Smith Rock State Park is one of the seven wonders of Oregon

Smith Rock State Park is known for its climbing, but there are some top-notch hikes here as well. You can make your way to the top of the massive Smith Rock by hiking one of the park's two most famous trails: Summit Trail and Misery Ridge. Despite its depressing name, Misery Ridge is definitely one of the best hikes in Oregon: the 3.8 mile loop features switchbacks, oversized stairs, and gorgeous views of Oregon's Cascade Mountains. There are tons of unique rock formations ripe for exploring, great for some easy bouldering. Along the hike, keep your eyes out for golden eagles (sometimes there are telescopes you can use to observe their nests), river otters, beavers, prairie falcons, and other unique wildlife, or you can watch the climbers tackle the sheer cliff face from a relatively safer location. And, while it gets cold in the winter and very hot in the summer, you can at least rest assured that this desert region gets sunny weather 300 days out of the year.

Named for a Native American from the Wasco tribe, Lake Billy Chinook sits in a canyon at the convergence of three separate rivers (including the Crooked River). The lake offers a plethora of fishing opportunities (it is one of the only lakes where bull trout can be caught legally), as well as kayaking, and swimming. For a really unique experience, rent a houseboat for the weekend from Lake Billy Chinook Houseboats.