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Voyages with Val

The Perfect 4 Day Oregon Road Trip Itinerary

Oregon may be one of the most underrated states in the US! While it has gained popularity in recent years it is still overshadowed by Washington to the North and California to the South. Oregon is a land of raging waterfalls, towering mountains, and stunning coastline, that should be on everyone’s travel list! The perfect way to see the most of Oregon is a road trip throughout the state! While a 7-day road trip may be ideal, there is still so much you can see with only 4 days in Oregon. Starting in Portland , travel to Multnomah Falls, Mount Hood, Bend, Crater Lake , and up the Oregon Coast on this perfect 4-day Oregon road trip itinerary.

Map of 4-Day Oregon Road Trip

The Oregon road trip map above begins in Portland Oregon and travels to the major scenic sites in Oregon. Travel from Portland to Bend on your first day, stopping in the Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood . On the second day, explore Bend and travel to Crater Lake National Park . Day three check out another stunning Oregon waterfall before venturing over to the Oregon Coast. Day 4 see the best Oregon Coast stops including Thor’s Well, Cannon Beach, and many more before heading back to Portland.

This 4-day trip takes around 830 miles and 18 hours of driving with an average of 4 hours of driving each day. This is interspersed with many scenic spots, and there are opportunities to cut out spots if you prefer less driving. Rent a car from Portland to give yourself as much flexibility as possible.

4 Day Oregon Road Trip Packing List

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

• Raincoat-  You don’t want to visit Oregon without a rain jacket. This also works as a windbreaker-   My Favorite Rain Jacket
• Fleece-  A fleece or mid-layer is great to have when hiking so you can easily take it off to cool down-  Soft REI Fleece
• Day Pack – If you plan on doing a decent amount of hiking a day pack is always great to bring-  Recommended Osprey Day Pack
• Beanie or Hat-  You never know when the wind may pick up, so it is a good idea to always hike with a hat-  Warm Beanie
• Waterproof Boots – Trails near the coast and waterfalls are often muddy. Make sure to bring waterproof boots-  My Favorite Hiking Boots
• Moisture-Wicking Pants – While they do not need to be waterproof, you will likely want either moisture-wicking or quick-drying pants if the forecast calls for rain-  Comfortable Women’s Hiking Pants
• Sandals – If visiting in the summer and you plan on spending a long time at the beach, bring a pair of sandals to change into-  Teva Sandals
• Water Bottle – If hiking, bring a water bottle to hydrate-  Water Bottle
• Sunscreen – Make sure to wear sunscreen outdoors-  SPF 50 Sunscreen
• Camera-  Bring a camera to capture your memories!-   Beginner Travel Camera

4 Day Oregon Road Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Portland to Mount Hood and Bend

• Portland to Bend Distance: 211 miles
• Portland to Bend Driving Time: 4 hours 38 minutes

You will likely start your Oregon road trip in Portland if you are flying in. This makes a great starting point, as it gives you easy access to the Columbia River Gorge and the Historic Columbia River Scenic Highway. Take the scenic route from Portland to Bend , by driving through the Gorge, stopping at a few waterfalls and overlooks. This adds a bit over an hour of driving than if you were to drive straight to Bend, but it is well worth it to see some of the best waterfalls in Oregon.

Upon reaching Hood River , continue South around Mount Hood, and then on US-26 and US-97 the remaining way to Bend. A few must-see stops are Trillium Lake or the Timberline Lodge for a view of Mount Hood, and Smith Rock State Park near Bend!

Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area ranges from just East of Portland out to Hood River. There are many viewpoints and stops on the way, so make sure to choose a few on your trip down the Gorge!

Vista House is one of the best spots to view the Columbia River Gorge. It is over 100 years old and is open from 9 AM to 5 PM. This is also a great spot to view sunrise near Portland. Another great viewpoint is Beacon Rock Trail which is only 1.5 miles and one of the best hikes in the Columbia River Gorge !

Best Waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge

A trip to the Columbia River Gorge is not complete without visiting some waterfalls! The Columbia River Gorge has some of the best waterfalls in all of Oregon, accessible by trails ranging from easy to difficult.

• Multnomah Falls- Multnomah Falls is the most popular and tallest waterfall in Oregon. It can be accessed by a short walk from the parking lot, or you can do a more difficult hike up to the top of the falls.
• Wahclella Falls- 1.9 miles, 223 feet, Easy – Wahclella Falls is an easy 2-mile hike to one of the best waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge
• Latourell Falls – 3 miles, 728 feet, Moderate – It is only a quarter of a mile to Latourell Falls, or you can do a loop hike up to Upper Latourell Falls as well.
• Horsetail Falls- Horsetail Falls is a short walk from the parking lot and accessible to everyone.
• Bridal Veil Falls –  0.5 miles, 78 feet, Easy – Many wouldn’t consider this a true hike, but nevertheless, it is well worth your time. Bridal Veil Falls is only a quarter of a mile from the parking lot, and the overlook gives a spectacular view of the two-tiered, over 100-foot waterfall.

Read More: Best Waterfall Hikes Near Portland

After driving through the Gorge you will reach the picturesque town of Hood River. In the Spring this is a great time to see wildflowers , or you can make a stop to pick fruit or try wine at one of the many orchards and vineyards on the Fruit Loop in Hood River! The  Gorge White House  is a popular family-owned spot that serves fresh fruit, wine, and cider out of a historic 1906 house.

Read More: Wildflower Hikes in Oregon & Washington

Next, you will drive up by Mount Hood before continuing on to Bend. While you may not have time for a long hike, consider a short stop at a viewpoint to see the majestic Mount Hood!

Mount Hood Viewpoints:

• Trillium Lake
• White River West Sno-Park
• Timberline Trail

Smith Rock State Park

Your last stop of the day will be at Smith Rock State Park . Smith Rock is located about 30 minutes from Bend, Oregon, and is the perfect spot to view the sunset! You can walk a short distance to see the iconic view of the Crooked River Trail snaking by the steep rock walls. If you have more time, hike along the river and admire the beautiful State Park.

Where to Stay Near Bend

Hotels near bend.

• Campfire Hotel – This cute hotel is perfectly nature themed for your Oregon road trip
• McMenamins Old St. Francis School – McMenamins is a staple throughout Oregon and offers unique accommodations and restaurants. This converted school even has hot soaking pools you can enjoy.
• Bunk & Brew Historic Lucas House Hostel – If you’re more on a budget there is a hostel with both private and shared rooms in a historic brick house.

Rentals Near Bend

• Riverfront Retreat –  A larger home on the river is perfect for a group trip or family get together
• Cabin Near Bend – This adorable cabin was perfect to be near Bend but still in nature
• Ranch Guesthouse Near Bend – If you’re looking for something a little more remote. This cozy guesthouse is about 15 minutes from Bend.

Day 2: Bend and Crater Lake

• Bend to Crater Lake Distance: 161 miles
• Bend to Crater Lake Driving Time: 3 hours 18 minutes

Spend the morning in Bend and the evening in Crater Lake for the perfect day 2 of your Oregon road trip. There are not many stops in between, so spend some time enjoying Bend’s famous site s before heading off.

The route to Crater Lake is very easy to follow- just take US-97 south to Chiloquin before venturing up on OR-422 and OR-62 to Crater Lake National Park.

Bend is a unique outdoorsy town at the foot of the Cascade Mountains. Spend the morning exploring Bend and the surrounding area before continuing on. Below is a summary of some of the best things you can do in Bend.

Also don’t forget to pick up breakfast at one of the many coffee roasteries based in Bend. Bend is well known for its coffee so you really can’t go wrong! Bend also had a thriving brewery scene, so after a morning outdoor activity cool off at one of the local breweries such as Deschutes Brewery or Crux Fermentation Project .

Best Things to Do Near Bend

Bend has so much to do it is hard to choose! Below are just a few of the activities you could pick from to squeeze in for a half day in Bend.

• See the city and mountains from Pilot Butte
• Go on a guided climb in Smith Rock State Park
• Rent a paddleboard and float down the Deschutes River
• Take an ATV Tour   through the desert
• Chase waterfalls like Tumalo Falls
• Stop by the Last Blockbuster
• Visit the High Desert Museum  
• Go hiking at Newberry National Monument

Read More: Weekend Itinerary in Bend, Oregon

Crater Lake National Park

After having your fill in Bend, drive the 90 miles down to Crater Lake National Park . Crater Lake is a beautiful National Park and easy to see in half a day! I would recommend picking a sunset hike such as The Watchman Peak Trail to admire the stunning lake. Depending on the time of year you can also drive or bike around the rim and stop at the viewpoints!

Where to Stay Near Crater Lake

Hotels near crater lake.

• Crater Lake Lodge – This is the only hotel inside the National Park! Like most National Park’s lodges, this is not the cheapest option, but you can’t beat the location.
• Crater Lake Resort – This is about 30 minutes outside of the National Park and has both tent sites and cabins for rent.
• Sleep Inn in Chiloquin – A standard hotel about 45 minutes outside the park.

Rentals Near Crater Lake

• Cabin on Umpqua River – This Cabin is a bit further North of Crater Lake but is right on the way to the locations on Day 3 of your Oregon road trip.
• Tiny Home Near Crater Lake – This ranch tiny home is just 19 miles from Crater Lake National Park.
• Cabin on the River – This cabin on a river is about 30 minutes from Crater Lake.

Day 3: Crater Lake to the Oregon Coast

• Crater Lake to the Oregon Coast Distance: 201 miles
• Crater Lake to the Oregon Coast Driving Time: 4 hours 16 minutes

Day 3 of your Oregon road trip itinerary will take you from the mountains to the coast! First, head up from Crater Lake with a quick stop at Toketee Falls ! Then continue taking OR-138 all the way out to the coast. From there you will turn onto the scenic 101.

Most of the rest of the trip will be spent driving up the 101 along the coast. Don’t be afraid to stop at the many pull-offs and take in the views! Some key stops on this day include the Oregon Dunes, Sea Lion Caves, and Heceta Head Lighthouse.

Toketee Falls

Toketee Falls   is a quick stop on the way toward the Oregon Coast in  Umpqua National Forest . It is only half a mile each way to an overlook of the 113-foot-tall waterfall. This is one of the most famous waterfalls in Oregon, iconic for the basalt columns that surround it.

The Oregon Dunes

Below are a  few great hikes near the Oregon Dunes . When searching for hikes on the Oregon Dunes, be sure to check if the trail is hiking only. Many trails in this area are also ATV trails.

• John Dellenback Trail – 5.5 miles, 308 feet, Moderate – If you hike the entire trail it will lead you to the beach. You can also hike just part of the trail to experience walking on the dunes! Please note that dogs are not allowed from March through September.
• Threemile Lake Trail – 6.1 miles, 997 miles, Moderate – This trail leads to a lake near the shore and leads you through both sand dunes and lush forests.
• Hall Lake Loop – 1.6 miles, 154 feet, Easy – This is a shorter trail in the sand around Hall Lake, and features a waterfall during certain times of the year.

If you have more time, you can also rent an ATV from somewhere like Spinreel Dune Buggy and ATV Rental and explore the dunes with 4 wheels.

Heceta Head Lighthouse & Sea Lion Caves

Stop by  Heceta Head Lighthouse and the  Sea Lion Caves . These two spots are right next to each other, so it is easy to see both.

