Q&A

Ripping the City with Gabbi Thomas

The solo camper and herbalist shares her Pacific Northwest adventures, from healing and foraging to winter camping and her scariest moment in nature.

10/30/2025 By Dalila Brent

Procrastinators Unite

9 First-Come-First-Served Campgrounds for Last-Minute Adventures

Did you fail to reserve your spot six months ago when summer felt so far away? All is not lost.

07/14/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson and Portland Monthly Staff

Transit Trip

How to Camp Without a Car Close to Portland

Go glamping by bus, or bring your own tent for a car-free getaway.

06/03/2025 By Margaret Seiler

Outdoors

Oregon, It’s Time to Book Your Summer Campsites

Six months out is the sweet spot for securing the state’s most coveted tent sites (and cabins, yurts, and fire lookouts).

01/03/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson

The Anti-KOA

Snow Peak Opens Luxe Campground and Spa on Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula

Expect a sea of sleek tents, mini cabins by a superstar architect, and a tranquil, Japanese-style spa.

08/23/2024 By Ellee Thalheimer

Lake Life

Our 8 Favorite Lake Trips near Portland (Yes, You Can Still Book One)

Gorgeous views and easy water access await at these lakeside campgrounds.

07/10/2024 By Sam Stites

Full Circle

The Time I Hiked 93 Miles around Mount Rainier

Circling a volcano on foot is a singular Pacific Northwest experience.

06/04/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson

Outdoors

15 of Our Favorite Oregon State Parks

Find lush coastal rainforest, towering waterfalls, arid high desert, and everything in between.

05/16/2024 By Sam Stites

By the Numbers

Oregon Is Nowhere Near Done with #VanLife

So says a new Portland-based survey of camping data. Also, we've been known to bring our cats.

04/26/2024 By Zoe Sayler

Outdoors

Hidden Gems among Oregon's State Parks

If you weren't looking for them, you'd never find them.

04/18/2024 By Sam Stites

Travel & Outdoors

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

Fly-fish on the Deschutes River, soak at Terwilliger Hot Springs, and ski late into spring at Mount Bachelor.

01/25/2024 By Portland Monthly Staff

Outdoors

How to Reserve a Hiking, Camping, or Backpacking Trip in Oregon

Trust the process—even if it is a little cumbersome.

01/19/2024 By Portland Monthly Staff

Moon vs. Sun

An Annular Eclipse Graces Oregon Skies October 14

“Interesting but forgettable,” this is not the ring of fire Johnny Cash sang about.

10/05/2023 By Margaret Seiler

Back Off, Idaho! A Visitor's Guide to Eastern Oregon

A Cheat Sheet to Enjoying the Counties Voting for ‘Greater Idaho’

Without places like Burns and Baker City, Joseph and the Alvord Desert, Oregon just wouldn’t be Oregon.

09/04/2023 Edited by Sam Stites

Back Off, Idaho! A Visitor's Guide to Eastern Oregon

5 Crucial Tips for Camping in the Alvord Desert

We caught up with experienced playa-goers for their critical advice on visiting this otherworldly terrain.

09/04/2023 By Sam Stites

Perfect Plans

Doe Bay Resort: What to Do, Where to Stay, and What to Eat

Don't be misled by "resort" in its title, says our writer, who has visited for 30 years. Nestled in the San Juan Islands between mountains and water, this spot offers something for everyone, from campers to hikers to luxury seekers.

08/07/2023 By MaryRose Denton

Alpine Adventures

Don't Miss Two Cascades Trips, Newly Open for the Season

It's time for excursions into the mountains, which aren't accessible during snowy months or wildfire season. McKenzie Pass and Crater Lake boat tours just opened for 2023.

06/29/2023 By Sam Stites

Rivers

It's Time For You to Meet the Magical Lower Deschutes River

Whatever your speed—dirtbag to debutante—there is something for you on the Lower Deschutes. From its beginnings high up near Mount Bachelor to where it flows into the Columbia River, Central Oregon's Deschutes River is a special place.

06/08/2023 By Sam Stites and Chad Brown

#VanLife

6 Signs You Should Try Van Life

Does the open road call your name? Do crowded campgrounds give you the ick? You might be a perfect candidate for van living.

05/05/2023 By Sam Stites Illustrations by tara jacoby

#VanLife

Tips for First-Time Camper Van Buyers

Local experts give advice on how to land you the camper van of your dreams.

05/05/2023 By Sam Stites