Oregon's summer truly does not disappoint!!! Totally worth rushing for!!!
As the title says! Choosing the right season to visit Portland is really, really, really important!
This time we caught the start of summer, and the weather was just perfect!
The temperature was just right, the sun was shining brightly, and it didn’t rain for four days straight. Plus, it only got dark around 9 PM every day—perfect for going out and exploring!
Day 1: Left work at 4 PM and headed straight to Cannon Beach (photos 3 & 4). The giant rocks were absolutely stunning—way bigger in person than in photos. This spot was the most breathtaking place on this trip. The drive to Cannon Beach was beautiful too, with dappled sunlight through the trees. We got to the beach just after 6 PM and first went to Pelican Brewing Company for dinner. We waited about 15 minutes in line, and the food was really good! Highly recommend the oysters as an appetizer—super plump and fresh, they blew my mind! After dinner, we drove near the giant rocks. Parking was tricky, so we found a small alley off the street and parked there.
The wind by the sea was so strong, I almost froze my head off. If you go, definitely check the weather and bring a thicker jacket. The seaside sunset is much colder than downtown.
Day 2: Waterfall day
In the morning, we went to Vista House at Crown Point, which is a quick stop for photos (photo 7).
Then we hiked Latourell Falls for about an hour. This trail is highly recommended! It has shade and a stream, so you won’t be exposed to the sun, and the length is just right—very comfortable. However, the waterfalls here are relatively small, so if you’re only interested in waterfalls, you might skip this one.
In the afternoon, we visited Multnomah Falls (photo 5), the iconic tall waterfall with the bridge. There’s a trail to climb to the top of the falls. Sitting by the water under the tree shade was very relaxing, but since we already hiked a trail in the morning and it was very sunny and uphill in the afternoon, I was exhausted and questioning my life choices. If you go in the afternoon, make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and water!!!
Day 3: Forest and snow mountain
We left at noon for Jonsrud Viewpoint, another quick photo stop. When it’s not too hot, you can buy lunch and eat there. The views of the forest and snow-capped mountains are amazing (photo 8).
Then we went to Timberline Lodge (photo 2). It’s amazing that you can still ski at the end of May! Although we didn’t ski, it felt so lucky to touch snow in summer.
Trillium Lake was the highlight and my favorite spot of the trip (photo 1)—a must-visit! We rented a kayak for an hour and drifted on the lake, surrounded by forest and snow mountains. The world and my mind felt incredibly peaceful. I even thought about moving to Portland to buy a kayak and paddle on the lake every weekend.