We can’t tell you how many people would say something to the effect of, “ahh, Portland, Oregon”, when we would tell them we were from Oregon. Sadly, Portland is the only thing many people know of Oregon, but we’re here to change that!
There are so many things to do in Northern Oregon that are just as great as other parts of Oregon. Yes, Portland is a “cool” city, but the nature just a few miles outside of Portland is killer too!
Things to do in Northern Oregon — yes, more than just visiting Portland, Oregon, from born-and-raised Oregonians who travel the state for a living!
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Things To Do In Northern Oregon
Mt. Hood Summit
Mt. Hood is Oregon’s largest summit, being an incredible 11,240 feet in elevation. The mountain is actually a dormant volcano, with 11 glaciers and many alpine meadows. Hiking around Mount Hood is a popular activity, though should be done carefully in the summer months, as some of the snow is soft and can cause dangerous hiking conditions.
READ MORE | 10 Fun Summer Activities on Mount Hood in Oregon
Mt. Hood summit is better experienced not at the actual summit, but from hiking and exploring in the Mt. Hood National Forest, with the summit in view. To learn more about the conditions of hiking to the Mt. Hood summit, check out this page on the national forest website.
Boat, Swim, Fish, or Camp at Trillium Lake
Trillium Lake offers pristine views of Mt. Hood, and killer reflection shots for photography! The Trillium Lake Campground has 4.5/5 stars and offers both reserved campsites and first-come-first-serve sites.
The first few times we’ve attempted to visit Trillium Lake, the snow pack was still too great and we ended up just passing right by the first time, and the second time just sleeping in the snowpark parking lot!
However, last summer, we visited Trillium Lake, and it’s as dreamy as we imagined! Be sure to drive to the far side of the lake for epic views of Mt. Hood.
READ MORE | Lakes to Visit In The Mount Hood National Forest (there’s more than just Trillium)!
Walk the Waterfront in Downtown Portland
We’ve got a thing for cities and towns that have rivers running through them. The Willamette River runs through Portland offering great walks along the water, and even great places to put in for paddleboarding or boating. Pack a picnic, or grab some Voodoo Donuts (tip below) and enjoy people-watching or a simple stroll on the Willamette.
Check Out the Views from the Pittock Mansion Overlook
Pittock Mansion is a Historic House Museum located in the hills of Portland. The museum aspect of the Pittock Mansion is inside the mansion and is a paid for experience, although, you can walk the grounds for free. This home was built in 1914, and is now run on museum entrance fees and donations.
The views from Pittock Mansion overlooking Portland are great, and if it’s a clear day, you’ll even be able to see Mt. Hood from the mansion overlook too!
Visit the Columbia River Gorge
The Columbia River Gorge is the largest national scenic area in the United States. Home to over 90 waterfalls just on the Oregon side of the Gorge, the Gorge offers great hiking trails and sightseeing attractions in Oregon.
While a fire in 2017 burned through much of the Gorge causing devastation for years to come, there are still very many beautiful places to spend hours if not days at throughout the Gorge.
The US forest service has put together this great map of the more popular waterfalls to stop at on a trip through the Oregon side of the Gorge, while there are many more places for you to explore on your own as well. The official name of the Gorge is the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and a quick google review look will highlight many of the Gorge’s breathtaking places!
Hike Multnomah Falls | most popular of the things to do in Northern Oregon
Multnomah Falls is one of the first waterfalls I have very distinct memories of visiting. The waterfall is simply massive, making it quite a popular stop for those visiting the Pacific Northwest. In fact, according to the National Forest Service, Multnomah Falls has over 2 million visitors every year.
While you can see the waterfall from the parking area, the true experience comes when hiking the Multnomah Falls trail. The trail up to Benson Bridge is short yet steep. The bridge is actually an overlook with mist from the upper fall and views of the fall 69 feet below.
