Scattering Ashes in Oregon — A Complete Guide

Everything Oregon families need to know about ash scattering laws, verified cemetery scattering gardens, the Pacific Coast, Cascade peaks, and cremation options in the Beaver State.

Author's Note: I have yet to visit Oregon, but I think Portland will be my first choice. I have some high school friends who have relocated there. The mother of one of those friends used to play in my monthly card club of 500, and she relocated out there a few years ago to be closer to her daughter. 

If you are thinking of scattering ashes in the state of Oregon, it may be helpful to know the official symbols:

  • State Flower: Oregon Grape 🌿
  • State Tree: Douglas Fir 🌲
  • State Bird: Western Meadowlark 🐦
  • State Rock: Thunderegg 💎
  • State Song: "Oregon, My Oregon" 🎶
  • State Motto: "Alis Volat Propriis" ("She Flies With Her Own Wings") 🕊️

How Prevalent Is Ash Scattering in Oregon?

The practice of scattering ashes has become exceptionally prevalent in Oregon — far more so than in most states. In 2020, the cremation rate in Oregon was approximately 76%, one of the highest in the country, with projections showing continued growth. Oregon has been a national leader in cremation for decades: by 2010 more than two-thirds of Oregonians chose cremation, compared to just 8% in 1973.

Oregon's landscape seems made for ash scattering. The 363 miles of publicly accessible Pacific coastline — protected by the landmark 1967 Oregon Beach Bill — offer iconic Pacific Ocean settings. The Cascade Range, with Crater Lake (the deepest lake in the United States), Mount Hood, and the Three Sisters, provides high alpine options year-round. The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, the Willamette Valley wine country, the high desert of Eastern Oregon, and vast national forest lands round out a setting of extraordinary variety. Whether families choose a dedicated cemetery scattering garden in Portland or Eugene, the Pacific Ocean, a favorite trail in the Cascades, or a trusted mail-in service, Oregon's landscape invites deeply personal farewells.

Oregon Laws on Scattering Ashes

Oregon has no state laws controlling where you may keep or scatter ashes outside of formal cemetery or licensed-service contexts. The key statutory framework:

  • ORS § 432.133 — A death certificate must be filed with the county registrar within five days after the death and before final disposition of the body.
  • ORS § 97.010 — Oregon formally defines "scattering garden" as a location set aside within a cemetery for the spreading or broadcasting of cremated or reduced remains removed from their container, on a commingled basis, that are nonrecoverable. "Scattering" is defined as the lawful dispersion of cremated remains that need not be associated with an interment right or deed.
  • ORS § 97.150 — Governs the disposition of cremated remains and procedures following cremation.
  • ORS § 692 / Oregon Mortuary & Cemetery Board — Anyone selling the right to scatter remains on their property, or charging for scattering services, must be licensed with the Oregon Mortuary & Cemetery Board, and any land used for this commercial purpose must be dedicated as a cemetery. This rule does not apply to families scattering on their own private land.
  • Alkaline hydrolysis (aquamation): Oregon legalized alkaline hydrolysis in 2009 under ORS Chapter 692, becoming one of the first states to do so. It is formally defined as "reduction" under Oregon law and is regulated by the Oregon Mortuary & Cemetery Board.

Rules by location type:

  • Private Property: Permitted with the landowner's consent. No permit is required for scattering on your own property or on private land with the owner's specific permission.
  • Public Land (city and county parks): No state prohibition. Check local city and county ordinances, as some may have specific rules or require prior contact.
  • Oregon State Parks: Many state parks permit discreet scattering in undeveloped areas; no formal permit process exists at the state level, but contacting the specific park in advance is strongly recommended. Stay away from developed facilities, trails, and waterways; leave no markers.
  • National Forests and BLM Land: Oregon has extensive national forest and BLM land. Contact the relevant ranger district in advance. Permits are typically available at no cost and are standard practice.
  • National Parks (Crater Lake, Oregon Caves, etc.): A special use permit from each park's superintendent is required. Contact the park directly — permits are free and generally straightforward to obtain.
  • Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area: Contact the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area office in advance for scattering near the Gorge.
  • Pacific Ocean / Coastal Waters: Federal Clean Water Act rules require scattering at least three nautical miles from shore; containers must be biodegradable or disposed of separately; no scattering at beaches or tidal pools; EPA Region 10 (Seattle) notification is required within 30 days.
  • Inland Rivers and Lakes (Willamette, Deschutes, Rogue, etc.): The Clean Water Act governs inland water scattering. A permit from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality or the relevant waterway management agency may be required.
  • Aerial Scattering: No state law restricts aerial scattering. Federal aviation law prohibits dropping the container — remove ashes before release.

