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Oregon’s state park system is home to some seriously dreamy landscapes. Think snow-covered pines rising through the mist, rugged ocean coves and perfect blue skies above.
Be prepared to:
- spend more time than you think you’ll need at each park
- make frequent stops en route
- be humbled by Mother Nature. Big time.
We visited 15 state parks in Oregon over a two-week period. The 6 we highlight below left a lasting impression on us for one reason or another; be that scenic views that left us awestruck, convenient location and/or the cultural significance of the park. You can read all about our “why these made the list” below.
We’ll also mention, if you’re looking for an Oregon State Park road trip itinerary, this is the exact travel itinerary we followed. We started in Central Oregon, in the High Desert and headed to the Oregon coast, a mostly publicly owned paradise and safe haven for state parks. 5 of the 6 state parks we spotlight in this post are located along the Pacific Coast Science Byway, a.k.a. the All-American Road or as you will see it called on a map, U.S. Highway 101.
- Smith Rock State Park – Terrabone, Oregon
We found ourselves at this state park, in the High Desert of Oregon via a recommendation. A family member found out we were traveling to Bend, Oregon and suggested we carve out time to hike Smith Rock. Honestly, it’s one of the best recommendations we’ve ever taken someone up on. This state park is outstanding and requires you to purchase a $5 day use permit to enter. This fee is per vehicle.
When we arrived, we turned to each other both with eyes bugged out and jaws-dropped from the beauty of the place. It will win you over fast. Trust us.
A few steps from the parking lot, you’ll walk out to see a gorgeous river winding through naturally carved canyons and huge vertical slabs of rock. It’s a place where you’d perennially notice a new detail every time you visit.
Smith Rock State Park is regarded as one of the best rock-climbing areas in the U.S. for all levels. If you’re into rock climbing, learn more about climbing areas at Smith Rock on the state park website.
For our fellow trail lovers reading, there are 7 miles of hiking trails in this state park. We hiked two trails: Misery Ridge Trail and Wolf Tree Trail.
Misery Ridge Trail is 3.6 miles long with a total elevation gain of 1,000 feet. This trail is a dosey but the spectacular view of the Cascade Mountain range and the Crooked River below once you reach the top is worth it. Be careful on the way down as the trail has a lot of loose dirt/rocks.
Wolf Tree Trail is about a 2 mile out-and-back trail that led us close to the canyon floor and along the river lined by pines, junipers and sagebrush. This is a very easy trail, and it took us about one hour to complete. We didn’t encounter other hikers when we visited but were told this is a popular trail in the park. It’s an excellent trail for hikers of all levels and you’ll most likely get good views of climbers as you walk around the rock walls.
There is a visitor center at the park and it is located in a yurt just after you enter the park. It’s hard to miss. You can pick up some useful information here including a bit of history on the park including about the park’s striking geological features to it’s significance in U.S. sports culture too.
- Face Rock Wayside State Park – Bandon, Oregon
We arrived in Bandon by way of Highway 42 (after Smith Rock State Park, we spent 1 day at Crater Lake National Park and then headed west to the coast).
Face Rock Wayside State Park also called Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint overlooks a huge display of giant sea rocks scattered off the Oregon’s southern coastline. As the folklore has it, Face Rock is a Native American princess who was turned to stone by an evil spirt and the rocks that surround her are her pets. It’s a post-card ready view worth capturing. We loved it because to us it represented the mystery of the coast while giving a solid not to the origins of the place.
Other well-known sea stacks you can see from here include Cat and Kittens Rock, Cathedral Rock and Wizards Hat.
Beyond scenic views, you’ll also find hiking trails here. The main trail is a 14-mile path along the shore. If you’re thinking about going for a swim, we’d advise against it. Unless you have a full-body wet suit. The Pacific Ocean is much too cold, but we did see many other visitors strolling barefoot along the shore (us included!) Also, depending on the time of day you visit, you can find easily accessible tide pools serving up glances of marine life in miniature.
