Oregon is a wealth of natural beauty, no small amount of which can be viewed in its many state and national forests. If you’re looking for breathtaking views of soaring treetops, these Oregon state forests will not disappoint. Find old-growth, unusual, and majestic trees here in this guide to nine of the best hiking spots in Oregon forests.
1. Valley of the Giants
Old-growth Douglas fir and hemlock trees more than 20 feet in circumference populate this 51 acre piece of land. Trees grow to nearly 200 feet tall and some of the largest are 400 to 50 years old.
2. Tub Springs Sugar Pine
Near Highway 66 you will find one of the oldest and largest sugar pines in the state. These trees are on average 250 years old and 180 feet tall.
3. Octopus Tree at Cape Mears State Park
A naturally formed Sitka spruce, this tentacled tree was shaped by unknown natural forces. Measuring more than 14 feet across at the base, the limbs extend horizontally up to 30 feet before moving upward to its full 105 foot height. The Octopus Tree is estimated to be around 250 years old.
4. Willamette Mission Park
The largest black cottonwood in the Unites States can be found in Willamette Mission Park. This tree is 250 years old.
5. Oregon Cave National Monument
Here you will find a Douglas fir that has the largest girth of any known in Oregon. The trail itself is a steep climb that takes about three hours.
6. Oswald West State Park
An easy walk between Arch Cape and Neah-Kah-Nie Mountains is the Old Growth Trail through the MacDonald Forest. This well maintained trail through the trees is open year round.
7. Giant Spruce at Cape Perpetua
Accessible by foot trail, the Giant Spruce in Siuslaw National Forest is approximately 600 years old. One hundred eighty-five feet tall, the Giant Spruce is a one mile hike from the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center.
8. La Pine State Park
Home to “Big Tree,” a Ponderosa pine with the largest girth of any recorded member of this species of pine tree, measuring 28 feet, 11 inches in circumference. The Big Tree is 162 feet tall and an estimated 500 years old.
9. Opal Creek Wilderness and Scenic Recreation Area
Home to the largest intact stand of old-growth forest in the western Cascades, trees here are over 500 years old.
Related article: 5 of the Best Day Hikes in Oregon
Featured Image from Chris Stenger/Unsplash
