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An Epic 6-10 Day Oregon Seven Wonders Road Trip

Updated: May 19, 2024

Since seeing a friend's Instagram stories over one summer in college where she hiked through a different place in Oregon every weekend, I've always wanted to do the same. Since having done a 1-day pit stop at Crater Lake when I was a tween, I've been itching to go back to Oregon. This April, I was able to take a road trip through the country and can safely say that I know a thing or two about the best trip itinerary.


Oregon is known for its majestic waterfalls, beautiful coastlines, quirky cities, and lovely vineyards. It also has 7 wonders: the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood, Crater Lake, the Oregon Coast, the Painted Hills, the Wallowas, and Smith Rock. While I only had time for 4 out of the 7, feel free to add more days as described at the end of the itinerary to hit all 7.


Some trip activities at a glance

Photos taken from Unsplash


Table of Contents

Weather and best time to visit

The PNW is known for being dreary, rainy, and cold for much of the year. Therefore, most will want to visit in the summer when these conditions lighten for a few months and the whole of Oregon is open for exploring. The summer is especially great for hiking Crater Lake, exploring the Fruit Loop, or doing some white water rafting. However, those visiting in the fall and summer months can enjoy discounted rates and fewer crowds, which we enjoyed. If I were to do this trip again, I would visit in July or August to take full advantage of the weather and activities, but I would also begin planning the trip much farther in advance as lodging will be harder to find.


What to pack

This will vary greatly depending on the time of year that you visit. If you visit during spring/fall weather like me, make sure to bring a mixture of short sleeves/thin long sleeves for hiking, as well as a good coat and gloves. Unless you plan on taking artsy pictures, most of your packing list should include hiking gear, fast-drying clothes, comfortable athleisure, and lots and lots of layers.


Travel tips

A few best practices for this road trip:

  • Make sure to download an offline version of Google Maps, your music, and AllTrails. Service was very spotty near and in the national parks, and you don't want to be stuck somewhere without knowing where you're going.

  • Along a similar vein as above, fill up gas near your hotel when hiking as gas stations can be sparse.

    • Oregon has gas pump attendants at every station who will fill your gas. I am not used to this, so be aware when you arrive. Attendants will ask you how much money you want to charge to the credit card and then fill the car to that value. There is no need to tip them, and as it has recently become legal to pump your own gas at the station, you can also choose to do that.

  • Buy food and snacks such as sandwiches, protein bars, and electrolyte-filled drinks for hiking days. Many of these locations do not have many food options in or around the park, so it is best to purchase some snacks to keep in the car for the duration of your trip and buy lunch near your hotel before heading for a hike for the day.

  • Always carry your rain jacket with you. This should be expected given the area, but make sure to always take at least a light rain jacket in the car and on hikes throughout the year, with an exception in the summer.


Travel map


Google Maps of Oregon Roadtrip

If you follow this itinerary just as I did for 6 days, you will roughly hit the above overview, a total drive time of 17 hours. Of course, heading all the way up to Wallowas or down to the Redwoods will increase the drive time, so make sure to map this trip in a way that works best for you.


Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival, Portland, and Multnomah Falls

Arrival and the Tulip Festival

Welcome to day one in Oregon! I flew into PDX with two friends in the morning — that's the nice thing about traveling to time zones behind your own. We picked up the rental car and after a few pit stops in Portland, we were off to the Wooden Shoe Tulip, which ran from March 22 - April 28.


If you're in Portland during the time frame that I came, you're in luck! The Tulip Fest is a gorgeous farm just an hour from the airport that has beautiful displays of tulips with additional options to play games, drink local wine, and make crafts. If you don't come in April, don't worry. Portland has many festivals every month, so chances are you'll visit during one of them. I wish I could attend the out-of-this-world May UFO festival (get it?), but I'll have to save that and the others for my next visit.





Stroll around Portland

If you don't have a chance to stop by a festival, try one of Portland's famous coffee shops. Stumptown Coffee Roasters is the most popular, but there are probably hundreds of others that are just as good. If you're looking for lunch, the Baker's Mark has the best sandwiches I've ever had. You may also want to stop by Powell's Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world, and pick up your next good read. I wandered around for a bit and loved the ambiance of people young and old looking through shelves together. If you end up buying something, you can sit in their book reading section by the cafe and try to make a dent.


Lastly, Portland is full of great thrift stores. If you're like me, you'll stop by Village Merchants or William Temple House before heading out on your road trip adventure. On the very off-chance that you're on wedding dress shopping, Brides for a Cause is a fantastic second-hand discount store where we popped in and found my friends' wedding dress, veil, and shoes completely by chance!


