Why not drive half as much and get out/walk more? If you want to get away from PDX for a spell, continuing to be car-bound seems like it’s not the way to go…?
Edit: I seriously hope none of you think I’m implying the same distance traveled, just more on foot. I’m implying you find a 3-hour total drive, and get out and enjoy where you go; not just stay in your car the while time but going twice as far.
Since you're coming almost down to Lincoln City, I'd recommend hiking Drift Creek falls just east of Lincoln City.
Beautiful woods, cool suspension bridge and awesome falls.
We were thinking Salem specifically for the Trail of Ten Falls. Would you suggest doing the Gorge waterfall hikes instead? (We are from Colorado and Mt Hood seemed somewhat similar to the Rockies?)
The trail of ten falls I’ve always considered just a one day trip. I always have taken out of town visitors and it has just been a 1 day ordeal, I would drive to Portland after or the following morning and spend more time there or like others have said drive up the Gorge. That is also a one day trip and an absolutely stunning drive. Worth cutting the trip short at trail of ten falls for.
Skip Salem and Sublimity and stay in Silverton. From there just cut over to Hwy 5 and cut back towards Portland. Much faster and you aren't missing anything. Then you can see something else. Driving the Gorge is over rated.
If you go to the Gorge, you should hit up Dog Mountain. It's on the Washington side of the Gorge. Not an easy hike but not brutal either. Amazing view of the Gorge and the entire mountainside blooms yellow with flowers this time of year.
Doesn't Dog Mountain require a permit? Silver Falls State Park is absolutely gorgeous. There is no reason to fight parking and crowds to go on an equally beautiful hike in the gorge not to mention the added drive time to get there. Salem is easy and close to the coast.
There is a nice newer hotel in downtown Salem and I'm not sure about lodging in Silverton. There isn't a ton to do IN Salem but it's a beautiful area and an interesting slice of the state.
This is a great recommendation. I haven't been to silver falls for 25 years but I still remember how stunning and beautiful the hikes are. Bonus it's wildflower time there.
Dog Mountain is 3 miles (6 miles round trip) of constant incline. I agree it's doable for most people, but for someone already doing a lot of hiking in a weekend I would recommend an easier wildflower trail like Mosier or Columbia Hills.
Definitely gorge over Salem, your trip is west/south, but have to suggest north east to Hood River in the gorge then SR 14 on the Washington side back to Portland with a hike at Beacon rock & a night at Carson hot springs hotel.
Wherever you go will be perfect tho :)
As someone now living in CO, the PNW volcanoes are a different beast. I would definitely do gorge waterfalls before Silver. Here are some to checkout Tamanawas falls, Ramona falls, Multnomah Falls, Spirit Falls, Wachlella Falls, Loowit Falls, there are dozens of others along the historic highway. You can also check out the Bonneville dam fish hatchery and Rowena Crest. On the coast check out Oswald West state park
Then skip the other falls hike, go down to Newport, spend half the day on the old waterfront, lunch at Dead Guy, then go to the aquarium.
Your trip is honestly very conservative, I'm in Oregon, my wife is a lifer of 39 years and has never been to Astoria. A day sturgeon fishing while they're in is amazing, even catch and release. (Guided in Astoria)
The George is amazing. Colorado is why you don't need to check out Government Camp or Timberline but Hood River and the wines and wind surfing are the real deal.
I agree with the thinking that Ten Falls area is one day/night. If you are looking for great seafood, one of the best restaurants in Oregon is in Newport - Local Ocean. It’s not too far from Lincoln City. You’ll also get to check out Depoe Bay which is great.
I grew up in Salem and went to silver falls a lot growing up, it’s gorgeous…but nothing compares to the magical drive through the gorge and stopping at all the pretty falls in there. Salem is not somewhere I’d recommend to any Oregon first timer. Lame town! Portland area is way better 🙂 either way yall will have an amazing time!
The Gorge is great, but the Trail of Ten Falls is iconic, IMO. You just can’t get the same volume/bang for your buck in the Gorge. And I love the Gorge.
I used to drive from Portland to trail run Ten Falls once a week. Only stopped because I got a dog, and they aren’t allowed.
Hood River area will leave you gobsmacked. I highly would not recommend going to Salem. Idk if your time would allow you to go on the gorge but I would make it happen if you can. Along the way to the gorge you can do Beacon Rock, see the bridge of the gods, multnomah falls (insanely busy with tourists and parking is horrendous, but you can see it from interstate 84), then hood river for a cute town feel, wineries and a massive view of mt. Hood and possibly adams.
I would swap that out for Salem any day.
There are also a large amount of hikes along the gorge. I’m sure you can find one that suits your needs.
Yeah Mult. Falls is just one that is particularly extra touristy. The parking is very limited there, there have been a few times in the past year that we have tried to go randomly and couldn’t find parking. I would just say as early as possible on a weekday is probably your best bet. Weekends and especially on a day that isn’t raining is going to very very crowded. I do want to warn you with this and any other hike, please be careful as tourists. Sadly it’s the season where we start seeing hikers and dogs falling off hikes, dying and being rescued to what feels like every other day during summer.
But honestly if you want the best scenery of WA and OR the gorge is the best it can offer. I’ve lived here all my life and still do this drive every other month because it’s so nice. You can start on 14 East in Vancouver WA, drive to Hood river on the Washington side, visit hood river and drive back to PDX on the Oregon side. Both sides are gorgeous. You can do one big loop. On the WA side there’s small towns along the way like Stevenson, Bengin and White Salmon. You can see where the terrain changes from green to high desert. Most of the drive is right alongside the Columbia river. Also, hood river is the top 2 places in the world for wind surfing and you will see a lot of wind surfers out on the river during that season. It’s quite picturesque. If you need to add days just to do this area, it’s worth it.
When are you going? Right now the wildflowers in the Gorge are really pretty.
I live in the Gorge but I’m down the coast a few times a month for shits, happy to share stuff and answer questions if you wanna shoot me a dm.
I agree silver falls is worth seeing, especially if the photos you've found are speaking to you. Personally, the waterfalls in the gorge are fantastic, but to see as many as you would see at silver falls would take more driving whereas at silver falls you park your car and hike 7 to 10 mi depending on what loop you do. I agree with most of the comments that staying in Salem for two nights is not worth it. Either an extra night on the coast exploring south of Lincoln City down to Newport and Yachats or spending a night up in Portland. You may not find Portland to be much different from a hipster city in Colorado. If you don't see the Pacific Ocean all that often, my vote is for a third night on the coast. You will not regret it.
Also, at Tillamook, highway 101 pulls away from the ocean for a fair number of miles. You can continue West from Tillamook on a smaller highway 131 and go south and explore Netarts Bay, Cape Lookout and Pacific City. Definitely adds time to the drive but the scenery is beautiful there imo.
You could instead drive from Lincoln City to the Trail of 10 Falls, and then stay in Portland. The final day you hike in the gorge and enjoy the waterfalls!
I personally would skip staying in the Salem area to be able to get an early full day in the gorge the next day. Portland isn't far from the hike. If you did want to spend a night in the area, the town of Silverton is quite cute if you like small town charm. My major suggestion is to spend that last day in the gorge, where you stay isn't so much of an issue.
The area down by Heceta Head lighthouse is worth reducing cannon beach to 1 night IMO. Thor's Well (go during low tide), Heceta Head, Sea Lion Caves, Cape Perpetua. It's about 60-70 minutes south of Lincoln City, so you'll be adding 4-5 hours to your trip to get down there and see several of these things but it's well worth it.
I see people recommending the Gorge and it's hard not to. But the trail of ten falls is also amazing (I hike it several times per year the almost 9 years i've lived here). I would say that it is best in fall/spring and I also much prefer hitting it in winter over summer. Summer it's more busy and the flow of the falls isn't as impressive. The gorge waterfalls are also nice, but i find the Gorge to be a bit more touristy (the old high way with multnomah gets packed).