Sea Lion Caves

The Sea Lion Caves cost $14 per person to descend into the caves and see the wildlife up close. The sea lions are not always present, so you can call ahead to confirm, or stop by and ask before purchasing a ticket.

Right past the caves is the Lighthouse and Sea Lion Beach Vantage Point . This is a free pull-off that gives a good photo opportunity of Heceta Head Lighthouse and Cape Cove.

Heceta Head Lighthouse

For a small fee, you can park in the day-use area and walk closer to the lighthouse. It is only 0.5 miles to the lighthouse. For a longer hike, continue on the  Heceta Head Lighthouse Trail to Hobbit Beach , a   3.6-mile round-trip walk.

There are not many places to stay here, so you will likely want to continue on to Yachats, Oregon for the night.

Where to Stay Near Yachats

Hotels near yachats.

• Heceta Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast – You can stay in the Heceta Head lightkeepers house turned bed & breakfast!
• Adobe Resort – This is a 3-star hotel with a beautiful sea view in Yachats!
• Overleaf Lodge & Spa – For a slightly nicer stay, relax at the Overleaf Lodge and Spa in Yachats

Rentals Near Yachats

• Cottage with Hot Tub – This little cottage is close to the Ocean in Yachats.
• Earthworks Art House – This stay is adjacent to the Earthworks Gallery and a rhododendron preserve
• Cozy Beach Cottage – This little cottage is dog friendly and within an easy walk to the beach

Day 4: Road Trip up the Oregon Coast

• Oregon Coast back to Portland Distance: 262 miles
• Oregon Coast back to Portland Driving Time: 5 hours 50 minutes

This is the longest driving day on your 4-Day Oregon coast road trip itinerary but it is interspersed with lots of quick stops! You can also cut down on the driving time by staying the night in Astoria or Cannon Beach or cutting out Astoria entirely and heading straight to Portland from Cannon Beach.

The majority of the driving is done along the 101 which has scenic ocean views almost the whole way! Some must-see stops are listed below including Thor’s Well, Yaquina Lighthouse, Cannon Beach , and Astoria . If you want to see even more here is a list of the best things to see on the Oregon Coast.

Thor’s Well

Thor’s Well is a quick stop, but a must-see on the Oregon Coast. This unique rock formation forms a hole in the coastline. At low tide, it is fun to watch the waves crash against the rock and soar up through the hole before being sucked back out to sea. However, it is high tide where Thor’s Well really shines.

High tide is the  best time to see and photograph Thor’s Well . The ocean covers the hole, meaning the water drains right through, looking like a hole in the ocean! To time your visit right, check a tide chart and visit at high or close to high tide.

There is a short dirt path to get closer to a lookout of the well. This should be accessible for most people. The tide will depend on how close you can get to the well. Always be careful of high waves that can reach further than you may expect. If you can’t hike closer to the well, it is also visible right off the road.

Yaquina Lighthouse

Lighthouses are always a must-see on the coast The  Yaquina Lighthouse  in the  Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site  is one of the best because it will let you walk inside! You can check the lighthouse website for up-to-date information on if the lighthouse is open. 

From the same parking area as the lighthouse, you can walk down to  Cobble Beach . Cobble Beach is a small beach with interesting black spherical rocks and many tide pools.

Oswald West State Park

Oswald West is one of the best State Parks in Oregon. There are hikes ranging from a short walk to several miles, and it has spectacular views of the coast!

Best Hikes in Oswald West State Park

Pick a short or longer hike in Oswald West State Park depending on the time you have. If nothing else, I would highly recommend taking the short walk to Short Sand Beach .

• Short Sand Beach – 0.6 miles, Easy – Short Sand Beach is more of a quick walk than a hike and is the best option if you are short on time. Explore this beach cove before heading up the coastline!
• Cape Falcon Trail –  4.6 miles, 623 feet elevation, Moderate – This trail starts from the same trail that leads to Short Sand Beach or an alternative trailhead. The end goal of this hike leads to a viewpoint of Cape Falcon.
• Neahkahnie Mountain –  2.8 miles, 866 feet, Difficult – This is the more maintained of two trails up Neahkahnie Mountain. This trail has amazing views of the coastline from the mountaintop

Cannon Beach

Cannon Beach  is a must-see when visiting Oregon. It is one of the most popular beaches due to its proximity to Portland, and the impressive 235-foot-tall  Haystack Rock  that dominates the view. This beach is huge, so there is plenty of room to wander or have a picnic!

Depending on the time of day you visit, Cannon Beach is a great place to stop for lunch! The seafood here cannot be beaten, and like much of Oregon, there are plenty of breweries to choose from.  Pelican Brewing  and  Public Coast Brewing  are two popular breweries in Cannon Beach.    Ecola Seafood Restaurant and Market   has a laid-back atmosphere and classic seafood options including Oregon’s famous Dungeness Crab. Dine in or take some to go, and enjoy your food with an ocean view!

Astoria is the most Northern Oregon coastal town, but well worth the visit! You may recognize many spots there as filming locations for popular movies like The Goonies.

This is the last spot on your itinerary, so fill in any remaining time you have exploring the town and nearby coast before making your way back to Portland!

Things To Do in Astoria

Like many towns on this list, Astoria has more to do than can be fit in the day, but you can see one or two of the highlights, depending on your preferences while in this coastal town! Below are just some of the best things to do nearby.

