10 Quintessential Oregon Towns

The southernmost unit of the Pacific Northwest sets the tone for this wild and revered geographic region. Oregon is bounded by the Columbia River in the north, the Snake River to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. In the sizable state in between (the ninth largest, in fact, in the United States), one finds expansive coniferous forests, mountains ranging from rolling to cloud-piercing, and all sorts of stimulating towns, be they pretty or gritty. These are ten such communities that capture the quintessence of The Beaver State.

Coos Bay

Ruggedly handsome, working class, community-centric: Coos Bay is quintessential Oregon. I rolled through this equal parts harbor and timber town just in time for the annual Prefontaine Memorial Run (in honor of its hometown hero and American Olympic track star, Steve Prefontaine). During that same weekend, the Bay Area Fun Festival paraded through the streets of downtown, and a gathering of cinephiles occurred at the quirky Egyptian Theatre for a showing of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Not a bad trifecta! Add in sociable watering holes, a walkable, historic waterfront, and several surrounding state parks to boot, and Coos Bay is one of the Pacific Coast’s most intriguing stopovers.

Florence

An hour north of Coos Bay, still along the Pacific Ocean (though sheltered slightly inland), the quaint city of Florence brings out Oregon's softer side. The best way to get a feel for Florence is to walk the boardwalk through to Bay Street, toward the iconic drawbridge crossing the Siuslaw River. Along the way, there are ample opportunities to indulge in fresh seafood (the bread bowl chowder being the local favorite), stop for pictures at the Old Town Park gazebo or the colorful sea lion statue, shop for your next read at either Books n' Bears or Light House Book Store, or if the weather turns moody, cozy up with a cup of joe at River Roasters.

Immediately south of town, Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park shows off another one of Oregon's specialties: its colossal sand dunes. Enjoy a strenuous but rewarding "hike," or go buck wild at the adjacent Siltcoos Beach Off-Highway Vehicle Area.

Eugene

As Oregon's second biggest city, Eugene might not quite fit the "town" billing, but a closer examination of its assets shows that negating it would leave a void in Oregon's quintessence. Known as "Tracktown USA," Eugene is not only home to the University of Oregon but also Hayward Field, where the aforementioned Steve Prefontaine cut his teeth, and modern Olympians duke it out at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships (hosted a nation-leading eleven times by this very track). Get a sense of the magic and Eugene's scenery by logging some miles on Pre's Trails, a series of mulch-laden loops through Alton Baker Park along the Willamette River.

These days, downtown Eugene has its pros and cons, but to focus on the positives, check out the opulent 5th Street Public Market, followed by the grungy street murals (there are nearly 100 of them), and then capping off the tour with pints, board games, food-truck grub and live music at ColdFire Brewing Company.

Port Orford

Port Orford comes and goes in a flash when driving the Oregon Coast Highway, but its oceanside scenery is absolutely stunning. Start by pulling over at Battle Rock Wayside Park to feel the salty breeze while absorbing the dramatic panorama. Steps leading down from the parking lot open the door to a lengthy beach stroll. After working up an appetite, choose from a cluster of three seafood restaurants: The Dive and The Crazy Norwegian for satiating fish n' chips or Redfish to class it up a bit.

Finally, head out to Port Orford Heads State Park to enjoy an epic sunset, or run the whole scenario in reverse so that you can catch the Port Orford Lifeboat Station Museum during its modest business hours.

Hood River

Hood River represents Oregon's champion craft brewery scene, the state's propensity for outdoor recreation, and the best aspects of its commercial developments. Located on the state-dividing Columbia River (as well as the middle fork of the titular waterway), Hood River's kitesurfing community revels in the almost daily winds that rush through the scenic gorge. For anyone untrained in the fringe sport, it is equally as enjoyable to simply watch the colorful kites from the waterfront park or multiple breweries and eateries along Portway Ave.

