Take a drive along any of Oregon’s beautiful byways, and you will find that road signage is colorful and plentiful–so plentiful that some drivers may have lower priority for green and brown rectangles. These signs can advocate for natural and historical areas, and our beautiful Oregon is home to a vast variety of them. Following one of those signs may lead you on a grand adventure, as they are the key-holders to some of our state’s greatest treasures! 2022 marks the 100th anniversary of Oregon State Parks, so celebrate and honor our history with a little learning, and then get out there to enjoy them!

History of Oregon State Parks

In 1921, the Oregon State Parks (OPRD) was created as an extension of the Highway Department. It all began with one five-acre park, a donation from Sarah Helmick that she offered with the hopes that there would always be a recreational space for Oregonians to share. A century later, OPRD no longer functions as a branch under the Highway Department but is the sole acting authority of 254 parks that cover more than 100,000 acres! These parks bring in over $1 billion into the state’s economy annually, mainly thanks to the dedication of 16,000 full and part-time employees that work to maintain those acres.

Funding and Using the Parks

Now that you know a bit about them, how can you make use of these amazing natural areas? One of the ways my family has been supporting the parks (while still saving ourselves a lot of cash) is by purchasing an annual park pass. By visiting this page of their website, you can choose if you’d like to purchase a 12-month pass for $30 or a 24-month pass for $50. This pass is designed to hang from your rearview mirror and covers day-use parking fees for every single one of their 254 parks. Visiting a park without this pass will cost you $5+ each time. You can save yourself some money (and headaches) by purchasing this pass once every other year and keeping it in your car or wallet. Keep in mind that annual passes are always purchasable at each of the park’s welcome kiosks.

Becoming an OPRD Visitor

Knowing the financial side of it is good, but choosing which park to visit can be overwhelming. Oregonians are spoiled with an abundance of outdoor recreation options! Narrow your search on the OPRD home page by choosing what feature you desire the most. Would you like to find a great lake to go fishing with the kids? A horse trail with spectacular views? Maybe you’d prefer a stroller-friendly nature walk with educational signs, or you are looking for the perfect place to make new camping traditions. Whatever your family needs, remember that being outdoors together in an Oregon State Park is a great start. 

For those looking for a recommendation, here are a few of my family’s favorite OPRD beauties:

Tumalo State Park: located north of Bend, this park boasts year-round access to the beautiful Deschutes River. A popular spot for floating, the day-use area is expansive with tons of river access and picnic tables. The campground has all the classic amenities, including a playground, flush toilets, hot showers, and sections for yurts, RVs, hiker/bikers, and tents. Our family’s favorite part about this park is the prime river walking that is overall calm and safe for toddlers. It is also situated close to lots of unique eats in town!

Willamette Mission State Park: located north of Salem, this park has 1,300 acres of woods, meadows, and farmland that border the Willamette River. Take a ride on the Wheatland Ferry, meet friends on the disc golf course, or use one of the many covered areas for a potluck. This park even offers a full Horse Camp with equine trailheads. Our family’s favorite part about this park is the nation’s largest black cottonwood tree–it is 270 years old and 28 feet in circumference!

Tryon Creek State Natural Area: located south of downtown Portland, this park is the only oasis of temperate rainforest in Oregon thriving within a major metropolitan area. Feel the stress of city life fall away as you explore dirt trails with multiple bridges across wetlands–bring your boots during the muddy season! Our family’s favorite part of this park is the chances of visitors hearing voices and the activity of loggers while on the trail, even though no logging had occurred there since 1915 (before the park was founded).

Beverly Beach State Park: located in Newport, this park offers excellent day-use beach access while also maintaining a campground that is sheltered from those harsh ocean winds. Take in a great view of the iconic Yaquina Head Lighthouse, get sand in your toes, and scout a nice camping spot to reserve six months in advance, as this is one of the largest and most popular coastal state parks! Our family’s favorite part about this park is the fantastic whale watching and the vast selection of tidepools.

Getting Involved

Oregon State Parks are rich with our state’s history and activities, so there is no way to simplify all they offer within one article. If you are interested in the festivities surrounding OPRD’s 100th anniversary in June, please check out this article for additional information and links. Should you have extra time in your schedule for volunteering, I would highly recommend visiting the ORPD event calendar to find a fit. As a past volunteer myself, I can assure you that I found it worthwhile and unexpectedly rewarding! OPRD is honoring its 100 years in service with 100 volunteer opportunities hosted during 2022. Getting involved with your community can absolutely correlate with your personal desire to witness a lunar eclipse, but only if you get out there and do it. Oregon State Parks helps you make that happen!