Honor & Protect Each of Oregon’s National Parks or Monuments by Visiting Each of Them

Important dates:

National Park Week: April 19th to 27th, 2025

Free National Park Entrance Days:

  • April 19 – First Day of National Park Week
  • June 19 – Juneteenth National Independence Day
  • August 4 – Great American Outdoors Act Signing Day
  • September 27 – National Public Lands Day

Get ready, Oregon adventurers—National Park Week is in full swing from April 19 to April 27, 2025! It’s the perfect time to lace up your hiking boots, pack those picnic baskets, and head out to explore the breathtaking wonders at Oregon’s five incredible national parks and monuments: Crater Lake National Park, Oregon Cave National Monument, Lewis & Clark National Historical Park, Nez Perce National Historical Park, and John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Since its founding in 1916, the National Park Service has been dedicated to safeguarding America’s stunning natural landscapes, vibrant wildlife, and awe-inspiring historical landmarks, ensuring they’re preserved and cherished for generations.

These amazing parks aren’t just picturesque—they’re essential in protecting our wildlife, unique ecosystems, and preserving vital pieces of our nation’s history. Want to make your adventure even more impactful? Right now (4/23/25), every donation you make in honor of National Park Week will be TRIPLE MATCHED up to $300,000! So let’s celebrate by visiting, exploring, and supporting these incredible treasures. Give today and triple your love for the parks that give so much back to all of us!

Donate to our National Parks.

1. Crater Lake National Park

  • Deepest Lake: Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States (1,943 feet deep).
  • Purest Water: Famous for some of the clearest, purest water found anywhere in the world.
  • Volcanic Origins: Formed from the eruption and collapse of Mount Mazama about 7,700 years ago.
  • Wizard Island: Features Wizard Island, a cinder cone volcano rising from the lake’s waters.
  • Old Man of the Lake: Home to a mysterious floating log known as the “Old Man of the Lake” that’s been drifting upright since at least 1896.
  • Snowy Wonderland: Receives an average of over 500 inches (41 feet!) of snow each year.
  • No Streams In or Out: Remarkably, no rivers or streams flow into or out of Crater Lake; it’s fed entirely by rain and snow.
  • Mazama Newt: Contains a unique subspecies of newt found nowhere else on Earth, the Mazama Newt.
  • Rim Drive: Offers a spectacular 33-mile scenic drive around the caldera rim with numerous viewpoints.
  • Dark Sky Sanctuary: Known for extraordinary stargazing and night-sky photography due to minimal light pollution.

Learn more about Crater Lake National Park.

2. Oregon Caves National Monument

  • Marble Marvel: Known as the “Marble Halls of Oregon,” carved from marble rather than the limestone typical of most caves.
  • Discovered in 1874: First explored extensively by Elijah Davidson, a local hunter whose dog chased a bear into the cave.
  • Chateau Lodging: Features the Oregon Caves Chateau, a rustic, historic lodge built in 1934.
  • Rare Species: Home to unique cave-dwelling species, including Townsend’s big-eared bats and rare endemic insects.
  • Underground Stream: Features the River Styx, the first subterranean river named within a U.S. national monument.
  • Fossil Finds: Fossil remains of ancient jaguars and grizzly bears have been discovered inside the caves.
  • Temperatures Year-Round: Constant cave temperatures remain around 44°F, regardless of weather outside.
  • Old Growth Forest: Surrounded by stunning old-growth forests featuring Douglas-firs and cedars over 500 years old.
  • Cave Tours: Guided tours take visitors deep underground to view stalactites, stalagmites, and intricate cave formations.
  • “Paradise Lost”: The largest chamber, called Paradise Lost, impresses visitors with dramatic marble ceilings and cave pools.

Learn more about Oregon Caves National Monument.

3. Lewis & Clark National Historical Park

  • Historic Journey: Commemorates the westernmost point of Lewis & Clark’s epic exploration from 1804–1806.
  • Fort Clatsop Replica: Features a meticulously reconstructed Fort Clatsop, the Corps of Discovery’s winter quarters (1805–1806).
  • Living History Programs: Offers ranger-led historical reenactments, showing daily frontier life in the early 1800s.
  • Canoeing & Kayaking: Visitors can paddle along waterways traveled by the expedition.
  • Multiple Sites: Encompasses several historical landmarks across Oregon and Washington related to the famous explorers.
  • Birdwatcher’s Haven: Over 200 bird species recorded, including bald eagles, herons, and migratory waterfowl.
  • Scenic Hiking Trails: Offers multiple scenic trails through lush forests, wetlands, and coastal landscapes.
  • Netul Landing: Key historical launch point for expeditions exploring the region’s riverine ecosystems.
  • Salt Works: Includes a historical salt-making camp in nearby Seaside, used by the expedition to produce salt from seawater.
  • Ethnobotanical Gardens: Demonstrates native plants used by Indigenous peoples and the explorers for medicine, food, and tools.

Learn more about Lewis & Clark National Historical Park.

4. Nez Perce National Historical Park

  • Multiple-State Park: While headquartered in Idaho, significant Oregon sites commemorate the 1877 Nez Perce War and associated events.
  • Chief Joseph’s Legacy: Celebrates the powerful legacy and resilience of Nez Perce leader Chief Joseph.
  • Bear Paw Battlefield: While primarily in Montana, related sites in Oregon recall tragic stories and courageous resistance.
  • Old Chief Joseph’s Gravesite: Located near Joseph, Oregon, honoring Chief Joseph’s father and the historical homeland.
  • Tamkaliks Celebration: Area hosts an annual Nez Perce cultural event celebrating heritage, dance, and storytelling.
  • Historic Trails: Features preserved trail segments where Nez Perce traveled during the forced relocation in 1877.
  • Interpretive Exhibits: Detailed exhibits share the stories and struggles of the Nez Perce people.
  • Camas Meadows Battle Site: Documents a significant conflict in the Nez Perce War within Oregon’s borders.
  • Rich Cultural Heritage: Celebrates and educates about the vibrant Nez Perce traditions, languages, and arts.
  • Conservation & Restoration: Engages in preserving the landscapes and ecosystems historically significant to the Nez Perce.

Learn more about Nez Perce National Historical Park.

5. John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

  • Fossil Treasure Trove: One of the richest fossil beds in North America, spanning over 40 million years of evolution.
  • Colorful Painted Hills: Famous for its vividly colored hills, layered in brilliant reds, golds, and blacks.
  • Three Distinct Units: Composed of Sheep Rock, Painted Hills, and Clarno, each showcasing unique geological wonders.
  • Thomas Condon Paleontology Center: Features world-class exhibits and working paleontology labs open to visitors.
  • Clarno Palisades: Spectacular volcanic cliffs preserving ancient fossils of rainforest plants and animals.
  • Ancient Horses & Saber-toothed Cats: Fossils discovered include ancient horses, rhinoceroses, saber-toothed cats, and prehistoric dogs.
  • Educational Trails: Offers interpretive trails to walk among geological formations and fossil-rich landscapes.
  • Blue Basin: Stunning, blue-green rock formations containing abundant fossil deposits in the Sheep Rock Unit.
  • Dark Sky Viewing: Excellent location for astrophotography and stargazing due to its remote, dark skies.
  • Ongoing Scientific Research: Continuously contributes to scientific understanding of climate change and evolution through extensive research.

Learn more about John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.

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Jared Johnson