon's premier arts and culture festival.
