20 Things to Do Outdoors in Oregon That Aren’t Hiking

lizzievwilson

29 Oct, 2021

20 Things to Do Outdoors in Oregon That Aren’t Hiking

Why would I write this article? Because sometimes I want to get outside but I don’t want to hike. If you’re not in the mood to hike but want to be outside, read ahead for some of my best ideas:

  • Crabbing, Mussel Harvesting, and Clamming at The Coast. The best season for crabbing is generally the fall, from the end of September through November. Never been crabbing? No problem!
  • Whale Watching. Gray whales migrate from March through May, and from December to mid-January.
    • However, gray whales aren’t the only whale species seen in Oregon. Blue whales are a rare sighting along the northern Oregon coast, and orcas can frequently be seen by the Depoe Bay in April!
    • There are opportunities to see gray whales year-round, because quite a few gray whales call the Oregon Coast their home 12 months a year.
    • If you want the best chance to see whales on the coast, consider visiting during the Whale Watch Weeks. And if you missed Whale Watch Week in 2020, you can check out a cool recording here.
    • Here are some recommendations for free whale watching on the coast. I recommend checking out Cape Meares, where you can find a huge murres bird colony.
    • Or get out on the water in small boats for an experience of a lifetime with Whale Research Ecoexcursions for $45 a person for 11.5 hours ($35 for children).
  • Grab a Trash Bag. Head to a trailhead parking lot and clean up trash. Better yet, bring your friends along!
  • Be A Tourist in Your Own State.
    • EcoTours of Oregon has incredible reviews for a good reason.
    • Enjoy their customized Willamette Valley wine tour with a designated driver for $139 per person (including tasting fees) with optional hazelnut and fruit tastings, and birding. Other tours for similar prices include whale watching, Mount Saint Helens, and more!
(Not in Oregon. There are limited free hotsprings pictures :))
  • Go Panning for Gold. Get the thrill that gold miners experienced back in 1851!
    • All you need is a pan and a little bit of luck. You don’t even need a permit (but be sure to check restrictions, and check for when salmon and steelhead are spawning as you cannot pan during this time).
    • Travel Oregon has a great list of the best places to pan for gold. Places near Eugene, Oregon include Sharps Creek, Yellowbottom, and Blue River.
    • I think this would be a great thing to do with children, as you can use it as an opportunity to teach about history. Additionally, panning in the summer doubles as a nice swimming trip.
    • If you’d like some more guidance and other options for gold panning in Oregon, check it out here.
  • Ride or Observe Horses.
    • If you’ve always wanted to ride on the beach, check out C & M Stables near Florence. Their rates are $95 for 1.5 horses on the beach for all levels, and an advanced-only ride is two hours for $185. All rides are in small groups. In Coos County, you should look up Brandon Beach Rides, which costs $60 per hour (cash only). Another option is Oregon Beach Rides at Nehalem Bay State Park ($100 for one hour, $150 for two).
    • If you have quite a bit of money and time to spend (around $1,800 for the five day experience), and you’re an avid English rider, you will love the Willamette Coast Ride experience. This insanely cool trip is one I hope to do one year, and you won’t regret adding it to your bucket list either. They have a five-day horsepacking trip for experienced riders where you ride through the Willamette Valley (where you’ll enjoy stopping along the way at vineyards), the Coastal Range, and you get to gallop along the beach. Plus, you get to stay at some fantastic B&B’s while enjoying delicious local food.
    • If you don’t have the budget, or are not interested in riding, but would still like to see horses and appreciate the historical role that horses play in this country, go to the Steens Mountain. Here you will find wild horse herds, including the Kiger herd, which are progeny of the horses brought to the United States by Spanish conquistadors.
  • Explore Oregon Caves. Note that you’ll need to check and see if the cave you’re visiting is open. Several are closed during vulnerable breeding periods for bats (October-May), though many are open year-round. Additionally, I do not know about any caves where dogs are allowed, so leave your pup at home.
  • Mushroom Foraging! You can find edible mushrooms during most seasons. In the PNW, look for Spring King Boletes (May-June), from approximately August through November or December look for King Boletes, Pacific Gold Chanterelles, Hedgehog, Slippery Jack, Matsutake, Lobster, Oregon Black and White Truffles (season starts late September, and runs through January or February), and Delicious Milky Cap. Black Morels can be found from April until June.
    • Here’s a helpful guide for mushroom hunting on the coast, and another nice guide that includes safety information, regulations, and techniques.
    • Look for tips and information before you go, and you should either bring an expert with you or consult one before eating any mushrooms. Look into the Cascade Mycological Society in Eugene, or Fungi for The People.
    • Looking to get into mushroom foraging can be overwhelming, and difficult when you can only see pictures of mushrooms. Go to the Oregon Mushroom Festival at Mount Pisgah in Eugene in October.
    • Be a savvy outdoorsperson. It’s easy to get lost when you go off trail.
    • You can even make some money foraging for mushrooms. Some people track where they reliably find mushrooms every year and can make $200 per hour during the season.
  • Get Your Hands Dirty. Ever wondered if you have a green thumb?
