Oregon’s Ecoregions
We love living in Oregon… and exploring our ecoregions and the plants, animals and geology that make each one so unique. We have a nice camping setup, using an electric vehicle to tow our teardrop camper so we can spend quality time in each region.
Oregon’s Ecoregion Map
Learn more about Oregon’s Ecoregions via The Oregon Conservation Strategy
This page shares our highlights as we explore Oregon’s Ecoregions.
Scroll down or jump to an ecoregion to see more:
Wild Goomba
Goomba often joins us exploring Oregon… you might spot him in some photos!
Nearshore
Ecoregion Description:
I love that Oregon isn’t a land-locked state and we can reach the coast in about an hour. The nearshore ecoregion includes a variety of habitats and is home to a vast array of fish, marine mammals, birds, invertebrates, plants, and micro-organisms.
You can find a wide variety of beach types to include soft sand, rough rocks, driftwood, pebbles and awesome tidepools!
My Ecoregion Highlights:
Beach combing, looking for sand dollars and glass floats
Coastal bird sightings like harlequin ducks and puffins!
The convergence of ecology on the southern Oregon coast
Biking on the compact, wet sand outside Astoria
Oregon sea salt
Coast Range
Ecoregion Description:
It’s hard to choose a favorite ecoregion, but if pressed, the Coast Range is it for me. It’s a temperate rainforest and the mild, moist climate is ripe with growth. Green is my favorite color and in the Coast Range I am surrounded by moss, ferns and pine. The forest air is so refreshing and the floor is so spongy! I always feel at peace when hiking here.
We have 40 acres of land in Vernonia that we preserve and explore and we are thrilled to house a thriving population of the protected Northern Red-Legged Frog, and countless other native species. The Coast Range is also home to an abudnace of cool fungi and includes the highest density of streams found in the state.
My Ecoregion Highlights:
Finding a Rattlesnake Plantain in the wild, one of Oregon’s native orchids
Discovering Hair Ice, a rare fungi phenomenon!
Exploring secluded lakes for uncommon dragonfly populations
Rattlesnake Plantain
Soapstone Lake
Rounded Earthstar
Hair Ice
Willamette Valley
Ecoregion Description:
Living in this ecoregion makes it easy to explore. We experience the climate and wildlife every day in our own garden and it’s a quick trip to refuges or wetlands not far from home. To complete my Oregon Naturalist certification, I focused my field work in the Willamette Valley ecoregion and I am really knowledgeable of our native plants.
This ecoregion stretches from Portland down to Eugene and the climate is characterized by mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The fertile soil and plentiful rainfall make for ideal agricultural conditions, which produces some of the top wines in the world.
My Ecoregion Highlights:
The first time I heard the melodious song of the Western Meadowlark, the state bird of Oregon
Appreciating the unique character of Oregon White Oaks, which hold significant ecological value
Photographing 7 species of bumble bees in my garden so far
Western Meadowlark
Nootka Rose
Oregon Fawn Lily
Klamath Mountains
Ecoregion Description:
This region contains several scenic rivers and wide ranges in elevation, topography, geology, and climate. Unlike other parts of Oregon, the landscape of the Klamath Mountains ecoregion has not been significantly shaped by volcanism and the geology can be better described as a mosaic rather than the layer-cake geology of most of the rest of the state.
The Klamath Mountains ecoregion boasts a high rate of species diversity. For example, of the roughly 4,000 native plants in Oregon, about half of them can be found in the Klamath Mountains ecoregion.
My Ecoregion Highlights:
Coming soon
West Cascades
Ecoregion Description:
A quick trip from Portland, Mt. Hood boasts the tallest peak in Oregon and the best skiing in the state. It is a fun playground in the snowy winter months, but peppered with lakes and trails accessible in the summer.
This range includes the summit of the Cascade Mountains down to it’s westward foothills, and stretches from the Columbia River all the way down to California. It includes popular destinations like Mt. Hood up north and half of Crater Lake NP further south.
My Ecoregion Highlights:
The thrum of a mass population of Chalk-fronted Corporal dragonflies on Trillium Lake
Watching my kiddos play in the snow on Mt. Hood
The gorgeous drive over the mountain range before heading into the arid high desert of eastern Oregon
East Cascades
Ecoregion Description:
This region’s volcanic history makes for some really unique geology and lava caves, and it is home to the Deschutes River, which runs through most of the region, ultimately flowing into the Columbia River. With twelve species of woodpeckers, this region is renowned for having the most diversity of woodpecker species in North America.
I love this region. I am almost always guaranteed to see lizards and the arid landscape is a stark contrast to the much wetter areas west of the Cascades.
My Ecoregion Highlights:
Groves of colorful Ponderosa Pines and their unique bark
The sideways glances of lizards and when they scamper over rocks
Watching osprey and kingfishers at home fishing on the Deschutes River
Thriving populations of ground squirrels and chipmunks
Seeing rock climbers navigate Smith Rock
Columbia Plateau
Ecoregion Description:
This northern Oregon region runs along the Columbia River Gorge, and includes where the Deschutes, John Day and Umatilla rivers meet the Columbia River. I find these intersections of water with dry mountain terrain make for some unique convergence of habitat. But the wind really whips through gorge, so be prepared for that!
My Ecoregion Highlights:
Watching a Say’s Phoebe expertly hunt flies
Substantial Darkling Beetles, walking with a purpose across the sand
The gorgeous sunsets
Western Fence Lizard
Blue Mountains
Ecoregion Description:
The largest of Oregon’s ecoregions is so much more than the Blue Mountain range for which it is named. An expanse of mountains, valleys, and plateaus, this region sports deep rock-walled canyons and glacially-cut gorges. The geology is otherworldly! Snow melt is the main precipitations, giving life to the rivers and irrigated areas.
My Ecoregion Highlights:
Exploring hidden creeks in Owyhee Canyon for odonates while being serenaded by Yellow-breasted Chats
Seeing a wild herd of Bighorn Sheep while passing through this region
Watching the bats begin to hunt at dusk
Northern Basin & Range
Ecoregion Description:
This ecoregion is sagebrush country with desert like conditions - it is Oregon’s driest ecoregion marked by extreme ranges of daily and seasonal temperatures.
I will admit I’ve only visited in the summer, and the dust kicked up on the dry roads really limits visibility and covers everything in range. But once it settles down, there are really cool wildlife species to see!
My Ecoregion Highlights:
The sound and sight of Sandhill Cranes at Malheur NWR
Band-winged Meadowhawks and other dragonfly species not found anywhere else in Oregon
Seriously cool flowering plants that look otherworldly
Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Balloon Milkvetch
