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USA - OREGON: MORE TRAILS THAN ROADS
 Nothing will shape your impression of Oregon more than its powerful natural landscapes. So commanding is its geography that pioneers, already expecting "a land of Eden", were amazed by the actual grandeur they would find at the end of their long journey.
This is a state of contrasts, where singular volcanic peaks heave up from lava plains, sand dunes rise to the skies, and trees stand so thick that light never reaches the forest floor.
It's a land of mystique where a crystal blue lake so magnificent was kept hidden by Native Americans for half a century, where bands of color paint ancient hills, and vast lava fields so resemble the surface of the moon that American astronauts trained here for lunar missions.
It's a land of breathtaking scenery, of snow-dusted mountains, dramatic river canyons, lush valleys, rugged coast, arid plains and fertile fields. In fact, Oregon offers some example of every geographic terrain on the planet within its borders.
Oregon's treasure chest of natural resources includes:
• Thirteen national forests, one national memorial, three national monuments, one national park, two national recreation areas, one national scenic area, and one historic national trail;
• More than 240 state parks, more than 1,700 lakes, and more than 112,000 miles of waterways and rivers - the longest being the 1,243-mile-long Willamette River, which flows right through the heart of downtown Portland;
• Nineteen US Fish and Wildlife Service refuges dedicated to protecting the region's native wildlife including birds, antelope, mountain goats, bears and bighorn sheep. Highlights include the Klamath Forest National Wildlife Refuge, where visitors can view more than 1,000 majestic bald eagles – the largest concentration of wintering bald eagles in the US – and the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, home to the largest freshwater marsh in the United States;
• Three scenic byways honored as All-American Roads, five designated as National Scenic Byways, and six recognized as Oregon Scenic Byways.
No-one can tell you where to find the best places in Oregon. They're tucked away in its 12 different ski areas, along its rugged coastline and between some of the world's most spectacular waterfalls.
They're secret places. A backcountry run, a hidden fishing hole, a secluded fire lookout, a teeming tidal pool, a local trailhead you stumble upon – they're the things that bring visitors back.
But you won't find them unless you get out and see Oregon.
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