    • Start a Pollinator Garden. Why? Because it’s easy to do, maintain, and it provides really important habitat for pollinators. This is a fantastic guide from Oregon Live. Use it to find plants to create your own pollinator garden, complete with flowers that bloom from early spring through late fall. This guide includes both individual plants that attract pollinators, and tips for making your whole garden bee-friendly. If you’re ready to dive deeper, the Oregon Bee Project has a huge list of resources, from finding native plants to your area, to attracting hummingbirds, and conserving water.
    • Get into Regenerative Farming. If you have your own land that you would like to start farming on a small (or large) scale, or if you already practice farming and would like to make it cheaper, more sustainable, and wind up with higher-quality foods, look into regenerative agriculture. Regenerative farming involves affordable, time-saving practices. The focus is on utilizing cover crops and livestock to nourish soil in a healthy way. You can do this on a really small scale with chickens and a quarter acre or think on a larger scale. Here are some helpful tips and tricks to think about before you get started.
  • White Water Rafting. You can go on your own if you’re super confident and know the river well, but I recommend going with a guide. Season: spring through summer, though I’d imagine you’ll enjoy yourself more in the warmer months.
    • For a guide with detailed reviews on rapid levels and suggestions for guides, check Oregon in For Adventure.
    • For detailed reviews and guides for areas of the state (Eastern, Central, Columbia River/Mt. Hood Area, Willamette Valley, Coast, and Southern Oregon), check here.
  • Volunteer Outdoors. There are lots of ways to volunteer outside.
    • In Eugene, consider volunteering with the Obsidians Trail Maintenance. They do monthly clean-ups on the Ridgeline Trail here in Eugene, and National Forest and Wilderness maintenance. If you’d like to help plant and care for trees in Eugene and Springfield, contact Friends of Trees. If you’re interested in internships, check Nearby Nature. Or search VolunteerMatch to find volunteer opportunities near you.
    • You can volunteer all over Oregon. If you’re a good writer, GIS mapper, photographer, or event planner, contact Oregon Wild to put your skills to good use.
  • Go Kayaking or Canoeing. This is a great thing to do when it’s just too hot to hike, you want to enjoy sunsets and sunrises on the water, or you just want to try something new.
    • Much to my surprise, I was able to purchase a nice inflatable kayak on Ebay (the Advanced Elements Kayak, which costs $700 new). I split the costs with my partner, and it came with paddles, vests, and a pump, and cost us $150 each. An inflatable kayak is a great option, because you will not need to invest in a rack for your car, and storage will be a piece of cake. My kayak would have been expensive if bought new, but if you’re willing to wait for a good deal on a used kayak you will be rewarded. You may have luck contacting outdoor programs at universities and community colleges near you to see when they will have garage sales on old gear.
    • If you only plan on using a kayak a few times, renting works, but you’ll find that you could pay for your own kayak after just a few rentals. A cheaper option for rentals may be to go through your university (if you’re a student) or become a university outdoor center community member. The University of Oregon’s program can be found here.
    • Look no further for great kayaking spots near Eugene, Portland, or find destinations throughout the whole state.
  • Ride the Oregon Scenic Bikeways or Tackle Biking at Crater Lake. Most of the bike rides listed here are best between the spring and fall, but always check the weather and ensure you bring the proper clothing, food, water, and equipment. If you don’t have a bike, you can sometimes rent them through universities (University of Oregon Outdoor Program Bike Program).
    • If you’re up for an elevation challenge, sign up for the Ride the Rim Event at Crater Lake. This event takes place twice every year in September. Registration is free, but donations are encouraged. The route around Crater Lake covers 25 miles and 3,500 feet of elevation gain. This is a great opportunity to enjoy biking at the National Park because the East Rim is closed to vehicles for the event.
  • Get into Birding. Though the initial investment to get into many new hobbies is steep, birding isn’t too expensive. You’ll just need a field guide (The Kaufman Field Guide to Birds in North America will set you back $19, or the Birds of Oregon Field Guide can be bought for $6 on Thriftbooks), a waterproof notebook ($8.75), and a free birding app for your phone. If you discover a love for birding, it’s worth investing in some binoculars (they vary in price from affordable to must-love-birding).
    • Some more beginning tips can be found on Audubon.
    • There are so many wonderful options to see birds at any time of year in Oregon. This list will provide you with some great places to get started. Once you explore the free birding app listed above, you’ll see that you can find out where others are identifying rare or interesting birds.
    • Birding is a great way to feel connected to nature, and to contribute to science by adding identifications to databases!
  • Hop on a Train.
    • Rides on the Eagle Cap Train through the Wallowa Mountains usually take about 3 hours, include lunch, and cost about $70-80 per adult, $65-75 for seniors, and $5-35 for children.
    • The Mount Hood Rail River Valley Excursion costs approximate $40 for adults.
    • Four other rides (Sumpter Valley, Willamette Shore, Holiday Express, and the Oregon Coast) can be found here.