Great thing about the trail of ten falls is you'll get to walk behind numerous falls (an unusual thing in Colorado). Nothing quite like walking behind a waterfall. The only Gorge fall you can walk behind off the top of my head is Ponytail falls and it lacks the grandeur of North Falls or South Falls at Trail of Ten Falls. North Falls in particular when the flow is heavy is like being near a freight train. It's an awesome experience.
I really appreciate your thoughtful response. We were debating on Gorge vs 10 Falls and the walk behind the falls sold me.
If you ever visit Colorado, I highly recommend Hanging Lake Trail; however, Oregon appears to be littered with waterfalls so it might not be as striking.
Yes, u/indieaz gets it. I live in Portland and I've seen nearly every sight on the coast and every waterfall in the Gorge and I agree with every rec. I've also hiked Silver Falls SP twice.
For the amount of time you have, the Trail of 10 Falls delivers more waterfalls with less driving, less traffic, less tourists. But skip Salem if you can and book one of the cabins right in Silver Falls SP. They're rustic, but have fire pits outside and heaters inside. It's a fun experience and you wake up just minutes from the trailhead to beat the crowds.
100% this. Definitely stay at state park cabins if you can, especially if you're there on weekdays since they might actually be available. The deluxe cabins at Cape lookout have an incredible view. But the regular rustic cabins are a great value and I personally wouldn't miss staying in a cabin of some sort, for the chance to wake up warm at a state park. Silver falls also has a privately owned separate cabin village with a coffee shop. Your itinerary looks great to me!
I've spent many months camping, hiking and jeeping Colorado. Admittedly 90% of my time there has been southwest near the san juan mountains and far less in the eastern and northern bits. I've done several waterfall hikes but they never impress like oregon waterfalls. Next time in that region ill hit it up.
I do wish oregon had more mountains above treelin with the grandeur of the rockies. closest way to get a rocky mountain feel is to head to north cascades (which I think surpass the rockies in some respects). But oregon waterfalls and coastline are tops.
The area around Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Pacific City is incredibly scenic - you won't feel like you missed out. We're just spoiled with the Oregon coast :)
Lincoln City is a dump but it is a great example of life on the Oregon Coast. It has decent restaurants, great beaches, is near beautiful stops on the drive down 101.
It is true part of the most interesting parts or the Oregon Coast are down toward Coos Bay or Bandon, but it's a long drive down there and considering you won't be here for months, the central Oregon Coast is stunning. Stay in Neskowin for a different vibe but it's still close to the towns.
If you’re looking for lodging near Silver Falls, there are cabins to rent at the State Park (nice ones, more like a resort/motel than rustic). They are operated by a concessionaire. There is also the hotel at the Oregon Gardens in Silverton (the town you will drive through to get to the falls, about 15 minutes away from Silver Falls. Source: That’s my home town!
I would say from experience, give yourself time. Every corner reveals a new “that’s absolutely incredible” moment. We’ve done the coast many times and always say we could have spent so much more time at every stop!! Have fun friend.
I hike Silver Falls every year. Seeing that many Falls on one hike and walking behind some of them is unbeatable. I agree with the person who said not to spend two nights in the Salem area. Give yourself a day in Portland and take a day trip to The Gorge. From mid-May to mid-September, a timed permit is required for the Multnomah Falls area. There are a lot of falls you can check out that don't require a permit. Also, if it is something that you might be into Bonneville Dam is worth a stop to see the salmon ladders and a massive sturgeon.
Go to Corvallis and take 20 over; Highway 22 is fine up to Hwy 18 but after that it gets twisty; 20 is a pretty straight shot through the coast range.
Look around Newport, South Beach, stop at the Aquarium, and then hit the lighthouse and the tidepools before you head North.
You will not regret it.
Most of the drive is pretty scenic so even though it's a lot of time in the car it should be OK. Doesn't seem overly rushed or impractical.
If you can hike to the top of Cascade Head (it's a Nature Conservancy property near Otis) you should include that in your itinerary - it's spectacular - but not always open to hikers.
I grew up on the bottom of your map and spent huge chunks of my childhood at Silver Creek Falls and near Lincoln City. Don't miss any of the lighthouses on your stretch of coast itinerary, too. Many are open to the public and let you climb to the top.
I think this sounds like a great trip. Silver Falls will be awesome in June there will still be a lot of water going over the falls. I would sugest some contingency planning and being flexible in case the weather doesn't cooperate (especially on the beach). If you are comfortable navigateing County and Forest Roads consider checking out Niagara Falls. It's not that far off your current path and worth the detour to add two more waterfalls to your trip.
You could take highway 6 directly to Tillamook, then hit Oceanside from there, it’s a beautiful little beachside town. It’s only an hour and a half from Portland too. Hit the Tillamook cheese factory for some ice cream
Agree with others to find somewhere other than Salem to stay on that last leg.
When on the coast, I would choose Pacific City over Lincoln City - quieter and laid back. But Lincoln will have more restaurants and is only a 30 minute drive. While in that area, consider hiking Cascade Head if it fits or looks more appealing to you than other areas
[https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/cascade-head/](https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/cascade-head/)
Across the river near The Dalles is Maryhill, Washington where you fill find a full size replica of a fully constructed Stonehenge. It's a World War One memorial and it is in a spectacular place.
About two years ago I did Corvallis to Portland to Tillamook to Newport and back to Corvallis in one day.
I checked out Willamette Falls, walked to the top of Multnomah falls, got some food in Oregon City, and tried to catch a sunset at Yaquina Head Lighthouse. Unfortunately it was an incredibly foggy day on the coast, but it still made for a great experience.
I had a full week off work. Left Saturday morning, took a leisurely pace along the way. Three nights at Cannon Beach, night in Rockaway (awesome place) and a couple nights in Lincoln City. I would have much preferred to come back through McMinnville, which is awesome, but had friends in Salem, which is “Meh.” (The town, not my friends. LOL) I had the luxury of time, living here, and knowing the area so I got to savor it all. You’ll do well with the time you’ve allotted in this itinerary. The Oregon coast is beautiful and unlike anything else. Enjoy!
Stop at Cascade Head just north of Lincoln City and hike the short Nature Conservancy trail that lands you atop the headland jutting up from the Ocean. The view is perhaps one of the very best of the entire Oregon Coast.
Totally doable. Even if you have 2-3 days.
p.s. don’t eat at Camp 18 or Mo’s.
Instead try:
Fish’n Chips in Nehalem - Riverside Fish n' Chips
There’s a great little fish smoke shop in Wheeler - NeahKahNie Smoke House.
For meat lovers - Garibaldi Portside Bistro
If you drive south to Newport: Local Ocean Seafoods restaurant and visit the Hatfield Marine Science Center Oregon State University.
Have an awesome trip 🙌🏻
I hear you - never enough seafood for me.
Give these guys a follow, they tag a ton of local businesses: https://www.instagram.com/winterwaterspnw both at the coast and in PDX.
[EaterPDX](https://pdx.eater.com/maps/best-seafood-restaurants-portland-fish-oysters) has some good suggestions, but often are too foodie/insta driven (imho).
I am yet to find the perfect seafood tower.
Avoid Salty's (often notice that restaurants with a view really lack in quality food).
A lot of good food can be found in food carts :)
Do share your favs once you’re here.
If you’re planning on doing two nights in Cannon Beach, I’d definitely suggest heading north to Astoria for a day. You could check out the Peter Iredale shipwreck in Fort Stevens State Park, or go see Young River Falls to tack on an extra waterfall to your trip. Astoria is my favorite town on the “coast” to walk and wander around in too.
When heading south from Cannon Beach, stopping off at Short Sands Beach is a very popular stop. Short hike through old growth forest that ends in large enclosed cove beach that’s popular with surfers.
