GET OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

Once you’ve experienced Oregon’s most famous sights, there are more incredible outdoors to explore.

1 Willamette Falls

South of Portland at Oregon City, the serene Willamette River suddenly pours in a magnificent crescent of whitewater over 1,500-foot-wide/ 457-meter-wide Willamette Falls, the most voluminous waterfall in the Pacific Northwest. eNRG Kayaking leads flatwater kayak and paddleboard tours below the falls, where herons stalk the riverbank and ospreys glide above. Along the way, guides share the site’s multilayered history as the ancestral homeland of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and a final stop on the emigrant Oregon Trail.

2 Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor

This sublime 12-mile/19-kilometer stretch of Pacific coastline between Gold Beach and Brookings is like a greatest hits of the Oregon Coast — a medley of towering sea stacks, hidden beaches, booming waves and screeching seabirds. Turnoffs along US-101 offer spectacular views, and many access the Oregon Coast Trail that traces the shore. Get out on the ocean with South Coast Tours, exploring Port Orford’s working port and rocky coves by kayak.

3 Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness

Tree trunks the size of cars, rivers as clear as glass: Nature feels ancient and untouched in the SalmonHuckleberry Wilderness. Experience it just an hour from Portland with a hike along the Salmon River Trail. From the trailhead on Salmon River Road near Welches, the path follows the river through a carpet of ferns and a shaggy canopy of cedar and hemlock. Enjoy it as a 4-mile/6.5-kilometer out-and-back hike, or combine with other area trails for a memorable loop.

4 McKenzie River National Recreation Trail

Eons of ancient volcanic eruptions have left a dramatic mark on Central Oregon, where the McKenzie River tumbles through a lava-sculpted riverbed of waterfalls, peacock-blue pools and underground tubes. The McKenzie River Trail follows the river’s contorted route for more than 26 miles/42 kilometers, a favorite of backpackers and experienced mountain bikers. Cog Wild runs a mountain bike shuttle service from Bend and offers custom guide service, too.

5 Cove Palisades State Park

Three Oregon rivers — the Metolius, the Crooked and the Deschutes — come together to form Lake Billy Chinook, a sprawling waterway in a deep basalt canyon near Madras. Explore its lakelevel trails at Cove Palisades State Park, then marvel at its 600-foot-high/ 183-meter-high cliffs by boat on a guided fishing trip or Crooked River Canyon Tour with Triple T Outfitters.

6 Rogue River National Scenic Trail

Legendary among whitewater kayakers, rafters and anglers, the feisty Rogue River is largely inaccessible by land. But hikers can enjoy an epic Rogue adventure too, thanks to the 40-mile/64-kilometer Rogue River Trail along its north bank. Morrisons Rogue Wilderness Adventures lightens the load with its four-day, raft-supported lodge-to-lodge trip. While you hike, guides ferry your gear to each night’s stay at a historic backcountry lodge, where a welldeserved meal and comfy bed await.

7 Owyhee Canyonlands

The Owyhee River chisels a deep crack in the expansive desert of Eastern Oregon, where a springtime rafting trip promises unsurpassed solitude and plenty of natural wonder in the Owyhee River Canyonlands. On a five-day trip with Ouzel Outfitters, you’ll float leisurely through canyons etched with ancient petroglyphs, buck through Class II and III rapids, and camp on sandy beaches with hikes up side canyons and soaks in hot springs.