5 Ways to Enjoy an Oregon Fall

DISCLAIMER: Our posts may contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may receive commission. You won't pay more, but you will be providing us with a small commission, which helps to keep the lights on. All recommendations are based on our own opinions and preferences. You can read our complete disclaimer here. Thanks!

Typically, Oregon fall consists of fun outdoor gatherings and farm festivals. Unfortunately, in 2021, things may still be a little different as many regions continue to battle COVID-19 outbreaks. Despite this, there are still plenty of activities and day trips you can do when visiting Oregon in the fall.

Pumpkin Patches and Farm Stands During an Oregon Fall

Oregon has no shortage of farm stands and pumpkin patches. If looking for something to do an a crisp Oregon fall day, take a scenic drive out to Smith Rock Ranch in Terrebonne and fill up your car with fresh, home grown pumpkins. You can even pick your own bright orange orbs and then shoot them from a cannon.

For more excitement, try to find your way out of the themed corn maze or get in touch with your inner cowboy at the Skull Hollow shooting arcade. Little ones will enjoy pony rides, wagon rides and a hay maze. Even Fido is welcome at Smith Rock Ranch with a dedicated dog park offering tons of canine amusement.

no Oregon fall is complete without pumpkins
  • Save

Bauman’s Farm and Garden is another option for Oregon fall fun. The festival typically offers a slew of activities for adults and children alike, including an apple cannon, bug train and barnyard bridge.

Hay rides, bounce houses, and many of the highly touch interactive activities have resumed this year. You can also U-pick pumpkins, enjoy the apple tastings, try the cider, and venture into the corn maze. Bauman’s Farm and Garden is located in Gervais, and their Harvest Festival is open during the month of October.

Exploring the Spooky Side of Oregon Fall

Bohemia Mine cart tracks are a great thing to see during an Oregon fall
  • Save

If you are a Halloween fanatic, maybe you would like your Oregon fall to be a little spookier than most. This year, instead of the fake ghosts and ghouls offered at haunted houses and the like, try a real-life Oregon ghost town.

The abandoned mining town of Bohemia City sits atop a mountain in the Umpqua National Forest. Here you will find a pristine abandoned town straight from the past. The town still has buildings, some still standing, and some in shambles. Many abandoned and collapsed mines can be found in the area, as well as mine cart tracks.

Perfect Oregon Fall Hikes

Fall in Oregon can be the perfect time to go on a hike. The weather is milder, and there is always a light breeze to keep you cool. In addition, many kids are back in school, and fewer families are vacationing, so the trails are quieter and more private.

The Oregon fall foliage can be bright, colorful, and breathtaking and add an extra element to your hike.

McDowell Creek Falls
  • Save

McDowell Creek Falls near Sweet Home, Oregon, is a trail to two waterfalls. If wanting to hike during the Oregon fall, we recommend this trail because of the amount of deciduous trees. These trees will be covered in bright reds, oranges, and yellows as they shed their leaves in preparation for winter.

The McDowell Creek Falls trail can be long or short, depending on how motivated you are that day. There is a one-and-a-half mile loop that connects the two waterfalls. Or, if you aren’t able to or up to walking that far, each waterfall has a parking lot and trailhead nearby.

Another great Oregon fall hike with plenty of deciduous trees would be Beazell Memorial Forest. This area has many trails to keep you occupied all day. One of the trails even ascends to the ridgeline to give some more far off views of the beautiful Willamette Valley.

Of course, it’s hard to beat the Columbia River Gorge when seeking fall splendor. Stick to the historic highway and you’re bound to cross paths with the roadside Horsetail Falls. Travel up the path a short half mile and you’ll find even more beauty at ponytail falls. If you’re up to the challenge, keep trekking on for more waterfalls on a 3-mile loop.

Museums for a Rainy Day

While Oregon fall can be beautiful, we locals know fall also means rain, especially late in the season. For those dreary rainy days, a museum is a great way to add excitement and education.

The Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinville is open during Covid-19, and is big enough inside to actively social distance. The museum showcases airplanes and space craft from all periods and eras. Many historical planes are displayed here, including the Spruce Goose.

museums are a great way to spend an Oregon fall day
  • Save

The Spruce Goose was an experimental airplane, made entirely of wood. During the war effort of World War 2, metal was in severe scarcity. This prompted the need for a potential wooden plane to aid in the war.

The Spruce Goose was technically a success in that it did manage to fly 72 feet above the ground for about a mile. But many consider this massively unique airplane a failure in that it never made it to war.

The Evergreen Aviation Museum does have a few of the higher touch activities closed, such as interior tours of the Spruce Goose (due to lack of space inside,) and many of the kids play areas. For updates on what is open and what is closed, click here.

Exploring the Oregon Coast During Oregon Fall

Oregon’s coastline is magnificent during anytime of year, but the cooler fall weather reduces crowds and tourists. And during the pandemic, the coast has many outdoor activities that make social distancing easy.

On the beach, you can walk for miles along the smooth sand, and look for seashells and sand dollars. If you keep an eye on the tide calendars, you can explore tide pools during low tide and discover the Oregon sea life.

Also during low tide, you can dig for clams, just make sure you have a license for doing so. These can be purchased at most fishing and tackle shops. Clamming is a fun activity for kids who love to dig and explore.

The fall breezes on the coastline also make a perfect setting for flying kites. Many kite shops in the downtown areas sell kites that range from traditional to long and dramatic.

  • Save

Ali Patton

Ali is a travel blogger for Seconds to Go, where she shares her experiences traveling the U.S. with her co-blogger Mom, Kathleen. She is also an avid Disney travel enthusiast, and with multiple Disney World trips under her belt, is a knoweldgeable resource for all things related to Disney vacations. Ali can be found managing the Seconds to Go social media accounts as well as the famed Double Z Farm pages on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Thanks for Joining Our Adventure

Kathleen Hesketh and Ali Patton, mother daughter travel bloggers

We're Kat and Ali, a pair of mother-daughter travel bloggers exploring the U.S. We're sharing our experiences, tips and insights to help you more easily get out and explore the beautiful landscapes and places of this nation.

FOLLOW US

pinterest icon
Instagram icon
Facebook icon
Twitter
follow us in feedly

#Seconds2go

More Adventures

94dbf4833d79471baa3f19d3ebd6a97c
  • Save

21 Things to Do in the Oregon Outdoors This Year

March 20, 2024

Share via: 320 Shares Pinterest 320 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Reddit 0 Mix 0 Flipboard 0 LinkedIn 0 Email 0 Pocket 0 Tumblr 0 Whether you’re visiting Oregon for the first time or are a long time resident, exploring the Oregon outdoors should be on your bucket list. Oregon offers over 98,000 square miles of … Read more

View from road to Bohemia Mine
  • Save

Oregon Travel Guide: Must-See Vacation Places and Things to Do in the Beaver State

March 20, 2024

Share via: 2.9K Shares Pinterest 320 Facebook 2.5K Twitter 0 Reddit 0 Mix 0 Flipboard 0 LinkedIn 0 Email 0 Pocket 0 Tumblr 0 With 98,000 square miles to explore, and a diverse set of geographical areas, you’ll need an Oregon travel guide to help you find the best Oregon vacation places. So, if you’re … Read more

IMG 4626
  • Save

10 Mind-Blowing Oregon Photography Locations All Photographers Need to Visit

March 20, 2024

Share via: 285 Shares Pinterest 250 Facebook 35 Twitter 0 Reddit 0 Mix 0 Flipboard 0 LinkedIn 0 Email 0 Pocket 0 Tumblr 0 Oregon is known for its diverse landscapes and beautiful views, making it a great destination for travel photographers. Whether you are looking for a place to take frame worthy landscape shots … Read more