  • Try Harvesting Your Own Food at U-Pick Farms. Aside from Christmas Trees, most u-pick farms do not have harvesting between December and March. But just about every other month should have something to harvest. Check the harvest calendar to see what’s available this month.
    • U-pick farms are a lot of fun and tend to be very cost-effective (the farmers don’t need to pay people to harvest for them)! It’s a win-win. Consider freezing, canning, fermenting, or even dehydrating surplus fruits and vegetables.
    • Here’s a summer guide of what and where to pick.
    • This guide should help you find fall produce around Portland.
  • Skiing, Snowshoeing, and Sledding (oh my!)
    • Note for inexperienced skiers – here is a rundown on the three most common types of skiing: downhill skiing is done with a ski-lift, backcountry skiing is skiing outside a ski resort area, and cross-country skiing (also called Nordic or XC skiing) is done on gentle terrain without the use of ski lifts. Downhill skiing tends to be pricey because of the maintenance required to groom the snow and maintain the lifts. However, many of the resorts in Oregon are pretty affordable, and you can rent skiing equipment directly from them.
      1. If you’re going anywhere besides groomed slopes, you really need to have some basic avalanche awareness. Remember to “Get the Forecast, Get the Gear, and Get the Training” (Avalanche.org).
    • If renting skiing, snowshoeing, or snowboarding equipment in Eugene, go to Berg’s (be prepared. It can be incredibly busy on weekends, and after some good snowfall in the mountains). You can also rent gear at the University of Oregon. Snowshoe packages cost $10 per day, cross-country packages cost $15, snowboard packages cost $20, and helmets cost $4. If you’re starting out, this gear should certainly suffice. You may be able to find discounted, used equipment  to buy at Play it Again Sports in South Eugene. You can also locate some amazing finds at Eugene Gear Traders.
    • If you’re an experienced and adventurous downhill skier, try five of the craziest lines you can ski in Oregon.
    • You can also try night skiing at Hoodoo, or look for less expensive options (most cost between $25 and $60 per day for adults). There are plenty of good deals for families with children to ski, or you can look for weekday discounts. If you’re planning on staying overnight, check out some of these options.
    • For Nordic Skiing, look into Teacup, and Mount Hood Meadows. Both function as doable day trips from Portland. Near Eugene, I recommend the Gold Lake Sno-Park. If you’re near Ashland or Medford, ski the Buck Prairie Trail, and Crater Lake. And in Central Oregon, try skiing at Mt. Bachelor, or Edison Butte. Most of these locations just require a Sno-Park Pass ($5 for the day, or $25 for the year), but Crater Lake and Mt. Bachelor cost more ($10 and $11-21 respectively). If you’re looking to get out further, check out Steens Mountain,
    • There are also lots of options for sledding and tubing, which are great for bad snow years, children, or any other time there’s snow on the ground. There’s even a lightshow/cosmic tubing event at Mt. Hood Skibowl, which costs $38 for adults and $33 for children.
  • Go Green. Okay this isn’t quite on theme with the rest of my suggestions. It’s not really an outdoor activity…But, if you’re reading this post, you love the outdoors. It feels good to do our part in making our relationship with earth a little less toxic.
    • Listen to a podcast. How to Save a Planet by Gimlet Media is on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. Sometimes, I feel hopeless when it comes to climate change, but this podcast provides uplifting stories and realistic things that we can all do to push for change. At the end of each episode they suggest doing things like seeing if your building could go green, and how to push congress to sign to a Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, etc.
    • Build a catio (a cat patio) if you have an outdoor or indoor/outdoor cat. Did you know that outdoor cats kill around 2.4 billion birds per year? If you’d like to do your part in saving bird populations from your kitty, you can build your own catio.
    • Look into Electric Vehicles. The Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program can save you up to $2,500 on certain new electric vehicles, and low and middle-income Oregonians can get another $2,500 off a USED electric vehicle (EV). It’s worth considering, especially if your family has two vehicles, a budget EV with a low range could make a great commuter car, and larger-budget EV’s can even be great adventure cars for a family with a single car.
    • If you own land and are planning on selling timber for cash, look into Oregon’s Forestry Carbon Offset Program instead. You can find the rules and regulations here. If you do decide to go forward with the offset program, just remember that you can negotiate with the companies buying carbon credits and make sure they have sustainable values and goals.
    • Invest in Solar Panels. In addition to reducing your reliance on fossil fuels, you can expect some pretty enticing tax credits and rebates. If you love the environment and enjoy saving a little money while you’re at it, it’s worth looking into. Here is a list of solar companies in Bend, Eugene, Portland, and Salem if you want to get a quote. 
    • Practice Leave No Trace. It is downright disheartening to go on a hike and find trash. In addition to not littering, you should consider bringing a trash bag and gloves and cleaning up after rude hikers. This one is already suggested as an activity, but it feels so good to leave the outdoors better than you found it, so I’m repeating it!