Welcome to Oregon

When most people think of Oregon, they think of the Cascades, where giant trees shade mossy-banked waters, which then drop down huge waterfalls en route to the mighty Columbia. Some people think of the rocky, misty Oregon coast, where sea lions frolic and birds dive for oceangoing fish. Some may even conjure up visions of Oregon's many wild rivers, teeming with salmon and steelhead and tumbling through forested canyons. What many people don't realize is that Oregon lands also include sagebrush steppes, baking under a clear blue sky; multihued sandstone buttes chock full of fossils; volcanoes both active and extinct, surrounded by fields of lava; not to mention the snow-capped peaks and glacial valleys, desert canyons carved by turbulent rivers, and countless deep blue lakes, both natural and manmade.

These fertile and lovely lands have drawn humans for countless centuries, from the many tribes who lived richly off the bounty of fish and plant life to the innumerable settlers who struggled across the arid plains to homestead the promised land of the Willamette Valley. Today, people from all over the world visit Oregon to hike, fish, raft, climb, ski, or simply take in the sights

Take some time to explore the wonders of Oregon here at the Oregon Public Lands Information Center. You will discover a wealth of detailed information about where to go and what to do while touring the public lands of this state.

In our Maps & Books section, you can purchase books, maps, and other educational items to make your virtual or real visit truly rewarding. To begin your journey, click on Recreation Search.

If you have any questions please email the Oregon PLIC staff. For information on lodging, museums, tribal lands, and commercial attractions or services, contact the Oregon Tourism Commission. For information about hunting and fishing regulations and licensing information for Oregon, please contact the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife.