Five Scenic Oregon Drives
Cascades Lakes Scenic Byway
2 to 4 Hours This mountainous 66-mile tour, which is closed in winter due to snow, passes shimmering mountain lakes and prime geological examples of how glaciers and volcanoes have contributed to Oregon's rugged landscape. The route begins just west of Bend on Forest Road 46, which climbs up into the Cascades and through the towering evergreens of Deschutes National Forest before turning south by Devil's Lake. The road ends at Highway 58, about 80 miles southeast of Eugene.
The High Desert: Bend to Baker City
5 to 8 Hours Bend across the state's consistently sunny high desert is popular year-round for its stunning big-sky panoramas. Follow U.S. 97 north to Redmond (from which you could easily detour to Cline Falls State Park for a picnic, or up to the rugged hiking of Smith Rock State Park). Next turn east on U.S. 26 and follow the road through verdant ranch lands around Prineville and into the pine-forested ridges of Ochoco National Forest. Continue into eastern Oregon through the Painted Hills unit of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, with its fascinating geological formations, and on through such historic gold-mining centers as John Day, and—via scenic U.S. 26 and Highway 7—Baker City.
Historic Columbia River Highway
1 to 3 Hours Historic Columbia River Highway (U.S. 30) opened in 1922 and is considered a masterful feat of highway engineering, as it climbs over verdant riverside bluffs and passes beside several massive waterfalls. The longest continuous stretch of road extends from Troutdale, just east of Portland, and climbs and dips for 22 miles parallel to the Columbia River, ending just west of Bonneville Dam. Be sure to stop by Vista House at Crown Point, with its 30-mile views up and down the gorge.
The Southern Coast: U.S. 101 from Brookings to Florence
4 to 6 Hours You'll spy some of the most majestic maritime scenery in the West on the stretch of U.S. 101 that extends north from the Oregon/California border for 160 miles to Florence. You'll first arrive in the pretty fishing village of Brookings, through panoramic views from Samuel H. Boardman State Park, quaint Port Orford, and Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area in Reedsport. Finish just north in picturesque Florence, which lies on the Siuslaw River and has a charming Old Town with several fine restaurants.
Washington County's Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour
3 to 6 Hours www.oregonswashingtoncounty.com/discover-wine-country/scenic-tour-route) begins just off U.S. 26, Exit 61, in Swiss-settled Helvetia, turns south through Forest Grove's pastoral wine country, and then finishes with a turn through the fertile Tualatin Valley, passing by vintage general stores and historic taverns.
