There are times when a lot of people crave sunshine and ask, “What are the sunniest places in Oregon?” Long, warm summers, plenty of vitamin D, dry winters, and not needing to carry an umbrella everywhere you go are just a few of the benefits of being in the Beaver State’s sunniest cities. Below, we will explore the ten sunniest places in Oregon.
10 Sunniest Places in Oregon
10. Hines
Hines is a city in Harney County, having an annual average of 214 sunny days. It receives 22 inches of snow per year and 70 days of precipitation. It is outside of Burns (which, by the way, has some of Oregon’s top hot springs), with origins in the lumber industry and, of course, plenty of sunshine. The historic mill town of Hines, nestled between the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and the national forest near Burns, offers an Old West welcome and plenty of outdoor activities. Hikers and hunters visit the national forest throughout the year. Explore the High Desert Discovery Scenic Byway, go fishing in high-desert lakes, or birdwatch at the wildlife refuge. Steens Mountain Brewing Company, one of Eastern Oregon’s newest craft breweries, also offers a taste of the desert.
9. Altamont
Altamont is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Klamath County, Oregon, United States, located southeast of Klamath Falls. Despite being outside the city limits of Klamath Falls, all mailing addresses in Altamont are Klamath Falls addresses. The 19,000 residents of Altamont enjoy pleasant weather and plenty of sunshine, with an average of 214 sunny days each year. It receives 16 inches of rain and 38 inches of snow yearly, with 95 days of precipitation on average. If you don’t like getting wet, early July to mid-August is the best time to visit Altamont for warm-weather activities. Inhabitants of Altamont enjoy a suburban rural mix, and most of the residents own their homes.
8. Bonanza
Bonanza is a town in Oregon’s Klamath County, which has an average of 214 sunny days per year. Summers in this region are warm and dry, but it receives 15 inches of rain and 29 inches of snow every year, with precipitation falling on average 76 days annually. Bonanza’s history dates back to the late 1800s when the town was founded on an old Modoc Indian territory. Throughout the year, Bonanza hosts a variety of activities that bring the community and guests together. Bonanza is a tiny, friendly town noted for its good working and living environment. It is simple to get to know individuals and make lifelong friends. Today, Bonanza is an agricultural community home to working farms, dairies, ranches, and even a ranch-turned-winery. In addition to year-round camping, the Gerber Recreation Area, located 11 miles outside of town, offers fishing, boating, hiking, bicycling, and hunting.
7. Merrill
With an average of 214 sunny days per year, Merrill is a small city with plenty of sunshine and the renowned potato festival. The average rainfall is 14 inches of rain and 36 inches of snow, with 96 days of precipitation. Summers in Merrill are long, hot, and sometimes rainy, while the winters are cold, snowy, and windy. From June to September is the best time to visit Merrill, Oregon, when the weather is pleasant or warm with little to no rain. Merrill is an ideal home base for exploring Klamath County’s year-round wildlife and storied history, with the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge and Lava Beds National Monument just a short drive or bike ride away. Restaurants, warm places to stay, distinctive shopping, and an exquisitely managed historical museum span the city’s settlement up to the present, with an entire chamber devoted to the Modoc Indian War lining the broad, stately Front Street.
6. Jordan Valley
Jordan Valley is a city in the Oregon county of Malheur, which has an average of 214 sunny days per year. July is the hottest month, with an average high of 87.3 degrees Fahrenheit (30.7 degrees Celsius) and a low of 64.2 degrees Fahrenheit (17.9 degrees Celsius). On the contrary, it receives 11 inches of rain and 11 inches of snow per year, with 77 days of precipitation. Regardless, Jordan Valley thrives as an agricultural region and has long been a hotspot for Native Americans who fished, camped, and hunted along the Wild and Scenic Owyhee River. Hikers and kayakers enjoy the valley’s picturesque canyons and jagged rock formations. Soak in a hot spring, cast a fly, and watch for various animals in this tranquil natural location.
5. Crane
This little village in Harney County has only five businesses and is ranked fifth in Oregon for sunlight exposure, having an annual average of 215 sunny days. And, like Hines, it boasts some of Oregon’s top hot springs. It gets 24 inches of snow on average and 76 days of precipitation every year. Today, the tiny community is home to a few families. In addition, the only businesses are a post office, a service tavern, and a farm supply. It is a great little town. It has that off-the-beaten-path, locals-only, hidden-atmosphere feel to it.
4. Chiloquin
Chiloquin, located near the Winema National Forest along the Williamson River, is a great place to relax and soak up the sun. The city has an average of 215 sunny days per year. On the contrary, it receives 19 inches of rain, 70 inches of snow, and precipitation 99 days every year. The Chiloquin area is a lovely spot with plenty of wildlife and a breathtaking landscape, although it is scarcely populated. Despite that, fishing and hunting are popular activities for locals and visitors. It is also home to deer, elk, and ducks. The Williamson River is known as one of Oregon’s best trophy fly fishing waterways, and Agency Lake is a favorite fishing spot. The city also houses The Train Mountain Railroad Museum, a must-see for train enthusiasts.
3. Malin
Malin is a city in Klamath County, Oregon, with an average of 218 sunny days per year. It receives 13 inches of rain and 25 inches of snow annually, with precipitation falling 87 days on average. From June to September, you may visit Malin and enjoy hot to warm temperatures with little to no rain. In 1909, Czech immigrants in the American Midwest dispatched a reconnaissance mission to discover the ideal location for settling and resuming the agricultural lives they left in Eastern Europe. They unearthed it in the lovely farmlands of Malin, which would soon become a charming town. Malin, located less than a mile above the California-Oregon border, welcomes guests with a sprawling city park with towering Ash trees and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. A rebuilt 1930 movie theater and numerous “yes-of-course-we-cook-from-scratch” cafes span downtown.
2. Beatty
Beatty is an unincorporated community and a Census Designated Area (CDP) in Klamath County, Oregon. It sits 40 miles northeast of Klamath Falls, along Oregon Route 140, at the confluence of the Sycan and Sprague Rivers. With 227 sunny days, it is the second most sunlight-exposed place in Oregon. It receives 15 inches of rain and 21 inches of snow annually, with 72 days of precipitation on average. The little mountain town of Beatty is home to 24 adjacent mines, unspoiled timber and ranch areas, a plethora of gorgeous rustic campgrounds, and access to Oregon’s longest linear state park, the Oregon, California, and Eastern Railroad Trail (OC&E Trail). Just north of this town, hunting is perfect for big mule deer, elk, pronghorn, bears, turkeys, and other predators which are some of the animals living in the area.
1. Klamath Falls
Klamath Falls, located near the California border and close to the Willamette National Forest, boasts Oregon’s sunniest city, with the best climate in the state. Klamath Falls has well over 300 days of sunshine per year, earning it the title “City of Sunshine” in Oregon. The historic region is full of natural and cultural wonders. Just 62 miles (100 km) south of Crater Lake and 28 miles north of Lava Beds National Monument, South Central Oregon is unmatched in beauty and variety of activities. Klamath Falls offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities, including cycling, mountain biking, bird watching, golf, fishing, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing, all with the sun shining on your back. Klamath Falls is rich in art and culture, with numerous antique shops, museums, theaters, and musicals in local theaters.
