What to do in Eastern Oregon, OR

Activities, attractions and tours

Next Stop on the Eastern Oregon Swing is Leslie Gulch. A 20 mile dirt road leads past fantastic basalt rock formations terminating at the Owyhee River. There is a small but nice primitive campground (no water or electricity) with covered picnic tables and boat ramp access to the Owyhee river.
Next Stop on the Eastern Oregon Swing is Leslie Gulch. A 20 mile dirt road leads past fantastic basalt rock formations terminating at the Owyhee River. There is a small but nice primitive campground (no water or electricity) with covered picnic tables and boat ramp access to the Owyhee river.
You may have to stop for the occasional cattle drive on US Highway 395 in Eastern Oregon. We were one of only two cars waiting patiently as we admired the scenery of this beautiful herd being ushered across by real deal cowboys and their herding dogs. Yep, this may be the life for me.
The mountains of the Oregon Coast Range as seen from the eastern slope of Elk Mountain. None of these mountains tops off at much over 3000 feet (900 meters), but don't be fooled by that. Elk Mountain is one of the toughest short climbs (we're talking "hikes" here), that you'll ever find. And, if you're not a stickler about remaining on your feet the entire trail, you'll have a grand old time.
Here in the Great Northwest, those of us to take to the great outdoors generally have one destination, the Cascade Mountain range that runs pretty much through the center of Oregon and Washington going North/South. There is the Olympic Range to the north and west, the Blue Mountains to the East and Steens Mountain at the edge of the desert near Nevada. In fact, there are mountains all over the place, but those of us who hike and climb have essentially become snobs for the soaring peaks of the high Cascades. So much so that when someone tells us about a place called the “Coastal Range” sitting on the eastern rim of Oregon’s beaches, with its peaks topping out at a mere three thousand feet, we politely smile, and give off a glow of arch and patronizing wisdom. Three thousand feet is like a day in the park; a game of “Shoots and Ladders.” We’d hardly start breathing heavily before the whole thing was over and we were packing up the car. Well, folks, I am here to tell you; that kind of pride serves you well until you find yourself in the unenviable task of having to swallow it. This weekend my hiking partner and I took to the road to make what we thought would a pleasant little jaunt up a version of “Candyland” called Elk Mountain. What we “thought” could not have been further from the truth. Meter for meter and foot for foot, it is one of the hardest climbs we have ever done. Most of the first two miles is on no less than a 40% grade, some of it steeper, and I found myself clambering and clawing that ascension almost as often as hiking it. The next two miles start with a near vertical drop of almost 60 feet (what the hiking books call a scramble), in which I was forced to use a part of my body not generally applied to locomotion just to keep my arrangement with the law of gravity at an even status quo. At a certain point, the trail forks indecipherably, and the two of us found ourselves on the wrong tine of that fork as we watched the path erase almost like magic in front of us. We took our life into our hands (frequently along with handfuls of wild rosebush thorns) by pushing up a seventy-five foot embankment to get enough elevation to see where we had gone wrong. By grace or by fortune, that dropped us right back on the trail, at which point, the mountain seemed to believe that we had been taught our lesson. There were more deep vertical scrambles (always down, why down?) and belly scraping, heart-pounding ascensions, but nothing of the kind we had already seen. The last 4 miles bound and bounce down an old logging road, depositing you back at the place where you started, like Dorothy waking up in her bedroom; sad with newfound wisdom and heart aching with wonder. It was painful, it was dangerous, and I tell you, my friends, I had a blast. Beyond the sheer physical exertion, there are simply things to see that will make you marvel and gasp and keep you in a state where you feel as if you have permanently dropped your jaw. And if this hyperbolic rant didn’t convince you to try it for yourself, maybe some of discoveries I post in the near future will. If you’re up to the challenge, and don’t mind a little dirt, I highly recommend it.