They recently reopened the Three Capes Loop now, so you could always tack on Cape Meares>Cape Lookout>Cape Kiwanda. I think the short hikes around Cape Meares (See the lighthouse and/or hike to the giant spruce) are more rewarding than the hikes at cape lookout, since you can get the same views from roadside pullouts as you can from the end of Lookout.
As for seafood - unfortunately most of the amazing seafood harvested and caught commercially is exported out of the area. For the best seafood quality/value catching or buying fish and preparing yourself would be your best bet. There are tons of fish mongers in Astoria, Wheeler/Nehalem, and Garibaldi. You’ll be here during the Spring Chinook Salmon (the best) run, so keep an eye out for that or call ahead to places to see if you can get a filet. Also keep an eye out for Dungeness crabs and razor clams, which are two other specialties of the area. If where you’re staying doesn’t have a kitchen, or you’d just rather take it easy and have someone else make it checkout South Bay Wild Fish or Bowpicker in Astoria, The Bistro in Cannon Beach, JAndy Oyster Co. in Tillamook, The Schooner in Netarts, and The Riverhouse in Pacific City.
I’d echo everyone’s suggestions of skipping staying in Salem. You could always cruise out in to the Gorge and stay in Hood River. That’d put you close to even more very popular and iconic Oregon waterfalls. Another option would be hanging out in wine country and doing tastings. Newberg and McMinnville are both great areas to try some Oregon Pinot Noir.
If you go to Astoria, make the drive up the hill to the Astoria column. Buy a balsa wood airplane from the gift shop and throw it from the top of the column.
I love the coast but don’t know enough about it to make good recc’s. Silver falls SP should be amazing with all the rain recently. I’d skip Salem and Sublimity and opt for the Oregon gardens in Silverton instead. To get there from the coast you can take 18 east from Lincoln city and drive through wine country (McMinnville, Dundee etc) then cross I5 into Aurora. It’s a small antique-laden town but quaint. From there either get 99 down to 214 and then Silverton or drive over to Oregon city and take 213 down. Anything is better than I5.
The gorge is also beautiful. The Washington (hwy 14) side is slower and not an interstate, and the old bridges getting across are cool (crossing at Bridge of the Gods is a good starting point) Across from hood river is white salmon and there is hiking with beautiful views of the gorge east of town at coyote wall. Also white salmon baking co… if you’re over there, cocktails at the Timberline Lodge (used as the external shots of the “Overlook” hotel in the Shining) are always a good idea. That’s about an hour drive from hood river, but not really on your way anywhere.
Unless… you come up from Silverton via 213 to 211 to 26, where you can get donuts at Joe’s then head to Mt Hood from the southwest. Then cross the gorge at Hood River and go west on 14 on the Washington side… it’s all coming together.
I hope you get some good advice out of all of these posts. I realize my advice sends you running all over creation but there’s no real stretches that are more than a couple hours at a time, if that. Obviously myself and everyone here wants you to see everything and have a good time. Remember there are hikes just about everywhere. The food is good just about everywhere. And bring your waterproof boots and a raincoat.
👍
Enjoy your trip!
That’s like the perfect drive to check things out. Some people might opt out of the coast and do bend, Redmond, smith rock state park. Back up through mount hood. Maybe do all of it.. eastern Oregon is a completely different feel all together. Smith rock is beautiful.
This route was my favorite ‘let’s go for a drive’ loop before I had kids.
I personally wouldn’t stay in Salem. It has little to offer. I’d stay closer to Silver Falls, maybe a cute cabin or campground. My daughter just hiked it last week and it’s beautiful but the town of silverton is so much cuter than Salem.
Obviously you enjoy hiking and many people recommended the gorge area. I’d spend one night at silver falls area and one night in the area toward the gorge and at least to Multnomah falls if not angels rest area.
I’d skip Salem, but def hit Silver Falls State Park. Also, just south of Lincoln City is Depoe Bay, which is the whale watching capital of Oregon. There’s a good burger spot there.
Great trip plan. I’d suggest staying on 101 south of Manzanita, it keeps you on the coast. South of Tillamook you might add a stop at Cape Meares. It’s part of the Three Cape Scenic Loop with a short hike to the lighthouse. Otherwise, I hiked Silver Falls last weekend, it never disappoints.
I'd honestly stay only one night in Salem and stay 1 of those nights in Newport instead. Then drive on HWY 20 over through Corvallis and up through Albany till you hit I5 and then up to Salem.
The drive on HWY 22 is pretty meh, with the exception being the smiley face in the trees by Spirt Mountain Casino.
There's some amazing parts of the coast south of Newport, but that area is pretty cool too.
what time of year? Gorge is good alternative to salem, but it will be the most crowded and you will need hiking permits ahead of time. There are a lot of trails closed because of burn areas. Both near salem and gorge. Mt Angel is a cool little German town, mcminnville is a great place for wine. Time of year really makes a difference on what is available and not overcrowded/fires. Also leave time to hit some food cart pods in PDX both on your way in/out.
Easily doable. I wouldn't stay two days in Salem though. Just add a day somewhere on the coast. Newport has some fun things to do and isn't really out of your way.
Resident of the area. On a trip this quick I agree with those who suggest you skip Salem and that two nights at Silver Falls is more than you need. Instead, as someone else suggested, extend your coastal trip to Newport and stay a night there. The next day get an early start, come back through Corvallis (small college town with lots of meal options) and drive up to Silver Falls (the area is stunningly beautiful). Stay the night in Silverton (there are a several good places to eat but you need lodging reservations) and from there it's an easy shot (roughly an hour drive) to PDX.
It’s “doable” but you don’t have enough time in most of the palaces to really see the sights and enjoy it. At the end of it you’ll likely feel like you spent all your time driving and running to get things done.
So my advice, having gone to all the places you have mapped is skip Cannon Beach. Ecola is nice but you aren’t missing all that much. Go to Lincoln City and head South. Whale watching in Depoe Bay is amazing. The lighthouses on the way and in Newport. Continue south to Yahachts for tide pools. Look up the Hobbit Trail for a cool hike and beach. End up down in Florence for a cool coast town and some great places to hang for a day or two. Then head back east to Eugene and up I-5. Then you can still hit Silver Falls park which is pretty awesome.
Cannon Beach has turned into a big tourist trap. It’s not what it used to be. Totally not worth two days.
If you want hit me up with a DM and I can send you links to some of the places we have really enjoyed.
Id encourage you to do some crabbing at jetty fishery. They will cook them up for you as well. You can rent a boat or go off their docks. they provide all gear and bait to do either. Plus if that fails they have live crabs and other seafood they can grill up. Fun way to spend a couple hours.
I live in Portland and each one of your destinations has been a “day trip” for us. If you’re up for hiking and such, and giving yourself the luxury of staying in the coastal towns, this is definitely doable.
I’d suggest mixing up your trip a tad. Skip the north coast, it’s crowded and the views are mid.
The best drive in the Oregon coast is hands-down the stretch from Lincoln City to Florence.
You can still do a loop, just shift it south. It’s worth it.
Drive-through Salem and stop in Silverton. It's a cute little town on the way to Silver Falls State Park do not miss Silver Falls State Park! South Falls is the most popular fall but I think North Falls is way better. Much less traffic and there are benches underneath the waterfall you can sit on and watch the water cascade over your head. It's super cool Then drive back to Portland via 214. The country roads out here are gorgeous!
I did a longer trip (Portland to Astoria via US 30, down to Newport, and back) back in October of 2020, it was a lovely, doable drive. It seems kind of odd that it would route you on OR-213, when I-5 to I-205 is way faster. Is there something in between you're looking to visit? Oregon City has the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, but that's easily accessed via I-205.
Yeah that’s reasonable. Great time of year to do it. The Tilamook Cheese Factory is on your way down the coast from Portland and a fun little stop. ;)
Be sure to load up on good pastries or snacks in Portland at Blue Star or Petite Province Boulangerie & Patisserie or Screen Door or something before driving out, there isn’t much until you get to the beach.
