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5 incredible State Parks more than worth visiting in Oregon

By Ian Goodwillie

YAMHILL, OR - JULY 30: A forest shows signs of pine beetle disease as viewed in this aerial photo taken on July 30, 2018, near Yamhill, Oregon. Yamhill, Dundee, Carlton, McMinnville, and Newburg, all small towns located in the Willamette Valley wine production areas, have become the epicenters of Oregon's wine destination tourism. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
YAMHILL, OR - JULY 30: A forest shows signs of pine beetle disease as viewed in this aerial photo taken on July 30, 2018, near Yamhill, Oregon. Yamhill, Dundee, Carlton, McMinnville, and Newburg, all small towns located in the Willamette Valley wine production areas, have become the epicenters of Oregon's wine destination tourism. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images) /
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It doesn’t get much more beautiful in the United States than the lush greenery of the Pacific Northwest. And Oregon is certainly at the center of that thanks to an incredible range of some of the most stunning State Parks in the entire nation.

The natural wonders that can be found there are almost too much to take in during a single visit. But if you are planning a trip to the Beaver State, there are certainly a few parks that absolutely need to be on your list.

Oswald West State Park, Oregon

Miles of stunning Pacific coastline buffered by rainforest typify Oswald West State Park in Oregon. This park reputedly has some of the best preserved coastal rainforest in the state, which is home to a stunning display of Oregon’s flora and fauna.

Keeping in mind that camping is not available in Oswald West, it does have great hiking and fishing. Plus, there are plenty of incredible views overlooking Short Sand Beach, some of which are amazing places for a picnic.

Jessie M. Honeyman State Park, Oregon

Oregon
CORBETT, OR – SEPTEMBER 26: The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is seen September 26, 2014 in Corbett, Oregon. Following considerable public outcry, the U.S. Forest Service announced Thursday it will delay finalizing restrictive rules requiring media to purchase special permits to shoot photos or videos in wilderness areas. (Photo by Natalie Behring/Getty Images) /

While camping might not be an option at Oswald West, it is at the core of Jessie M. Honeyman State Park. This park has numerous variations on camping, including hundreds of sites with varying levels of electricity and water hookups as well as several yurts.

Honeyman is only a couple of miles from the ocean but there are two freshwater lakes within the park’s boundaries. The park is also situated within a nearly 50 mile area of sand dunes that stretch throughout Oregon and offer their own unique activities.

Fort Stevens State Park, Oregon

Not only is Fort Stevens State Park one of the biggest parks in Oregon, it reputedly contains one of the largest public campgrounds in the country. At 4300 acres, it offers an awe-inspiring range of activities for visitors to choose from.

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One of the most interesting aspects of Fort Stevens is that it’s a historic military site. There is a year round military museum as well as tours of various facilities all the way back to the Civil War. And there’s even a historic shipwreck.

Ecola State Park, Oregon

Oregon
MULTNOMAH FALLS, OR – SEPTEMBER 26: Visitors on a bridge admire the Multnomah Waterfalls, in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area September 26, 2014 in Multnomah Falls, Oregon. Following considerable public outcry, the U.S. Forest Service announced Thursday it will delay finalizing restrictive rules requiring media to purchase special permits to shoot photos or videos in wilderness areas. (Photo by Natalie Behring/Getty Images) /

Another incredible seaside park on Oregon’s Pacific Coast, Ecola State Park offers some intense views. Making your way through a Sitka spruce forest to get to those views isn’t exactly hard on the eyes, either.

While Ecola does offer a diverse range of activities, the biggest draw here might be the options for wildlife viewing. That includes deer, elk and predatory birds on land as well as grey whales in the ocean. Plus, Ecola has some of the best tide pooling around.

Silver Falls State Park, Oregon

Keeping in mind that Oregon is lush and beautiful throughout the state, many people seem to believe that Silver Falls State Park is the top spot in the region. And if you’ve ever been there, you might be inclined to agree. It’s natural beauty is incomparable.

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The Trail of Ten Falls makes it’s way through the dense forest, giving hikers some exceptional views of canyons and waterfalls. It also takes visitors behind the South Falls, a stunning 177 foot waterfall that is recognized as a key reason to go to this park.

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