Up the hill, downtown Hood River boasts several more micro-breweries, along with tons of unique restaurants and boutique shops in which a joyous afternoon can easily pass. And all the while, the iconic snowcapped visage of Mount Hood looms in the distance, beckoning hardcore adventurers to take a closer look.

Bend

Continuing the running theme, Bend, Oregon, is one of the meccas of trail running. Thanks to its position between the Cascade Mountains and the Oregon High Desert, Bend has a plethora of mixed-medium trails, from forests to alpine to prairie (either right in the heart of town or within a short drive) and consistently favorable weather for getting after it. No wonder Outside Magazine called it "America's Best Trail Running Town."

Even when winter descends, aerobic maniacs can bust out their snowshoes and cross-country skis on many of those same routes. If you prefer life at a slower speed, know that Bend is also big on frisbee golf, floating the Deschutes River, and kicking back with a patio pint at any of the 30 breweries in and around town!

Tumalo

If you like the sounds of Bend but aren't interested in the crowds, check out the much smaller community of Tumalo, less than eight miles to the north. This is actually one of the preferred launching points to float down the Deschutes River, so you can still capture that social magic and buoyant leisure but then also have a quiet spot to return to at day's end. The go-to spot to rest one's head is on the ground at the Tumalo State Park Campground, which only adds to the area's revered trail and waterfront prospects.

In the heart of town, Tumalo eagerly welcomes visitors with a couple of mouth-watering BBQ joints, a cider bar, a hip little coffee shop, and a woodfired pizza place for good measure.

Cascade Locks

Another special spot within the Columbia River Gorge is that of Cascade Locks, a mere 20 miles west of Hood River. Park beneath the iconic Bridge of the Gods (i.e., a steel truss cantilever bridge spanning The Gorge) and marvel at the mix of rich blues and greens, and watch cargo ships, sailboats, and even old-fashioned sternwheeler cruises float by. You may even see a long-distance hiker or two come tramping by with their giant trekking bags, eager to take a break from the 2,660-mile Pacific Crest Trail (a National Scenic Trail that passes right through Cascade Locks) and indulge in hot coffee, cold beer, and cheesy pizza.

Klamath Falls

For all its natural splendor, Oregon actually only has one national park. That said, it is a rather remarkable one. Crater Lake National Park sits high in the Cascade Mountain Range and is centered around not only the deepest lake in the United States but also one of the most pristine on the planet. The best base town from which to experience this product of an ancient volcanic cataclysm is Klamath Falls, less than an hour's drive to the south.

Though Crater Lake is likely to be the main focus for travelers to these parts, Klamath Falls sits at the south end of a beautiful lake of its own (i.e., Upper Klamath Lake), has a vibrant Main Street replete with dining, shopping, and historic deep dives, and best of all, is basked in 300 days of sunshine per year (on average)—hence the nickname, "City of Sunshine."

Reedsport

Let's end back where we began, along the sand-dune-riddled coast of west-central Oregon. Reedsport sits roughly equidistant between Florence (to the north) and Coos Bay (to the south), right in the heart of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (i.e., the largest coastal sand dune system on the continent). Sand boarders and ATVers who like to go at it on foot can first unite along Reedsport's simple but satiating main drag: Fir Avenue.

Here, hungry adventurers can grab a bite at Highwater Cafe and Market and then wash it down with a pint at Two Shy Brewing before checking out the wood-carved sculptures and historic street murals along the street. If you have time before or after the dune excursions, float by the Umpqua Discovery Center on the shore of the Umpqua River to learn about the region's indigenous, early pioneering, and natural history.

Parting Thoughts

These ten towns embody the past, present, and (perhaps) future of the great state of Oregon. In almost all cases, extractive industries settled into harmony with their exquisite natural surroundings. The resulting communities are, therefore, trail-seeking, boat-riding, and beer-drinking kinds of places. They may not always have a touristic sheen to them, but these quintessential towns check all the authentic Beaver State boxes.