Take a fall Oregon road trip to admire foliage, mountain views, and more

Forget summer – fall is road travel season in the Pacific Northwest.

With open roads, few crowds, and the landscape changing colors for the season, early fall is a great time to explore Oregon’s natural beauty.

Whether you’re cruising scenic drives in the comfort of your car, or stepping out and exploring the area’s many trails and attractions, the fall road trip is an alluring opportunity to explore without the crushing summer crowds – a more tempting option this year, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage the country.

And while you can always expect to see crowds (especially on sunny weekends), there is a very real drop once summer turns into fall.

Crater Lake National Park, for example, sees its monthly visitor numbers plummet in October. Last year, the park welcomed 61,613 people in October – far more than usual for that month, but far fewer than the 222,638 that showed up in August. The same story can be seen in state parks along the Oregon coast and on the heavily trafficked trails of the Cascade Mountains.

Part of the exodus of crowds from natural places is the inevitable change of weather. Snows usually arrive at higher elevations in early fall and some mountain passes close in late October. This means that the window of opportunity – when the crowds are gone, but the snow has not yet arrived – can be small.

However, those who dedicate themselves to fall road trips (and don’t mind inclement weather) will find a long season of opportunities. Hit the road and you will find resplendent fall colors, scenic covered bridges, amazing natural attractions, and some of the most scenic drives in the world.

Here are 10 fall travel ideas to get you started.

1. SCENIC ROUTE OF THE CASCADE LAKES

Passing past several stunning lakes in the central Cascade Mountains west of Bend, the Cascade Lakes Scenic Drive is known not only for the scenery it offers, but also for the number of adventures encountered along the way. Those who want to get out of the car can find hiking opportunities in the Three Sisters Desert and along the Pacific Crest Trail, with skiing on Bachelor Mountain at the end of the season. Many lakeside resorts are closing for the fall, but with accommodations near Bend and along Willamette Pass, there’s no shortage of places.

Unmissable places: Sparks Lake, Three Sisters Desert, Bend

2. NOL VALLEY

Perhaps one of the least visited areas in Oregon, Christmas Valley is a remote destination full of natural attractions under the radar. Located roughly between Bend and Burns, south of US 20, the High Desert Valley is home to several volcanic wonders, including Fort Rock, Crack-in-the-Ground, and Glass Buttes. Getting to these places is time consuming on long gravel roads, so bring a map and lots of patience, and be prepared to settle into the desert landscape.

Unmissable places: Fort Rock, crack in the ground, Christmas Valley sand dunes

3. COLUMBIA THROAT LOOP

Is there a more scenic road trip in Oregon than going up and down the Columbia River Gorge? Conveniently located near Portland and short enough to be completed in a day (but why not stay a night or two in a beautiful location?), The Columbia Gorge is best known by driving along both sides of the river, making a scenic loop along Interstate 84 and Washington State Route 14. With parks, lookouts, hiking trails, and waterfalls on either side of the river, there’s a lot to enjoy.

NOTE: Dalles Bridge will be closed Thursdays from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Mondays until Memorial Day 2022.

Unmissable places: The Oregon Waterfall Corridor, Hood River, Cape Horn Lookout

4. COVERED BRIDGES OF LANE COUNTY

Oregon has 54 covered bridges statewide, and although they are scattered all around the Willamette Valley and Coast Range, there is a particularly dense concentration of bridges in Lane County. Head southeast of Eugene to find most of the bridges, clustered around the town of Cottage Grove and along Oregon 58. Finding all of the bridges requires traversing many small back roads just outside. outside the valley – a worthy fall treasure hunt.

Unmissable places: Goodpasture Covered Bridge, Mount Pisgah Arboretum, Eugene

5. CRATER LAKE

Without a doubt one of Oregon’s greatest natural wonders, Crater Lake is a must-see destination for all tourists and locals alike. But located over 4 hours from Portland, it’s definitely a hit to get there. To make the drive worth it, plan to spend at least a night or two in or near Crater Lake, and consider stopping at other spots along the way. Those traveling on Oregon 58 can find hot springs, lakes, and great views of the Cascade peaks between Eugene and the national park.

Accommodation at Crater Lake closes October 10, and Rim Drive typically closes at the end of October. Rim Village is accessible year round, as long as the roads are cleared of snow.

Unmissable places: Cleetwood Cove, The Watchman Lookout, Rim Village

6. TIME TRAVEL SCENIC BYWAY

The 286-mile Journey Through Time Scenic Byway runs from Biggs Junction to Baker City, and passes some of Oregon’s top desert attractions on the way. The highlight of the route is the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, where visitors can learn about eastern Oregon’s prehistoric past. The route also offers the option of taking a break at a few scenic state parks: the Cottonwood Canyon and Deschutes River State Recreation Areas, located near the western terminus of the route.

Unmissable places: Painted Hills, Thomas Condon Paleontology Visitor Center, Baker City

7. MCKENZIE PASS

McKenzie Pass usually closes from late October through November, so if you are going to be visiting it, be sure to do so in the early part of fall. The Scenic Drive connects the town of Sisters with Oregon 126 east of Eugene, and is home to the famous Dee Wright Observatory and the departure points of the Mount Washington and Three Sisters Wilderness Areas. The ride alone offers spectacular views of the mountains, as well as the black lava rock fields for which the pass is known.

Unmissable places: Dee Wright Observatory, Sisters, Mount Washington Wilderness

8. SOUTH OREGON COAST

If you want to chase those summer thrills away, your best bet is to drive the southern Oregon coast, where temperatures tend to be a bit warmer and a sunny day can light up spectacular ocean views. The South Coast technically stretches from Reedsport to Brookings, but you could just as easily cross the California border to visit Crescent City and Redwood National and State Parks while you’re there.

Unmissable places: Bandon, Samuel H. Boardman Corridor, Harris Beach

9. STEENS MOUNTAIN

A remote destination in Southeast Oregon, Steens Mountain is one of the best places to see fall colors in the Pacific Northwest, with deep canyons teeming with aspens. Because it is such a long drive from the Portland area, it is wise to combine a trip to Steens with other nearby attractions, such as the Alvord Desert, the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, or the Springs. hot from Crane. Make sure you get there before too much snow falls and be prepared for long stretches of gravel road.

Unmissable places: View of Kiger Gorge, Alvord Desert, Crane Hot Springs

10. WALLOWAS AND WALLA WALLA

A road trip to Northeast Oregon and Southeast Washington is the perfect place for adventure, between the spectacular Wallowa Mountains outside the tourist town of Joseph, the incredible views above Hells Canyon and the great food and wine scene of Walla Walla. Although it’s a long drive from the Portland area, the towns of Joseph and Walla Walla are only two hours apart, making them a perfect couple if you have time to spend in the area. .

Unmissable places: Wallowa Lake, Joseph, Walla Walla Vineyards

–Jamie Hale; [email protected]; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB