This story was originally published in The Collegian of Willamette University on April 15, 2015. It was written by Kellie Standish. Find the original here.
Forget the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; can you name the Seven Wonders of Oregon?
Oregon’s seven wonders were developed by Travel Oregon for a campaign designed to better market destinations throughout the state to those who hail from inside and outside of Oregon.
They claim that whoever named the Seven Wonders of the World must’ve never set foot in Oregon. The project demonstrates the beauty and diversity of this state’s prized possession––the outdoors.
I’ve had my eye on these seven places ever since I learned about them a few years back, but as someone who continues to spend most of her time in just central Oregon, there is one month until graduation and I have yet to see them all.
This led me to my project: imagining a way in which someone could see all seven wonders in the shortest amount of time.
Regardless of the actual amount of time you take to explore them, here is the road map of a seven-part adventure sure to make your love for Oregon continue to grow.
Mt. Hood
Most popular activity: Skiing
Winter: snowshoeing, snowmobiling, crosscountry skiing
Summer: horseback riding, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking
Trails to check out: Elk Meadows, Ramona Falls, Timberline Trail (Very Challenging)
Drive time to next wonder: 1 hour
Painted Hills
Most popular activity: Sightseeing
Other activities: Camping, hiking, biking, fossil viewing
Trails to check out: Overlook, Red Hill, Blue Basin
Drive time to next wonder: 1.5 Hours
Columbia River Gorge
Most popular activity: Hiking
Other activities: Backpacking, biking, fishing, camping
Trails to check out: Angel’s Rest, Munra Point, Tunnel Falls
Drive time to next wonder: 4 hours
The Wallowas
Most popular activity: Hiking
Other activities: Backpacking, camping, horseback riding, gondola rides
Trails to check out: Aneroid Lake, Hurricane Creek, Mount Howard
Drive time to next wonder: 6 hours
Smith Rock
Most popular activity: Rock climbing
Other activities: Hiking, camping, biking
Trails to check out: Misery Ridge
Drive time to next wonder: 2 hours
Crater Lake
Most popular activity: Hiking
Other activities: Biking, snowshoeing, camping, backpacking, boating
Trails to check out: Watchman Peak, Wizard Island, Mount Scott
Drive time to next wonder: 3 hours
The Coast
Most popular activity: Sightseeing
Towns to visit: Coos Bay, Newport, Lincoln City, Pacific City, Seaside
Other activities: Sandboarding and dunebuggying near Coos Bay, hiking, swimming, surfing, whale watching, sea kayaking
Food & drink destinations: Fish and chips at Mo’s, beer tasting at Rogue Brewery
Trails to check out: Cascade Head, Cape Lookout
In the words of Travel Oregon’s ad, “Our wonders aren’t just for looking at, you have to explore them, to feel them beneath your feet. Just remember, this is Oregon. How you go about doing that is entirely up to you.”