One of the Crater Lake National Park’s highest points, Garfield Peak offers outstanding panoramic views of Crater Lake, the Klamath Basin, and the Cascades.
The trail to the top of Wizard Island offers the unique experience of hiking on a volcano inside a volcano. Wizard Island was formed about 7,300 years ago, emerging from Crater Lake in a shower of fiery cinders that piled into a symmetrical cone, with lava flowing around the island and forming its shores.
Located on the east side of Crater Lake, Mount Scott is the highest point in the park (8,929 ft.), with a working fire lookout at the summit.
A prominent point on the west side of Crater Lake’s rim, Watchman Peak offers spectacular views from the decks of a fire lookout, including Wizard Island directly below, and of the Cascades to the west.
A hike along the Little North Santiam River, with old sawmill and mine equipment and the town of Jawbone Flats.
Hike along Hurricane Creek to Slick Rock Gorge in the Wallowas for views of Sacajawea Peak, wildflowers in the meadows, and a fantastic gorge where Slick Rock Creek meets Hurricane Creek.
Located near the Wallowa Lake State Park, we took the tram up 3,700 ft. to the summit of Mount Howard (8,150 ft.). The views of the Wallowa mountain range from the top are amazing!
The Oregon Coast offers very few opportunities for backpacking. The hiker’s camp on Tillamook Head, while intended for people thru-hiking the Oregon Coast Trail, has a designated camp area with wood shelters as well as space for tents.
Three days of camping and exploring at Cape Perpetua on the Central Oregon coast: tide pools with purple sea urchins, an old-growth coastal forest hike, pounding surf at Thor’s Well and Devil’s Churn, and even a spouting whale to top it all off (sorry, no whale photos).