The most beautiful natural sites to discover Oregon

This park stretches on the banks of the river Willamette River over nearly 3 km. Festivals and concerts are held there during the summer while the children play around Salmon Street Springs Fountain and the runners continue their journey. This project was realized thanks to Tom McCall, Governor of Oregon from 1966 to 1974. Recognized for his many actions in favour of the environment, he worked for the preservation of the banks of Willamette River in Portland. In 1970, it transformed the highway into a green drive for urban dwellers. At the time, his project is greeted by shouting at national level - we want to finance new highways, but certainly not remove them! Yet today what's become the Tom McCall Waterfront Park is One of the city's pride. McCall will be shown in other projects, such as the Oregon bottle bill, a law that invites to recycle bottles and other cans in exchange for a few dollars.

A pleasant little park where you can run, walk your dog, about or rest in the grass.

This park was made by John Mac Laren, the design of the famous Golden Gate Park of San Francisco. It allows you to enjoy peacefully while walking the trees, plants and flowers surrounding of the beautiful fountains and a small lake. Live music in the open air are organised every Tuesday, the ballets take place on Monday.

If you are in Salem, go to the State parks to get maps and other information on the parks of Oregon (location, rates of entrance, on-site activities).

Direction north, in Salem taking the East. Waterfalls of all beauty. The ten waterfalls trail gives the thrill and really deserves a picture. (Tel (503) 873 8681/(800) 551. www.oregonstateparks.org). Camping, ranches and youth camp.

45 km east of Pendleton, by OR 11 and OR 204, you reach the Sprout Springs winter sports resort, in the heart of the Umatilla National Forest, a beautiful pine forest with many streams. Small family resort for beginners.

John Day is the gateway to the Misfortune National Forest, where you can see several mining camps and ghost towns from the Gold Rush era (the Eastern Oregon Gold Rush of the 1860s), such as Greenhorn and Granite (to the north by OR 7). Located in the Blue Mountains, this forest extends over 5,700 km2 and is wrapped around Lake Strawberry.

By OR 138 Is the road, you can admire waterfalls of beauty and all forms (waterfall, horseshoe, floor, etc.). Indeed, nearly 25 waterfalls (waterfalls) are visible. It is usually have to fork of a few kilometres up to see them, and finally be able to catch up with the road. 

Waterfalls of beauty. The path of the 10 waterfalls gives the thrills and really worth a photo.

This lake, located at the california border, is a marvel: the huge dense forest and the snowy peaks of Siskiyou Mountains are reflected in the clear blue water. You can spend an afternoon to swim in this setting breathtaking and take the few paths of discovery. Possibility of fish and camp.

It's a beautiful lake in a wooded canyon. Hiking around the lake and fishing.

Ecola State Park winds around Tillamook Head and offers a magnificent view from the cliffs where many birds nest. On a rock offshore, you can see the old Tillamook lighthouse (abandoned since 1957). There are several trails to discover the coast and are classified as Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. Captain Clark and his men came here from their camp at Fort Clatsop (near Astoria) in 1806 in search of a beached whale that the Indians had mentioned. Ecola comes from the Indian word ekoli, which means whale. Their route is now traced by the Clatsop Loop.

The Fort Stevens, built during the civil war, is the only continental site of the United States that was bombed by a Japanese submarine during the Second World War (1942). Beaches, hiking trails cyclist and location. In Clatsop Spit put back the wreck of boat from Peter Iredale, among the most photographed in the world. Therefore the maritime Oregon coast (US 101 South) begins.

The town of Cascades Locks owes its name to the locks built in 1896 to allow the passage of the Cascades Rapids. The Bonneville Dam, built in 1937, will completely eliminate these rapids and most of the 1896 installations.

The god Coyote imprisoned a girl in the hollow of a rock and changed his hair into waterfall; then transformed into its applicants rock, one on the south bank (Rooster Rock), the other on the north bank (Beacon Rock). A trail of 2 km leads to Horsetail Falls.

It is a little stream of water that is going on in summer and leads, between narrow gorges, to a refreshing waterfall.

According to legend, a woman threw herself at the top of the cliff to save its people decimated by epidemics. A hiking trail leads to the top of the cliff overlooking by the waterfall. Beautiful view.

Standing on 72 metres above sea - level, this rock is a sanctuary for seabirds - puffins, gulls and cormorants, fish and other shellfish. The star of the rock are actually the starfish, which can be seen at low tide, and green anemones, some of which can take up to a hundred years. Haystack Rock formed from rejections lava from the volcanoes of the plateau of Columbia River.

Declared State park, Oswald West is one of the favourite spots Portlandais to enjoy the coast. With its beaches, lush forest and its beautiful viewpoints, the park is ideal for a day in the fresh air in family, or for a session of surfing.

This sandy beach stretches over 7 miles. With proximity, there are shops and accommodation, witnesses of the past of seaside resort of the village.