Oregon

Best time to visit Oregon

The best time to visit Oregon depends on your preferences and what you want to do. Here's a breakdown of the different seasons:

Spring finds Oregon in bloom and rivers and lakes swell with snowmelt as the cherry trees blossom. Native flowers and plants create a sea of vibrant colours and fill the air with the sweet smell of life. 

The summer months are the most popular time for visitors due to the state’s countless outdoor activities and up to 13 hours of sun and temperatures in the mid 20’s.

Autumn brings an explosion of colour to Oregon’s many hardwood forests as leaves take on bright hues of red and yellow. 

Oregon winters are mild with little or no snow in lower elevations, but the mountain ranges see plenty of snow, providing an excellent foundation for downhill skiing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. Oregon’s weather can be changeable so pack for layers and bring a raincoat!

Overall, the best time to visit Oregon depends on your individual preferences and priorities.

Discover Oregon

This is a land of diversity with over 360 miles of rugged coastline high-desert country, painted hills and wine-producing valleys. Portland provides a hip, urban hotspot revelling in national accolades for cuisine, a vibrant arts scene, great theatres, and funky shopping districts inspired by the creative spirit of the city. If you love the great outdoors, a short drive takes you to the Columbia River Gorge and majestic Mt. Hood which offer year-round recreation opportunities including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, camping, and biking.

Cowboy adventures, white-water rafting and quiet mountain retreats are all catered for in Central Oregon. The region's geological history - marked by explosive volcanic activity - is showcased at several parks, and its rich cultural history is on display at the High Desert Museum in Bend. Two hours south of Bend lies Oregon’s jewel in its crown, Crater Lake National Park, the deepest and bluest lake in America offering unbelievable vistas. Whatever your passion, Oregon’s natural and scenic variety lends itself equally to exhilarating outdoor adventure or tranquil exploration.

Highlights of Oregon

What is Oregon famous for:

• Portland
• The Oregon Coast
• Mt. Hood and Columbia River Gorge
• Crater Lake National Park

Swipe left or right to learn more about each destination.

Portland

Portland has a hippy vibe, with a vibrant arts scene, theatres, and lots of green space with nearly 200 parks and gardens to explore with Mt. Hood as its magnificent backdrop. You will never go hungry in the city, Portland’s restaurant scene has thrived over the years with artisan coffee shops serving delicious, sweet treats, and a long list of award-winning restaurants, colourful markets serving Thai, Italian and West African dishes. The craft brewery scene has also exploded in recent years with over 70 breweries, serving some of the best beer in the USA and perhaps the world.

 Also known as the City of Roses, you’ll find attractions such as the Portland International Rose Test Garden, Portland Japanese Garden and Oregon Zoo in Washington Park just steps from downtown.

The city’s vibrant neighbourhoods each have a unique flavour and a host of independent eateries, bars and cafes. You’ll find contemporary art galleries in the Pearl District, independent boutiques and international chains in Nob Hill and whimsical street art in the Alberta Arts District. Hawthorne’s indie spirit is reflected in its vintage stores and the whimsical Bagdad Theatre and Pub.

With no sales tax on goods such as clothes and shoes, Portland is the place to shop before you explore Oregon’s coast and great outdoors.

The Stunning Oregon Coast

A short drive from Portland takes you to Oregon’s Pacific Coast Highway with its picturesque scenery, lush evergreen forests and quaint coastal towns. Lewis and Clark ended their epic journey on the north coast near Astoria – a wonderful place to start yours. The entire coast is studded with singular sights, from dramatic rock formations to churning whirlpools to miles and miles of sandy beaches.

The beauty and serenity of the Pacific strand on Cannon Beach is unprecedented and is regularly voted one of America’s best beaches. This is where you can get a photo of Haystack Rock, one of Oregon’s most recognisable landmarks. Take in the unspoiled and sparsely settled Oregon coast as you head towards Newport - nestled between the Coast Mountains, Pacific Ocean and Yaquina Bay - and visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium and the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse. Further south is Oregon Dunes National Recreational Area that includes 7000 acres of shifting sand dunes up to 500 feet high in a desert-like atmosphere. The coastal scenery will take your breath away, take your time driving and exploring it, you won’t regret it!

Mt. Hood and Columbia River Gorge

Within a short drive from Portland, the Columbia River Gorge is an enormous canyon that divides the states of Washington and Oregon. Up to 4000 feet deep, the canyon stretches for over 80 miles and is home to America’s largest National Scenic Area. See Oregon's' tallest waterfall Multnomah Falls and visit Vista House at Crown Point one of the most scenic viewpoints in the area.

The area boasts a bountiful fruit industry, quaint riverfront towns and some of the world's best windsurfing waters. Mt. Hood's year-round recreation agenda features skiing, snowboarding, hiking, camping and biking. A

Crater Lake

No other place in America matches the dramatic beauty of Crater Lake – deep, pure and astoundingly blue. Surrounded by sheer cliffs nearly 2,000 feet high, the lake is the seventh deepest in the world and the deepest in the United States. Most visitors come to the park between June and September when most of the facilities are open and access via the four entrances is mostly guaranteed. Drive the 33-mile rim drive for some truly spectacular scenery!