With all that overwhelming natural splendor, it’s easy to forget that the National Park System also preserves a wealth of other things and places. In fact, there are literally thousands of Native American heritage and cultural sites in America’s national parks, preserving archaeological sites, battlefields and cultural landmarks.
Although less known than the popular Painted Hills Unit, the Sheep Rock Unit is the largest of the three units that make up John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Oregon. …
Oregon is known far and wide for its lush forests filled with moss-covered rocks and trees, many volcanoes and hundreds of photogenic waterfalls. Especially the Columbia River Gorge, which forms much of the border between Oregon and Washington State, is famous for being a waterfall hotspot.
The health benefits of hiking are well known and well documented nowadays. And few things are better for a “nature bath” than going on a reinvigorating hike in a national park. These are some of the greatest day hikes in the U.S. National Park System.
Spending a night or two at a historic lodge or hotel is one of the most memorable national park experiences. From Yellowstone’s famous Old Faithful Inn to Glacier’s iconic Many Glacier Hotel and the rustic Lake Quinault Lodge at Olympic, these are the greatest and grandest lodges in the national parks.
Despite their remote location in the High Desert of central Oregon, the Painted Hills are one of the most-visited natural attractions in the state. It’s a popular day trip destination …
Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, on the border of Oregon and Washington, Portland is the ideal starting point for a Pacific Northwest national parks road trip. This outdoorsy, eco-friendly city offers easy access to some of the greatest U.S. national parks.
Although Crater Lake National Park is not renowned for its epic backpacking opportunities, there are some pretty amazing day hikes you can do in the park. Whether you’re looking for a strenuous climb to a mountain viewpoint or an easy stroll along the Crater Lake rim—or even a gorgeous waterfall!—there’s a surprisingly variety in your Crater Lake hiking options.
From April to June, wildflower hikes dominate outdoor recreation in the Columbia River Gorge. Both in Washington and Oregon, there are a number of trails that run across meadows and hills covered in colorful balsamroot, Indian paintbrush, lupines and more.
Combining America’s wide open highways, charming towns and spectacular landscapes, the American national park road trip is arguably the country’s quintessential vacation. These are the greatest U.S. national park road trips, from the Appalachians to the Pacific Northwest and Southern California.
If you’re a national parks lover who enjoys gardening, collecting wild edibles and foraging, you might wonder if foraging is allowed in the national parks. And, as surprising as it …
In the heat of summer, waterfall hikes are among the most enjoyable and popular activities in the national parks, especially if the waterfall also happens to have a swimming hole. …
One of the most famous natural landmarks in the Pacific Northwest, Mount Hood is the tallest mountain in Oregon. A dormant stratovolcano rising up to 11,239 feet above sea level, …
One of the most popular outdoor recreation destinations near Portland, Mt. Hood National Forest is only about an hour’s drive east from Oregon’s largest city. If you don’t have time …