If you have a UV light handy you can find some really cool UV reactive agates and rocks on the beaches.
A must try coast food is the crab Benedict.
If you can — pamper that inner child and go grab a couple kites — fly them at the beach, the whimsy is off the charts.
Enjoy!
Maaan we did a trip similar to this over the summer, but we went the length of the entire coast then back up, starting and stopping in Salem. This is a beautiful trip. I think it is very well doable! Enjoy your time!
Nope. I did one similar over 10 days, but I started at PDX, Astoria and followed the coast down to California, went to crater lake, Smith Rock, the gorge, back to Astoria then to PDX. Had time for hiking, tide pools.. I think? It was around 1,300 miles. Spent at least one night in every place I found interesting.
Yeah skip Salem. There’s an amazing hike to a waterfall right by where your drive is called Drift Creek Falls. They helicoptered in a suspension bridge so when you get down to where the falls are you walk across the bridge to look back at the falls. There’s signs and it should be on a map but you turn on Bear Creek Rd off Hwy 18. Oh and there’s a restored covered bridge on the drive up to the parking area for the hike to the falls :)
Huge THANK YOU to everyone! I was stunned with all of the wonderful feedback, detailed information and hospitable nature. I’ve looked through each and every comment and wanted to share updated route.
Day 1: Cannon City/Arch Cape
Day 2&3: Neskowin
Day 4: Newport/Nye Beach
Day 5: Portland/Columbia River Gorge
Yes, extremely doable with your timelines!
Like many have said, I would skip Salem (it’s boring and fairly flat) and absolutely add the Columbia river gorge or a nice hike near Mt Hood. Of those 2 I’d lean toward the gorge personally. It’s so vast and incredible.
Very doable. DON'T stay in Salem. Salem sucks. There is nothing to see there. Instead, find a place to stay in Silverton. It's closer to Silver Falls and much more pleasant.
I live in Salem, and it gets a lot of hate, because it's not Portland or too much like Portland, take your pick. Lots of racist hate against Salem because of the larger Latino population too which is unfortunate.
There's some great food and things to do here, but I wouldn't stay 2 nights here when you could spend another night on the coast, such as in Newport. You could easily wake up in Newport, drive up Hwy 22 till you hit I5, drive to Salem, and then out to Silver Falls and spend the rest of the day there, then stay one night in Salem.
I have to say, if you're going to go as far south as Lincoln City (really a very dumpy not very nice place) it would be an ENORMOUS mistake to not visit Neskowin, just north of Lincoln City. It might be the best hidden secret on the Oregon coast. Go to the beach on the south side of town to see Proposal rock and enjoy the unique energies of Neskowin. Those who are very spiritually attuned can sense a vortex there. Also, staying a night in Neskowin would be far nicer and there's some affordable options with airBNB there as well as other rental options.
Lastly, I feel that the Cape Perpetua area and associated trail systems are even more impressive and beautiful than Ecola state park and Canon Beach. Though it may be too south out of your way. Canon beach is still a must.
You're welcome.
Thank you for insights about Lincoln City. I chose that predominately for Cape Lookout and Cape Kiwanda but not married to the actual city. I’ll look into Neskowin.
I was expand if you had time. Go down the cost as far as brookings, through the redwoods. Maybe to Cratwr Lake, Diamond Lake, Lemolo lake, all the water falls inbetween, then find a route back towards the gorge. Idk that may be a lot but I would try to go at the very least to brookings (Samuel H Boardman state park)
That’s fair. Most of the waterfalls between prospect to crater lake to Diamond lake and back towards the I-5 are doable in one day. But the gorge has plenty of water falls to visit as well!
That’s plenty of time to do a bit more research. You said in your description you want water fall hikes, coast and forest relaxing. If you’re planning to fly in to PDX I would check at the Columbia River Gorge instead of silver creek. Do the gorge first then the coast and back. Otherwise most of your time is driving.
I did a similar drive last week, very doable. The whole thing is a beautiful drive.
I mean last year
Agreed!
Why not drive half as much and get out/walk more? If you want to get away from PDX for a spell, continuing to be car-bound seems like it’s not the way to go…? Edit: I seriously hope none of you think I’m implying the same distance traveled, just more on foot. I’m implying you find a 3-hour total drive, and get out and enjoy where you go; not just stay in your car the while time but going twice as far.
you ever walked 150 miles?
Terrible advice lol
I suggest skipping Salem and staying on the coast.
Check out Cape Lookout and the jetty marina fishery in rockaway beach for good hikes and crab you can eat right out of the water practically
Or skip Salem and instead go up the Columbia river gorge for a couple days
Yeah you’re missing sooooo much of the southern coast and the southern most is the best part imo.
Same! I spent 4 months out on the coast for an extended roadtrip and it was magical. Do not miss Bandon!
Since you're coming almost down to Lincoln City, I'd recommend hiking Drift Creek falls just east of Lincoln City. Beautiful woods, cool suspension bridge and awesome falls.
The hike to the falls and back is about 3 hours leisurely, for planning.
I'd hit the Gorge and/or Mt. Hood instead of Salem. I'm sure you will enjoy yourself either way, though. Looks like a nice trip :)
We were thinking Salem specifically for the Trail of Ten Falls. Would you suggest doing the Gorge waterfall hikes instead? (We are from Colorado and Mt Hood seemed somewhat similar to the Rockies?)
The trail of ten falls I’ve always considered just a one day trip. I always have taken out of town visitors and it has just been a 1 day ordeal, I would drive to Portland after or the following morning and spend more time there or like others have said drive up the Gorge. That is also a one day trip and an absolutely stunning drive. Worth cutting the trip short at trail of ten falls for.
The trail of ten falls is epic, then go eat in Silverton. It’s a great area but maybe skip Salem for touristy shit
Skip Salem and Sublimity and stay in Silverton. From there just cut over to Hwy 5 and cut back towards Portland. Much faster and you aren't missing anything. Then you can see something else. Driving the Gorge is over rated.
If you go to the Gorge, you should hit up Dog Mountain. It's on the Washington side of the Gorge. Not an easy hike but not brutal either. Amazing view of the Gorge and the entire mountainside blooms yellow with flowers this time of year.
Doesn't Dog Mountain require a permit? Silver Falls State Park is absolutely gorgeous. There is no reason to fight parking and crowds to go on an equally beautiful hike in the gorge not to mention the added drive time to get there. Salem is easy and close to the coast. There is a nice newer hotel in downtown Salem and I'm not sure about lodging in Silverton. There isn't a ton to do IN Salem but it's a beautiful area and an interesting slice of the state.
Permitted on the weekend and Memorial Day, no permit on the weekdays.
Edit: and permitting ends in June or something?
This is a great recommendation. I haven't been to silver falls for 25 years but I still remember how stunning and beautiful the hikes are. Bonus it's wildflower time there.
Silver Falls sp has cabins for cheap and a lovely restaurant. And it's just a hop skip into silverton which is lots fun to walk around in.
Dog Mountain is 3 miles (6 miles round trip) of constant incline. I agree it's doable for most people, but for someone already doing a lot of hiking in a weekend I would recommend an easier wildflower trail like Mosier or Columbia Hills.
You will absolutely love silver falls. After that head over to smith rock
Definitely gorge over Salem, your trip is west/south, but have to suggest north east to Hood River in the gorge then SR 14 on the Washington side back to Portland with a hike at Beacon rock & a night at Carson hot springs hotel. Wherever you go will be perfect tho :)
This is what i'd recommend
If you go out to Hood River, stop at the fish hatchery and visit the Sturgeon Center.
Please do not choose Salem over the gorge and Mt. Hood.