Continuing up the trail across Benson Bridge is a 2.4-mile round trip hike to the top of the waterfall, with views of the Columbia River Gorge on a clear day. This hike is short, but very steep, making it classified as a strenuous hike to most.
Do Some Night Photography at Rowena Crest
Rowena Crest is roughly an hour and a half drive east of Portland, offering great views of the Columbia River Gorge most of the way. It’s most well known for the large hairpin turn on the road up to the parking lot. (This is the point of great photography!)
Even if you’re not interested in doing night photography at Rowena Crest, the drive is still worth it just for the views. There are a number of short hikes to do from the Rowena Crest viewpoint, though the viewpoint itself is truly a great place to sit and take in the Gorge. Be aware, there is no shade at Rowena Crest, so do plan accordingly with how hot the day is you may be visiting.
Find out how to get to Rowena Crest here — Don’t forget to stop at Multnomah Falls (tip above) on your way!
Hike or Backpack Through Eagle Creek
Eagle Creek is famed for its surreal hiking experience. Hiking along the trail, you pass multiple waterfalls and are surrounded with views unlike any other. In 2017, a fire was started on the Eagle Creek trail from teenagers throwing a lit firework into the woods. Please do your part in protecting nature, and be fire-wise wherever you are!
This trail was closed for multiple years after that devastating fire. However, the trail is now open again! Enjoy this hike, even through the regrowth after the burn.
Camp or Hike at Silver Falls
This one is a little hard to recommend, as while I’m currently writing this, there is a wildfire burning in the area of Silver Falls. So, I’m a bit emotional writing these words. This recommendation comes with the uncertainty of if Silver Falls State Park is what it was before.
Hiking, camping, horseback riding, and waterfall chasing are just a few of the things to do within Silver Falls State Park. There are cabins available for rent, RV + tent sites, and plenty of day-use areas to just get out and spend a day in nature. Check current openings of Silver Falls and more activities to do at Silver Falls State Park here.
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Have a Go at Tackling All the McMenamins!
You may have to be in Northern Oregon for a long time before you actually ever step food into all the McMenamins around. However, it’s a great goal and reason to visit Northern Oregon.
McMenamins is a family own chain in the greater Portland area that’s been around since 1983. With the idea of keeping historic buildings intact, McMenamins takes places like theatres and Turkish baths and turns them into restaurants, pubs, coffee houses, and more! Have a locally brewed beer and great pub grub while swimming, at a theatre, or even in a converted old schoolhouse!
To learn more about McMenamins and find the best one to start your McMenamins journey, check out their webpage here. Be sure to look into the McMenamins Passport, a program set up with prizes and freebies for simply visiting the different pubs!
Visit the Aviation and Space Museum
With a little something for everyone, The Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon is home to nearly 100 different types of aircraft with thousands more artifacts to explore.
The Aviation and Space Museum holds events all throughout the year, has a flight simulator “ride”, and even a small theatre playing aviation films! It truly is a great place to go and learn about aviation history for all ages!
Wine Taste in the Willamette Valley
We’re pretty biased when it comes to wine tasting, and we think nothing compares to the wine tasting experience Southern Oregon offers. With that said, the Willamette Valley is home to some great wineries as well, offering a perfect day out trying wines from over 300 vineyards!
Willamette Wines has a great selection of wine tasting routes, so you can pick the best route for you to explore. Check on the map links they provide to see the actual distance and routes given to said wineries from Portland.
Book a guided tour through the Willamette Valley wineries now.
Eat the Magic of Voodoo Doughnuts | can’t miss things to do in Northern Oregon
Voodoo Doughnuts started in 2003 as the only doughnut shop in Downtown Portland. This has since grown over the years to nine locations in five different states, all sticking to the same eclectic doughnut menu.
If you think this is something to be missed, check out the style of doughnuts they make. Think cereal on doughnuts. doughnuts with cookies on top. Doughnuts with actual bacon slices. Even doughnuts with cayenne peppers!