• Cathedral Tree Trail   is a short hike in downtown Astoria
• Ride the Historic Trolley along the riverfront
• See the Astoria-Megler Bridge
• Photograph the Peter Iredale Shipwreck
• Go hiking in Cape Disappointment State Park
• Visit the   Columbia River Maritime Museum

Read More: Things to Do in Astoria

Alternative Itinerary- 4 Day Oregon Coast Road Trip

If you would rather explore one area of Oregon more in-depth in your 4 days, I would recommend instead doing a  road trip of the Oregon coast . Start at  Astoria  and make your way down to  Brookings, Oregon.  You will be able to see many of the coastal places listed above as well as  Samuel H Boardman State Park, Devil’s Punchbowl, Ecola State Park, Cape Kiwanda , and many other stops.

If you have extra time you can continue on down to spend a day in the Redwoods and fly out of San Francisco.

• Day 1: Astoria and Cannon Beach
• Day 2: Cannon Beach to Lincoln City
• Day 3: Lincoln City to Florence
• Day 4: Florence to Brookings

Tips for Planning an Oregon Road Trip

• Check the weather for each area.  Oregon has a diverse landscape and the weather on the coast is likely very different from the Oregon desert! The weather will also be colder at higher elevations and many mountains do not clear of snow until late July or early August.
• Know tire chain requirements. In the Fall-Spring many mountain passes and the Columbia River Gorge requires tire chains. Check if they are required during your visit. You can also check mountain pass road conditions on the Oregon webcams.
• Buy an Oregon State Park pass. This itinerary includes a lot of state parks! You will likely save money and time by buying a 12-month day-use parking permit for $30 instead of paying the day fee in each park.
• Download your maps  ahead of time or print them off. The mountains and coast of Oregon often don’t get service.
• Make your reservations ahead of time – This is especially true if you want to camp in Summer. Campgrounds get very competitive in the Pacific Northwest
• Leave No Trace!   This is essential when hiking in any wilderness area. Don’t pick wildflowers (it’s illegal in Oregon!), don’t feed or pet wild animals, and take all trash with you. Stay on the trail when hiking, wandering off-trail destroys the environment and ruins the experience for others.

How Many Days for an Oregon Road Trip?

You may be wondering- how many days should I plan for an Oregon road trip?

I would recommend  7-10 days  to see as much as possible.  4 days  are enough to  hit the highlights , but you will likely walk away feeling as though there was still so much more to see. However, if 4 days are all you have, it is definitely worth it to make the trip and experience Oregon!

When to Road Trip Oregon?

Late Spring through Early Fall is the best time to visit Oregon . Summer will give you the most flexibility in things to do with warm weather all over the state. Keep in mind places like Crater Lake do not entirely lose their snow until into July. My personal recommendation would be to visit in mid to late September when the snow has likely not yet begun, but peak summer crowds have left. The itinerary above assumes that Crater Lake’s road is open to go out the North side.

As you can see above, the weather varies across Oregon. The coast remains mild throughout the year, rarely getting snow. Meanwhile, the mountains near Bend get coated every winter. If you are taking a Winter trip to Oregon, you’re itinerary and activities may need to look a little different to take advantage of the skiing and snowshoeing opportunities.

You May Also Like

• Scenic Day Trips from Portland
• Guide to Silver Falls State Park
• Mount Rainier in One Day

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Côte de l'Oregon

La magnifique "Pacific Coast Scenic Byway" de l'Oregon s'étire sur 584 kilomètres, entre l'état de Washington au Nord et la Californie au Sud.

Cette côte a été assez bien préservée et qui est encore assez sauvage.

Le littoral est constitué de montagnes et de forêts qui poussent à côté des plages. Il existe 80 parcs le long de la côte, avec de nombreuses possibilités de camping et de randonnées. Chaque mètre de cette côte est ouvert au public grâce à une loi majeure de l'état datant de 1967, qui oblige les propriétaires à laisser un accès libre à la plage sur leur propriété.

Il existe 80 parcs le long de la côte, avec campings et randonnées. Selon la loi de l'Oregon, les plages sont accessibles au public.

La côte Ouest de l'Oregon donne donc sur l'océan Pacifique. Voir le plan de situation de la Côte de l'Oregon .

La route US101 parcourt toute la côte du Nord au Sud, de Astoria à Brookings et offre des points de vue fabuleux sur l'océan Pacifique et la côte. L'Oregon a entamé il y a déjà plus d'un siècle d'importants efforts pour mettre en valeur son littoral. L'état a d'abord racheté de nombreux terrains pour créer des parcs d'état accessibles à tous. En 1913, l'Oregon décide de construire une longue route le long de la côte, entre Astoria au Nord et Brookings au Sud : les 585 kilomètres de l'US101 seront entièrement opérationnels en 1926.

Contrairement à la côte californienne, le littoral de l'Oregon est faiblement urbanisé, mais cela ne veut pas dire que vous ne trouverez personne le long de l'US101. De nombreux touristes parcourent l'US101 en été, notamment les habitants de Californie (d'autant plus que la côte de l'Oregon est assez souvent moins embrumé que celle du Nord de la Californie) ou de Portland. Les paysages rencontrés sont exceptionnels : longues plages de sable fin, falaises, forêts primaires, rochers, prairies, dunes de sable... La côte est parsemée de très beaux phares construits au 19ème siècle, pour guider les bateaux le long de ce littoral dont les hauts fonds sableux et les récifs rendent la navigation délicate et périlleuse. Cette complexité a en partie bridé le développements des ports et villes installés sur la côte.

Coté sécurité, vous ne pourrez pas rater les nombreux panneaux signalant la route à prendre en cas de tsunami. Le risque est réel dans cette région du monde qui connait une zone de subduction océanique. En cas d'alerte, il n'y a pas à hésiter une seule seconde...

Temps de visite

Il faut au moins 2 journées pour parcourir entièrement les 600 kilomètres de côte entre Astoria et le Nord de la Californie. Si vous résidez quelques jours sur Portland, il est possible de faire une excursion sur la journée sur la côte, pour découvrir le secteur entre Astoria et Tillamook.

