Though Ontario, Oregon, is a small city, it still has a lot to offer its residents and visitors. The city is home to the stunning beauty of the arid desert and breathtaking mountain ranges. From museums to parks, you can enjoy plenty of attractions in this bona fide western town. In this post, we are going to share with you things to do in Ontario, Oregon.
Fishing at the Lake Owyhee State Park
Owyhee Reservoir is a deep, 53-mile-long lake located in a narrow canyon with colorful volcanic rock formations. The lake is the perfect playground for boaters. You can retreat to this state park and traverse the desert canyon and rugged mountains, enjoying the best views on a boat.
Besides the stunning views, you can grab your fishing rod and catch a few top-notch, warm-water fish. Some of the common fish at the park include black and white crappie, largemouth bass, and catfish.
Picnic at Lions Park
Lions Park is an essential part of Ontario. The park has plenty of large shade trees, grassy areas, a playground area, and picnic tables perfect for an afternoon out.
Visitors could also enjoy the Veterans Monument that the community’s Japanese partners donated to honor the brave men and women who served in the military. Admission is always free, with the city’s state parks open every day from 9 am to 5 pm.
Attend Events at the Four Rivers Cultural Center
The Four Rivers Cultural Center is a nonprofit facility that conducts various programs in the city, including theater, art, music, world culture, and educational events.
Stop by this multi-use facility and enjoy musical and theater productions, or visit the museum and view the exhibits and educational films on show. Entry usually is free unless the facility is hosting a major event.
You could also take a leisurely walk around the Hikaru Mizu Japanese Garden located at the facility. This beautiful, serene garden is a memorial to the Japanese Americans who fought during World War II and those that interned during the war.
Hiking in the Jordan Crater
You could choose to go on a fabulous hiking journey on a landscape that resembles the moon’s exterior. The Jordan Crater is a 27-square-mile area dominated by volcanic flows. Its source is the Coffeepot Crater, a deep cavity found near the far northeast where you can spend an excitement-filled day examining the crater’s side pits, caves, and tubes.
View Exhibits at the Rinehart Stone House Museum
The Rinehart Stone House is a rustic, sandstone building built more than a hundred years ago. Located on the Oregon Trail, it was the first permanent structure in Malheur County, replacing a log house built by Jonathan Keeney.
Over the years, people have used the house as a wayside stop for travelers and a refuge for settlers during the Bannock Paiute uprising. Today, it acts as a museum that exhibits relics, period photos, and more.
Drive Along Highway 20
If hikes, picnics, theater, and museums don’t do it for you, perhaps you’d enjoy a scenic drive along Highway 20. This road trip will take you due west through the Malheur Gorge and high arid desert. You could stop by the Bully Creek Reservoir to enjoy the scenery and do a bit of bird watching, taking in the occasional sighting of a golden eagle or rock wren.
Bird Watching at Snake River
Speaking of bird watching, there is no better place to do that than at the Snake River National Conservation Area. The narrow canyon of the Morley Nelson Snake River has plenty of thermal updrafts and crevices that house concentrations of nesting birds of prey. Eight hundred types of eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls come to the area every spring to breed and raise their young.
Camping at Farewell Bend State Recreation Area
Located on the Idaho-Oregon border northwest of Ontario, the Farewell Bend is a recreational area with RV and tent campgrounds that provide visitors with the perfect base to explore the stunning surroundings. There is no better way to enjoy a memorable desert experience right on the banks of the Brownlee Reservoir.
Visit Cannabis and Glass
When looking for things to do in Ontario, Oregon, another great option is to visit the Cannabis and Glass marijuana dispensary. We are the premier recreational marijuana dispensary, offering a large selection of glass, flowers, edibles, CBD, and tinctures at the best prices.
You can stop by our shop today and enjoy the fantastic dispensary deals we have, or get in touch with us online for more information.
