Ranking of the “7 Wonders”
Somebody in Oregon years ago was inspired by the 7 wonders of the ancient world and created a list of the 7 wonders of Oregon. Generally, I do think that they nailed a bunch of the most iconic spots but there are also better things that were missed. As follows is my personal ranking of the “7 Wonders of Oregon” plus a bonus list of two places I think I should have made the list over the lower of the original 7.
#1: Columbia Gorge – I will be the first to admit a little hypocrisy in how I consider the gorge versus the coast (see below). So let me be specific: to me the Columbia Gorge is the roughly the 50 mile stretch along Highway 84 between Troutdale and Hood River. Through the entirety of this stretch you are passing the region where the Cascade Mountains meets the river so there are huge ridges on either side of you as you drive right along the water. The Vista House is an iconic viewpoint, but it is just so cool the whole way. You are surrounded by waterfalls, mountains, amazing hikes, bridges, dams, and cute towns like Cascade Locks. Every day you’ll see Mount Hood and Adams, and on a clear day also St. Helens and maybe if you’re super lucky even Rainier. Every single time I start driving east from Portland on HW84 I enter a state of near nirvana. I will have a whole entry on the city of Hood River (which is one of my top three places in Oregon), but let me just say here, do not miss walking out on the Spit (a sandbar/dog park). How often do you get the chance to walk safely out to the middle of a huge river? DO NOT MISS.
#2: The Wallowas – The Cascades are the most iconic Oregon mountain range, the Coastal Range is the perhaps the most traversed since it is between the population centers and the ocean, but the Wallowa Range, nestled in the NE corner of the state, is the most beautiful. I have heard it referred to as the “Oregon Alps” and honestly, that is an amazing description. You feel like you are in a different continent when you are there. They are snow covered most of the year and the hiking is amazing. Our backpacking friends confirm, there is nowhere better to camp in Oregon. Plus, they have a Gondola to the top, which is fun whether you are adventurous or lazy, a lake that is amazing to canoe or kayak across, and the town of Joseph which is completely adorable. It is a 5-6 hour drive from Portland so you need to budget plenty of time to visit, but that is also part of what makes it so amazing (not a ton of people).
#3: Crater Lake – The only National Park in Oregon (which is insane but that is for another time), Crater Lake formed when a volcanic mountain blew it’s top. I believe it is the deepest freshwater lake in the US (don’t fact check me), but it is fed entirely by rainwater and has no visible outlet so it is such a unique place to be. Currently, the one place where you can hike to the water itself and swim is closed until 2026 (Cleetwood Cove), which is a big bummer. But just driving the rim and hiking to the viewpoints is still worth the trip. If you get swing it, staying at the Lodge and viewing a sunrise is one of the best things you can see in this world, but you will have to book very early to get a room! Note – if you want to drive the full rim, only come between July and September, otherwise there will probably be snow closures.
#4: Painted Hills – Technically the Painted Hills are part of the John Day Fossil Beds, which has three different sites in Central Oregon. And so, I rank it is as the combination of the three and not just the Painted Hills. Now, don’t get me wrong, those Painted Hills are beautiful. They are formed from ancient volcanic eruptions and display multiple colors in clear gradient layers. But personally, I think the Blue Basin is the coolest place in John Day. If I described the Wallowas as a different continent, Blue Basin is a completely different world. I felt like I was on the moon hiking here. So, I guess I would say that if you had to pick one spot for the list, Blue Basin is the one, but the Painted Hills are also awesome.
#5: Mount Hood – I once heard somebody say that if you asked a kid to draw a mountain, it would look like Mount Hood. It has that perfect peak craig that you love to see in a mountain. There are also beautiful hikes/snowshoeing to do around the mountain, like the parks at the Timberline Lodge or White River. You can see it when you’re driving up I-5 or especially going east on HW26 or HW84. It looms above Portland and it looks perfect. The only reason I have it this low on this list is that there are also other amazing mountains in Oregon and Washington. Hood might be the highest in Oregon but there are others that are just as beautiful. If this entry was all the Cascade mountains, that would be cheating, but it would also be higher on the list.
#6: Oregon Coast – I absolutely love going to the Pacific Ocean, as you can tell from my beginner’s guide. So why would I place it 6th out of 7 on this list? Simple – I think that it is a bullshit inclusion. Every other thing in the list is a pretty specific thing, even the Gorge, but this entry gets to be 360 miles? There are individual places on the coast that I would place in the top 7 (Cape Perpetua and Bandon spring to mind as the clear winners) but I just can’t get behind including it like this. It would be like saying the Rocky Mountains are one of the wonders of Colorado – of course it is true but how does that help a visitor?
#7: Smith Rock – This is the only one that I don’t really get. Yes, it is a big rock. Yes, you can hike up it or even around it. Ummmm…. I think that is it? I like seeing it, I’ve done it, but I don’t make it a regular stop. Caveat – if you love rock climbing this is one of the top places in the state (world?) for it.
Missing (would put either at 4th on the list above):
Silver Falls – This is a place where you can literally walk behind waterfalls. Walk. Behind. Waterfalls! You can choose to do just a short walk from the parking lot or a ~10-mile loop where you see a whole bunch more. I fully recommend the full hike if you are physically able. This is a spot you can go to year-round, but the best time would be peak flow when the winter rains are ending and the snow is melting, so March or April.
Cove Palisades – Somewhat like the Columbia Gorge (I clearly have a type) this park is where the Deschutes River carved a canyon out of the surrounding rock. It is just so beautiful there. There’s just something about being on the water but surrounded by earth. Hiking is great, but this is best experienced from the water, either kayaking or canoeing.
