On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we discuss the challenges of travel planning in a strange and uncertain year, using this year’s Northwest Travel Guide as a jumping-off point to generate a few ideas. Uncertainty doesn’t have to mea...

Late last year, Peak Northwest co-host Jim Ryan took a tour of the Salmonberry Trail, a historic rail line that’s currently closed to the public but could one day become an 86-mile multi-use path connecting the Portland area to the Oregon coast. For th...

We all know that nature can be healing, but sometimes it’s not just as easy as going outside. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we spoke with Zoë Presley, a Portland-based psychotherapist and forest therapy guide, to talk about ...

Crowded trailheads. Packed campgrounds. Busy beaches, rivers and lakes. Oregon outdoor recreation areas saw a huge flood of visitors in 2020, many of whom were new to outdoor recreation. We discuss the crowds and offer some advice for people who don’t ...

Many outdoor enthusiasts have dreamed of building their ultimate adventure vehicles— the type of rigs you can use to get where you’re going and sleep comfortably along the way. For this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we caught up with Br...

Traveling with friends and family is fun, but there’s something special about enjoying the Pacific Northwest on your own. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we dive into both the joys and difficulties of solo travel – from day hikes to road trip...

A mysterious monolith placed in — and later removed from — the Utah desert captivated the country this fall. And while we were following the twists and turns of the story, our minds wandered back to another high-profile case that raised questions about...

Why pay top dollar for a perfect Christmas tree when you can pay a nominal fee, tromp off into the woods and cut down your own? While you might not walk away with the prettiest fir in the world, harvesting your Christmas tree from the national forest i...

Back before the COVID-19 pandemic set in here in Oregon, Peak Northwest co-host Jim Ryan schemed up a mission: try to see as many Columbia River Gorge waterfalls as possible — from sunrise to sundown. He recruited co-host Jamie Hale and video producer ...

As the Northwest weather turns dreary, we're looking for ways to stay active through the winter — especially this year, when we're staying close to home. We'll also take a look back at lessons learned from Oregon's first coronavirus...

As the smoke clears on yet another devastating wildfire season in Oregon, questions naturally begin to arise: How bad is it? When can we go back? How long will it take for the forests to grow back?Answers don’t always come quickly or easily, but to th...

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we speak with Dave Tragethon from Mt. Hood Meadows about what precautions the ski resort has made amid the coronavirus pandemic, and what skiing will look like this season.You can support this podc...

This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we make the case for spending that time hiking in Camas — the small suburban town in southwest Washington. And to help us out, we brought on Camas resident Sally Hale, who just happens to be Jamie's mother....

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we’re highlighting some of the spookiest travel destinations in Oregon, whether you’re planning a Halloween vacation or are in search of a spooky day hike for the season.You can support this podcas...

Oregon’s rivers and lakes hold endless appeal, beckoning enthusiasts of all kinds to their chilly waters. There are the swimmers and boaters, the kayakers and the stand-up paddleboarders. And then, of course, there are the anglers: those casting out in...

Seven days, 19 hours, 23 minutes. That’s how long it took Eugene resident Emily Halnon to run the length of Oregon, from south to north, on the famed Pacific Crest Trail this summer. Halnon set a new record time on the Oregon section of the PCT, which ...

Head to the mouth of the Columbia River, where the mightiest river in the American West meets the biggest ocean on the planet, and you’ll find one of the greatest little cities in Oregon. Astoria has always had a lot to offer visitors, and that remains...

Oregon is an evergreen state, known for its iconic Douglas-firs and their coniferous brethren. But come autumn, the state’s deciduous trees can also put on quite the show — bursting with fall color and making some of our beloved outdoor areas even more...

The Wonderland Trail circles Mount Rainier, rising and falling through jaw-dropping, arduous terrain over the course of roughly 90 miles. For most, the trip is measured in days. But for a select few, it takes only hours. Portland ultrarunner and middle...

With wildfires still burning across the Northwest, we're putting some of the episodes we'd already recorded on the shelf. Instead, we talked a little this week about the fires, their effects on people across the region and, of course, how the...

On a recent week of vacation, Jamie took four day trips to four different ecosystems within three hours of Portland, finding a safe way to visit several stunning landscapes in a short period of time. On this week’s episode, Jamie talks about his variou...

This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, Jim gives us the lowdown on his adventure climbing three of Oregon’s beautiful mountains in three days.You can support this podcast and our local journalism with a subscription to OregonLive. Go to oregonlive.c...

Mount Hood towers over Portland, but these other volcanic peaks aren't all that far, and they have a lot to offer.

The Timberline Trail is one of Oregon’s most iconic footpaths. It circumnavigates Mount Hood over roughly 40 miles, traveling through forests, across rivers and through gorgeous meadows — providing backpackers with spectacular views at every turn. This...

Hot summer weather has a way of convincing you to ditch your worldly obligations with a single destination in mind: one of Oregon’s stunning lakes.Our previous episode on Oregon hot springs, referenced in this episode: https://play.acast.com/s/peakn...