Peak Northwest

Hosts Jamie Hale and Vickie Connor take you to some of the greatest destinations in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.

Society & Culture
Places & Travel
Sports
126
Getting into peak holiday spirit
Whether it’s cutting down and decorating a tree, preparing festive dishes for family and friends, or simply spending time with loved ones, the holiday season is steeped in tradition.In this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, hosts Jamie H...
34 min
127
Camp in comfort at Oregon State Park cabins and...
If you enjoy camping but don’t love sleeping on the ground, there’s a nifty solution at some of Oregon’s most popular state parks.In addition to the tent and RV sites that populate campgrounds, some parks come equipped with additional accommodations...
27 min
128
Thanksgiving break
We're taking a week off for Thanksgiving, but we'll be back next week with more Pacific Northwest adventures.
4 min
129
Touring the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway
The Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway is a stunning destination in every season, with Cascade Mountain views, beautiful lakes and outdoor adventures right off the highway. Whether you're gearing up for a winter ski trip or planning your next summer road ...
22 min
130
Santiam Pass and McKenzie Pass make one super s...
The Santiam Pass-McKenzie Pass Scenic Byway is one super scenic loop drive, taking you across two mountain passes, past beautiful waterfalls and forested trails, and to some of Oregon's most fascinating roadside attractions.
32 min
131
Hiking, climbing and sightseeing at Smith Rock
On this week's episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we discuss why fall is our favorite time to visit central Oregon's Smith Rock State Park.
27 min
132
Exploring the otherworldly Oregon Dunes, just i...
What better way to celebrate the release of the new film adaptation of "Dune" than by exploring the landscape that inspired the sci-fi epic in the first place: the stunning Oregon Dunes.
25 min
133
Exploring the Wilson River Trail, a quiet Coast...
This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we discuss how to day hike and backpack the Wilson River Trail in the Tillamook State Forest. It's a gem, alright.
25 min
134
How to be prepared for when the Big One hits
Marilyn Bishop, founder of Cascadia Quake Kits, discusses what Pacific Northwest residents should do to be prepared for the Big One on this week's episode of the Peak Northwest podcast.
33 min
135
Foraging for mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest
It's mushroom season in the Pacific Northwest! To help you in your fungal foraging, we talk to herbalist and experienced forager Chris Smaka about what to look for and how to find it.
34 min
136
Plan a fall road trip on Oregon's scenic byways
This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we discuss Oregon's scenic byways: driving routes that snake their way through every beautiful nook and cranny of the state.Buckle up for a beautiful auditory journey across this wonderful state.
28 min
137
Finding, and appreciating, Oregon's covered bri...
Did you know Oregon has dozens of covered bridges (54) all over the state? On the latest episode of Peak Northwest, Jamie Hale and Jim Ryan discuss the simple wonders in getting off the main drag and finding Oregon's delightful covered bridges.
22 min
138
Oregon's least and most popular state parks in ...
Which state parks saw the most visitors last year, and which saw the least? We break down the numbers from a truly strange year that saw state park visitation plunge across the board.
24 min
139
Introducing Oregon’s newest backpacking trail
This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we discuss the Corvallis-to-the-Sea Trail. Running about 60 miles from downtown Corvallis to Ona Beach south of Newport, the long-distance hiking and mountain biking trail crosses through a dense Coast Range for...
22 min
140
How to end summer in the PNW
The end of summer looms, but that doesn't mean the end to exciting adventures around Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. On the latest episode of Peak Northwest, Jim and Jamie float a bunch of wonderful options for end of summer activities across th...
29 min
141
How to explore the Lower Rogue River in southwe...
Take a hike, go backpacking, paddle downriver or spend a few nights relaxing at a lodge. There are so many different ways to experience the wild and scenic Rogue River.
23 min
142
Hiking, biking and sightseeing at Crater Lake
This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we discuss hiking, biking and sightseeing options at Oregon's lone national park.
27 min
143
An Oregon landscape painter on capturing stilln...
On the latest episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, artist Yong Hong Zhong talks about how he pivoted from a career in animation to becoming a renowned watercolors painter. We talked about his method, how people can pick up a paintbrush and start capt...
31 min
144
Oregon's redwoods deserve your respect
Most people head to the spectacular redwood groves of northern California, passing by the beautiful, but admittedly smaller, redwoods on the south Oregon coast.We defend our state's honor and discuss what those trees are like, why you should vi...
20 min
145
Meet the artist behind Oregon's spectacular 'Ci...
This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we connect with the artist who leads the “Circles in the Sand,” events on the southern Oregon coast.You're going to want to listen to this one twice. The artist, Denny Dyke, drops wisdom left and right. ...
25 min
146
How to plan your outdoor adventures during wild...
This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we discuss what you should know before planning a trip during Oregon's wildfire season. Reporter Kale Williams also breaks down how Oregon's changing climate is contributing to the state's wildfir...
28 min
147
Eagle Creek is finally back open to hikers (again)
After a brief reopening was spoiled by landslides earlier this year, the Eagle Creek Trail has reopened once again, giving many hikers their first taste of the Columbia River Gorge trail since the Eagle Creek fire closed it in 2017.
24 min
148
How to enjoy Olympic National Park's trails, be...
This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we discuss how to enjoy Olympic National Park: from the coastline to the forest, lodges to campgrounds.
23 min
149
What search & rescue personnel want you to know...
This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we're joined by two search & rescue volunteers who share what they want hikers to know before hitting the trail and what hikers should do if they require a rescue, among other topics.
29 min
150
A Klamath teacher's quest to climb Washington's...
This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we connect with Jason Hardrath, an Oregon teacher who's trying to climb the 100 mountains on Washington's Bulger List... in 50 days.
30 min