Find Freedom with These Local, Cost-Friendly Outdoor Activities
Illustration by Noelle Mitcham
Article by Lea Olivares Raudes
NEWBERG, Ore. – The best things in life should be free, and the state of Oregon has an overwhelming amount to offer. A highlight of George Fox University (GFU) is its proximity to the green, wonderful attractions of the Pacific Northwest, known for its thicketed forest to the east and serene coast to the west.
Autumn has an ambience like no other. The four-season climate of Oregon fills these months with strikingly different moods of weather. Early fall begins warm and muggy, then evolves into a wonderland of crisp, colorful leaves to admire from above and step on from below.
Have you heard of the ghost that haunts Multnomah Falls? A myriad of waterfalls are waiting in the gorge just off Historic Columbia River Highway. This road has commercial levels of beauty which immediately absorb you while driving or on foot. If you're lucky, you may see a maiden’s silhouette hidden in the Multnomah Fall’s mist.
For a comfortable, homey take on autumn, you might want to explore a pumpkin patch. Yesteryear Farm in Wilsonville has free cider, popcorn, games and movie nights, as well as affordable food carts, an artisan market and a corn maze. Other pumpkin patches worth visiting are Frog Pond Farm, also in Wilsonville, and Lee Farms in Tualatin.
Make a day trip out of visiting Sauvie Island this fall season. The roads on the island are beautiful drives with pit stops for animal observation and river access. You could even enjoy a picnic by the water after hiking to the Warrior Rock Lighthouse at the island’s tip.
Other spaces that exhibit the fall mood are Oregon’s hotsprings, the Smiley Face pine trees in Polk County, Hood River Valley Harvest festival, Tualatin’s Pumpkin Regatta and Portland’s Water Lantern Festival.
If a hike doesn’t interest you, you’re not alone. There are still numerous outdoor activities to try out, such as geocaching, the worldwide treasure hunt. To participate, download the geocache app and visit nearby spots for a good hunt. Remember to sign the page inside the capsules you discover and leave it where you found it. Geocaching has an active community with events and caches found all over Oregon and beyond.
Discover some new flying friends by birdwatching. The best place to do this is forests or protected wildlife areas, such as refuges. Don't forget to grab a pair of binoculars, a camera and your bird identification handbook.
Refuges are essential to the maintenance of Oregon’s biodiversity, protecting water and land for native species to strive in. Local examples of these are the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge and Oaks Bottom Wildlife refuge. If you drive north, you can take a car tour through the Ridgefield National Wildlife refuge.
Make a roadtrip to the coast, where you can hike God’s Thumb near Roads End in Lincoln City for incredible views of the ocean. Alternatively, visit the Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay or the free Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport.
In Portland, Nordic Northwest offers trails to a troll sculpture named Ole Bolle, as well as an art museum based on Norwegian culture. Stop by this location for a unique experience of Norwegian art that you may have never seen before.
Scooters and bikes are popular on campus, and these are great ways to exercise and take in the atmosphere. Cycle down trails such as the Banks-Vernonia State trail, Tualatin River
Greenway trail or Fanno creek trail. Good for friends, family or personal contemplation;
make sure to check these out for a change of scenery.
Adventuring into this rare beauty may feel intimidating but you are not at a loss for options! The abundance of Oregon offers itself to you. Now it’s up to you to take the first step.
