Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve
Wanting something different than your typical national park? Look no further than the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve, located in Cave Junction, to find yourself wandering through the dark and mystical passageways of the Siskiyou Mountains. Because of the twisty, narrow passageways of the cave, there are a few restrictions and necessary guidelines to follow for those who enter the cave. Visitors must demonstrate that they are able to crouch down to pass through parts of the cave that have ceilings as low as 45 inches, bags and backpacks must be left in a locker, all children must be at least 42 inches tall, strollers are not allowed in the cave, and so on. Tours run through the end of March to the beginning of November, and you can visit www.recreation.gov to make a reservation for your tour, as there may be long wait times during the busy summer months.
Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, while technically only partially in Oregon, is still a great place to visit, whether you’re looking for some fun activities or simply to sight see. It is the deepest river gorge in all of Northern America, and has plenty of recreational opportunities, such as Whitewater Boating, Fishing and Hiking. The area has many scenic views, and feature dramatic shifts in vegetation, elevation, climate and terrain. Located in Northeastern Oregon and Northwestern Idaho, Hells Canyon is a great spot to spend a few days enjoying what nature has to offer!
Crater Lake
Crater Lake is a lake in south-central Oregon. Crater Lake is famous for its deep blue color and water clarity. With a depth of 1,949 feet, the lake is the deepest in the United States. Crater Lake features two small islands. Wizard Island is a cinder cone approximately 316 acres in size, which is located near the western shore of the lake. The second is named Phantom Ship which is a natural rock pillar located near the southern shore. Visitors have the ability to hike the surrounding area, as well a boat ride that lets you explore Wizard Island. Visitors also have the opportunity to stay in a nearby lodge that lets you experience Crater Lake for multiple days in a row
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
Travel to a faraway time and enchant your inner paleontologist at the John Day Fossil Beds. Located in central Oregon, the park spans almost 14,000 acres and is comprised of three different units: Sheep Rock, Painted Hills, and Clarno. At the Thomas Condon Paleontology and visitor center located in the Sheep Rock unit and contains over 500 fossil specimens to oogle over. There are even viewing windows in which visitors can see scientists actively studying fossils right before their eyes. If being outdoors is more your speed, there are miles of trails for you to hike that provide once in a lifetime views for you to enjoy.
Lewis and Clark National Historic Park
You might remember those names from playing the game “The Oregon Trail”, but it turns out those two guys really did make their way to Oregon and this national historic park is a great monument to that trek. It’s not all just hunting, forging rivers and dysentery on the Oregon Trail, which is all the information you can learn at this park. Located in Astoria,OR, there are plenty of options to keep yourself entertained. Whether you are looking to see some Rangers dress up in costumes and tell stories, go on a Ranger guided canoe trip or even become a junior ranger yourself! Although there might be an age limit. But that doesn’t even begin to cover the beautiful views and scenery at this historic park. So history buffs, travel buffs and adventure buffs should unite and come spend some time at the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park.
Oregon Obscura 