The Oregon treasures quest
Wednesday, April 24th, 2024
Who doesn’t love a good quest?
Oregon senator Jeff Merkley is challenging people to explore a special location in each county of Oregon: The Oregon treasures quest
To submit your selfies, send the picture along with your name, the date of the picture, and the name of the location to: OregonTreasuresQuest@Merkley.senate.gov
This is a wonderful idea that highlights many of the great and unique places hidden across out state. Unfortunately, the PDF format is cumbersome to search. Here is a simple list of the locations:
Baker County
National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center: Visit blm.gov and search “Oregon Trail Interpretive Center”
You may also want to explore…
Benton County
Marys Peak: Visit fs.usda.gov/siuslaw and search “Marys Peak”
You may also want to explore…
Clackamas County
Timberline Lodge in Clackamas County: Visit fs.usda.gov/mthood and navigate to the “Destinations” tab on the “Visit Us” dropdown menu.
You may also want to explore…
Clatsop County
Shipwreck of the Peter Iredale: Visit stateparks.oregon.gov and search “Fort Stevens”
You may also want to explore…
Columbia County
Scappoose Bay Marine Park: Visit portofcolumbiacounty.org and search “Scappoose Bay.”
You may also want to explore…
- The Crown Z Trail
- Old Town St. Helens
- Watts Pioneer Museum & Heritage Site
Coos County
South Slough Research Reserve Interpretive Center and Hidden Creek Trail: Visit oregon.gov and search for “South Slough Reserve”
You may also want to explore…
- Face Rock
- Coquille Falls
- Coquille River Lighthouse
- South Cove Beach at Cape Arago State Park
- Doerner Doug Fir
Crook County
Explore the Ochoco Forest Mines: Visit fs.usda.gov/ochoco and search “Baneberry Trail”
You may also want to explore…
Curry County
Cape Blanco State Park and Lighthouse: Visit blm.gov and search “Cape Blanco”
You may also want to explore…
Deschutes County
Lava River Cave: Visit fs.usda.gov/deschutes and search “Lava River Cave”
You may also want to explore…
Douglas County
Umpqua Toketee Hot Springs: Visit fs.usda.gov/umpqua, click on the “Recreation” on the “Visit Us” dropdown menu, and scroll to find “Umpqua Hot Springs Trail #1444”
You may also want to explore…
- Oregon Dunes Recreation Area
- Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area
- Devil’s Staircase Wilderness
- Umpqua River Lighthouse
- World’s tallest sugar pine
- Cavitt Creek Falls swimming hole
Gilliam County
Cottonwood Canyon State Park: Visit stateparks.oregon.gov and search “Cottonwood Canyon”
You may also want to explore…
- Earl Snell Memorial Park
- Historic Main Street Condon
- City of Lonerock’s “Lone Rock” and historic downtown
Grant County
John Day Fossil Beds – Sheep Rock Unit and Thomas Condon Visitor Center: Visit nps.gov and search “Thomas Condon Center”
You may also want to explore…
- Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site
- Hiking in the Strawberry Mountain Wilderness via picturesque Prairie City
Harney County
Steens Mountain Back Country Byway: Visit blm.gov and search “Steens Mountain”
You may also want to explore…
- Pete French Round Barn
- Donner ünd Blitzen Wild and Scenic River for kayaking/paddling/rafting
- Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Hood River County
The Spit and Event Site: Visit portofhoodriver.com and click on “Waterfont Recreation”
You may also want to explore…
Jackson County
See a Play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Visit osfashland.org
You may also want to explore…
- Pilot Rock in Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
- Mt. Ashland Grouse Gap Loop
- Grizzly Peak Trail
- Upper and Lower Table Rock Trails
- East Applegate Ridge Trail
Jefferson County
The Cove Palisades State Park: Visit stateparks.oregon.gov and search “Cove Palisades”
