Oregon winter adventures offer snow, waterfalls, hot springs

Salt Creek Falls
 in winter of  2011

It may sound crazy, but you could make the argument the best time to explore Oregon’s outdoors is during the winter.

Yes, it’s rainy, snowy and pretty much always cool. But it’s those elements, plus the lack of crowds, that make it such a glorious time to travel.

Waterfalls are booming or covered in ice. Old-growth forests are at their mossy best. And hot springs feel just a little bit better amid chilled temperatures.

Here are 30 winter outdoor adventures to try in Oregon.

Weather will vary considerably, so always check roads and conditions before you go and be prepared. 

Crater Lake ski or snowshoe

Winter is king at Oregon’s only national park. Forty-two feet of snowfall blankets this collapsed volcano, making it one of the snowiest inhabited places in North America.

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