If you live in Corvallis I suggest checking out Mary’s Peak, which is in Southwest Philomath, about 20 miles outside of Corvallis. Mary’s Peak offers great vies of the Willamette Valley, and on a clear day you can even see as far as the Pacific Ocean! It is a great place to go and take some pictures, have a picnic, mountain bike, or just hang out and walk your dog.
There’s some great hiking trails and picnic areas, and some spectacular view points. I’ve only been there once, and it was kind of cloudy so the visibility wasn’t that great, but this summer I am planning on going there more often. It takes about 45 minutes to drive there but I think it is well worth the trip. I think many OSU students don’t know about this gem that is so close to campus.
My roommate was just there earlier today and got some great panoramic pictures of the Willamette Valley and of the waterfalls that are up there. Its elevation is around 4,000 feet, and in the winter it is a great place to mess around in the snow and get some good pictures (if the road is open that is). Check it out!