IMG 0048
  • Save

Visiting Oregon: Tips for Planning the Perfect Trip

March 18, 2024

Share via: 56 Shares Pinterest 10 Facebook 46 Twitter 0 Reddit 0 Mix 0 Flipboard 0 LinkedIn 0 Email 0 Pocket 0 Tumblr 0 When planning a trip to Oregon, what you see online may not be what you get. Endless natural beauty, hikes through many unique geological areas, great food, and much more make … Read more

A small boat rests quietly on the surface of Crater Lake, a top Oregon vacation spot
  • Save

Oregon Visitors Guide: The 9 Things You Must Know Before Heading to the State

March 18, 2024

Share via: 1.8K Share Pinterest 537 Facebook 1.2K Twitter 0 Reddit 0 Mix 0 Flipboard 0 LinkedIn 0 Email 0 Pocket 0 Tumblr 0 Before you embark on an Oregon vacation, it’s important to know that the state covers over 98,000 square miles of terrain but has only two interstate highways. That leaves a lot … Read more

Oregon coast in March
  • Save

Why Visit Oregon in March? The Things You Couldn’t Stand to Miss

March 18, 2024

Share via: 79 Shares Pinterest 75 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Reddit 0 Mix 1 Flipboard 1 LinkedIn 0 Email 2 Pocket 0 Tumblr 0 Clearing skies and warmer temperatures are only a few of the reasons you might want to visit Oregon in March. Add the possibility of early wildflowers, fewer crowds at popular spots … Read more

Travel gadget feature
  • Save

Best Travel Gadgets and Accessories for Tackling the Open Road

March 18, 2024

Share via: 1.5K Share Pinterest 184 Facebook 1.3K Twitter 0 Reddit 0 Mix 0 Flipboard 0 LinkedIn 0 Email 0 Pocket 0 Tumblr 0 As a mother daughter travel blogger team, we’ve learned the rule of the road: be prepared for nearly every contingency. As a result, we’ve compiled a list of must-have travel gadgets … Read more

Rogue River jet boat heading upriver
  • Save

The Only Way to Get into the Wild: Rogue River Jet Boat Tours

March 17, 2024

Share via: 1.6K Share Pinterest 331 Facebook 1.3K Twitter 0 Reddit 0 Mix 0 Flipboard 0 LinkedIn 0 Email 0 Pocket 0 Tumblr 0 Oregon’s Rogue River jet boat tours provide visitors with a rip-roaring ride up the Rogue. Two outfitters provide the spins and fun as you travel the scenic Rogue, but only one … Read more

Sahalie falls guy on wire
  • Save

Koosah Falls and Sahalie Falls in Oregon, Reaching Heaven and Sky in the Willamette National Forest

March 16, 2024

Share via: 1.7K Share Pinterest 353 Facebook 1.3K Twitter 0 Reddit 0 Mix 0 Flipboard 0 LinkedIn 0 Email 0 Pocket 0 Tumblr 0 To say that our hike around Sahalie Falls and Koosah Falls in Oregon was an epic experience is probably exaggerating. After all, it was only a 2.6-mile hike, around a moderately … Read more

This Oregon Hiking trail ends at a stunning natural arch
  • Save

The Oregon Hiking Trail with a Secret End

March 15, 2024

Share via: 1.6K Share Pinterest 358 Facebook 1.3K Twitter 0 Reddit 0 Mix 0 Flipboard 0 LinkedIn 0 Email 0 Pocket 0 Tumblr 0 The Natural Rock Arch Trailhead begins high in the Santiam Wilderness. This special Oregon hiking trail takes you down a steep winding path through a magical forest to a special secret. … Read more

Ali Patton

Ali is a travel blogger for Seconds to Go, where she shares her experiences traveling the U.S. with her co-blogger Mom, Kathleen. She is also an avid Disney travel enthusiast, and with multiple Disney World trips under her belt, is a knoweldgeable resource for all things related to Disney vacations. Ali can be found managing the Seconds to Go social media accounts as well as the famed Double Z Farm pages on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Leave a Comment