Shasta Lake is approximately one hour north of Redding. This reservoir includes one of the best natural waterslides in the northern part of the state. Take a kayak or boat to the creek’s mouth.
Then hike up the canyon for almost 20 minutes. At the end of the hike, you’ll find the waterslide. It’s short but fun and you should know that the minerals in the rocks could stain your swimsuit.
Opal Creek is east of Salem, and about 2.5 hours out of Portland’s old-growth Willamette National Forest. It includes a smooth, 20-foot-long rock with rushing water that propels you into a blue pool. Mind you, it’s a mid-level three-mile hike on the main trail to get there, but definitely worth it. You’ll need to purchase a Northwest Forest Pass in order to enter the forested property.