Eastern Oregon Tourist Attractions & Activities

If you’re searching for an exciting holiday, count on Expedia.com.au to help you find interesting attractions, enlightening experiences, and tons of other fun things to do in Eastern Oregon AU$14. From first-rate tours to incredible deals on sightseeing trips – our extensive selection of local things to do and places to visit is just a few clicks away.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re travelling alone, alongside your main squeeze, or with your favourite friends or family members, Expedia has the inside scoop on what to see and do while in this corner of the world. And our search tool makes it simple to score the best deals around. So regardless of if you are on a tight budget or prefer to spare no expense, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for by browsing over 110 activities in Eastern Oregon, Oregon.

The intuitive booking system here on Expedia.com.au makes planning your holiday easier—and more affordable—than ever before. And not only can you discover all the best Eastern Oregon attractions from AU$14, but you can also book flights, hire cars, and reserve hotel rooms all in just a few moments. A world of wonder awaits you and your travelling companions. Count on Expedia.com.au to help you plan the holiday of your dreams, and you’ll have the time of your life.

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Recommended things to do in Eastern Oregon

Number of things to do
110
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia
City centre Golden Adventure Quest Experience in Portland: AU$14
Top 5 things to do
Half-day tours
With kids

What to do in Eastern Oregon

Discover the most popular places to visit in Eastern Oregon

Wallowa Lake - Joseph Oregon

Wallowa Lake

Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Wallowa Lake during your travels in Joseph. Stroll along the lakeside in this family-friendly area or seek out the hiking trails.

Wallowa Lake
Motorcycle camping and touring

Wallowa Lake State Park

Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Wallowa Lake State Park during your travels in Joseph. Wander the lakeside or discover the mountain views in this family-friendly area.

Wallowa Lake State Park
Shot from the park. Beautiful I'm winter

Hat Rock State Park

You can take time to visit Hat Rock State Park during your travels to Hermiston. While in this family-friendly area, you can savour the bars and cafes.

Hat Rock State Park

Wildhorse Casino

Why not roll the dice with a visit to Wildhorse Casino during your time in Mission? While you're here, you can savour the top-notch restaurants.

Wildhorse Casino

Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame

Catch an event at Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame during your trip to Pendleton. While in this family-friendly area, you can savour the top-notch restaurants.

Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame

Crystal Crane Hot Springs

You can take time to visit Crystal Crane Hot Springs during your travels to Burns. Stroll along the lakeside or discover the sunsets in this trendy area.

Crystal Crane Hot Springs

Port Arlington

Explore the waterfront in Arlington with a trip to Port Arlington. Wander the riverfront or discover the area's volcano viewpoints.

Port Arlington

Pendleton Center for the Arts

You can spend time browsing the exhibits at Pendleton Center for the Arts during your trip to Pendleton. While in this family-friendly area, you can savour the top-notch restaurants.

Pendleton Center for the Arts

Roy Raley Park

Explore the great outdoors at Roy Raley Park, a lovely green space in Pendleton. While you're here, you can savour the top-notch restaurants.

Roy Raley Park

Explore areas of Eastern Oregon

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Riverside

While there might not be top attractions in Riverside, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Pendleton Woolen Mills and Pendleton Center for the Arts.

Riverside

 

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Day trip destinations from Eastern Oregon

#windowseat Eastern Washington State, somewhere between Yakima and the Tri-Cities. In contrast with the famously rain-soaked western part of the state, Eastern Washington is rolling farmlands, vineyards, wind farms and empty space. The farther east you go, the terrain gets more interesting and is a photographer's playground in spring and fall. The contrast provided by the light covering of snow creates interesting patterns that you can only see from up here. #lifeatexpediagroup

Prosser

Sunrise over the Columbia River. You can dry camp for $9 or stay at the Marina #Rvpark with full hookups for $30. A great location for sunsets and sunrises, but it does get windy. #rvlife #rvlifestyle #moonsrtwrv #moonsrtwusa

Arlington

What to choose?

Touchet

Walla Walla featuring street scenes

Walla Walla