If you’re planning an epic road trip along U.S. Highway 101 this is a great starting point. You’ll pass countless state parks and waysides dotted along the coastline. The views, sights and places you’ll visit from this point onward will only get better with each passing mile.
- Umpqua Lighthouse State Park
About 1-hour north of Bandon, in central Oregon, you’ll find Umpqua Lighthouse State Park. There is plenty to see and do here making it an excellent stop – be that for quick pit stop or an overnight. We visited for one hour. As the name implies, you can visit a fully functional lighthouse and for a fee you can take a tour of it as well. We thought this lighthouse was unassuming but still cool to see because it is in use still. The real stunner at Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, in our opinion, it the platform opposite the lighthouse which is a whale watching platform with several educational plaques that tell you about when to watch for whales and what kind of whales you can see off the Oregon coast.
Another unique feature of this park is you can get a great eyeful of the Oregon Dunes here. If you have more time to spend at this state park, you may want to consider camping here. There is a trail you can pick up from the campground that will lead you by the second highest dune in the U.S. located west of Clear Lake. Total dune elevation is nearly 550 feet! Full disclosure, we did not see this specific dune but learned about it while visiting this state park.
- Hecta Head Lighthouse / Devil’s Elbow State Park
A drive up the coastal highway would not be complete without a sighting of Hecta Head Lighthouse which is rumored to be the most photographed view in the entire state of Oregon. Also found on the Central Oregon Coast, Hecta Head Lighthouse sits right on the edge of a cliff overlooking Cape Creek and the Pacific Ocean. Here you can zone out to spectacular coastal views of white tipped waves crashing and colliding on repeat. You can climb to the top of the lighthouse (we did not).
The lighthouse is located half a mile from the parking lot. It is an uphill trail. If you take the trail down from the parking lot you’ll find Devil’s Elbow State Park which is a great starting point with access to a network of trails. This is an easy stop to make and one you can spend as little or as much time as you’d like. Both trailheads are a breeze to find from the parking lot.
- Yaquina Bay State Park
We must have a thing for lighthouses because we are about to send you to explore a state park with yet another one!
Continue north from Hecta Head Lighthouse, on U.S. Highway 101 until you arrive at the beachside town of Newport. This is the largest city on the central coast and boasts excellent restaurants with fresh seafood and charming shops. It is an active fishing port with a mighty fishing culture which made this place and its state park a true standout from our perspective.
You can catch your own dinner via crab traps you can rent and drop into the sea from the public piers. Or, you could copycat us and grab solid pub grub and brews at Rogue Bayfront Ale House before walking over to Yaquina Bay State Park to catch a sunset from the beach in the shadow of a lighthouse. The lighthouse at this state park is the oldest building in Newport and has a bedroom for the lighthouse keeper.
Another great place to catch the sunset is the Yaquina Bay Bridge which was built in the 1930s and stretches across the harbor.
- Ecola State Park
This park is excellent for history buffs, naturalist and kiddos into tide-pool exploration. Located on the northern coast, Ecola State Park is not to be missed. It has forested trails that lead down to the Pacific Ocean. We enjoyed 6 miles of sandy beach front rails along the edge of the continental U.S. We even traveled outside the state park to visit Haystack Rock on Cannon Beach. Haystack rock is almost 250 feet tall and is the world’s third largest freestanding monolith. It’s a bird sanctuary and is also where we saw a seal in the wild!
Tips when visiting: if you can get here on a weekday to avoid the insane crush of humanity that flocks here on the weekends, all the better. It’s located about a 1-hour drive from Portland making it an excellent getaway for Portlanders. There is also a small day use fee ($5).
Did you know? The name “Ecola” means whale in Chinook! Parts of this state park were even trekked by Lewis and Clark when they explored the Oregon coast.
Happy state park hopping your way around Oregon!
~ Justin + Alyssa
Great summary of some of the state’s best parks! Loved the sea stacks, info on the level of difficulty of the trails, and so much more.
Thank you so much Annie for stopping by and reading this post! I am glad you enjoyed the info!