Ash Scattering Gardens and Cremation Memorial Options in Oregon

River View Cemetery — Portland

Location: 0300 SW Terwilliger Blvd., Portland, OR 97219 Phone: (503) 246-4251

River View Cemetery is Portland's oldest endowment-care non-profit cemetery — founded in 1882 by a group of Portland families whose names still appear across the city: Corbett, Ladd, Failing, Benson, Weinhard, Terwilliger, and Pittock. Governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees with direct ties to burial sites, it encompasses approximately 350 acres on the west slope above the Willamette River, with sweeping views of Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens. River View is a full-service cemetery offering conventional burial, green burial, conventional cremation, aqua cremation (alkaline hydrolysis), and human composting — among the most comprehensive end-of-life service offerings at any cemetery in the Pacific Northwest.

River View explicitly confirms a dedicated scattering area on its own website: "We have a scattering area where families can memorialize a loved one who has been scattered. The scattering need not be at River View Cemetery, we welcome anyone to memorialize their loved one." The Hilltop Garden Mausoleum also features a "Wall of Remembrance" for families who wish to honor a loved one whose ashes were scattered elsewhere. Additional cremation options include columbarium niches in the Main Mausoleum and Hilltop Garden Mausoleum, Trillium Niches, and specially developed ground inurnment sites in the Sunrise Garden.

Website: riverviewcemetery.org

Eugene Masonic Cemetery — Eugene

Location: 25th Ave. & University St., Eugene, OR 97403 Phone: (541) 684-0949

The Eugene Masonic Cemetery is the oldest chartered cemetery in Eugene and one of the oldest continuously operating historic institutions in Lane County — incorporated in 1859, the same year Oregon became a state. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, its ten acres on a knoll above the University of Oregon campus hold the remains of Oregon's founding generation: city founder Eugene Skinner, Oregon's first governor John Whiteaker, geologist and UO professor Thomas Condon, multiple UO presidents, Civil War veterans, and mayor and bicycle advocate Ruth Bascom are all interred here. The Egyptian Revival Hope Abbey mausoleum (1914), designed by the Portland Mausoleum Company, has been largely rehabilitated since 1995 and serves as a venue for occasional lectures and musical performances. In 1994, cemetery ownership passed from the Masons to the non-profit Eugene Masonic Cemetery Association — the "Masonic" name is retained as a historic reference only; the cemetery is open to people of all faiths and affiliations.

For cremation and scattering, the cemetery's own services page confirms two naturalized areas (scatter gardens) for placing ashes without an urn, each with a stele serving as a permanent place of remembrance where a memorial plaque may be placed. A limited number of in-ground burial spaces remain available, along with urn burial and Hope Abbey entombment. The cemetery also hosts walking tours via an on-site brochure kiosk.

Email: emca1859@gmail.com Website: eugenemasoniccemetery.org

Willamette National Cemetery — Portland (Veterans and Qualifying Family Members Only)

Location: 11800 SE Mt. Scott Blvd., Portland, OR 97086 Phone: (503) 273-5250

Willamette National Cemetery is a federal VA national cemetery — the first national cemetery established in the Pacific Northwest — administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Encompassing 269 acres straddling the Multnomah and Clackamas County lines, it has had more than 188,000 interments as of 2021 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. The cemetery is home to the Oregon Korean Veterans Memorial, a series of polished black granite walls honoring 283 Oregon servicemen and women who lost their lives in that conflict. Notable interments include Easy Company veteran Donald Malarkey of Band of Brothers fame.

