Oregon is home to some of the most spectacular natural scenery and state parks in the United States. From the rugged coastline to the lush forests and majestic mountains, the state boasts a diverse array of outdoor recreational opportunities. Such features, however, mean that our state parks are getting more and more crowded every year.
The Oregon Coast is one of the most scenic coastlines in the entire country and as a result, it is home to 8 out of the 10 most popular state parks. The following is a list of Oregon’s most crowded state parks for the year 2022.
Fort Stevens State Park
With over 318,740 visitors in 2022, Fort Stevens State Park is the most popular state park in Oregon. Located near the mouth of the Columbia River, the park offers a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, fishing, and beachcombing. Visitors can also explore the park’s historic military fortifications and learn about the area’s rich history.
South Beach State Park
Coming in at a close second with 215,768 visitors, South Beach State Park is a popular destination for beachgoers and nature lovers alike. The park features miles of sandy beaches, hiking trails, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Visitors can also explore the park’s tidal pools and watch for whales during the winter months.
Nehalem Bay State Park
Nehalem Bay State Park is located on the beautiful Oregon coast and attracted 194,829 visitors last year. The park offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including fishing, kayaking, and birdwatching. Visitors can also hike or bike along the park’s scenic trails or explore the nearby towns of Manzanita and Cannon Beach.
Jessie M Honeyman Memorial State Park
With 179,306 visitors, Jessie M Honeyman Memorial State Park is one of the most popular parks in Oregon’s central coast region. The park features two freshwater lakes, miles of sandy beaches, and towering sand dunes that are perfect for hiking, sandboarding, and ATV riding. Visitors can also explore the park’s historic structures and enjoy a picnic in one of the many scenic areas.
Beverly Beach State Park
Beverly Beach State Park attracted 170,673 visitors last year and is known for its beautiful beaches and scenic views. Visitors can hike along the park’s coastal trails, explore the tide pools, or take a leisurely bike ride through the lush forest. The park is also near several historic landmarks, including the Yaquina Head Lighthouse and the Devil’s Punchbowl.
Cape Lookout State Park
Located on a scenic peninsula overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Cape Lookout State Park brought in 137,189 visitors in 2022. The park features miles of sandy beaches, lush forests, and stunning views of the ocean and surrounding coastline. Visitors can hike along the park’s rugged trails, explore the tide pools, or take a guided tour of the historic Cape Lookout Lighthouse.
Bullards Beach State Park
Bullards Beach State Park is located on the southern coast of Oregon and attracted 125,834 visitors last year. The park features miles of sandy beaches, dunes, and lush forests that are perfect for hiking, biking, and beachcombing. Visitors can also explore the park’s historic structures, including the Coquille River Lighthouse and the Bullards Beach Lifeboat Station.
Harris Beach State Recreation Area
With 123,358 visitors in 2022, Harris Beach State Recreation Area is one of the most popular parks in southern Oregon. The park features sandy beaches, rocky tide pools, and stunning views of the ocean and surrounding coastline. Visitors can hike along the park’s scenic trails, explore the tide pools, or take a guided tour of the historic Battery Point Lighthouse.
Valley of the Rogue State Recreation Area
Valley of the Rogue State Recreation Area is located in southwestern Oregon and brought in 95,475 visitors in 2022. The park is situated along the scenic Rogue River and features hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Visitors can also explore the park’s historic structures and enjoy a picnic in one of the many scenic areas. This is Oregon’s most popular non-coastal state park.
Champoeg State Heritage Area/Visitor Center
With 94,492 visitors annually, the Champoeg State Heritage Area and Visitor Center is a popular destination for history buffs and nature enthusiasts. The park is located along the Willamette River and features several historic structures, including the Champoeg State Park Museum and the Butteville Store. Visitors can also hike along the park’s scenic trails, explore the nearby wetlands, or enjoy a picnic in one of the many scenic areas. The high popularity of this park is likely due to its proximity to the Portland metro region.
If you are looking for the best state parks to visit in Oregon this list is a good place to start. Keep in mind, though, that these are also the most crowded parks in Oregon so you will need to plan accordingly.