Sauf pour les plus téméraires, n'espérez pas trop profiter de la baignade dans les eaux du Pacifique : celles-ci sont froides (15°C maximum en été) et les courants dangereux.

À voir, à faire

Visualisez l'ensemble des points d'intérêt présentés ci-dessous sur cette carte . Ceux-ci sont présentés du Nord au Sud.

Secteur Nord

Astoria , fondée en 1811, est la plus ancienne colonie d'immigrants américains à l'Ouest des Rocheuses. Elle est située à l'embouchure de la Columbia River. Le centre-ville est très agréable à découvrir, avec des maisons au style victorien, des restaurants, des conserveries...

Le Astoria–Megler Bridge relie l'Etat de Washington à l'Oregon. Inauguré en 1966, il fait 4.1 miles de long et enjambe l'embouchure de la Columbia River à 60 mètres au dessus de l'eau. Le ville abrite aussi un très joli musée maritime, le Columbia River Maritime Museum , où sont préservés plus de 30000 objets et 15 000 photographies.

Située au sommet de Coxcomb Hill, une colline qui domine la ville, Astoria Column est une immense colonne de 38 mètres de haut, construite en 1925. Ses peintures murales racontent l'histoire de l'Oregon. Le site offre une superbe vue sur les nombreux cours d'eau entourant Astoria.

Pour les cinéphiles, Astoria a été aussi le décor de plusieurs films, notamment "Les Goonies" (1985). Les fans visiteront la "Goonies House" (au 368 sur la 38th Street) et le "Clatsop County Jail" (au 732 Duane Street).

Site officiel : Travel Astoria

Fort Stevens State Park

À l'Ouest de Astoria, Fort Stevens State Park occupe la pointe Nord-Ouest de l'Oregon.

Fort Stevens a été actif de 1863 à 1947. Cette installation militaire était destinée à garder l'embouchure de la Columbia River.

Jetty Observation Tower , une grande plateforme d'observation qui permet d'avoir une vue imprenable pour assister à la rencontre, souvent houleuse, entre la rivière Columbia et l'océan Pacifique. Le parc dispose de longues plages de sable.

Au Sud du parc, le long de l'océan Pacifique, vous trouverez l'épave du bateau de Peter Iredale, échoué en 1906 sur Clatsop Spit près de Fort Stevens. Cet endroit est particulièrement photogénique.

Site officiel : Oregon State Parks - Fort Stevens SP

Fort Clatsop

À 5 miles au Sud d'Astoria, Fort Clatsop est une reconstitution du camp d'hiver de l'expédition Lewis & Clark, sur le site originel. Après le premier véritable vote ouvert de l'histoire des États-Unis (scrutin auquel participèrent une femme et un esclave noir), le Corps of Discovery de Lewis & Clark décida d'installer ici son bivouac d'hiver en 1805/1806, dernier bivouac avant d'entreprendre le voyage retour. Le site, intégré dans Lewis and Clark National Historical Park , propose de nombreux sentiers de randonnée et un Visitor Center (animations en saison).

Site officiel : NPS.gov - Lewis and Clark National Historical Park

Seaside , située à 18 miles au Sud d'Astoria, est sans doute, avec ses airs de fête foraine, la ville balnéaire la plus grande et la plus fréquentée de l'Oregon. La promenade de bord de mer fait environ 3 kilomètres de long.

Ecola State Park

Ecola State Park , situé à 1.5 mile au Nord de Cannon Beach, abrite des magnifiques criques au sable fin et des chemins boisés, dominé par Tillamook Head , un immense promontoire rocheux de 366 mètres de haut. Le site offre de très belles vues sur la côte très découpée et sur Tillamook Rock Lighthouse , un phare planté sur un gros rocher en pleine mer.

Site officiel : Oregon State Parks - Ecola SP

Cannon Beach

Juste au Sud de Ecola SP, Cannon Beach est une petite ville chic, avec ses rues commerçantes, ses boutiques et sa vaste plage de sable qui s'étend sur des kilomètres. Ne ratez pas Haystack Rock , un immense monolithe en bord de mer, haut de 72 mètres, très photogénique. Il est possible de rejoindre le pied de cet énorme rocher à marée basse.

Site officiel : Cannon Beach

Dans la région de Tillamook , les falaises et les criques se succèdent, la route US101 grimpe à plus de 210 mètres au dessus du Pacifique, avant de descendre vers l'estuaire de Nehalem Bay et de rentrer un peu à l'intérieur des terres, autour de Tillamook Bay .

La petite ville de Garibaldi est un lieu privilégié pour pratiquer le pêche et le kayak.

La ville de Tillamook est connue pour sa Tillamook Cheese Factory , où l'on peut goûter leur fromage. Au Sud de la ville, se trouve le Tillamook Air Museum . La visite de ce petit musée de l'aéronautique vaut le détour, rien que pour admirer la taille du hangar B, qui est la plus grande structure en bois courbé au monde, pouvant contenir jusqu'à 8 dirigeables. Les avions exposés (une partie de la collection est partie vers Madras) ne sont pas tous en bon état, ni bien mis en valeur, mais pour les amateurs, la visite est intéressante.

De Tillamook, vous pouvez faire un petit détour sur l'OR131, vers l'Ouest, le long de la Three Capes Scenic Drive , jusqu'au phare de Cape Meares , puis continuer en direction du Sud via Whiskey Creek Road, pour atteindre Cape Kiwanda et l'US101, en passant par Cape Lookout . Les points de vue sont nombreux et spectaculaires, le long de ce détour de 37 miles de long.

Newport et alentours

Cascade head preserve.

