Bigfoot Sightings in Oregon
By: Mckenzie Gerdes
Illustrated by: Carla Cieza Espinoza
It’s no secret that Oregonians are obsessed with Bigfoot, as is evident by the abundant stickers; from the backs of cars to the insides of coffee shops, to the busy stores in Portland, all the way to the quiet shops on the coast, they’re everywhere. Let’s be honest, if Oregon had a state mascot, it would probably be Bigfoot.
Oregon has always been a hotspot for Bigfoot sightings, making it one of the top states for encounters. The North American Bigfoot Center is located in Boring, Oregon, which is owned by Cliff Barackman, the evidence analyst on the hit show “Finding Bigfoot.”
The history behind the mysterious and beloved figure is extremely vast. On History.com, journalist Becky Little says that the Bigfoot discussion started when loggers found giant footprints deep in the woods. Only in the 1950s did this discussion start spreading in the media. Little says that, in the 1980s, Bigfoot started to become a symbol of “wilderness” and “environmentalism.” That seems to be the view today, especially in Oregon, where Bigfoot is more of a celebrity figure rather than something to be feared.
The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) has compiled Bigfoot reports from all over North America, including the state of Oregon. This organization only includes sightings in their database if they have been investigated by researchers for credibility, ranging from field searches to lab analyses. BFRO will write a report on a sighting after a successful interview with the witnesses.
Let’s dive into the numerous sightings closest to Newberg, Oregon. One report by BFRO took place in Clackamas County, Oregon, near the city of Estacada. The experience happened in August of 2008 when four tent campers claimed to hear creatures knocking on wood from at least three different directions. The sound continually got closer to the campsite as the night progressed, until it ended with at least two creatures making grumbling noises in communication with each other. On the drive back the next day, the witnesses saw a nine-foot-tall brown figure run across the road in front of them.
Illustrated by Carla Cieza Espinoza. To the question; Do you believe in Bigfoot? 16 people voted Yes and 24 people voted No. Be on the lookout for more Instagram polls on our Instagram.
Another experience reported by BFRO happened to a witness driving from Portland to Lincoln City in December of 2003. The witness describes driving with their brights on when they slowed down because a large animal was on the side of the road. The creature crossed the road on its hind legs, taking only four steps to get across. It was dark brown and over seven feet tall.
Driving towards Portland in January of 2002, a woman and her son reportedly saw an eight-foot-tall creature with hair like a moose cross the freeway towards the Columbia River, after they had just passed Multnomah Falls. BFRO reports that another incident happened to two gold-panners in Nehalem, Oregon during July of 2013. They both observed an upright, bipedal creature with dark fur sitting on a log on a ridge. The creature spotted them, got up, but sat down again.
In Umatilla County, in August 2020, a camper and their son heard a growling sound, followed by a high-pitched scream and whooping sound, ending with a growling sound. This repeated several times, and the experience ended with an hour of large branches being broken around the campsite.
Whether people believe in Bigfoot or not, there are numerous reports from witnesses where they believe they encountered the creature. Oregon is just one of the states that has a list of sightings; however, Oregon is likely home to the people most excited about finding Bigfoot.