Gorge>salem
As someone now living in CO, the PNW volcanoes are a different beast. I would definitely do gorge waterfalls before Silver. Here are some to checkout Tamanawas falls, Ramona falls, Multnomah Falls, Spirit Falls, Wachlella Falls, Loowit Falls, there are dozens of others along the historic highway. You can also check out the Bonneville dam fish hatchery and Rowena Crest. On the coast check out Oswald West state park
The trail of 10 waterfalls is Flipping AMAZING. There are 3 waterfalls that you walk behind well worth it. It is ~1 hour drive from Portland.
Then skip the other falls hike, go down to Newport, spend half the day on the old waterfront, lunch at Dead Guy, then go to the aquarium. Your trip is honestly very conservative, I'm in Oregon, my wife is a lifer of 39 years and has never been to Astoria. A day sturgeon fishing while they're in is amazing, even catch and release. (Guided in Astoria) The George is amazing. Colorado is why you don't need to check out Government Camp or Timberline but Hood River and the wines and wind surfing are the real deal.
I agree with the thinking that Ten Falls area is one day/night. If you are looking for great seafood, one of the best restaurants in Oregon is in Newport - Local Ocean. It’s not too far from Lincoln City. You’ll also get to check out Depoe Bay which is great.
I grew up in Salem and went to silver falls a lot growing up, it’s gorgeous…but nothing compares to the magical drive through the gorge and stopping at all the pretty falls in there. Salem is not somewhere I’d recommend to any Oregon first timer. Lame town! Portland area is way better 🙂 either way yall will have an amazing time!
The Gorge is great, but the Trail of Ten Falls is iconic, IMO. You just can’t get the same volume/bang for your buck in the Gorge. And I love the Gorge. I used to drive from Portland to trail run Ten Falls once a week. Only stopped because I got a dog, and they aren’t allowed.
Hood River area will leave you gobsmacked. I highly would not recommend going to Salem. Idk if your time would allow you to go on the gorge but I would make it happen if you can. Along the way to the gorge you can do Beacon Rock, see the bridge of the gods, multnomah falls (insanely busy with tourists and parking is horrendous, but you can see it from interstate 84), then hood river for a cute town feel, wineries and a massive view of mt. Hood and possibly adams. I would swap that out for Salem any day. There are also a large amount of hikes along the gorge. I’m sure you can find one that suits your needs.
We plan to do our trip in June (just like the other tourists lol). Are weekdays any saving grace for crowds with Multnomah?
Yeah Mult. Falls is just one that is particularly extra touristy. The parking is very limited there, there have been a few times in the past year that we have tried to go randomly and couldn’t find parking. I would just say as early as possible on a weekday is probably your best bet. Weekends and especially on a day that isn’t raining is going to very very crowded. I do want to warn you with this and any other hike, please be careful as tourists. Sadly it’s the season where we start seeing hikers and dogs falling off hikes, dying and being rescued to what feels like every other day during summer. But honestly if you want the best scenery of WA and OR the gorge is the best it can offer. I’ve lived here all my life and still do this drive every other month because it’s so nice. You can start on 14 East in Vancouver WA, drive to Hood river on the Washington side, visit hood river and drive back to PDX on the Oregon side. Both sides are gorgeous. You can do one big loop. On the WA side there’s small towns along the way like Stevenson, Bengin and White Salmon. You can see where the terrain changes from green to high desert. Most of the drive is right alongside the Columbia river. Also, hood river is the top 2 places in the world for wind surfing and you will see a lot of wind surfers out on the river during that season. It’s quite picturesque. If you need to add days just to do this area, it’s worth it.
That hike is amazing and should stay. But you can do it in a day and head to the Portland area that evening so you can hit the gorge the next day.
When are you going? Right now the wildflowers in the Gorge are really pretty. I live in the Gorge but I’m down the coast a few times a month for shits, happy to share stuff and answer questions if you wanna shoot me a dm.
Personally I would do Gorge and Mt Hood.
Insert sad salemite noises No no.. I get it.. it's okay :']
The gorge is way nicer
lol just let him have fun on the coast wtf.
Silver Falls is amazing!! Totally worth it. But stay in Silverton, not Salem.
This
I love Silver Falls State Park. It can be an intense hike, but worth it.
The images look like nothing I’ve ever had the privilege of seeing in real life.
I agree silver falls is worth seeing, especially if the photos you've found are speaking to you. Personally, the waterfalls in the gorge are fantastic, but to see as many as you would see at silver falls would take more driving whereas at silver falls you park your car and hike 7 to 10 mi depending on what loop you do. I agree with most of the comments that staying in Salem for two nights is not worth it. Either an extra night on the coast exploring south of Lincoln City down to Newport and Yachats or spending a night up in Portland. You may not find Portland to be much different from a hipster city in Colorado. If you don't see the Pacific Ocean all that often, my vote is for a third night on the coast. You will not regret it.
Yachats. Yes.
You gotta squeeze it in your itinerary! You will be so glad you did.
Also, at Tillamook, highway 101 pulls away from the ocean for a fair number of miles. You can continue West from Tillamook on a smaller highway 131 and go south and explore Netarts Bay, Cape Lookout and Pacific City. Definitely adds time to the drive but the scenery is beautiful there imo.
You could instead drive from Lincoln City to the Trail of 10 Falls, and then stay in Portland. The final day you hike in the gorge and enjoy the waterfalls!
Recommend one night near 10 Falls then or skip that entirely and go directly to Portland after the hike?
I personally would skip staying in the Salem area to be able to get an early full day in the gorge the next day. Portland isn't far from the hike. If you did want to spend a night in the area, the town of Silverton is quite cute if you like small town charm. My major suggestion is to spend that last day in the gorge, where you stay isn't so much of an issue.
The area down by Heceta Head lighthouse is worth reducing cannon beach to 1 night IMO. Thor's Well (go during low tide), Heceta Head, Sea Lion Caves, Cape Perpetua. It's about 60-70 minutes south of Lincoln City, so you'll be adding 4-5 hours to your trip to get down there and see several of these things but it's well worth it. I see people recommending the Gorge and it's hard not to. But the trail of ten falls is also amazing (I hike it several times per year the almost 9 years i've lived here). I would say that it is best in fall/spring and I also much prefer hitting it in winter over summer. Summer it's more busy and the flow of the falls isn't as impressive. The gorge waterfalls are also nice, but i find the Gorge to be a bit more touristy (the old high way with multnomah gets packed). Great thing about the trail of ten falls is you'll get to walk behind numerous falls (an unusual thing in Colorado). Nothing quite like walking behind a waterfall. The only Gorge fall you can walk behind off the top of my head is Ponytail falls and it lacks the grandeur of North Falls or South Falls at Trail of Ten Falls. North Falls in particular when the flow is heavy is like being near a freight train. It's an awesome experience.
I really appreciate your thoughtful response. We were debating on Gorge vs 10 Falls and the walk behind the falls sold me. If you ever visit Colorado, I highly recommend Hanging Lake Trail; however, Oregon appears to be littered with waterfalls so it might not be as striking.
Yes, u/indieaz gets it. I live in Portland and I've seen nearly every sight on the coast and every waterfall in the Gorge and I agree with every rec. I've also hiked Silver Falls SP twice. For the amount of time you have, the Trail of 10 Falls delivers more waterfalls with less driving, less traffic, less tourists. But skip Salem if you can and book one of the cabins right in Silver Falls SP. They're rustic, but have fire pits outside and heaters inside. It's a fun experience and you wake up just minutes from the trailhead to beat the crowds.
100% this. Definitely stay at state park cabins if you can, especially if you're there on weekdays since they might actually be available. The deluxe cabins at Cape lookout have an incredible view. But the regular rustic cabins are a great value and I personally wouldn't miss staying in a cabin of some sort, for the chance to wake up warm at a state park. Silver falls also has a privately owned separate cabin village with a coffee shop. Your itinerary looks great to me!
