There are a lot of great viewpoints around Oregon, but there's good reason to think that Marys Peak might be the very best.
Perfectly oriented, properly elevated and clear of obstructions, the highest point in the Coast Range - located an hour west of Corvallis - boasts a view of an unbelievably vast swath of Oregon and Washington.
From the summit, on a clear day, you can see all the way from the Pacific Ocean to 10 prominent Cascade peaks: Rainier, St. Helens, Adams, Hood, Jefferson, the Three Sisters, Bachelor and Diamond Peak. You can also peer up and down the spine of the Coast Range, today a brown-and-green quilt of clear cuts and young forest.
Summiting the peak is easy, made all the easier by the 9-mile drive up Marys Peak Rd. to the main parking lot, where a half-mile hike leads to the top. Cascade peaks rise up all around as you hike your way up, the tip of Mount Rainier peaking up behind Mount St. Helens to the north, Mount Hood standing stately on its own to the northeast, the Three Sisters a formidable presence to the southeast.
Eagle-eyed mountain finders can probably identify a few more cresting the horizon, but the view of Oregon's (and Washington's) most prominent peaks is stunning.
While the hike to the top is nothing too strenuous, there are plenty of hiking trails around the slopes of Marys Peak that offer more. A sign near the main parking lot illustrates the "many choices" from "casual wanders to rigorous hikes." You can show up and make your own way, but the good folks at the Oregon Hikers Field Guide offer a few routes too: the East Ridge Hike, North Ridge Hike and Meadows Edge Hike.
Of course, the view from the summit will overshadow any other sights you see along the trail. If you hike, consider leaving the trip to the top for the end, or else be prepared to frontload the wow-factor of your day. This is Oregon's best viewpoint, after all.
Hikers climb the trail to the summit of Marys Peak, the highest point in the Coast Range that on a clear day boasts views of a wide range of Cascade Mountains to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Marys Peak is found just outside Corvallis. (Jamie Hale/The Oregonian)
Distance: 1 mile, out and back
Difficulty: Easy
Amenities: Parking lot, restrooms, picnic tables
From Corvallis, take U.S. Route 20 west six miles to Oregon Route 34 west. After 9 miles, you'll see a sign for Marys Peak Rd. on the right. Turn right and follow the road about 12 miles to the end, keeping left to merge onto Forest Road 3010 a little more than halfway up.
You'll pass several pull-outs on the way up. Some offer trailheads, others just lower-elevation viewpoints. Watch for the Marys Peak campground on the right, where the 1.8-mile Meadow Edge Hike begins, a trek that includes a side trip to the summit.
From the main parking lot, you can approach the summit a couple different ways. The easiest is to walk up the wider trail to your right, but those looking to give their legs some extra work can tromp up the narrower trail to the left. Both meet up soon after and spiral up the peak to the top.
--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB