Nature That Nurtures

In Oregon, the outdoors is more than a playground; it’s a place of restoration, accessible to all.

Wellness Retreats

Slow down, unplug and let nature be your balm at places like Sky Cave Retreats. Tucked into Southern Oregon’s Cascade-Siskiyou Wilderness, this meditative and fully dark retreat invites guests to stay in off-grid, soundproof cabins designed for deep reflection and sensory reset. Farther north in the high desert near Bend, Juniper Preserve rolls out an immersive Summer Wellness Series designed to ground and rejuvenate participants. Created in partnership with Soundshala, the community sessions blend movement and music with landscape. Expect lava-cave concerts and sound baths, forest bathing, labyrinth walks and lakeside yoga on Spirit Island.

Oregon’s Natural Hot Springs

Summer is also the peak season for soaking in Oregon’s natural hot springs. At Umpqua Hot Springs, terraced jade-green pools cling to a travertine cliff above the rushing North Umpqua River. Nearby lodging includes Umpqua’s Last Resort and Steamboat Inn, a family-run, historic fishing lodge. In Northeastern Oregon, Crane Hot Springs offers a serene, high-desert oasis with cabins and tepees for overnight stays. Along the McKenzie River near Eugene, Belknap Hot Springs Resort pairs mineral pools with a whimsical secret garden, making it an easy, family-friendly getaway with cabins, tent sites and RV accommodations. For more inspo, explore this guide to Oregon’s Magical Hot Springs.

Dark-Sky Experiences

For stargazers, Oregon’s high desert offers some of the darkest skies in the country. The tiny Central Oregon town of Antelope — population 37 — has been designated as Oregon’s first International Dark Sky Community, making it a rare destination for truly pristine night skies. Along with Sisters, Antelope is one of only about 70 communities worldwide to receive the distinction. Antelope Basecamp, the state’s first DarkSky Approved Lodging, features A-frame cabins with red-only exterior lighting to preserve night vision and a telescope library, along with a cafe/market in development. The Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary — spanning 2.5 million acres — is the largest certified dark-sky sanctuary in the world. Soak under the stars at Neon Cowboy Roadhouse + Hot Springs, where cozy motel-style rooms, an on-site restaurant and a 90-second-cycle geyser create a distinctly Oregon Outback experience. Across the road from Central Oregon’s Smith Rock State Park, Asterisk Observatory offers guided night-sky experiences using a 17-inch PlaneWave telescope. Pair your visit with a stay on-site at The Spot at Smith Rock, a stylish, three-bedroom guesthouse complete with a hot tub and a fire pit. For guided adventures, Wanderlust Tours in Bend curates unforgettable stargazing outings, from overnight photography trips near Crater Lake National Park to canoe tours and night hikes timed with the Perseid meteor showers. At several locations in Sisters, Starshine offers kid-friendly stargazing events and day camp adventures.

Scenic-Trail Upgrades

The Southern Oregon and Mt. Hood regions are expanding access to the outdoors with thoughtfully designed trail upgrades. The new Dollar Mountain Trail System — located just minutes from downtown Grants Pass — offers 25 miles of scenic routes for hiking, biking and running, with options for many users, including families and adaptive mobility bikes. In the Hood National Forest, the newly rebuilt 2-mile Trillium Lake Loop Trail boardwalk provides an upgraded, wider pathway, enhancing accessibility for visitors with limited mobility. The boardwalk crosses several marshy stretches with an elevated, level pathway that protects sensitive wetlands.