Exploring The Seven Natural Wonders of Oregon as a Family

The Pacific Northwest is home to some amazing sights. Whether you are drawn to waterfalls, canyons, the coast, mountains, or the forest, Oregon’s natural wonders provide an unforgettable backdrop for f amily adventures.

So if you’ve been looking for a reason to spend more time in the great outdoors with your family, here it is. A road trip through Oregon will offer you some of the most breathtaking landscapes and a wide range of activity options for the whole family to enjoy.

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Best Places to Visit In Oregon as a Family

Table Of Contents

Best Places to Visit In Oregon as a Family
Tips for Your Family Trip to Oregon
- Camping in Oregon
  - Camp Cooking
- Ready to Start Planning Your Trip? Use These Helpful Links to Book Your Trip!

We’ll touch on the top seven places in Oregon to visit, which many consider to be the seven natural wonders of the state. We’ll also offer some tips for making the most out of your trip to ensure the whole family stays safe and has a good time. So lace up your walking shoes and let’s get started.

In this article, I’ll be sharing picturesque places in Oregon to visit with your family. These are some of the most popular family travel destinations for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether it’s windsurfing on the Hood River or hiking old-growth forests to exploring the wildlife in Oregon, I’ll be providing some great tips and advice for getting the most out of your outdoor experience.

1. Columbia River Gorge

No trip to Oregon is complete without driving through the gorge. It was designated as a National Scenic Area for a reason. The Columbia River Gorge truly offers some of the most impressive views in the country.

The 80-mile-long river canyon separates Washington from Oregon, so you can technically view it from either side, depending on what you want to do. Along the gorge on each side, for example, there are numerous trails for hiking. The Crown Point is a fan favorite as it offers some of the best views of the river as it twists and turns through the Cascade mountains.

In the summer, a trip through the gorge can take you to the Hood River Fruit Loop, which is a loop that will have you winding through scenic country roads to find the many U-pick orchards and farm stands. Hood River also has some great food options and water sports activities as well. In fact, Hood River is known as the windsurfing capital of the world.

If waterfalls are more to your liking, there are plenty hidden throughout the gorge — 90 in total! Or perhaps you want to stroll through the wildflowers at Rowena Crest or take a train ride on the Mount Hood Railroad. Whatever you desire, the gorge offers a little bit of everything.

2. Crater Lake National Park

Oregon is in no short supply of lakes, but none are more stunning than the famous Crater Lake. Crater Lake National Park is the only national park in Oregon and is home to the deepest lake in the country (and one of the deepest on earth!).

Over 7,000 years ago, indigenous peoples witnessed the formation of the lake when Mount Mazama collapsed as a result of a violent volcanic eruption. Aside from being so deep, Crater Lake is also known for its stunning blue color, which is the result of being purely fed by rain and snowfall.

Activities in Crater Lake National Park are abundant. You can hike through old-growth forests, catch a show at the world-renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival, visit the Oregon caves, take a boat and trolley tour, or go cross-country skiing in the winter. Locals claim the best months to visit the lake are from July through September, when the weather is the most mild and produces little precipitation.

3. The Oregon Coast

Thanks to the Oregon Beach Bill, visitors can enjoy all 363 miles of stunning coastline in Oregon for free. The coast in Oregon stretches from the mouth of the Columbia River all the way down to the redwoods in California, and every inch of it offers something to captivate the family.

You can go combing for agates, catch your own crabs, visit historic lighthouses, watch for whales, puffins, and seals, try your hand at surfing, or simply sit back and relax on the sand while the kids build castles or play in the water.

Some of the most notable beaches include the picturesque Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock, Astoria — which is where The Goonies was filmed — Rockaway Beach, Seaside, and Cape Lookout State Park. The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is also a fun spot to visit if you want to climb some of the amazing sand dunes.

4. Painted Hills

The Painted Hills are a unique geological formation that you can’t miss out on. Traveling through the hills will offer you sights of millions of years of history, which is revealed in the rock layers of yellows, blacks, golds, and reds. These stripes of colors are how the hills get their name, and the tones and hues can actually change over time and vary depending on the time of day and the moisture levels.

The Painted Hills are part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument and started forming around 35 million years ago as a result of volcanic ash and pumice settling in the area after the Cascade eruptions. To get to the area, you’ll need to take the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway, which is remote and takes you through some ghost towns, but you can also stop in the town of Fossil along the way and dig for your own fossils as a souvenir.

5. Mt. Hood

This year-round snow-capped mountain is Oregon’s highest mountain peak (11,239 feet!) and is actually a dormant volcano. It can easily be seen from miles away and is a favorite with Portland locals who love to ski and snowboard, with a total of six ski areas. It’s also popular among climbers.

The mountain sits within the Mt. Hood National Forest, which comprises more than one million acres of lakes, trails, and forest, making it perfect for hiking, snowsports, and numerous other recreational activities. The Historic Timberline Lodge, which was built in the 1930s, is the only place in the world that offers year-round skiing.

Mt. Hood Meadows is a great place to explore as it offers year-round activities for the whole family. There are also a number of lakes in the area that offer some stunning views of the mountain, such as Mirror Lake, Trillium, and Lost Lake. In the spring, you’ll find valleys filled with wildflowers and again, there is also the Hood River Fruit Loop for apple and berry picking in the summer and fall.

6. The Wallowa Mountains

While the Wallowa Mountains are a longer drive from some of the more populated cities in Oregon, many say that it is well worth the trek out there. Some have likened the mountain range to that of the Swiss Alps, arguing that it is perhaps one of the most breathtaking and majestic sights in the country.

The mountains span 40 miles and the area offers plenty of family-friendly activities. There are cabins and camping, mini-golf, nearby art galleries and chocolatiers, trails for hiking and horseback riding, boating, and numerous other water activities.

