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All United States Oregon

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Oregon

182 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Oregon

Updated May 15, 2023

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Cities

Top Cities
Portland
Goonie Trails
Astoria
Octopus Tree of Oregon
Tillamook
A kestrel falcon nursed back to health by the Cascades Raptor Center.
Eugene
Florence
The H-4 Hercules, aka "Spruce Goose."
Mc Minnville
All Cities
  1. Ashland
  2. Astoria
  3. Baker City
  4. Bend
  5. Cannon Beach
  6. Cave Junction
  7. Corbett
  8. Crater Lake
  9. Eugene
  10. Florence
  11. Klamath Falls
  12. La Pine
  13. Mc Kenzie Bridge
  14. Mc Minnville
  15. Mitchell
  16. Oregon City
  17. Pendleton
  18. Portland
  19. Redmond
  20. Salem
  21. Seaside
  22. Silver Lake
  23. Sisters
  24. The Dalles
  25. Tillamook
  26. Yachats
Attractions
Food & Drink
Map
Leaderboards
Stories
Lists

Unusual Attractions in Oregon

Thor's Well.

Yachats, Oregon

Thor's Well

On the Oregon coast there is a natural hole that seems to be draining the sea.
April 2022

Portland, Oregon

The Witch's Castle

These old stone ruins in the Oregon wilderness were once bathrooms and are steeped in legends of murder.

Corbett, Oregon

Multnomah Falls

A roaring, awe-inspiring double cascade of icy water flows through woodland Oregon like something out of a Tolkien novel.
Boots taken from victims to prevent them running away. Copyright Michael P. Jones/Cascade Geographic Society 2010.

Portland, Oregon

Portland's Shanghai Tunnels

The seamy, underground secrets of Portland's criminal past.
Wizard Island

Crater Lake, Oregon

Crater Lake

The deepest lake in the United States, and once the site of epic destruction that lives on in legends.

Portland, Oregon

The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium

An emporium for the weird, creepy, rare, and just plain gross.
Near the entrance past the gift shop

Portland, Oregon

The Grotto

A beautiful 62-acre Catholic shrine and botanical garden.
Proxy Falls (technically, Lower Proxy Falls)

McKenzie Bridge, Oregon

Proxy Falls

This frequently-photographed waterfall takes only a short hike to visit.
See All 182 Things To Do in Oregon

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Oregon

Voodoo Doughnuts

Portland, Oregon

Voodoo Doughnut and Wedding Chapel

The magic's in the hole!
Exterior of Casa Diablo

Portland, Oregon

Casa Diablo Vegan Strip Club

Is this the most Portland place ever?

Portland, Oregon

Ota Tofu

The oldest tofu shop in the United States is a firm favorite with locals.
A lot goes into making a little bit of cheese.

Tillamook, Oregon

Tillamook Creamery

This unassuming cheese empire in rural Oregon churns out more than 150,000 pounds of cheese each day.
See all 10 Places to Eat in Oregon
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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

A Feminist Road Trip Across the U.S.

Atlas Obscura has a tradition of exploring the stories of women who changed the world, from wildlife biologists and mountain climbers to Civil War spies and tattoo artists. To celebrate these daring women who struck out on their own, we’ve put together a cross-country road trip. Over 12 stops and more than 3,000 miles, this route will give you a front-row seat to women’s history in America.

View Itinerary

Explore Oregon

Nature 19
Geology 19
Natural Wonders 18
Collections 18
Water 17
Plants 17
Museums And Collections 13
Ecosystems 13
Animals 13
History 12
Travel Oregon 11
Geological Oddities 9
Unique Restaurants & Bars 5
Places To Stay 3

Oregon Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. Avatar image for canuck
    canuck
    12
  2. Avatar image for jamesb
    jamesb
    9
  3. Avatar image for littlebrumble
    littlebrumble
    7
  4. Avatar image for slgwv
    slgwv
    5
  5. M
    Minisaurus
    3

Places Edited

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    Rachel
    16
  2. Avatar image for breaingram
    breaingram
    15
  3. Avatar image for slgwv
    slgwv
    15
  4. M
    Martin
    14
  5. Avatar image for Anna Minster
    Anna Minster
    11

Places Visited

  1. Avatar image for RandomGuy
    RandomGuy
    107
  2. H
    hazel45eyes
    90
  3. J
    johnsonbk27
    80
  4. V
    Vayhi
    79
  5. Avatar image for GabrielleVi
    GabrielleVi
    77

Recent Oregon Activity

  • J

    jtomq3pc

    has been to International Rose Test Garden

  • J

    jtomq3pc

    has been to Portlandia

  • J

    jtomq3pc

    has been to Transcendence

  • Avatar image for sharoneliason

    sharoneliason

    wants to go to Crater Lake

  • T

    toricrzy

    wants to go to It's A Burl

Stories About Oregon

A sea lamprey that's clearly ready for its close-up—and for a new appreciation of its role in its native ecosystems.

Sea Lampreys, Long Reviled, Are Finally Getting Some Respect

Once dismissed as "ugly," this sucker-mouthed fish plays an important role in its native ecosystem.
by Ted Williams
May 15, 2023
The top tier of Shizuo and Frances’s wedding cake, which has miraculously survived since they were married in 1943.

Found: An 80-Year-Old Wedding Cake With a Tragic Past

Frances Nishimura preserved this sweet keepsake for generations.
by Natasha Varner
February 16, 2023
The Large Wave Flume at Oregon's O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory hosts an experiment in innovative coastal protection.

The Oregon Lab Where Scientists Are Riding the Waves to a Brighter Future

At the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Lab in Corvallis, massive simulators allow researchers to test innovative ideas about sustainable energy, saving coastlines, and more.
by Annalee Newitz
February 3, 2023
A baled Christmas tree is loaded at the Omni Farm in West Jefferson, North Carolina.

What’s the Real Christmas Tree Capital of the World?

At least a half dozen communities in North America have claimed the title. 
by Justin Franz
December 7, 2022
Harvested fire morels against charred bits of wood.

The Mysterious Mushroom That Only Grows in Burn Scars

To find fire morels, forage after wildfires.
by Elaina Zachos
July 12, 2022
Residents of Albany, Oregon, have been hand carving the carousel's fanciful animals for 20 years.

The Carousel That Saved a Town

How building a children's attraction rebuilt the community of Albany, Oregon.
by Rebecca Deurlein
May 11, 2022
The Humongous Fungus is most visible when it produces the edible and tasty honey mushroom, but the season is brief and doesn’t happen every year.

What the World's Largest Organism Reveals About Fires and Forest Health

In Oregon, the Humongous Fungus plays a complex role in an ecosystem reshaped by humans.
by Colin Hogan
May 6, 2022
Loggers from Maxville in an undated photo in the Oregon forest.

Meet the Woman Preserving the History of Oregon's Black Loggers

A chance discovery about her father's past led Gwen Trice to dig deep into the story of Maxville and the families who called it home.
by Michelle Harris
February 17, 2022

Lists Featuring Oregon

Darlingtonia State Natural Site.
An aerial view of the rose garden.
The H-4 Hercules, aka "Spruce Goose."
Pete French Round Barn.

7 of Oregon's Most Magical Places

Sponsored by Travel Oregon
7

Including Darlingtonia State Natural Site, International Rose Test Garden, and The Spruce Goose

Tamástslikt Cultural Institute
The Bigfoot Trap
Outside Hippo Hardware in Portland.
Antler chandelier plus interior of restaurant

7 Destinations for a Different Kind of Oregon Trail

Sponsored by Travel Oregon
7

Including Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, The Bigfoot Trap, and Hippo Hardware

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