Situé juste au Nord de Lincoln City, Cascade Head est une montagne avec une immense prairie donnant sur la mer. On peut y voir de nombreuses cascades se jetant dans l'océan.

Avec ses nombreux sentiers serpentant à travers une forêt primaire, le parc fait le bonheur des randonneurs. Il existe 3 chemins de randonnée. Upper Trail , le plus côté, mène jusqu'à Cascade Head .

Site officiel : The Nature Conservancy - Cascade Head Preserve

Lincoln City

Lincoln City est une ville moderne, avec des plages légèrement venteuses, idéales pour les amateurs de Kitesurf. L'Oregon n'appliquant pas de taxe sur les ventes, la ville comporte de nombreux outlets, pour les amateurs de shopping.

Site officiel : Lincoln City Central Oregon Coast

La ville de Depoe Bay se présente comme étant le plus petit port navigable du monde.

Les baleines, qui migrent le long de la côte, s'attardent souvent ici. Le Whale Watching Center est un bâtiment, situé dans la ville de Depoe Bay, avec de grandes fenêtres qui donnent sur l'océan afin d'admirer les baleines qui passent souvent.

À Cape Foulweather , les paysages sont assez spectaculaires.

Autour de Otter Rock , on peut observer la faune et la flore dans les jardins marins composés de mares résiduelles. Dans les environs, on peut aller voir les eaux de l'océan tourbillonner dans la grotte marine effondrée appelée Devil's Punchbowl , protégé par Devils Punch Bowl State Natural Area.

Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area

Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area protège une langue de terre qui s'avance de plus d'un kilomètre dans l'océan, au bout de laquelle on peut admirer le plus grand phare de l'Oregon : le Yaquina Head Lighthouse .

Ne manquez pas Cobble Beach , une plage de galets noirs : il y a 14 millions d'années, de la lave venant d'Oregon orientale et de l'état de Washington a parcouru plus de 300 miles jusqu'à l'océan. L'érosion des vagues a créé cette magnifique plage de cailloux noirs. L'accès a cette plage se fait pas des escaliers.

Site officiel : BLM.gov - Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area

Newport est charmante cité balnéaire où il fait bon flâner autour des boutiques et restaurants, tout en admirant les jolies peintures murales maritimes. On peut aussi passer de longs moments à regarder sur les quais les pêcheurs s'affairer à nettoyer et trier leurs prises du jour. C'est aussi l'occasion d'admirer de nombreux et bruyants lions de mer qui ont élu domicile dans le port.

La ville abrite The Oregon Coast Aquarium . Ce parc aquatique accueille phoques, requins, poissons et une grande volière ornithologique.

On retrouve aussi le Hatfield Marine Science Center , qui propose des expositions sur les espèces marines, la recherche marine et l'environnement marin. Quelques animaux marins vivants sont exposés, dont une pieuvre géante du Pacifique. D'autres expositions portent sur la météorologie, les tsunamis, la pêche, la gestion des ressources océaniques, la vie marine microscopique...

Au Sud de la ville, on découvre sur Yaquina Bay un magnifique phare construit en 1871. C'est le dernier phare en bois de l'Oregon.

À une dizaine de miles au Sud de Newport, Seal Rock offre un très beau point de vue sur l'océan et d'énormes rochers fouettés par les vagues.

Site officiel : Discover Newport

Cape Perpetua

Au Sud de Yachats, les vagues tourbillonnent aux pieds de Cape Perpetua, où la route décrit de magnifiques courbes sur une portion de côte accidentée. Dans ce secteur, les sentiers de promenade conduisent à travers une forêt primaire surplombant l'océan ou menant au bord de l'eau.

Un petit trail agréable mène à Devils Churn , un long bras de mer qui s'enfonce dans Cape Perpetua, offrant un beau spectacle. Un autre petit chemin mène à Thor's Well , site naturel resté longtemps méconnu. En fait ce n'est pas un puits mais plutôt un trou qui prend des allures d'énorme fontaine d'eau salée quand les vagues du pacifique s'y engouffrent. Plus précisément, ces vagues passent dans un tunnel sous-marin situé à 6 mètres de profondeur et rejaillissent, quand elles sont assez fortes, en une gerbe d'écume spectaculaire.

Secteur Sud

Heceta head lighthouse.

Heceta Head Lighthouse est le phare possèdant le signal lumineux le plus puissant de l'Oregon et est sans doute le plus photographié de tous les phares que compte l'état. Les visiteurs peuvent pénétrer dans la tour et même séjourner dans la maison du gardien.

Sea Lions Caves

10 miles au Nord de Florence, un ascenseur de 63 mètres de haut descend vers une aire d'observation située dans une grotte naturelle, Sea Lions Caves , où des lions de mer se rassemblent. Le site est ouvert de 9h à 17h et l'entrée est payante.

Au Sud, la route s'enfonce ensuite brièvement dans les terres à l'approche de Florence , où les bâtiments dits historiques, transformés en boutiques et restaurants, ainsi que le bateaux de pêche s'alignent le long de la rivière Siuslaw. Après avoir traversé le pont sur ce cours d'eau, la côte accidentée ouvrent la voie à une cinquantaine de miles de dunes hautes et de plages de sable, s'étendant jusqu'à Coos Bay.

Site officiel : Sea Lions Caves

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area se situe à 27 miles au Sud de Florence. Ce parc abrite les plus grandes dunes en bord de mer des USA. Celles-ci s'étirent sur plus de 50 miles le long du littoral. Le vent, de l'eau et de l'océan érodent les montagnes de la région depuis des millions d'années. Le sable s'est accumulé dans cette baie, où se rejoigent trois rivières : Siuslaw River, Umpqua River et Coos River. Atteignant parfois 150 mètres de hauteur, les dunes ondulent de Florence à Coos Bay. Les randonneurs privilégient la partie Nord, alors que le Sud est parcouru par les buggies et motos. En effet, des sociétés, basées à Reedsport, proposent des excursions en buggy, ainsi que du matériel de sandboard et des véhicules tout-terrain à la location.