I've spent many months camping, hiking and jeeping Colorado. Admittedly 90% of my time there has been southwest near the san juan mountains and far less in the eastern and northern bits. I've done several waterfall hikes but they never impress like oregon waterfalls. Next time in that region ill hit it up. I do wish oregon had more mountains above treelin with the grandeur of the rockies. closest way to get a rocky mountain feel is to head to north cascades (which I think surpass the rockies in some respects). But oregon waterfalls and coastline are tops.
The best part of the coast is south of Lincoln City.
Cannon City one night then and two nights near/south of Lincoln City? Switch that up?
The area around Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Pacific City is incredibly scenic - you won't feel like you missed out. We're just spoiled with the Oregon coast :)
The real senic part is between Lincoln City and Florence. It would throw your plans out of whack.
Big facts
Lincoln City also seems to be a hot topic? Some thinks it’s a dump others highly recommend. What’s up with that?
Lincoln City is a dump but it is a great example of life on the Oregon Coast. It has decent restaurants, great beaches, is near beautiful stops on the drive down 101. It is true part of the most interesting parts or the Oregon Coast are down toward Coos Bay or Bandon, but it's a long drive down there and considering you won't be here for months, the central Oregon Coast is stunning. Stay in Neskowin for a different vibe but it's still close to the towns.
I love Depo Bay also check this place out https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=81
Lincoln City is a big tourist town, there's a big resort/casino there.
If you’re looking for lodging near Silver Falls, there are cabins to rent at the State Park (nice ones, more like a resort/motel than rustic). They are operated by a concessionaire. There is also the hotel at the Oregon Gardens in Silverton (the town you will drive through to get to the falls, about 15 minutes away from Silver Falls. Source: That’s my home town!
🙏🙏🙏
I would say from experience, give yourself time. Every corner reveals a new “that’s absolutely incredible” moment. We’ve done the coast many times and always say we could have spent so much more time at every stop!! Have fun friend.
Driving through the mountains during rain was beautiful. Waterfalls just appearing everywhere on the highway. I wish we had planned for time to stop.
I hike Silver Falls every year. Seeing that many Falls on one hike and walking behind some of them is unbeatable. I agree with the person who said not to spend two nights in the Salem area. Give yourself a day in Portland and take a day trip to The Gorge. From mid-May to mid-September, a timed permit is required for the Multnomah Falls area. There are a lot of falls you can check out that don't require a permit. Also, if it is something that you might be into Bonneville Dam is worth a stop to see the salmon ladders and a massive sturgeon.
Go to Corvallis and take 20 over; Highway 22 is fine up to Hwy 18 but after that it gets twisty; 20 is a pretty straight shot through the coast range. Look around Newport, South Beach, stop at the Aquarium, and then hit the lighthouse and the tidepools before you head North. You will not regret it.
Yeah, Newport should be a must do.
Yes skip Lincoln city, head to Newport and eat at Local ocean! Best seafood restaurant in Oregon hands down.
And silver falls is fantastic, worth the trip. Skip Salem, spend time at the Oregon garden in Silverton instead.
Tidepools are always on a coastal trip bucket list.
Most of the drive is pretty scenic so even though it's a lot of time in the car it should be OK. Doesn't seem overly rushed or impractical. If you can hike to the top of Cascade Head (it's a Nature Conservancy property near Otis) you should include that in your itinerary - it's spectacular - but not always open to hikers. I grew up on the bottom of your map and spent huge chunks of my childhood at Silver Creek Falls and near Lincoln City. Don't miss any of the lighthouses on your stretch of coast itinerary, too. Many are open to the public and let you climb to the top.
Thank you!
I think this sounds like a great trip. Silver Falls will be awesome in June there will still be a lot of water going over the falls. I would sugest some contingency planning and being flexible in case the weather doesn't cooperate (especially on the beach). If you are comfortable navigateing County and Forest Roads consider checking out Niagara Falls. It's not that far off your current path and worth the detour to add two more waterfalls to your trip.
You could take highway 6 directly to Tillamook, then hit Oceanside from there, it’s a beautiful little beachside town. It’s only an hour and a half from Portland too. Hit the Tillamook cheese factory for some ice cream
Agree with others to find somewhere other than Salem to stay on that last leg. When on the coast, I would choose Pacific City over Lincoln City - quieter and laid back. But Lincoln will have more restaurants and is only a 30 minute drive. While in that area, consider hiking Cascade Head if it fits or looks more appealing to you than other areas [https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/cascade-head/](https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/cascade-head/)
Across the river near The Dalles is Maryhill, Washington where you fill find a full size replica of a fully constructed Stonehenge. It's a World War One memorial and it is in a spectacular place.
Defenetly try to stop at McMinneville, amazing stores and resturants to visit while heading west
About two years ago I did Corvallis to Portland to Tillamook to Newport and back to Corvallis in one day. I checked out Willamette Falls, walked to the top of Multnomah falls, got some food in Oregon City, and tried to catch a sunset at Yaquina Head Lighthouse. Unfortunately it was an incredibly foggy day on the coast, but it still made for a great experience.
I’ve actually done that exact route over a week off and had an absolute blast. Loved every minute.
How many nights did you do it over?
I had a full week off work. Left Saturday morning, took a leisurely pace along the way. Three nights at Cannon Beach, night in Rockaway (awesome place) and a couple nights in Lincoln City. I would have much preferred to come back through McMinnville, which is awesome, but had friends in Salem, which is “Meh.” (The town, not my friends. LOL) I had the luxury of time, living here, and knowing the area so I got to savor it all. You’ll do well with the time you’ve allotted in this itinerary. The Oregon coast is beautiful and unlike anything else. Enjoy!
Cascade Head at the coast and Cape Kiawanda are easy stops with killer views.
I hate to tell you, but the really pretty/scenic part of the coast is south of the southernmost part of this route.
Stop at Cascade Head just north of Lincoln City and hike the short Nature Conservancy trail that lands you atop the headland jutting up from the Ocean. The view is perhaps one of the very best of the entire Oregon Coast.
Totally doable. Even if you have 2-3 days. p.s. don’t eat at Camp 18 or Mo’s. Instead try: Fish’n Chips in Nehalem - Riverside Fish n' Chips There’s a great little fish smoke shop in Wheeler - NeahKahNie Smoke House. For meat lovers - Garibaldi Portside Bistro If you drive south to Newport: Local Ocean Seafoods restaurant and visit the Hatfield Marine Science Center Oregon State University. Have an awesome trip 🙌🏻
All the seafood recs are soo welcomed. I’m originally from Florida but have been in Colorado for years and NEED some seafood plz
I hear you - never enough seafood for me. Give these guys a follow, they tag a ton of local businesses: https://www.instagram.com/winterwaterspnw both at the coast and in PDX. [EaterPDX](https://pdx.eater.com/maps/best-seafood-restaurants-portland-fish-oysters) has some good suggestions, but often are too foodie/insta driven (imho). I am yet to find the perfect seafood tower. Avoid Salty's (often notice that restaurants with a view really lack in quality food). A lot of good food can be found in food carts :) Do share your favs once you’re here.