Oregon State Park Visitation by Numbers
| wdt_ID | State Park Campground | Region | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 109 | FORT STEVENS STATE PARK | Coast | 279,432 | 285,426 | 202,357 | 343,485 | 318,740 |
| 110 | SOUTH BEACH STATE PARK | Coast | 201,522 | 193,839 | 134,639 | 212,053 | 215,768 |
| 111 | NEHALEM BAY STATE PARK | Coast | 180,320 | 173,585 | 126,175 | 194,703 | 194,829 |
| 112 | JESSIE M HONEYMAN MEMORIAL STATE PARK | Coast | 173,219 | 166,905 | 104,225 | 178,443 | 179,306 |
| 113 | BEVERLY BEACH STATE PARK | Coast | 157,310 | 167,916 | 113,213 | 173,277 | 170,673 |
| 114 | CAPE LOOKOUT STATE PARK | Coast | 131,053 | 131,539 | 82,848 | 133,711 | 137,189 |
| 115 | BULLARDS BEACH STATE PARK | Coast | 116,410 | 117,374 | 84,056 | 129,773 | 125,834 |
| 116 | HARRIS BEACH STATE RECREATION AREA | Coast | 106,216 | 115,526 | 86,273 | 117,840 | 123,358 |
| 117 | VALLEY OF THE ROGUE STATE RECREATN AREA | Mountains | 107,850 | 103,166 | 64,173 | 126,302 | 95,475 |
| 118 | CHAMPOEG STATE HERITAGE AREA/VISITOR CNT | Valleys | 88,551 | 90,235 | 58,732 | 83,464 | 94,492 |
| 119 | DETROIT LAKE STATE RECREATION AREA | Valleys | 90,621 | 96,466 | 61,832 | 65,505 | 93,100 |
| 120 | COVE PALISADES STATE PARK | Mountains | 83,235 | 88,725 | 79,159 | 99,132 | 88,719 |
| 121 | WALLOWA LAKE STATE RECREATION AREA | Mountains | 88,524 | 95,995 | 79,548 | 94,554 | 84,266 |
| 122 | SUNSET BAY STATE PARK | Coast | 78,355 | 78,365 | 52,801 | 82,176 | 82,483 |
| 123 | LL STUB STEWART | Valleys | 68,567 | 69,472 | 43,049 | 73,986 | 74,989 |
| 124 | SILVER FALLS STATE PARK | Valleys | 79,167 | 78,142 | 51,503 | 76,079 | 71,828 |
| 125 | LAPINE STATE PARK | Mountains | 45,906 | 66,076 | 50,909 | 73,933 | 69,016 |
| 126 | TUMALO STATE PARK | Mountains | 60,106 | 49,086 | 35,878 | 59,532 | 63,894 |
| 127 | WILLIAM M TUGMAN STATE PARK | Coast | 50,017 | 50,144 | 39,498 | 59,779 | 58,604 |
| 128 | DEVIL`S LAKE STATE RECREATION AREA | Coast | 49,571 | 54,446 | 2,930 | 42,243 | 47,576 |
| 129 | CAPE BLANCO STATE PARK | Coast | 39,753 | 38,475 | 3,559 | 43,373 | 47,273 |
| 130 | HUMBUG MOUNTAIN STATE PARK | Coast | 39,740 | 37,449 | 35,596 | 46,634 | 42,827 |
| 131 | BEACHSIDE STATE RECREATION SITE | Coast | 44,274 | 42,443 | 8,511 | 45,530 | 42,614 |
| 132 | DESCHUTES RIVER STATE RECREATION AREA | Mountains | 35,569 | 34,505 | 25,582 | 38,455 | 42,140 |
| 133 | CARL G WASHBURNE/PONSLER VIEWPOINT | Coast | 37,973 | 36,220 | 3,019 | 35,366 | 39,384 |
| 134 | MEMALOOSE STATE PARK | Valleys | 37,429 | 39,333 | 26,044 | 41,316 | 36,732 |
| 135 | MILO MCIVER STATE PARK | Valleys | 36,682 | 38,511 | 15,235 | 32,532 | 36,050 |