Important — eligibility required: Willamette National Cemetery is restricted to eligible veterans and qualifying family members. Burial is not open to the general public. Eligible individuals generally include: veterans with honorable discharge, active-duty service members, members of reserve components who die on active or training duty or were eligible for retired pay, and Medal of Honor recipients. A veteran's spouse, widow or widower, minor dependent children, and — under certain conditions — unmarried adult children with disabilities may also be eligible. Families should contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117 to confirm current eligibility and availability before making arrangements.

Website: cem.va.gov — Willamette

Are There Mail-In Options for Ash Scattering Services?

Yes. Oregon families — or families anywhere honoring a loved one who cherished the Pacific Northwest spirit — may choose Farmstead Scattering Garden in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania. Cremated remains are mailed directly to the working farm, where they are scattered respectfully according to the family's chosen preferences. No travel is required.

Visit our service page at farmsteadscattering.com/collections/services, or call or text us at (814) 450-5432 to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions About Scattering Ashes in Oregon

Is it legal to scatter ashes in Oregon?

Yes. Oregon has no state laws controlling where you may keep or scatter cremated remains on private property or most public and private lands. A death certificate must be filed within five days of death before final disposition (ORS § 432.133). Anyone who charges others for scattering services must be licensed by the Oregon Mortuary & Cemetery Board under ORS Chapter 692.

Does Oregon require a permit to scatter ashes in state parks or on public land?

Oregon State Parks do not have a formal statewide permit process for ash scattering, but contacting the specific park in advance is strongly recommended. For national parks such as Crater Lake, a special use permit from the park superintendent is required — these are free and straightforward to obtain. For national forest and BLM land, contact the relevant ranger district.

What is Oregon's cremation rate?

Oregon's cremation rate was approximately 76% in 2020 — one of the highest in the nation. Oregon has been a cremation leader for decades, driven by its independent cultural values and strong environmental consciousness.

Is alkaline hydrolysis (aquamation or water cremation) available in Oregon?

Yes. Oregon was one of the first states to legalize alkaline hydrolysis, doing so in 2009 under ORS Chapter 692. It is formally classified as "reduction" under Oregon law and regulated by the Oregon Mortuary & Cemetery Board. Many Oregon funeral providers now offer this option.

What is a "scattering garden" under Oregon law?

ORS § 97.010 formally defines a scattering garden as a location set aside within a cemetery for the spreading or broadcasting of cremated or reduced remains removed from their container, where remains may be commingled with the soil and are nonrecoverable. Only licensed cemetery operators may offer commercial scattering services under Oregon law.

Can I scatter ashes along the Oregon coast or Pacific Ocean?

The entire Oregon coast is publicly accessible under the 1967 Oregon Beach Bill. However, for ocean scattering, federal rules require at least three nautical miles from shore; no scattering at beaches or tidal pools; biodegradable or separately disposed-of containers; and EPA Region 10 notification within 30 days of the scattering.

Can I scatter ashes at Crater Lake or in the Cascade mountains?

For Crater Lake National Park or any other national park in Oregon, a special use permit from the park superintendent's office is required before scattering. These permits are free. Contact the specific park directly. For national forest lands and wilderness areas, contact the relevant ranger district — permits are typically free and informally arranged.

Can I mail ashes for scattering from Oregon?

Yes. Cremated remains may be legally mailed within the United States via the U.S. Postal Service using Priority Mail Express. Farmstead Scattering Garden in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania accepts mail-in remains for private farm scattering. Call or text (814) 450-5432 or visit farmsteadscattering.com for details.

Is Willamette National Cemetery open to the public for scattering?

No. Willamette National Cemetery is a federal VA cemetery restricted to eligible veterans and qualifying family members. It is not open for general public burial or scattering. Contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117 to confirm eligibility.

Does River View Cemetery accept scattering from families whose loved ones were not cremated there?

Yes. River View Cemetery explicitly states on its website that families whose loved ones were scattered elsewhere — not at River View — are welcome to use their memorial options. The Hilltop Garden Mausoleum's "Wall of Remembrance" is specifically available for families who wish to memorialize a loved one scattered at another location.

Legal and Regulatory References


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