Oregon Trails

8 Geologic Wonders of Oregon

Caves to canyons to cracks in the ground, our state rocks.

04/22/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson Illustrations by Jordan Kay

Month Ahead

What to Do in Oregon in April

Stroll among tulips and trilliums, marvel at migratory birds, and gorge yourself on cheese and seafood. Plus: a new festival devoted to Sasquatch.

03/26/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson

Soak Spots

Best Hot Springs Near Portland

Let off some steam in nature's hot tubs.

02/18/2025 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden, Rebecca Jacobson, and Margaret Seiler

Mountain Highs

Where to Ski in Oregon and Washington

From Timberline and Meadows in Portland's backyard to road-trip getaways across the Northwest, here are the slopes to seek out.

11/22/2024 By Margaret Seiler, Sam Stites, and Portland Monthly Staff

Glide Time

5 Favorite Cross-Country Ski Spots in the Pacific Northwest

Here’s where to find tranquil wooded trails, big volcano views, cozy warming huts, and even a glittering ice cave.

11/12/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson

Heating Up

Oregon’s Sauna Scene Has Never Been Better

Meet the new sauna evangelists changing the way we shvitz.

11/05/2024 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Oregon Trails

9 Historic Oregon Cemeteries That Offer Clues to Bygone Eras

Find stories of shipwrecks, range wars, and prominent Portlanders.

10/02/2024 Illustrations by Jillian Barthold By Rebecca Jacobson

Midway Stop

Where to Eat, Stay & Play in and around Madras

Break up the drive to Bend with drag races, witchy books, and farm-to-bottle spirits.

05/21/2024 By Sarah Hutchins

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

Destination Golf

Oregon, Golf Hotbed? 8 Courses Soar into US Top 100 Ranking

Eight golf courses recently landed in a nationwide ranking of public courses, five of them at Bandon Dunes.

07/28/2023 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

Adventure

Your Best Ever White Water Trip on the Lower Deschutes

Rafting on the Lower Deschutes River is an Oregon rite of passage, just a couple hours from Portland. Our own Sam Stites, a former rafting guide, tells us the outfitters, guides, and rapids to know.

06/08/2023 By Sam Stites

Essay

The Deschutes River Became My Therapist and Healer

"The pain I fought, the darkness I navigated, and the loneliness I endured as a navy veteran fighting PTSD would leave my body the closer I got to the river to fly-fish."

06/08/2023 By Chad Brown

Getaways

Going Luxe on Lodging Along the Lower Deschutes

A stay on the Lower Deschutes doesn’t have to be a grimy, bug-filled experience, thanks to luxurious or charming spots like these.

06/08/2023 By Sam Stites

Arty Attractions

Bend’s New Music and Performing Arts Scene

There’s more to this Central Oregon city than just outdoor adventures and great beer.

04/20/2023 By Sam Stites

Ski Trips

Beyond Hood: Hoodoo

Hoodoo Ski Area near Central Oregon is the not-so-hidden gem of the Santiam Pass.

03/15/2023 By Sam Stites

Smith Rock

Smith Rock State Park to Partially Close for 4 Weeks This Summer Due to Construction

Monkey Face, Misery Ridge Trail, and other features will be off limits between mid-July and mid-August.

01/20/2023 By Sam Stites

Winter Travel

10 Spots for Winter Camping in Oregon

Hike, snowshoe, ski, and camp year-round at parks and campgrounds across the state, including Crater Lake’s scenic Rim Drive.

12/21/2022 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen

House Hunters

A $19 Million Luxury Ranch Home Is Currently Listed in Central Oregon

Here are some celebrities we’d like to think would be on the market for the ornate ranch pad.

08/31/2022 By Michelle Harris and Margaret Seiler

Oregon Coast

Where to Eat, Stay, and Play on Oregon’s Central Coast

Yachats, Florence, the Oregon Dunes, Reedsport, and beyond: This stretch of 101 comes with sea lions, a lighthouse, lots of sand, and a real whale of a tale.

06/07/2022 By Margaret Seiler