| 136 | UMPQUA LIGHTHOUSE STATE PARK | Coast | 23,637 | 24,685 | 6,199 | 33,067 | 32,883 |
| 137 | ALFRED A LOEB STATE PARK | Coast | 26,657 | 26,644 | 1,931 | 22,311 | 27,641 |
| 138 | AINSWORTH STATE PARK | Valleys | 22,452 | 27,131 | 14,218 | 27,651 | 27,463 |
| 139 | FAREWELL BEND STATE RECREATION AREA | Mountains | 32,722 | 33,279 | 22,805 | 35,439 | 25,133 |
| 140 | COTTONWOOD CANYON STATE PARK | Mountains | 11,473 | 17,161 | 18,308 | 22,657 | 24,075 |
| 141 | PRINEVILLE RESERVOIR STATE PARK | Mountains | 34,779 | 38,174 | 26,756 | 34,987 | 23,998 |
| 142 | VIENTO STATE PARK | Valleys | 21,536 | 23,453 | 16,272 | 28,255 | 23,209 |
| 143 | EMIGRANT SPRINGS STATE HERITAGE AREA | Mountains | 21,357 | 21,503 | 17,054 | 23,156 | 22,275 |
| 144 | CLYDE HOLLIDAY STATE RECREATION SITE | Mountains | 17,252 | 17,341 | 11,444 | 14,940 | 12,750 |
| 145 | FALL CREEK STATE REC AREA (WINBERRY) | Valleys | 7,294 | 8,425 | 8,613 | 6,161 | 10,431 |
| 146 | SMITH ROCK STATE PARK | Mountains | 19,028 | 17,869 | 1,166 | 5,896 | 9,282 |
| 147 | LAKE OWYHEE STATE PARK | Mountains | 10,434 | 10,145 | 10,633 | 10,095 | 8,861 |
| 148 | INDIAN CREEK (LAKE OWYHEE) | Mountains | 6,750 | 7,270 | 5,802 | 8,587 | 7,420 |
| 149 | UNITY LAKE STATE RECREATION SITE | Mountains | 5,591 | 6,369 | 5,158 | 7,107 | 6,323 |
| 150 | COLLIER MEMORIAL STATE PARK | Mountains | 22,407 | 26,225 | 16,457 | 0,000 | 5,003 |
| 151 | GOOSE LAKE STATE RECREATION AREA | Mountains | 4,178 | 6,508 | 3,818 | 4,408 | 4,490 |
| 152 | MINAM STATE RECREATION AREA | Mountains | 3,485 | 4,303 | 5,498 | 19,460 | 4,445 |
| 153 | JACKSON F KIMBALL STATE RECREATION SITE | Mountains | 1,422 | 2,171 | 2,162 | 2,333 | 3,732 |
| 154 | CATHERINE CREEK STATE PARK | Mountains | 2,888 | 2,907 | 2,944 | 3,257 | 3,251 |
| 155 | HILGARD JUNCTION STATE RECREATION AREA | Mountains | 2,072 | 2,270 | 2,759 | 3,221 | 2,742 |
| 156 | BATES STATE PARK | Mountains | 2,793 | 2,417 | 2,207 | 2,839 | 2,504 |
| 157 | RED BRIDGE STATE WAYSIDE | Mountains | 1,548 | 1,515 | 1,934 | 2,323 | 2,297 |
| 158 | UKIAH-DALE FOREST STATE SCENIC CORRIDOR | Mountains | 3,465 | 2,841 | 0,000 | 2,237 | 2,053 |
| 159 | WILLAMETTE MISSION STATE PARK | Valleys | 1,344 | 1,484 | 56,000 | 639,000 | 1,666 |
| 160 | SADDLE MOUNTAIN STATE NATURAL AREA | Coast | 1,561 | 1,294 | 0,000 | 0,000 | 0,000 |
| 161 | NORTH SANTIAM STATE RECREATION AREA | Valleys | 2,435 | 3,016 | 0,000 | 0,000 | 0,000 |
| 162 | JOSEPH H STEWART STATE RECREATION AREA | Mountains | 66,339 | 77,772 | 56,295 | 2,554 | 0,000 |
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