Wasco, OR

Perched among the rolling wheat fields of Sherman County, Wasco offers a quiet, relaxed lifestyle in north-central Oregon. Sitting high above the Columbia River Gorge between the Deschutes and John Day rivers, the town gives residents endless big-sky views and quick access to fishing, hiking, and river rafting. It began in the late 1800s as a supply hub for local wheat farms, and today it remains a peaceful farming community where neighbors know each other by name.

ATTRIan Poellet / CC BY-SA 3.0

Town life revolves around a few well-loved local spots. At Wasco Depot Park, you will find a playground, a skate park, picnic tables, and a vintage train caboose parked right next to the historic 1898 railroad depot. Down the street, the renovated 1916 brick schoolhouse serves as a community events center and houses the local volunteer-run library. Between its quiet residential streets, scenic surroundings, and strong sense of community, Wasco is an appealing spot for anyone looking to trade city noise for wide-open space.