Any visit to Tillamook on the northern Oregon coast calls for a hearty appetite for adventure. Plan to hike, kayak, beachcomb, browse and dine. Outdoor enthusiasts love Tillamook for its numerous hiking and biking opportunities, more than 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) of kayak-friendly waters and ample crabbing, clamming, and fishing in Tillamook and Netarts bays. Explore scenic byways, savor cheeses and learn local history.
One of the area’s most recognized attractions is the Tillamook Cheese Factory. Take a free, self-guided tour and get a behind-the-scenes view of cheesemaking. Enjoy samples galore, from cheese varieties to gourmet mac and cheese to some of the creamiest ice cream you’ll ever taste.
Head to nearby Blue Heron French Cheese Company, a vintage farm churning out famous brie cheese and featuring outstanding Pacific Northwest wines. Wine and cheese tastings are offered daily.
Get exercise in the Tillamook State Forest. Start at the Tillamook Forest Center, a visitor and education center. Kids and adults enjoy climbing the fire lookout tower and learning about reforestation and wildfire prevention. Walk out on the suspension bridge and peer into the rushing Wilson River. Along the coast climb Neahkahnie Mountain for amazing views. Hike through old-growth trees at Cape Lookout State Park.
Use Tillamook as a starting point for an spectacularly scenic outing. Follow the 68-mile (109-kilometer) Trees to Sea Scenic Byway from Banks through the Tillamook State Forest to the Cape Meares Lighthouse.
Drive the Three Capes Scenic Loop, a 40-mile (64-kilometer) journey starting in downtown Tillamook and traveling to Bay Ocean Spit, Cape Meares, Cape Lookout and Netarts Bay. You’ll pass through the Sandlake Dunes and into Pacific City to Cape Kiwanda and its impressive view of Haystack Rock.
Drive 1.5 hours west from Portland to reach Tillamook along the coastal highway. From the Tillamook County Quilt Trail of painted barns to the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad and the intriguing Tillamook Air Museum, Tillamook has varied activities for every traveler.