While there are plenty of other things to do in Portland besides the few hours I spent, I was more interested in connecting with nature on this trip. Maybe I'll go back for a long weekend to give Portland the attention it deserves!


Hike around Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls is just 40 minutes from Portland and along the Columbia River Gorge. If you visit in the summer you will need to purchase a timed ticket to visit. However, in April the parking lot was relatively empty and we had plenty of time to visit the tallest waterfall in Oregon. Once you arrive, there are trails leading up and around the waterfall that can give you different views of the surrounding area. We ended up being too tired from our day's activities to do much hiking and knew we would see many more waterfalls in the days to come, so we oped out of this.



Multnomah waterfall


Gaze at Mount Hood

Lastly, if you decide you're still up for adventure and there is good visibility, head to Mirror Lake at Mount Hood. This is supposed to be a beautiful view that reflects the mountain in front of the water, and had it been a clear day for us, I would've loved to go. All reviews I've seen says the attraction is worth the hype, so take a stop by if you're there in the summer time!


Day 2: White Water Rafting and Mt. Hood

Go white water rafting

We started our morning by heading across the border to White Salmon River, which feeds into the Columbia River Gorge. We're all adventure-seekers and decided to book a half day tour here with level III - IV rapids, although there's plenty of rivers, tour companies, and adventure levels to choose from. We really enjoyed our time and I would highly recommend the company, we just weren't prepared for how cold it was! Given it was early April, all the snow from Mount Hood was still melting into the river, causing water temperatures to be 40- - 50, similar to the outdoor temperature. We were wearing fleece, thermals, a life jacket, and wool socks, but we still were freezing!


Although I loved the experience, I wouldn't recommend it at this time for younger kids as it gets cold very quickly. We were the first tour on the river for the season. If you come in the summer time you should have a blast, especially as the summer tour also features a waterfall that you can raft down. We weren't able to do it as the water was too high, but we didn't mind as that meant we would be less wet. One thing I did love despite the weather was "riding the bull" or getting in the very front of the raft with my legs hanging over the side, then going head first into the rafts. It was so cool (literally) to have the water rush over me and feel the impact of the rapids.





Drive down the Fruit Loop

When we got back to our cars, we peeled off our wetsuits, changed, and put the heater on blast until we arrived at the Mount Hood Fruit Loop, a cutesily named area ahead of Mount Hood that allows you to pick your own fruit/flowers and buy them from local farms. Yet another reason to come back again during the fruit harvest season!


We drove to a couple places that we found were open for the season before everything shut down at 5. Apple Valley Country Store and Bakery was the first stop, which had yummy jams, fiery horseradish, a lip-smacking strawberry rhubarb pie, and an incredible marionberry shake. Overall a 10/10 experience! We also went to the Gorge White House which had a delicious food cart. I had a delicious pear quesadilla, and the burger that my friend bought looked great. We also got a flight of homemade hard ciders with flavors such as lavender and mint lemon, and our bartender even included two more for free!





View Mount Hood up close

One thing we started to joke about was how we were experiencing all the seasons in such a short amount of time. Portland felt like spring, Mount Hood with its snow felt like winter, and in the next few days, we would also experience spring and summer! Although it was cloudy, we still had multiple views of the gorgeous Mount Hood. I would recommend stopping at the lookout point at the very least.


Spelunk through Boyd Cave

We continued driving south towards our airbnb at Crater Lake, and on the way, we stopped near Bend for Boyd Cave. I love spelunking, and the cave would be my first opportunity to scope out a cave without a guided tour. When we arrived, it was dark, and we took the opportunity to put on the $4 headlamps we bought from Walmart. We descended into the free cave and I was ready to start exploring, but my friends were a bit creeped out from the darkness and eeriness of it all. We ended up leaving in just a couple of minutes, but if you wanted to, you could spend an hour or so walking through the lava tube and crawling through various portions of the cave.





Day 3: Silver Falls State Park

Hike the Trail of Ten Waterfalls

Today will take you to Silver Falls, which I believe should be the unofficial Eighth Wonder of Oregon. The highlight of this park is called the Trail of 10 Waterfalls, where you can see 10 waterfalls (shockingly) of various sizes. If you don't want to do the entire loop, you can take shortened versions. Make sure to pack a lunch for the trail as there aren't many food options in the park.


The entire trail only takes 2-3 hours to complete, leaving plenty of room to sleep in during the morning.





A silly attraction: The Fork in the Road



Girl posing in front of giant fork
Who did it better?


You're looking at it right. A literal fork in the road. We had way too much fun here. A quirky little pit stop on the way down to the Oregon Dunes.


