Meet the #1 Largest Landowner in All of Oregon

Oregon, the Beaver State, contains 295 miles north to south and 395 miles east to west at the longest and widest, respectively. Total, the state encompassed about 98,381 square miles. Most of the folks claiming land here have a few to a few hundred acres at most. But what about the biggest landowner in Oregon? How much do they own? And who is it?

Let’s take a look at the folks who own more than half the land in the state of Oregon.

Who is the Biggest Landowner in Oregon?

No plantations like you’d once find in the American southeast can claim title as the biggest landowner in Oregon. Instead, it is the people, for the people and by the people: the United States Government. With some 28,500,000 acres, the federal government easily claims about 60-percent of the land in the state. National forests, wildlife refuges, military bases, national parks, recreation areas, national historic sites, and many more public lands fill this massive landowner’s property where most of us can travel and enjoy natural beauty everyday.

What Is on This Land in Oregon?

Because the Federal Government of the United States is the largest landowner in Oregon, most of what exists on the land is public land. Nearly 53-percent of the 61 million acres owned by the government is managed by the Bureau of Land Management or the U.S. Forest Service. State and local governments control another 3-percent of Oregon land.

Oregon’s public lands contain the nation’s sixth national park (Crater Lake National Park, founded in 1902) and several national forests, historic sites, monuments, national trails, and scenic and recreation areas.

National Parks and National Recreation and Scenic Areas in Oregon

Crater Lake National Park

The first national park in Oregon, known as Crater Lake National Park, rests in western Oregon. Here, the deepest lake in America, and one of the deepest and clearest lakes in the world, rests. Crater Lake was formed by the eruption of Mount Mazama some 7,700 years ago. Today, the park welcomes visitors year-round to the incredible views of the state with stunning skirting walks along the crater’s edge, hikes to the water’s edge along the Cleetwood Trail, and backcountry camping throughout.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area

A 40-mile section of Oregon coastline between the Coos and Siuslaw rivers is hjome to the largest coastal sand dunes in North America. Here, the windswept dunes tower nearly 500 feet above sea level. The hiking, whale watching, horse-back riding, off-road exploring, trail running, and other outdoor activities help draw folks to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area year-round. You’ll also finding camping available in the recreation area. Be sure to visit the highest dunes, Umpqua, between December and January and March to June for a chance to witness more than 18,000 grey whales migrating between Alaska and Baja California each year.

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

Some of the most scenic and impressive displays of natural beauty in Oregon may be found in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Within these bounds, the Multnomah Falls and Punchbowl Falls decorate the landscape. The Eagle Creek with trails running alongside, welcomes visitors with incredible sights and wildlife sounds, as well. A total of 77 waterfalls run the course of the Columbia River Gorge, making this area one of the most plentiful in the nation. Hike, camp, mountain bike, trail run, ride horses, go kayaking, canoeing, or rafting, or simply drive in for an enchanting region in the Pacific Northwest.

Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

In the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, carved out by the Snake River, you’ll find numerous opportunities for recreation. The whole area is filled with white water rafting courses, hiking trails, gorgeous scenery, wildlife, and much more. You’ll also spot the Hells Canyon dam and find opportunities for primitive camping, trail running, and more. The white water goes to classes IV and V, though, so be sure to hire a guide to ensure you don’t hit rapids beyond your ability. And be sure to visit archeological sites like Buffalo Eddy, where more than 200 petroglyphs from the Nez Perce people exist.

National Historic Sites in Oregon

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

Located in Vancouver in Oregon and Washington, the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site seeks to explore the history of the area. From fur trading and frontier exploration and settlements to military legacies, aviation history, and the First Nations of the region, all the history touching the large site may be found in the designated historic sites in the area.

Nez Perce National Historical Park

Crossing boundaries into four states, the Nez Perce National Historical Park celebrates the history of the Nex Perce peoples (nimiipuu). The park reaches from Idaho to Montana to Oregon to Washington. The valleys, mountains, prairies, and plateaus of the park once housed the resilient First Nations here, as they survived the settling Europeans. In the park you’ll find 38 historically significant points showing the stories and histories of the people.

Lewis and Clark National Historic Park

Running from Long Beach to Cannon Beach, the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park in Oregon and Washington allows visitors to explore temperate rainforests and coastal vistas full of heritage and learning experiences centered on the First Nations of the region.

National Monuments and Preserves

Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve

Within the Oregon Caves, you’ll find incredible marble passageways twisting and turning away. The caves were formed by acidic water seeping into the marble rock over centuries, maybe millennia, with stunning results. The monument and preserve feature tours of the caves, with plenty of wildlife viewing both inside and outside the caves.

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

Tucked into Kimberly, Oregon, the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument offers some of the most colorful and unique rock formations in the country. The plants, animals, and other intriguing features help draw folks to this nationally owned public feature. A visitor’s center helps folks know what’s going on here, while the scenic drives, hiking trails, and viewing platforms offer plenty of gorgeous views.

National Trails in Oregon

Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail

Winding through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail helps folks explore Oregon. The trail etches its way through part of the flood plains produced by an ice dam which broke in northern Idaho, releasing flood waters across the entire region. The flood changed the entire region, all the way to Missoula, covering some 3,000 square miles. Today, you can follow the trail and witness the affects thousands of years after the Ice Age closed.

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

Crossing sixteen states in all, the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail winds along nearly 5,000 miles through more than 60 Tribal Nation homelands. The historic route follows the Lewis and Clark expedition routes from 1803 to 1806, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the Pacific Ocean in Washington state. Along the trail in Oregon, you’ll find interpretive signs and sites where you can learn about the explorations and the First Nations of the regions along the route.

The trail ventures through:

• Pennsylvania
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Indiana
• Idaho
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Montana
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oregon
• South Dakota
• Washington
• West Virginia

National Forests in Oregon

Oregon’s public land, owned by the federal government, hosts numerous National Forests. These include the following. Within these forests, numerous lakes, mountains, recreation areas, and more exist, welcoming visitors from all over the world for outdoor adventures.

• Deschutes National Forest
• Fremont-Winema National Forest
• Malheur National Forest
• Mt. Hood National Forest
• Ochoco National Forest
• Rogue-River Siskiyou National Forest
• Siuslaw National Forest
• Umatilla National Forest
• Umpqua National Forest
• Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
• Willamette National Forest