Oregon is breathtaking from head to toe. From stunning coastlines and ancient forests to otherworldly deserts and mountain peaks, each county has it’s own set of wonders to be experienced. Here are 17 of Oregon’s most beautiful, enchanting counties:
- Clatsop County
flickr/ Jeremy Piehler Clatsop County is located in the northwest corner of the state, and it’s rimmed by both the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River. Here you’ll find expansive beaches, charming coastal towns like Astoria and Cannon Beach, the Clatsop National Forest, and the historic Fort Stevens State Park.
- Hood River County
flickr/ Sam Beebe The gorgeous Hood River County is basically heaven on earth for outdoor enthusiasts. The area includes part of the Columbia River Gorge and the Mt Hood National Forest as well as the wonderful Hood River, bucolic farmland, and more.
- Klamath County
flickr/ Howard Ignatius Home to Oregon’s only National Park - Crater Lake National Park - Klamath County is simply breathtaking. It’s full of gorgeous, rugged landscapes, charming towns, and more.
- Marion County
flickr/ stokes rx Located in the Willamette Valley, Marion County is a lovely section of northwest Oregon that’s home to Salem, the state’s capitol, as well as parts of two national forests, Champoeg State Park, Silver Falls State Park, beautiful farms, vineyards, and orchards, and more.
- Deschutes County
flickr/ Doug Kerr Deschutes County is a gorgeous area of central Oregon. Explore the area’s awesome towns and cities (Bend, Sisters, Redmond) unique high desert landscapes (Smith Rock State Park, Newberry National Volcanic Monument), and numerous gorgeous, winding rivers.
- Multnomah County
flickr/ Scott McCracken Spanning part of Portland and part of the Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah County is full of hidden gems to be discovered. It’s also home to the tallest waterfall in the state, Multnomah Falls (pictured above).
- Wheeler County
flickr/ Bala Sivakumar Wheeler County is full of unique, otherworldly landscapes. Here, you’ll find the legendary Painted Hills, charming small towns, desert valleys, glittering rivers, and more.
- Linn County
flickr/ Pat Kight The lovely Linn County is home to the charming towns of Albany, Brownsville, Sweet Home, and more, as well as lots of great hikes, waterfalls, and lakes.
- Coos County
flickr/ kwalters98 This stunning section of the central Oregon coast will blow you away with it’s amazing coastlines, state parks, seaside towns, and historic lighthouses.
- Lane County
flickr/ David Berry Lane County consists of a scenic chunk of Oregon, ranging from emerald green forests and hidden waterfalls to artsy cities and sandy beaches.
- Harney County
flickr/ Bureau of Land Management This gorgeous section of southwest Oregon is full of amazing natural wonders and remote wilderness areas. The towns are few and far between, and the landscape is dominated by desert valleys, expansive salt flats, rugged canyons, and more.
- Douglas County
flickr/ LDELD The picturesque Douglas County is a great place to explore majestic waterfalls, unique towns, incredible sand dunes, and more.
- Lincoln County
flickr/ Jon. D. Anderson Located on the coast of central Oregon, Lincoln county includes beautiful coastlines, wonderful towns (with great restaurants!), lighthouses, and more – inland, you’ll find part of the Suislaw National Forest.
- Wallowa County
flickr/ Ben The northeast corner of Oregon is mostly made up of remote, rugged wilderness. Charming small towns are nestled into wild expanses of gorgeous mountain scenery.
- Tillamook County
flickr/ Jon. D. Anderson The beautiful Tillamook County is relatively small, yet it contains many gorgeous natural areas like Cape Kiwanda, Cape Meares, Neahkahnie Mountain, Nehalem Bay, and Neskowin Beach, among others.
- Clackamas County
flickr/ Brent Miller Clackamas County is a wondrous chunk of the Beaver State that features rolling bucolic scenery, part of the Mount Hood National Forest, lakes, rivers, and much more.
- Curry County
flickr/ Gold Beach Real Estate Located on the southwestern edge of Oregon, Curry County is full of spectacular beaches, old growth forests, rugged cliffs, charming coastal towns, and more.
Find out about the best towns and cities to live in here.
flickr/ Jeremy Piehler
Clatsop County is located in the northwest corner of the state, and it’s rimmed by both the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River. Here you’ll find expansive beaches, charming coastal towns like Astoria and Cannon Beach, the Clatsop National Forest, and the historic Fort Stevens State Park.
flickr/ Sam Beebe
The gorgeous Hood River County is basically heaven on earth for outdoor enthusiasts. The area includes part of the Columbia River Gorge and the Mt Hood National Forest as well as the wonderful Hood River, bucolic farmland, and more.
flickr/ Howard Ignatius
Home to Oregon’s only National Park - Crater Lake National Park - Klamath County is simply breathtaking. It’s full of gorgeous, rugged landscapes, charming towns, and more.
flickr/ stokes rx
Located in the Willamette Valley, Marion County is a lovely section of northwest Oregon that’s home to Salem, the state’s capitol, as well as parts of two national forests, Champoeg State Park, Silver Falls State Park, beautiful farms, vineyards, and orchards, and more.
flickr/ Doug Kerr
Deschutes County is a gorgeous area of central Oregon. Explore the area’s awesome towns and cities (Bend, Sisters, Redmond) unique high desert landscapes (Smith Rock State Park, Newberry National Volcanic Monument), and numerous gorgeous, winding rivers.
flickr/ Scott McCracken
Spanning part of Portland and part of the Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah County is full of hidden gems to be discovered. It’s also home to the tallest waterfall in the state, Multnomah Falls (pictured above).
flickr/ Bala Sivakumar
Wheeler County is full of unique, otherworldly landscapes. Here, you’ll find the legendary Painted Hills, charming small towns, desert valleys, glittering rivers, and more.
flickr/ Pat Kight
The lovely Linn County is home to the charming towns of Albany, Brownsville, Sweet Home, and more, as well as lots of great hikes, waterfalls, and lakes.
flickr/ kwalters98
This stunning section of the central Oregon coast will blow you away with it’s amazing coastlines, state parks, seaside towns, and historic lighthouses.
flickr/ David Berry
Lane County consists of a scenic chunk of Oregon, ranging from emerald green forests and hidden waterfalls to artsy cities and sandy beaches.
flickr/ Bureau of Land Management
This gorgeous section of southwest Oregon is full of amazing natural wonders and remote wilderness areas. The towns are few and far between, and the landscape is dominated by desert valleys, expansive salt flats, rugged canyons, and more.
flickr/ LDELD
The picturesque Douglas County is a great place to explore majestic waterfalls, unique towns, incredible sand dunes, and more.
flickr/ Jon. D. Anderson
Located on the coast of central Oregon, Lincoln county includes beautiful coastlines, wonderful towns (with great restaurants!), lighthouses, and more – inland, you’ll find part of the Suislaw National Forest.
flickr/ Ben
The northeast corner of Oregon is mostly made up of remote, rugged wilderness. Charming small towns are nestled into wild expanses of gorgeous mountain scenery.
The beautiful Tillamook County is relatively small, yet it contains many gorgeous natural areas like Cape Kiwanda, Cape Meares, Neahkahnie Mountain, Nehalem Bay, and Neskowin Beach, among others.
flickr/ Brent Miller
Clackamas County is a wondrous chunk of the Beaver State that features rolling bucolic scenery, part of the Mount Hood National Forest, lakes, rivers, and much more.
flickr/ Gold Beach Real Estate
Located on the southwestern edge of Oregon, Curry County is full of spectacular beaches, old growth forests, rugged cliffs, charming coastal towns, and more.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
