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Scenic Viewpoints in Oregon

37 scenic viewpoints in Oregon with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Lane County has the most (7). The darkest skies are at Abert Rim Viewpoint (Bortle 1).

Top scenic viewpoints

Scenic Viewpoint
Abert Rim ViewpointLake County · 2,084 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Bear Camp Viewpoint Recreation SiteCurry County · 1,264 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Cape Meares State Scenic ViewpointTillamook County · 100 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Dundee Scenic OverlookYamhill County · 107 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Eagle Creek Overlook Group CampMultnomah County · 40 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Emigrant Hill ViewpointUmatilla County · 764 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Fivemile ViewpointWallowa County · 1,420 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Geneva OverlookJefferson County · 813 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic ViewpointLane County · 104 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Horse Creek ViewpointWallowa County · 1,825 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Joseph Canyon ViewpointWallowa County · 1,385 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Kelly Butte Park and OverlookLane County · 197 m

Scenic Viewpoints by county

All scenic viewpoints (37)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Abert Rim ViewpointLake County2,084 mLakeview1
Bear Camp Viewpoint Recreation SiteCurry County1,264 mMerlin2
Cape Meares State Scenic ViewpointTillamook County100 mBay City3
Dundee Scenic OverlookYamhill County107 mDundee6
Eagle Creek Overlook Group CampMultnomah County40 mCascade Locks4
Emigrant Hill ViewpointUmatilla County764 mMission3
Fivemile ViewpointWallowa County1,420 mJoseph1
Geneva OverlookJefferson County813 mCulver3
Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic ViewpointLane County104 mFlorence2
Horse Creek ViewpointWallowa County1,825 mJoseph1
Joseph Canyon ViewpointWallowa County1,385 mEnterprise2
Kelly Butte Park and OverlookLane County197 mSpringfield8
Lookout PointLane County489 mOakridge3
Lookout Point DamLane County250 mLowell3
Lookout Point LakeLane County284 mLowell3
Memaloose OverlookWasco County162 mChenoweth3
Muriel O Ponsler Memorial State Scenic ViewpointLane County16 mFlorence2
Natural Bridge ViewpointJackson County977 mShady Cove2
Oux-Kanee OverlookKlamath County1,415 mKlamath Falls2
Overlook City ParkMultnomah County49 mPortland7
Overlook Loop TrailDouglas County2 mDunes City2
Overlook TriangleMultnomah County57 mPortland7
Owyhee Canyon OverlookMalheur County1,419 mNampa1
Pilot Butte State Scenic ViewpointDeschutes County1,249 mBend7
Shasta Costa OverlookCurry County1,054 mMerlin2
Isqúulktpe Creek OverlookUmatilla County1,139 mMission2
Swayne ViewpointJackson County661 mWilliams2
Taylor Gorge OverlookJosephine County402 mMerlin2
Umatilla Brakes ViewpointUnion County1,549 mElgin2
ViewpointLake County1,405 mDeschutes River Woods1
Viewpoint ReservoirGrant County1,347 mJohn Day1
Viewpoint WaterholeDeschutes County1,409 mPrineville1
Willamette Falls ViewpointClackamas County97 mOregon City8
Crane Mountain ViewpointLake County2,577 mLakeview1
North Warner ViewpointLake County2,099 mLakeview1
Rock ViewpointDeschutes County1,334 mDeschutes River Woods4
Millrace OverlookLane County135 mEugene7

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph scenic viewpoints

Overlooks are about the sweep of the land, so low-angle light matters most: side-light at sunrise or sunset reveals ridges and texture that midday sun flattens.

  • Arrive 30–45 minutes before sunrise or sunset to find a composition before the light peaks.
  • Use a telephoto (70–200 mm) to isolate layered ridges and light rays instead of shooting only wide.
  • Check the sun azimuth for your date: front-light, side-light and back-light give three different pictures from the same rail.
  • Haze builds in summer afternoons; mornings after a cold front are often the clearest.
  • Stay behind barriers — many overlook edges are undercut or crumbly.

Season: Clear, dry air in autumn and after winter storms gives the longest views; summer adds wildflowers but also haze.