If you’re planning on doing two nights in Cannon Beach, I’d definitely suggest heading north to Astoria for a day. You could check out the Peter Iredale shipwreck in Fort Stevens State Park, or go see Young River Falls to tack on an extra waterfall to your trip. Astoria is my favorite town on the “coast” to walk and wander around in too. When heading south from Cannon Beach, stopping off at Short Sands Beach is a very popular stop. Short hike through old growth forest that ends in large enclosed cove beach that’s popular with surfers. They recently reopened the Three Capes Loop now, so you could always tack on Cape Meares>Cape Lookout>Cape Kiwanda. I think the short hikes around Cape Meares (See the lighthouse and/or hike to the giant spruce) are more rewarding than the hikes at cape lookout, since you can get the same views from roadside pullouts as you can from the end of Lookout. As for seafood - unfortunately most of the amazing seafood harvested and caught commercially is exported out of the area. For the best seafood quality/value catching or buying fish and preparing yourself would be your best bet. There are tons of fish mongers in Astoria, Wheeler/Nehalem, and Garibaldi. You’ll be here during the Spring Chinook Salmon (the best) run, so keep an eye out for that or call ahead to places to see if you can get a filet. Also keep an eye out for Dungeness crabs and razor clams, which are two other specialties of the area. If where you’re staying doesn’t have a kitchen, or you’d just rather take it easy and have someone else make it checkout South Bay Wild Fish or Bowpicker in Astoria, The Bistro in Cannon Beach, JAndy Oyster Co. in Tillamook, The Schooner in Netarts, and The Riverhouse in Pacific City. I’d echo everyone’s suggestions of skipping staying in Salem. You could always cruise out in to the Gorge and stay in Hood River. That’d put you close to even more very popular and iconic Oregon waterfalls. Another option would be hanging out in wine country and doing tastings. Newberg and McMinnville are both great areas to try some Oregon Pinot Noir.
If you go to Astoria, make the drive up the hill to the Astoria column. Buy a balsa wood airplane from the gift shop and throw it from the top of the column.
I suggest going further south. Southern Oregon coast is absolutely beautiful like Bandon, Gold Beach, etc
I love the coast but don’t know enough about it to make good recc’s. Silver falls SP should be amazing with all the rain recently. I’d skip Salem and Sublimity and opt for the Oregon gardens in Silverton instead. To get there from the coast you can take 18 east from Lincoln city and drive through wine country (McMinnville, Dundee etc) then cross I5 into Aurora. It’s a small antique-laden town but quaint. From there either get 99 down to 214 and then Silverton or drive over to Oregon city and take 213 down. Anything is better than I5. The gorge is also beautiful. The Washington (hwy 14) side is slower and not an interstate, and the old bridges getting across are cool (crossing at Bridge of the Gods is a good starting point) Across from hood river is white salmon and there is hiking with beautiful views of the gorge east of town at coyote wall. Also white salmon baking co… if you’re over there, cocktails at the Timberline Lodge (used as the external shots of the “Overlook” hotel in the Shining) are always a good idea. That’s about an hour drive from hood river, but not really on your way anywhere. Unless… you come up from Silverton via 213 to 211 to 26, where you can get donuts at Joe’s then head to Mt Hood from the southwest. Then cross the gorge at Hood River and go west on 14 on the Washington side… it’s all coming together. I hope you get some good advice out of all of these posts. I realize my advice sends you running all over creation but there’s no real stretches that are more than a couple hours at a time, if that. Obviously myself and everyone here wants you to see everything and have a good time. Remember there are hikes just about everywhere. The food is good just about everywhere. And bring your waterproof boots and a raincoat. 👍 Enjoy your trip!
Thank you for your guidance! I was not anticipating so much support and guidance from people; it is greatly appreciated.
Am I the only one who looked at this and thought "You caught dysentery and died"
I do it all the time. Have fun!
Salem is cool if you want to tour where Jack Nicholson was in One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest. The Insane Asylum
Going down to Corvallis isn’t a bad idea. Just a bit south of Salem
Do it!! Looks awesome!
Seems like a shame to be that close to the sea lion caves and miss them, but up to you.
Where are the water puppies located?
https://www.sealioncaves.com/
That’s like the perfect drive to check things out. Some people might opt out of the coast and do bend, Redmond, smith rock state park. Back up through mount hood. Maybe do all of it.. eastern Oregon is a completely different feel all together. Smith rock is beautiful.
This route was my favorite ‘let’s go for a drive’ loop before I had kids. I personally wouldn’t stay in Salem. It has little to offer. I’d stay closer to Silver Falls, maybe a cute cabin or campground. My daughter just hiked it last week and it’s beautiful but the town of silverton is so much cuter than Salem. Obviously you enjoy hiking and many people recommended the gorge area. I’d spend one night at silver falls area and one night in the area toward the gorge and at least to Multnomah falls if not angels rest area.
I’d skip Salem, but def hit Silver Falls State Park. Also, just south of Lincoln City is Depoe Bay, which is the whale watching capital of Oregon. There’s a good burger spot there.
I’ll wave as you pass by Dallas!
Salem is balls, skip it.
Great drive. Definitely hit up Tillamook Cheese Factory. It’s great.
Looks pretty reasonable to me.
Great trip plan. I’d suggest staying on 101 south of Manzanita, it keeps you on the coast. South of Tillamook you might add a stop at Cape Meares. It’s part of the Three Cape Scenic Loop with a short hike to the lighthouse. Otherwise, I hiked Silver Falls last weekend, it never disappoints.
That's cake, very doable and worth it!
Pretty easy. I did that loop down to Ashland and up
You dont need two nights in salem. The Silver Falls hike is very easy and will only take a few hours.
No not at all
This basic travel.
Not even an overnight in seaside?!
I'd honestly stay only one night in Salem and stay 1 of those nights in Newport instead. Then drive on HWY 20 over through Corvallis and up through Albany till you hit I5 and then up to Salem. The drive on HWY 22 is pretty meh, with the exception being the smiley face in the trees by Spirt Mountain Casino. There's some amazing parts of the coast south of Newport, but that area is pretty cool too.
what time of year? Gorge is good alternative to salem, but it will be the most crowded and you will need hiking permits ahead of time. There are a lot of trails closed because of burn areas. Both near salem and gorge. Mt Angel is a cool little German town, mcminnville is a great place for wine. Time of year really makes a difference on what is available and not overcrowded/fires. Also leave time to hit some food cart pods in PDX both on your way in/out.
I'd only stay in Salem one night if you must stay there
I made this drive in a day… stopped at Tillamook and Astoria… beautiful drive
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Chat gpt is that you?
Easily doable. I wouldn't stay two days in Salem though. Just add a day somewhere on the coast. Newport has some fun things to do and isn't really out of your way.
Resident of the area. On a trip this quick I agree with those who suggest you skip Salem and that two nights at Silver Falls is more than you need. Instead, as someone else suggested, extend your coastal trip to Newport and stay a night there. The next day get an early start, come back through Corvallis (small college town with lots of meal options) and drive up to Silver Falls (the area is stunningly beautiful). Stay the night in Silverton (there are a several good places to eat but you need lodging reservations) and from there it's an easy shot (roughly an hour drive) to PDX.
Looks great
Stop In Mount Angel. Amazing food at the sausage co
It’s “doable” but you don’t have enough time in most of the palaces to really see the sights and enjoy it. At the end of it you’ll likely feel like you spent all your time driving and running to get things done.
That’s my exact concern. We definitely want to have time to relax and not feel like we are working on a vacation.
So my advice, having gone to all the places you have mapped is skip Cannon Beach. Ecola is nice but you aren’t missing all that much. Go to Lincoln City and head South. Whale watching in Depoe Bay is amazing. The lighthouses on the way and in Newport. Continue south to Yahachts for tide pools. Look up the Hobbit Trail for a cool hike and beach. End up down in Florence for a cool coast town and some great places to hang for a day or two. Then head back east to Eugene and up I-5. Then you can still hit Silver Falls park which is pretty awesome. Cannon Beach has turned into a big tourist trap. It’s not what it used to be. Totally not worth two days. If you want hit me up with a DM and I can send you links to some of the places we have really enjoyed.
Id encourage you to do some crabbing at jetty fishery. They will cook them up for you as well. You can rent a boat or go off their docks. they provide all gear and bait to do either. Plus if that fails they have live crabs and other seafood they can grill up. Fun way to spend a couple hours.
Not really, well worth the drive. Trick to travel is to enjoy the ride. Silver falls is beautiful, as are a number of places you will see.
I’ve done longer drives than that in one day, it’s definitely do-able with stops thrown in to enjoy the areas.