Le long de la route US101, il est possible aussi de s'arrêter à différents points de vue, comme au mile 200.8, où se trouve Oregon Dunes Overlook , un moyen simple d'avoir une vue d'ensemble de la zone.

John Dellenback Trail , dont le départ se fait en bord de route, près de Lakeside, au mile 222.6, forme une boucle de 6 miles à travers les plus grandes dunes de la région.

À 3 miles à l'Est de Reedsport, sur l'OR38, on peut apercevoir un troupeau de wapitis de Roosevelt se promener dans Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area .

Coos Bay , située à 50 miles au Sud de Florence, est le plus grand port entre Seattle et San Francisco, ainsi que la plus grande ville de la côte de l'Oregon. On peut y voir quelques jolis vieux gréements.

Site officiel : USDA Forest Service - Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

De Coos Bay, on quitte l'US101 pour rejoindre, à 9 miles à l'Ouest, Charleston, port de pêche et de loisirs. De là, démarre la Charleston to Bandon Tour Road , un itinéraire touristique de 66 kilomètres de long (prévoir 2 à 3 heures) :

• D'abord, on emprunte la Cape Arago Highway , à l'Ouest, pour atteindre un cap rocheux qui s'élève au-dessus du Pacifique, sur lequel a été construit un phare : Cape Arago Lighthouse .
• Juste après Cape Arago Lighthouse, on traverse Sunset Bay State Park , qui entoure une crique protégée avec des eaux peu profondes, et souvent assez chaudes pour s'y baigner. Un chemin à flanc de falaise offre des vues imprenables sur les "stacks" (gros rochers en bord de mer) et le phare.
• À seulement 1 mile au Sud, Shore Acres State Park occupe le sommet de grandes falaises, où l'on retrouve de grands jardins à la française et des vues spectaculaires sur l'océan.
• En continuant au bout de Cape Arago Highway, on retrouve Cape Arago State Park , où un point de vue, Simpson Reef Overlook , permet d'observer des lions de mer et des phoques qui se dandinent en contre-bas.
• La route se terminant en cul-de-sac, il faut revenir sur ses pas sur 6 miles, puis tourner à droite sur Seven Devils Road , en direction de Bandon. On passe à travers des tourbières où poussent des airelles.
• L'itinéraire longe le village de pêche de Bandon , avant de s'achever sur la plage, avec un paysage marin étonnant composés de "stacks" escarpés, qui rappellent à quel point les vagues de l'océan Pacifique sont puissantes et érodent inlassablement la côte. Le spectacle est impressionnant au coucher du Soleil. Un phare construit en 1896 marque l'embouchure de la Coquille River.

Sites officiels :

• Oregon State Parks - Sunset Bay SP
• Oregon State Parks - Shore Acres SP
• Oregon State Parks - Cape Arago SP

Cape Blanco

La route US101 rejoint ensuite la côte à Port Orford , un port de pêche au panorama exceptionnel, en passant par Cape Blanco qui est le point le plus occidental des 48 états et peut-être le plus venteux. Ces vents ont tordu et battu les épicéas sur la route, longue de 6 miles entre la 101 et le phare du Cape Blanco, Cape Blanco Lighthouse . Celui-ci est situé au sommet d'un promontoire haut de 75 mètres et fonctionne depuis 1870.

Site officiel : Oregon State Parks - Cape Blanco SP

Cape Sebastian State Scenic Corridor

Cap Sebastian offre une vue panoramique sur l'océan frappante. En effet, les deux parkings sont à plus de 60 mètres au dessus du niveau de la mer. La vue peut aller, par beau temps, jusqu'à 50 miles (Crescent City au Sud et Humbug Mountain au Nord). Une forêt profonde d'épicéas de Sitka couvre la majeure partie du parc. Un sentier pédestre de 1,5 mile mène vers les niveaux inférieurs du cap, donnant l'occasion d'admirer, quand c'est la période, les baleines lors de leur migration.

Un peu plus au Sud, Myers Creek Beach Viewpoint offre un très beau point de vue sur une plage bordée d'énormes rochers.

Site officiel : Oregon State Parks - Cape Sebastian State Scenic Corridor

Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor

Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor protège une forêt dense et de nombreux ponts naturels creusés dans le rochers par l'océan. Le site comporte de nombreux chemins de randonnée. Le long de la route, on trouve une dizaine de refuges ou aires de pique-nique, des sentiers menant à des plages reculées ou des points de vue spectaculaires. Une courte marche mène à Natural Bridges Viewpoint et permet de faire de belles photos des arches naturelles de Natural Bridges Cove , vestiges de grottes marines écroulées.

La côte de l'Oregon s'achève au Sud de Brookings, une région connue pour son climat tempéré. On y trouve également les plus grands séquoias côtiers de l'état.

Site officiel : Oregon State Parks - Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor

Hébergements

Hôtels.

Hôtels situés à Astoria sur :

Hôtels situés à Cannon Beach sur :

Hôtels situés à Newport sur :

Hôtels situés à Florence sur :

Hôtels situés à Coos Bay sur :

Hôtels situés à Gold Beach sur :

N'oubliez pas de consulter les avis des membres de RoadTrippin.fr pour choisir le bon hôtel !

Consultez la base de données de RoadTrippin.fr pour trouver un camping sur la côte de l'Oregon.