If you are looking to take in the views without having to hike, the family can hop aboard the Wallowa Lake Tramway, which is a gondola that transports you to the top of Mount Howard. The Eagle Cap Wilderness area is also located in the heart of the mountains, which were once popular hunting grounds for the Nez Perce Indian Tribe and later the Bannocks, Shoshone, and Cayuse.

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7. Smith Rock State Park

Last up on our list of the seven wonders of Oregon is Smith Rock, which is frequented by rock climbers from around the world for its challenging routes. That said, even if you’re not a climber, Smith Rock offers some impressive views from the ground as you hike into the Crooked River Canyon.

In fact, there are miles and miles of hiking and biking trails in the 650-acre park with varying levels of difficulty. In addition to the breathtaking hikes, there are also numerous opportunities to spot various wildlife such as prairie falcons, golden eagles, beavers, and river otters.

Because of its location in Central Oregon, which sees 300 days of sun a year, Smith Rock State Park is a playground for outdoor adventurers. There’s caving, golfing, paddle boarding, numerous scenic bikeways, and even skiing nearby at Mt. Bachelor. The obsidian lava flows at the nearby Newberry Crater National Volcanic Monument are also a must-see.

For more hiking trails near me in Oregon – Read more about the top Oregon hiking trails here.

Need Help Planning a Family Road Trip? Start with these family vacation planning resources:

Tips for Your Family Trip to Oregon

There are numerous benefits that come from traveling and spending time outdoors with your family. It allows you to bond and connect more, helps your kids learn to appreciate nature, and keeps the whole family active and healthy. However, while Oregon offers some beautiful sights, it’s important to make sure you are prepared for your great outdoor adventures to ensure everyone stays safe and has a good time.

Camping in Oregon

For example, if you plan on primitive camping — which there are plenty of opportunities for in Oregon — it’s important to make sure you are fully prepared, especially if you have younger kids. Primitive camping can be a great way for kids to learn essential wilderness skills like finding water sources, pitching a tent, gathering wood, and building a fire, but these things can also be challenging and stressful if not handled properly.

If you plan to camp on your trip to Oregon, even if it’s not primitive camping, it’s important to make sure you pack all the essentials. Creating a packing list, in general, is a good idea to make sure you’ll have everything you’ll need for your trip, whether you plan to camp or not.

Camp Cooking

Again, if you are camping, part of that list should include what foods you want to bring or get before or once you’re in the area. Figuring out meals can sometimes be the most time-consuming part of camping and road-tripping, so it’s helpful if you plan these things ahead of time.

We’ve got a helpful list of no-cooking required meals that you can use to give you ideas when you start planning your trip. Some of our favorites include yogurt parfaits, bagels with cream cheese, hummus with veggies, sandwich wraps, and walking tacos.

It’s also important to try to eat healthy when you are traveling with the family. When on the road and camping, it’s easy to reach for unhealthy options as they often seem the most accessible when you are on the go, like fast food. However, if you’re planning to have a lot of outdoor adventures, it’s important to eat healthy to keep yours and your kids’ strength and energy levels up and to support good dental health.

Avoid sugary and acidic foods and snacks, and instead plan to eat foods that will have more nutrients like whole grains, fruits and veggies, and dairy products. These foods will keep the family healthy and feeling much better prepared to tackle your Oregon adventures.

Final Thoughts

If you haven’t yet been to Oregon or seen any of these natural wonders, you should highly consider it. The sights in the Pacific Northwest are truly some of the best in the country and are well worth the effort to trek through Oregon to see them.

Just make sure you do your due diligence and plan ahead of time to ensure you and the family will have everything you need to face the great outdoors.

Don’t forget to invite your friends to our Facebook groups! We would also love to see your vacation pictures!

For more family travel inspiration, check out our latest posts here:

Ready to Start Planning Your Trip? Use These Helpful Links to Book Your Trip!

AIRFARE
- Find low fares with airfarewatchdog, Skyscanner, and WayAway.com.
- Get airfare deal alerts up to 90% off from Dollar Flight Club (free & paid membership options)
- Book your plane ticket with Expedia or Kayak
- Book your Airport Parking Reservations and save money.
ROAD TRIP/CAR RENTAL
- Take the scenic route and rent an RV from RVShare
- Get packed for an epic road trip and don’t forget the Road Trip Games to Play in the Car Need more space? Get a rental car thru Discovercars.com.
LODGING
- From hotels to private homes, find the perfect accommodation with Hotels.com or booking.com.
- For camping and RV campgrounds, find the ideal location with Campspot.
PACKING
- Travel in style with a suitcase, carry-on, backpack, or handbag from Away and Eagle Creek.
- For packing cubes, we love these from Eagle Creek and these reusable silicon bags for a 3-1-1 bag from Stasher.
TRAVEL PLANNING
- Looking to start travel hacking and want a place to keep track of it all? There’s the free TravelFreely site.
- For budgeting help, get our road trip budgeting tips here.
ATTRACTIONS/ACTIVITIES
- Save on tickets to attractions, sightseeing tours, and more with
  - Tiqets for cultural events, museums, Broadway shows, etc.
  - CityPASS for multi-day attraction passes at up to 55% off in select cities
  - Get Your Guide and Viator for guided tours/excursions, day trips, and activitties
  - Groupon for discounted local attractions and event tickets
  - Undercover Tourister for discounted theme park tickets
- Find guided outdoor activities led by local guides at 57Hours.
- Find information on local trails with the AllTrails App.
LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE
- We use and recommend Rosetta Stone to learn a new language. We bought the $179 lifetime option with unlimited access to ALL 25 of their languages.
Need something else to plan your perfect trip? Visit my travel resources page for more trusted partners.

Exploring The Seven Natural Wonders of Oregon as a Family