They have two locations in Portland, both of which typically have lines out the door or even around the block — so don’t go too hungry, and definitely expect a wait!
Take a Trip to the Oregon Coast
Astoria is the first town on the Oregon Coast when coming from the north, and it’s one for the books. Multiple movies have been filmed here, The Goonies, Free Willy, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3 to name a few.
The town of Astoria is actually a very historic piece of Oregon and is a very cute coastal town to walk around. Climb to the top of the 125 foot Astoria Column for 360-degree views around Astoria. And, don’t forget to drive across the Astoria Bridge! The bridge is just over 4 miles long connecting Oregon and Washington over the Columbia River.
Don’t forget to check out the Wreck of the Peter Iredale, a shipwreck on the beach in Astoria.
READ MORE | 17 Cutest Oregon Coastal Towns
**Have you visited Northern Oregon before? What would you add to this list of things to do in Northern Oregon!? We’re always looking for fresh ideas, and I’m sure other readers would love your ideas too!
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Places to Stay in Northern Oregon
AirBnB | AirBnB is a great option for finding a place to stay in Northern Oregon. With many people offering entire homes for rent on AirBnB, you could have a whole home to yourself. This is a great option for saving money on food and being able to spend more on adventures!
If you’re hoping to stay with a local, don’t worry, AirBnB offers local stays too! What a great way to find out even more about the local area and even other places you may be traveling to!
We recommend using the map version of the search tool. That way you can see where the homes are in relation to where you plan on visiting.
Hotel Stays | If staying in someone else’s home doesn’t tickle your fancy, search for hotels in Northern Oregon here. With Portland and the surrounding area being a large metropolitan region, you’re sure to find multiple places to stay in a clean hotel room.
Camping | Camping is a great money saver and memory maker! While you won’t find many places to camp in the city center.. you can find some epic places outside Portland near to some of the things to do in Northern Oregon on this list!
There are free campsites, paid for campsites, and campgrounds run by the state, all offering a place to stay for under $20 USD.
Learn more about free camping in the United States here.
Getting To And Around Northern Oregon
Flying | Luckily, Portland brings in one of the biggest airports on the west coast of the United States. Look for flights from your location to PDX (or Portland, Oregon). This is the search engine we use when booking flights.
Learn how to get the best prices on flights to Oregon here. Learn how to get the best prices on flights to Oregon here.
Rental Cars | If you’re not from the area or don’t have your own car, you’ll want to rent a car to get around Northern Oregon, maybe even plan a proper Oregon road trip! There is some public transportation in Portland, but it’s really not the best, and you will find a few tours from Portland offering day trips to places within this list.
We recommend actually renting an RV! This way, your rental car is your accommodation, and you have more freedom in your travels!
Training | Amtrak trains offer trains right into Downtown Portland. They connect larger cities all over the United States. However, fair warning — training in the United States is NOTHING like training in Europe!
In Downtown Portland | There are a few rental bike and scooter places around Portland where you can hire a bike or scooter for transport. This is mainly for the downtown area of Portland, not any of the surrounding areas.
More On Things To Do In Oregon
We lived seasonally in the Mount Hood National Forest for three years. These are epic summer activities to do at elevation where the temperatures aren’t so hot!
The Oregon Coast is a beautiful place to visit. And while arguably the entire coast is beautiful, there are certainly stops that you shouldn’t miss!
The best is yet to come… the national park and national monuments in Oregon are rich in beauty. With hot springs, more awesome hikes, painted hills, and even caves, Oregon’s national monuments and parks have a little something for everyone!
Our Oregon page is full of unique things to do in Oregon. Find river access points, hikes, waterfalls, hot springs, and even information on cycling the Oregon Coast here!
Planning a trip to Bend? Wanting to visit Smith Rock State Park? Central Oregon is home to some of Oregon’s finest.. even outside of the winter months when you’ll find snow-covered peaks and snow-filled roads!
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