Météo

Astoria Altitude moyenne : 7 mètres

Newport Altitude moyenne : 49 mètres

Brookings Altitude moyenne : 39 mètres

Carte interactive de la Côte de l'Oregon Brochure et carte des phares de la côte de l'Oregon Carte du secteur Nord de la côte de l'Oregon Brochure et carte Ecola State Park Carte Cape Perpetua Carte Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, secteur Nord Carte Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, secteur Sud

TravelOregon.com - Oregon Coast Oregon Coast Visitors Association

Aux alentours

La ville de Portland mérite d'y passer quelques jours.

On peut, au départ de cette ville, partir à la découverte des superbes gorges de Columbia River, situées à quelques miles à l'Est de Portland.

Par Douglas, joelle21 Mis à jour le 21 février 2024

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Voyager 1 is sending data back to Earth for the first time in 5 months

By Ashley Strickland, CNN

(CNN) — For the first time in five months, NASA engineers have received decipherable data from Voyager 1 after crafting a creative solution to fix a communication problem aboard humanity’s most distant spacecraft in the cosmos.

Voyager 1 is currently about 15 billion miles (24 billion kilometers) away, and at 46 years old, the probe has shown multiple quirks and signs of aging in recent years.

The latest issue experienced by Voyager 1 first cropped up in November 2023, when the flight data system’s telemetry modulation unit began sending an indecipherable repeating pattern of code .

Voyager 1’s flight data system collects information from the spacecraft’s science instruments and bundles it with engineering data that reflects its current health status. Mission control on Earth receives that data in binary code, or a series of ones and zeroes.

But since November, Voyager 1’s flight data system had been stuck in a loop. While the probe has continued to relay a steady radio signal to its mission control team on Earth over the past few months, the signal did not carry any usable data.

The mission team received the first coherent data about the health and status of Voyager 1’s engineering systems on April 20. While the team is still reviewing the information, everything they’ve seen so far suggests Voyager 1 is healthy and operating properly.

“Today was a great day for Voyager 1,” said Linda Spilker, Voyager project scientist at JPL, in a statement Saturday. “We’re back in communication with the spacecraft. And we look forward to getting science data back.”

The breakthrough came as the result of a clever bit of trial and error and the unraveling of a mystery that led the team to a single chip.

Troubleshooting from billions of miles away

After discovering the issue, the mission team attempted sending commands to restart the spacecraft’s computer system and learn more about the underlying cause of the problem.

The team sent a command called a “poke” to Voyager 1 on March 1 to get the flight data system to run different software sequences in the hopes of finding out what was causing the glitch.

On March 3, the team noticed that activity from one part of the flight data system stood out from the rest of the garbled data. While the signal wasn’t in the format the Voyager team is used to seeing when the flight data system is functioning as expected, an engineer with NASA’s Deep Space Network was able to decode it.

The Deep Space Network is a system of radio antennae on Earth that help the agency communicate with the Voyager probes and other spacecraft exploring our solar system.

The decoded signal included a readout of the entire flight data system’s memory.

By investigating the readout, the team determined the cause of the issue: 3% of the flight data system’s memory is corrupted . A single chip responsible for storing part of the system’s memory, including some of the computer’s software code, isn’t working properly. While the cause of the chip’s failure is unknown, it could be worn out or may have been hit by an energetic particle from space, the team said.

The loss of the code on the chip caused Voyager 1’s science and engineering data to be unusable.

Since there was no way to repair the chip, the team opted to store the affected code from the chip elsewhere in the system’s memory. While they couldn’t pinpoint a location large enough to hold all of the code, they were able to divide the code into sections and store it in different spots within the flight data system.

“To make this plan work, they also needed to adjust those code sections to ensure, for example, that they all still function as a whole,” according to an update from NASA . “Any references to the location of that code in other parts of the (flight data system) memory needed to be updated as well.”

After determining the code necessary for packaging Voyager 1’s engineering data, engineers sent a radio signal to the probe commanding the code to a new location in the system’s memory on April 18.

Given Voyager 1’s immense distance from Earth, it takes a radio signal about 22.5 hours to reach the probe, and another 22.5 hours for a response signal from the spacecraft to reach Earth.

On April 20, the team received Voyager 1’s response indicating that the clever code modification had worked, and they could finally receive readable engineering data from the probe once more.

Exploring interstellar space

Within the coming weeks, the team will continue to relocate other affected parts of the system’s software, including those responsible for returning the valuable science data Voyager 1 is collecting.

Initially designed to last five years, the Voyager 1 and its twin, Voyager 2, launched in 1977 and are the longest operating spacecraft in history. Their exceptionally long life spans mean that both spacecraft have provided additional insights about our solar system and beyond after achieving their preliminary goals of flying by Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune decades ago.

The probes are currently venturing through uncharted cosmic territory along the outer reaches of the solar system. Both are in interstellar space and are the only spacecraft ever to operate beyond the heliosphere, the sun’s bubble of magnetic fields and particles that extends well beyond the orbit of Pluto.

Voyager 2, which is operating normally, has traveled more than 12.6 billion miles (20.3 billion kilometers) from our planet.

Over time, both spacecraft have encountered unexpected issues and dropouts, including a seven-month period in 2020 when Voyager 2 couldn’t communicate with Earth. In August 2023, the mission team used a long-shot “shout” technique to restore communications with Voyager 2 after a command inadvertently oriented the spacecraft’s antenna in the wrong direction.

The team estimates it’s a few weeks away from receiving science data from Voyager 1 and looks forward to seeing what that data contains.

“We never know for sure what’s going to happen with the Voyagers, but it constantly amazes me when they just keep going,” said Voyager Project Manager Suzanne Dodd, in a statement. “We’ve had many anomalies, and they are getting harder. But we’ve been fortunate so far to recover from them. And the mission keeps going. And younger engineers are coming onto the Voyager team and contributing their knowledge to keep the mission going.”

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