Day 4: Crater Lake

In the Winter

Day three was one I was most excited for, snowshoeing around a sleeping volcano! After a quick breakfast at our Airbnb, we headed off. As we neared Crater Lake, we saw snow levels rising to 2 feet, 4, 8, 11 feet! It was the most amount of snow any of us had ever seen, and it was still snowing in April. In the peak of winter, Crater Lake can have around 30 feet of snow!


We arrived at the visitors center with snow chains from Le Schwab, a common Oregonian car service company, in case we needed them for Crater Lake. Thankfully, we didn't need them that day and were able to return them, putting around $100 back in our pocket. We got ready for a ranger-guided snow shoe tour and took a peak at the beautiful lake per the ranger's recommendation before searching for our tour group.


Unfortunately, we drove over three hours for snowshoeing, checked in, and were left behind. If you come in the winter and are interested in snow showing, make sure you arrive at the final destination, not the visitor's center no more than 5 minutes late. The tour will leave without you. Feeling dejected, we walked to the gift shop to see what else we could do, but there wasn't much else available until the snow was expected to clear up in the summer.


We also had the option to rent snow shoes and tour ourselves, but once we tried to do that, the staff informed us that they just switched snow shoe providers and did not have waivers for us to sign yet. So frustrating! We ended up taking a few pictures and heading out as we didn't have any other options.





In the Summer

I have also visited Crater Lake when I was young. I would highly recommend coming to Crater Lake from mid-July - September as you can go down Rim Drive around the entire lake. If you do this, make sure to stop at Watchman Overlook and Phantom Ship Overlook. You can also hike all the way down to the lake, swim in the lake, cliff dive, or take a boat cruise, and head back up. Be warned, while the hike down is easy, the hike back is entirely uphill.


Quick Pitstop in Eugene

We stopped in Eugene on the way up to Salem, our home base for Silver Creek Falls. When I was looking at things to do, the number one attraction I found was simply called "the pipe". Upon further inspection, I realized the reviews were filled with University of Oregon kids memeing on this random pipe, so we decided we must go. Please enjoy.




Day 5: Oregon Coast

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

This morning we were debating on renting dune buggies and hitting the dunes, but we ultimately decided against it as it was $90 per person for one hour on an ATV. Instead, we opted for the Oregon Dunes Loop Trail, where we walked 2 miles to the beach and back. We truly felt like we were being transported to a completely different area of the world every time we went to a new place. We had some fun making Dune memes and running down the hills, then headed out to our next stop.





See the Sea Lion Caves

Our next stop about an hour from the dunes was Sea Lion Caves, America's largest sea cave. Tickets were $18 which I found a bit steep, but the experience was fantastic. We headed down an elevator to the cave where we saw — and smelled — about 100 animals in their natural habitat. The location had excellent exhibits and a view of the ocean.




Stop by Thor's Well

This attraction is best visited about an hour before high tide, and then throughout high tide to see how the rock formation fills up. We missed the high tide as it was early in the morning, but it was still interesting to see a so-called sinkhole in the ocean. There are many cutesy shops nearby and near Cape Perpetua, so you can drive around for a bit and check them out.


A few minutes north of Thor's Well you can go to Luna Sea Fish House for lunch, which was recommended to us by a local. It's highly rated, but my friends and I weren't super impressed. We did take it to go which may have lowered the quality, but overall I would recommend going to a seafood spot while you drive up the coast.


Another great spot to hit that we didn't have time for is Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area. The dunes are steep, tide pools are excellent, and people-watching is fun. And it's a great indicator of what's to come tomorrow at Cannon Beach.



A jaw-dropping site photo op near Thor's Well

Enjoy fresh dairy at Tillamook Cheese Factory

The nationally recognized dairy farm started in Tillamook, Oregon, where you can visit their cheese factory. This is a fun stop final stop as we got an opportunity to try different foods made with the cheese from the factory. We could also see how the cheese gets made with real factory employees working the floor.



Day 6: Cannon Beach and the Top of the Coast

Stroll along the gorgeous Cannon Beach

Today you have a few options. I wanted to take a leisurely day walking down the full stretch of Cannon Beach during sunrise, admiring Haystack Rock searching for sea life in the tide pools, and popping into the little shops lining the beach. The coastal, beachy vibes of the town was so relaxing that I briefly considered moving to Portland just to come here every weekend.




Sunset at Ecola State Park

If you see Cannon Beach at sunrise, Ecola State Park is great at sunset. This is where many movies including part of Twilight were filmed. There are many short hikes to choose from and relax at to enjoy the ocean views.


Drive up to Astoria

I didn't make it the 40-minute drive up to Astoria, but if you do, you can:

  • Visit the very cool wreck of the Peter Iredale in Fort Stevens State Park a few minutes from Astoria. This is a rusted skeleton of a ship that has lasted over a hundred years and is quite a unique experience.