You may also want to explore…
- The Museum at Warm Springs
- Black Butte fire lookout
- Tam-A-Lau Loop Hike
- Crooked River High Bridge
- Metolius Balancing Rocks
Josephine County
Oregon Caves: Visit nps.gov and search “Oregon Caves”
You may also want to explore…
Klamath County
Crater Lake National Park: Visit nps.gov and search “Crater Lake”
You may also want to explore…
- Upper Klamath Lake National Wildlife Refuge
- Spence Mountain
- Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge
- Williamson River for trout fishing
Lake County
Fort Rock: Visit stateparks.oregon.gov and search “Fort Rock”
You may also want to explore…
- Old Perpetual Geyser
- Oregon Sunstone Public Collection site
- Historic Downtown Paisley
- Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge
Lane County
Hayward Field: Visit hayward.uoregon.edu
You may also want to explore…
Lincoln County
Oregon Coast Aquarium: Visit aquarium.org
You may also want to explore…
- Cascade Head
- Thor’s Well
- Drift Creek Falls Suspension Bridge
- Depoe Bay Whale Watching/World’s Smallest Harbor
Linn County
Tamolitch Blue Pool: Visit fs.usda.gov/willamette and search “Blue Pool”
You may also want to explore…
Malheur County
Owyhee Canyonlands: Visit blm.gov and search “Owyhee”
You may also want to explore…
Marion County
Oregon State Capitol: Visit oregoncapitol.com
You may also want to explore…
Morrow County
Blue Mountain Scenic Byway: Visit fs.usda.gov/umatilla and search “Blue Mountain Scenic Byway”
You may also want to explore…
Multnomah County
Multnomah Falls: Visit fs.usda.gov/crgnsa, click on “Recreation” under the “Visit Us” tab and scroll to “Multnomah Falls”
You may also want to explore…
- Crown Point – Vista House
- Portland International Rose Test Garden
- Ole Bolle Troll
- Sherrard Point on Larch Mountain
- Portland Japanese Garden
- Lan Su Chinese Garden
- The Oregon Zoo
Polk County
Valley of the Giants: Visit blm.gov and search “Valley of the Giants”
You may also want to explore…
- Chachalu Tribal Museum and Cultural Center
- Baskett Slough Wildlife Refuge
- Monmouth-Independence Trolley
Sherman County
Ghost Town of Kent: Visit co.sherman.or.us, click the “Visitors” tab, and scroll to the “Ghost Towns” page.
You may also want to explore…
- Oregon Trail Cutoff to Barlow Road and Oregon Trail Monuments
- Sherman Historical Museum
- Sherman County Courthouse, built in 1899
Tillamook County
Cape Kiwanda: Visit stateparks.oregon.gov and search “Cape Kiwanda”
You may also want to explore…
Umatilla County
Hat Rock State Park: Visit stateparks.oregon.gov and search “Hat Rock”
You may also want to explore…
- Tamástslikt Cultural Institute
- The historic town of Echo
- Umatilla Marina
- If you’re visiting in September: the famous Pendleton Round-Up
Union County
Anthony Lakes Recreation: Visit anthonylakes.com
You may also want to explore…
Wallowa County
Wallowa Lake: Visit stateparks.oregon.gov and search “Wallowa Lake”
You may also want to explore…
- Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center
- Fishing on the Wallowa River
- Hells Canyon
- City of Joseph’s unique arts scene
- Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland Visitor Center and Tamkaliks Celebration grounds
Wasco County
Rowena Crest: Visit nps.gov and search “Rowena Crest”
You may also want to explore…
- Deschutes River Rafting
- Neon Sign Museum
- Mosier Twin Tunnels
- White River Falls State Park
- Shaniko Ghost Town
Washington County
The Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge: Visit fws.gov and search “Tualatin Wildlife Refuge”
You may also want to explore…
Wheeler County
John Day Fossil Beds – Painted Hills Unit: Visit nps.gov and search “Painted Hills”
You may also want to explore…
Yamhill County
Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum: Visit evergreenmuseum.org
You may also want to explore…