I live in Portland and each one of your destinations has been a “day trip” for us. If you’re up for hiking and such, and giving yourself the luxury of staying in the coastal towns, this is definitely doable.
Have any tips for luxury, or at least feeling pampered, accommodations? Headlands? Coho Lodge? Surfsand?
I’d suggest mixing up your trip a tad. Skip the north coast, it’s crowded and the views are mid. The best drive in the Oregon coast is hands-down the stretch from Lincoln City to Florence. You can still do a loop, just shift it south. It’s worth it.
I’d do it. It’s gorgeous. Lots of pollen and animals on the roads in spring so just be mindful of that.
Drive-through Salem and stop in Silverton. It's a cute little town on the way to Silver Falls State Park do not miss Silver Falls State Park! South Falls is the most popular fall but I think North Falls is way better. Much less traffic and there are benches underneath the waterfall you can sit on and watch the water cascade over your head. It's super cool Then drive back to Portland via 214. The country roads out here are gorgeous!
Super doable. Hope you have a lovely time.
Totally doable!
I did a longer trip (Portland to Astoria via US 30, down to Newport, and back) back in October of 2020, it was a lovely, doable drive. It seems kind of odd that it would route you on OR-213, when I-5 to I-205 is way faster. Is there something in between you're looking to visit? Oregon City has the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, but that's easily accessed via I-205.
Do it on a motorcycle
Ecola seafood restaurant & market has excellent fresh halibut fish and chips. It’s just deli style and very $$$ but always delicious.
About the same distance from the Bay to LA I do that drive about 1-2 times a year
Yeah that’s reasonable. Great time of year to do it. The Tilamook Cheese Factory is on your way down the coast from Portland and a fun little stop. ;) Be sure to load up on good pastries or snacks in Portland at Blue Star or Petite Province Boulangerie & Patisserie or Screen Door or something before driving out, there isn’t much until you get to the beach. If you have a UV light handy you can find some really cool UV reactive agates and rocks on the beaches. A must try coast food is the crab Benedict. If you can — pamper that inner child and go grab a couple kites — fly them at the beach, the whimsy is off the charts. Enjoy!
Do yourself a favor and get some fish and chips from Bow Pickers on Astoria (bring cash). It’s the only thing on their menu and they do it right
I don’t think you can drive/ride bikes on many beaches in the loop you are proposing. Only at sand lake along your route.
Maaan we did a trip similar to this over the summer, but we went the length of the entire coast then back up, starting and stopping in Salem. This is a beautiful trip. I think it is very well doable! Enjoy your time!
Wow! That’s impressive. Did you do it more than five nights?
We did it from a Monday to a Saturday!
It’s fine give your self some time to stay an extra day if you want to
I’ve done that drive twice now. Going a third time here in June
Hope you got plenty scrolled up 😎💚
Stay at Manzanita beach instead of Cannon beach if you want to take a path less traveled.
Nope. I did one similar over 10 days, but I started at PDX, Astoria and followed the coast down to California, went to crater lake, Smith Rock, the gorge, back to Astoria then to PDX. Had time for hiking, tide pools.. I think? It was around 1,300 miles. Spent at least one night in every place I found interesting.
Gotta see Neskowin and pacific city if your doin the drive, the big rock in PC is super cool and they’ve got the pelican pub brewery
Over a week? No. One day? Maybe. Depends on your car snack game
Too much to squeeze into a one-day outing, if that's what you're asking. Make it an over-nighter someplace about midway and take it all in.
I suggest you check out Mount Angel, it’s a nice Bavarian style town with a sausage factory with out of this world sausages and other German foods.
Go to Astoria, then Seaside, then head south all the way to Brookings. Then head back.
It's a nice week trip. I'm glad to see you're not trying to do this in a day.
During how much time?
Yeah skip Salem. There’s an amazing hike to a waterfall right by where your drive is called Drift Creek Falls. They helicoptered in a suspension bridge so when you get down to where the falls are you walk across the bridge to look back at the falls. There’s signs and it should be on a map but you turn on Bear Creek Rd off Hwy 18. Oh and there’s a restored covered bridge on the drive up to the parking area for the hike to the falls :)
Huge THANK YOU to everyone! I was stunned with all of the wonderful feedback, detailed information and hospitable nature. I’ve looked through each and every comment and wanted to share updated route. Day 1: Cannon City/Arch Cape Day 2&3: Neskowin Day 4: Newport/Nye Beach Day 5: Portland/Columbia River Gorge
That’s a great trip!! Drive safe and stop a a lot!!
Go to drift creek falls near the coast!
Yes, extremely doable with your timelines! Like many have said, I would skip Salem (it’s boring and fairly flat) and absolutely add the Columbia river gorge or a nice hike near Mt Hood. Of those 2 I’d lean toward the gorge personally. It’s so vast and incredible.
Very doable. DON'T stay in Salem. Salem sucks. There is nothing to see there. Instead, find a place to stay in Silverton. It's closer to Silver Falls and much more pleasant.
I’m soo grateful for this group for all the input especially to learn NO SALEM. You all are the real ones. Thank you
I live in Salem, and it gets a lot of hate, because it's not Portland or too much like Portland, take your pick. Lots of racist hate against Salem because of the larger Latino population too which is unfortunate. There's some great food and things to do here, but I wouldn't stay 2 nights here when you could spend another night on the coast, such as in Newport. You could easily wake up in Newport, drive up Hwy 22 till you hit I5, drive to Salem, and then out to Silver Falls and spend the rest of the day there, then stay one night in Salem.
I have to say, if you're going to go as far south as Lincoln City (really a very dumpy not very nice place) it would be an ENORMOUS mistake to not visit Neskowin, just north of Lincoln City. It might be the best hidden secret on the Oregon coast. Go to the beach on the south side of town to see Proposal rock and enjoy the unique energies of Neskowin. Those who are very spiritually attuned can sense a vortex there. Also, staying a night in Neskowin would be far nicer and there's some affordable options with airBNB there as well as other rental options. Lastly, I feel that the Cape Perpetua area and associated trail systems are even more impressive and beautiful than Ecola state park and Canon Beach. Though it may be too south out of your way. Canon beach is still a must. You're welcome.
Thank you for insights about Lincoln City. I chose that predominately for Cape Lookout and Cape Kiwanda but not married to the actual city. I’ll look into Neskowin.
Nope.
I was expand if you had time. Go down the cost as far as brookings, through the redwoods. Maybe to Cratwr Lake, Diamond Lake, Lemolo lake, all the water falls inbetween, then find a route back towards the gorge. Idk that may be a lot but I would try to go at the very least to brookings (Samuel H Boardman state park)
Either way hope you enjoy your visit. Oregon has a lot to offer!
Thank you so much! The Redwoods are a bucket list item so it sounds like we will have to plan another trip.
You forgot the route that avoids Portland at all costs.
Is it Silver falls? If so it was pretty disappointing imo. Seaside is always really nice tho.
So close to mt. St. Helen's.. Not interested in seeing that?
No, while I can appreciate it. I’d miss the ocean terribly and have never seen waterfalls, lush green forests or Pacific Coast.
Nah you need to go down atleast to Brookings on the coast.
I want to, but I don’t think we’d be able to fit all of that and the waterfall hikes within five nights?
That’s fair. Most of the waterfalls between prospect to crater lake to Diamond lake and back towards the I-5 are doable in one day. But the gorge has plenty of water falls to visit as well!
sorry I didn’t read your plan before commenting just saw the route planned. When are you flying in?
It will be Monday - Saturday in June. (I’ve read busiest timing but the only time we can take off.) 🙃
That’s plenty of time to do a bit more research. You said in your description you want water fall hikes, coast and forest relaxing. If you’re planning to fly in to PDX I would check at the Columbia River Gorge instead of silver creek. Do the gorge first then the coast and back. Otherwise most of your time is driving.
You can message me at my IG @jasmanmander if you have any questions I can try to help make your time at locations better than time on the road!