  • Go to the Astoria Column, a free site that shows murals of Oregon's history and an observation deck at the top.


If you're like my friends and I, you'll unfortunately have to leave today. However, there is the option to see all seven wonders of Oregon if you have a few extra days. See below for how you can extend your trip to see even more natural wonders.


What to do with extra time

Day 7: Add Painted Hills

After exploring Mount Hood, make your way to Prineville (or any other location between Mount Hood and Painted Hills) and stay the night. In the morning, head to the Painted Hills and explore the Overlook, Painted Cove Trail, Leaf Hill, Red Scar Knoll, and Carroll Rim. Most trails are pretty flat and mainly serve as ways to get closer to the hills, so don't expect anything strenuous today. If you would like to explore some areas beyond the Painted Hills, head to the visitor's center and ask about the Sheep Rock Unit. If you'd like to sleep in today, golden hour is the best time to take pictures, so relax until the afternoon and start taking shots through the evening.


Painted Hills
A photographer's image of the beautiful landsca[e

Day 8: Add Smith Rock State Park

Spend the evening of day 7 in Redmond, then head to Smith Rock State Park for hiking and rock climbing, particularly in the spring or fall. While many Oregon attractions are best visited in the summer, this park can get to the 100s during that time. There is a list here of all contacts in the area for hiking if you are a beginner and require a guide, they can recommend what is best for your skill level. Some routes for beginners include Rope De Dope Block and Main Smith Rock Group.


There are also 12 trails, all of which are distinct, so your preference will depend on the type of hike you'd like to do. Some popular options are:

  • Misery Ridge, 1 mile: Challenging, steep trail with views of Phoenix Buttress

  • Misery Ridge Loop, 3.7 miles: Challenging, and an extension of the trail above

  • The Chute, 0.1 miles: Hard, despite its short length. This trail is pure elevation but allows you a view of Smith Rock


Mountain biking and horseback riding are also popular options to further explore the awe-inspiring views. Visit the Smith Rock website to discover all the possibilities for your day.


Day 9: Add the Wallowa Mountains

Making it all the way out to Wallowa Mountains is a trek, but if you'd really like to add it, head 4 hours to La Grande where highways 82 and 84 connect in between Mount Hood and Painted Hills and stay the night. The next day, drive an additional hour to the Wallowa Lake Tramway to see some incredible views of the Mountains as well as the Seven Devils and Hells Canyon in nearby Idaho. This attraction is the steepest gondola in North America and is only open from May - September.


While many of the great trails in this area require multiple days, the Chief Joseph Mountain trail is a 4 hours hike that will allow you views of the lake and falls. Only do this trail if you feel confident as there are some steep sections and loose rock. Alternatively, there are many other smaller hikes in the area, or you can go kayaking on the lake.


Day 10: Add Redwood National & State Parks

Since you've already seen all seven wonders (yay!), add one more day to step into yet another state and see the gorgeous redwoods. Add this day after seeing Crater Lake and stay the night in the Four Corners/Medford area.


The next morning if you are interested, head to the Oregon Vortex. tickets are steep at $22 per person, but if you look past that, you can experience a cool scientific disturbance where you cannot stand completely straight anywhere in the area. Tours and demonstrations happen from 10 - 5.


Less than a 2-hour drive from the Vortex lies Redwood National and State Parks.

If you decide not to do the Oregon Vortex you can stop by the Trees of Mystery in California, an attraction with a tramway through the redwoods, sculptures, and a canopy walk. This is $25 per person, so it is also on the steeper side but may be something good to do if you aren't interested in much hiking.


Before finally entering the park stop by the Klamath tour thru tree, a carved-out redwood tree that allows you to drive straight through! Although you could spend much longer than one day in the park, hiking through some of the key trails or stopping by the visitor's center to see what they recommend is your best bet.


While in the park, hike the Tall Tree Groves loop, a 4.5-mile hike that includes some of the tallest trees in the world. This hike does have a permit system with only 50 people allowed per day, but if you do get access you'll experience one of the most beautiful trails in the United States. If you don't get access, the Prairie Creek Trail and Foothill Trail Loop are great, shorter options at about 2.4 miles. There are plenty of other trailheads and options in the park, so do some additional research to figure out what works best for you.


Sample views from photographers on the Redwoods experience


On your way up to Reedsport take a stop at one of the many beaches during sunset to enjoy the famous west coast sunsets.


 

And there you have it! A week or so in Oregon, with bonus stops in California and Washington. While this trip is better to do with more time, like 14 days to enjoy more at your favorite stops, this should be a great overview of what Oregon has to offer and will hopefully inspire you to go back to your hometown with a new appreciation of America's natural wonders.


*None of the links are sponsored


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