Outdoor Activities

Water World

The Best Swimming Holes Within 3 Hours of Portland

From hidden gems to trusty stalwarts, here’s where to cool down when the mercury soars.

06/30/2026 By Portland Monthly Staff

Bike Summer

Check Out These July Pedalpalooza Rides

Celebrate Pride and Missy Elliott, learn about plants, or get a new library card.

06/30/2026 By Rebecca Jacobson and Margaret Seiler

Month Ahead

What to Do in Oregon in July

Chainsaw races, lavender trails, a hazelnut festival, and dory boats on parade.

06/29/2026 By Rebecca Jacobson and Portland Monthly Staff

Fourth of July

Fourth of July Fireworks in Portland and Beyond

From the waterfront to Oaks Park, Rockaway Beach to Hood River, here’s where to enjoy some spectacular displays for the semiquincentennial.

06/25/2026 By Portland Monthly Staff

Eat Stay Play

A Visitor’s Guide to Mount Rainier

The best hikes, waterfalls, and viewpoints within Washington’s first national park.

06/23/2026 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Jump In

Columbia River Swim Spots and Beaches Within 90 Minutes of Portland

Postcard perfect? Not always. But the mighty Columbia is big enough for everyone.

06/16/2026 By Katherine Chew Hamilton, Margaret Seiler, and Julia Silverman

Eat Stay Play

A Summer Visitor’s Guide to Oregon’s Three Sisters

Best hikes, nearby lodges, and mountain-view lakes.

06/15/2026 By Matt Wastradowski

Eat Stay Play

A Summer Traveler’s Guide to Mount Hood

Huckleberry milkshakes, family-friendly hikes, and the ultimate weekend backpacking trip.

06/10/2026 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Serenity Now

In Search of Seclusion on the Olympic Peninsula

During summer, quiet can be scarce—unless you know where to look.

06/08/2026 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Maximum Fun

The 22 Best Summer Events in Oregon

When it comes to festivals and fairs, our state doesn't mess around.

06/05/2026 By Rebecca Jacobson Illustrations by Davide Comai

Big Picture

When a 1905 Heat Wave Sent Swarms of Naked Boys into the Willamette

Can you blame them?

06/05/2026 By Rebecca Jacobson

Eat, Stay, Play

A Summertime Guide to the Wallowas

The hidden gem hikes, detour-worthy restaurants, and cutest cabins near the Eagle Cap Wilderness.

06/01/2026 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Cinematastic

Portland Outdoor Movie Guide

Open-air showings in and around Portland this summer include The Mandalorian and Grogu at the drive-in and Wicked, Zootopia 2, The Princess Bride, and Cool Runnings at local parks.

05/22/2026 By Margaret Seiler and Portland Monthly Staff

Ups & Downs

Millions of People Visit Oregon Volcanoes Every Year. Why?

Beyond the draw of their waterfalls and wildflowers, mountains remind us of our own resilience.

05/20/2026 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden

What a Blast

Where to Eat, Stay, and Play Around Mount St. Helens

Pyroclastic mounds, pumice plains, lava tubes, big burgers, and juicy hucks.

05/18/2026 By Rebecca Jacobson

On the Rocks

A Mountaineer Shares Their Biggest Lessons from the Summit

Robin Wilcox, Mazamas board president and mountain climbing teacher, on the mental and physical hurdles encountered reaching the summit.

05/13/2026 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Transit Trip

We Hiked Dog Mountain with the Stevenson Free Shuttle

And met some very nice dogs on the bus.

05/01/2026 By Margaret Seiler

Month Ahead

What to Do in Oregon in May

Sip cider in Hood River, ride a fat-tire bike in Cannon Beach, and party with aliens in McMinnville.

04/28/2026 By Rebecca Jacobson and Portland Monthly Staff

Wheelie Good

Portland’s Essential Annual Bike Rides and Events

Bike plays, bridge takeovers, and naked rides—few cities have livelier bike calendars than ours. Here's what you can't miss.

04/07/2026 By Katherine Chew Hamilton and Rebecca Jacobson

Hiking

9 Picture-Perfect Wildflower Hikes Within 90 Minutes of Portland

Wildflower season is calling. Celebrate with some of our favorite floral displays in the region.

03/30/2026 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden and Portland Monthly Staff

Portland Monthly

Outdoor Activities

The Best Swimming Holes Within 3 Hours of Portland

Check Out These July Pedalpalooza Rides

What to Do in Oregon in July

Fourth of July Fireworks in Portland and Beyond

A Visitor’s Guide to Mount Rainier

Columbia River Swim Spots and Beaches Within 90 Minutes of Portland

A Summer Visitor’s Guide to Oregon’s Three Sisters

A Summer Traveler’s Guide to Mount Hood

In Search of Seclusion on the Olympic Peninsula

The 22 Best Summer Events in Oregon

Popular Content

Your Quintessential Portland Bucket List: 50 Things to Do in Town

The Best Swimming Holes Within 3 Hours of Portland

A Summer Traveler’s Guide to Mount Hood

Fourth of July Fireworks in Portland and Beyond

12 Oregon Adventures to Get You Outdoors Every Month of the Year

What to Do in Oregon in July

When a 1905 Heat Wave Sent Swarms of Naked Boys into the Willamette

A Summertime Guide to the Wallowas

Portland Outdoor Movie Guide

Millions of People Visit Oregon Volcanoes Every Year. Why?

Where to Eat, Stay, and Play Around Mount St. Helens

A Mountaineer Shares Their Biggest Lessons from the Summit

We Hiked Dog Mountain with the Stevenson Free Shuttle

What to Do in Oregon in May

Portland’s Essential Annual Bike Rides and Events

9 Picture-Perfect Wildflower Hikes Within 90 Minutes of Portland

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