National Oregon Day 2026

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Tomorrow, March 8, is National Oregon Day, celebrating the history, diverse culture, and landscapes of our 33rd state. Known as The Beaver State, paying homage to the historic fur trade in the region, Oregon contains nearly as much cultural and natural diversity as my home state of California. I have certainly not spent as much time up there as I’d like to with a camera in my hand and hope to work on that in the not too distant future. Meanwhile, I thought I’d share a few images I have gotten on the trips I’ve been able to make so far.

One of my favorite attractions is the state’s stunning coastline, along which there are numerous wonderful Oregon State Parks. One such location is Harris Beach, just outside of Brookings on the southern coast. My wife and I have parked our little R-pod there twice so far and greatly enjoyed both visits. On our last trip in the fall of 2023 we had a wonderful mix of foggy and sunny weather.

Fog drapes the rugged sea stacks of Harris Beach State Park in Brookings, Oregon, as soft waves sweep across the sand in graceful, blurred motion. Captured on a misty October morning with a slow shutter speed, the receding surf forms elegant leading lines that draw the eye toward the layered rock formations rising through the coastal haze. This atmospheric seascape captures the tranquil, moody beauty of Oregon’s southern coast—where fog, tide, and stone meet in perfect harmony. Ideal for coastal decor, ocean lovers, and those captivated by the serene mystique of the Pacific Northwest shoreline.
Golden morning light illuminates a rugged sea stack and rocky shoreline at Harris Beach State Park in Brookings, Oregon, moments before fast-moving fog rolled in from the Pacific. The tranquil surf glides across the wet sand while soft mist begins to veil the cliffs and sea stacks in the distance. This fleeting moment of clarity captures the essence of Oregon’s coast—where sun and fog dance in constant motion, creating ever-changing light and atmosphere. A serene coastal landscape perfect for lovers of the Pacific Northwest, seascape photography, and the quiet magic of golden hour along Oregon’s wild southern shoreline.

On that same trip we made it to Gold Beach where my wife took care of some Christmas shopping at the Christmas Shoppe inside the Cannery Building at the Port of Gold Beach. She gives everyone on our list a new ornament every year and these wonderful folks took care of those needs in one stop! While there I got an image I’d been after for quite some time, the Mary D. Hume. The long derelict vessel has been moored under the I.L. Patterson Bridge for quite some time and she’s slowly decaying away. This was on one of those foggy days so I shot a long exposure to flatten the water and give the image a minimalistic feel…

Wreck of the Mary B. Hume, an 1881 steam vessel slowly decaying at the Gold Beach, Oregon waterfront amid dense coastal fog

And speaking of the Isaac Lee Patterson Bridge, I thought the wonderful old Art Deco structure was just asking for a black and white capture in those moody conditions…

Isaac Lee Patterson Bridge spanning the Rogue River mouth at Gold Beach, Oregon, shrouded in coastal fog, black and white

I wouldn’t even want to hazard a guess of how many waterfalls this fine state has to offer except to say a great many! Of the few I’ve visited to date, Tumalo Falls near Bend is a favorite. We visited it early in the morning in the early autumn of 2021. This wonderful cascade on Tumalo Creek drops just under 100 feet over a sheer cliff face and is a beauty to behold…

Photograph of Tumalo Falls near Bend, Oregon, a magnificent 97-foot waterfall on Tumalo Creek in the Deschutes National Forest. Captured on an October morning shortly after sunrise, the scene glows with autumn color as golden and amber foliage lines the stream below the towering cascade. The water flows gracefully through a lush canyon framed by evergreens and volcanic rock, embodying the wild beauty of Central Oregon. Processed with a soft painterly touch, this fine art image evokes serenity, renewal, and the timeless artistry of nature’s landscapes in the Pacific Northwest.

Folks that haven’t spent much time in Oregon probably don’t think of desert scenery, but it has a great deal of that as well. On the way home from the Bend trip we stretched our legs at Christmas Valley in the central part of the state. It’s my understanding that this dune-covered landscape is very popular among the OHV crowd. I was quite enamored with the sandy textures under the wonderful sky on the moody day we drove through.

Sweeping lines and delicate ripples in the sand define this moody desert scene from the Christmas Valley Sand Dunes in Oregon’s high desert. Captured beneath a dramatic, cloud-filled sky as filtered light brushed across the dune’s edge, the image reveals the subtle interplay of tone, texture, and shadow sculpted by the wind. Sparse vegetation clings to the slopes, hinting at resilience in an otherwise stark landscape. This photograph embodies the quiet strength and raw beauty of Oregon’s desert environment—ideal for lovers of wide-open spaces, minimalist art, and the timeless patterns found in nature’s shifting sands.

This is obviously just a tiny sampling of what can be enjoyed in this wonderful state. If you have a favorite Oregon spot to visit that you wouldn’t mind sharing, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

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