Oregon is chock-full of incredible state parks, 254 to be exact. There’s nothing quite like a day spent discovering which one might become your favorite. The innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild suggest favorites with impressive trails, waterfalls, views, wildlife and natural wonders, all with a bit more solitude.
Cape Lookout State Park – Oregon Coast Region
Cape Lookout is located on a sand spit between Netarts Bay and the Pacific Ocean. This scenic park is a destination for hiking, beachcombing and visiting sites along the Three Cape Scenic Route.
The largest Sitka Spruce in Oregon can be found in the park, less than a mile away from the Octopus Tree, an Oregon Heritage Tree. Follow the Big Spruce Trail to behold this awesome 800 year Oregon Champion Tree.
Bonus: Great Grandma Tree Geocache GC1KP5Q suggested lodging: Thyme and Tide Bed and Breakfast
Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail
Sixty-eight of the original 73 miles of the Historic Columbia River Highway are now open to travel either by motor vehicle, foot and bicycle. The ambitious Mitchell Point Tunnel section is scheduled to open in 2024. Suggested lodging: Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast
Champoeg State Heritage Area – Willamette Valley Region
Champoeg State Heritage Area features a rare combination of history, nature, and recreation. Situated south of Newberg along the scenic Willamette River, Champoeg’s forests, fields, and wetlands recreate the landscape of a bygone era. Suggested Lodging: Chehalem Ridge B&B
Provisional Government Park Cottonwood
This black cottonwood is prominent in photographs taken in 1900 and 1901 to document where the vote for a Provisional Government in Oregon took place. Francis X. Matthieu, the last living participant of the 1843 vote, is shown setting the location of this site in 1900 and unveiling the monument here in the ceremony of 1901.
The area around the monument is believed to be the first land purchased by the State for a public park and was originally called Provisional Government Park, now Champoeg State Heritage Area. This Oregon Heritage Tree is a scenic day trip from our Willamette Valley bed and breakfasts
Sarah Helmick State Park – Willamette Valley Region
Sarah Helmick is located six miles south of Monmouth off Highway 99W. At this small, shady park is situated along the Luckiamute River, visitors can take a trail walk along the trails with plenty of birds and native plant life to investigate.
Sarah Helmick was the first state park established in Oregon. Its 1922 opening is considered the birth date of the Oregon State Parks system. Next time you’re there, take a moment to thank the memory of Sarah and her family for their gift.
Cottonwood Canyon State Park – Central Oregon
Cottonwood Canyon State Park is rugged and vast, from the vertical cliffs carved by the John Day River to deep side canyons and arid, rocky grasslands that extend for miles in all directions. The park’s 8,000-plus acres are open for exploring, stargazing and contemplating the elemental forces that carved this unique landscape. It is the second largest Oregon State Park, behind Silver Falls State Park. The iconic John Day River, a long, remote, natural river system, with 252 free-flowing miles, runs through it. Suggested lodging: Wilson Ranches Retreat
Munson Creek Falls State Natural Site – Oregon Coast Region
Munson Creek Falls tumbles 319′ over several tiers, making it the tallest waterfall in the Coast Range. A short trail winds along Munson Creek through an old-growth forest to a viewpoint of the waterfall. Spring and summer bring blooming trillium, corydalis and violets beneath the forest canopy. Come fall, the big leaf maples and red alders are ablaze with color. Munson Creek is vital salmon habitat. During the late fall through the winter, watch the waters for spawning salmon just below the surface.
Fort Yamhill State Heritage Area – Willamette Valley Region
Visiting Fort Yamhill today offers an insight into the physical and emotional hardships endured by the settlers and the indigenous people, as well as the emotional tone of the state from 1856-1866. Exhibits and cultural restoration are provided in partnership with the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde.
Fort Rock State Natural Area – Central Oregon
The Oregon Outback Scenic Byway takes you through a slice of the Great Basin, an isolated diverse landscape, through sagebrush and stunning rock formations.to Fort Rock State Natural Area. Did you know that in the 1960’s, and again recently, NASA came to Oregon to test spacesuits for it’s moon missions?
Golden and Silver Falls State Natural Area – Oregon Coast Region
A hidden gem in the dense coastal forests of southwest Oregon may be hard to find, but it’s well worth the 24-mile drive from Highway 101. Home to Golden Falls and Silver Falls
Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Site – Central Oregon
An impressive piece of mining equipment is the centerpiece of this park nestled in the town of Sumpter Valley, at the base of the majestic Elkhorn Mountain Range. Essentially a ship on dry land, the Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge unearthed the valley in search of gold, leaving piles of debris in its wake. Take the Elkhorn Scenic Byway passes through Sumpter and other Oregon ghost towns,The fall foliage starting here around October is absolutely gorgeous.
Mark your calendars and get ready for a special day of appreciation. State Parks Day is coming up on June 1st, 2024 in Oregon, and it’s a fantastic opportunity to explore the beauty of the state parks.
Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.
Hospitality Update: Our inns are following COVID-19 protocol guidance from the Oregon Health Authority.
Although mask guidelines are lifted:
● Some businesses may choose to still require masks.
● Some people may choose to still wear a mask.
We have all struggled through COVID-19 and could use a little kindness. Please be respectful of local businesses and their workers and most importantly kind to yourself.
