Get Outside

6 Uncrowded Day Hikes Near Portland

Skip the crowds and seek the shade with our picks for day-trip leg stretchers.

07/14/2021 By Riley Bass

Rushing Waters

6 Oregon Waterfalls for a Hike, a Picnic, or Even a Nap

Some are still closed after wildfires or landslides, but (sorry, TLC) you can still go chasin’ waterfalls.

04/26/2021 By Reina Harwood

Field Notes

The Gorge’s Polar Opposite Offers Ancient Old-Growth Forest and Blessed Solitude

The other Eagle Creek offers a wild, cathedral forest with scarcely another human in sight.

03/16/2021 By Benjamin Tepler

Where to Live Now

Neighborhood Guide: West Linn and Wilsonville

Close-in wineries, wildflowers, and well-lit walking trails

02/20/2021 By Julia Silverman

The Gorgeous Gorge

Pandemic Travel: Researching a Columbia River Gorge Guidebook When the World Is Shut Down

The loneliness of the COVID-era travel writer

02/20/2021 By Matt Wastradowski

Where to Live Now

Neighborhood Guide: Oregon City

One iconic elevator, plenty of Oregon history, and river views for days

02/08/2021 By Conner Reed

Shopping

Sno-Parks, State Parks & Beyond: Snag a Wilderness Parking Pass

“Honey, I got you a present at the DMV.”

11/25/2020 By Margaret Seiler and Wriik Maui

Field Notes

North Cascades National Park Holds Once-in-a-Lifetime Views for Those Willing to Make the Drive

Spend a long weekend exploring the Rainbow-McAlester Loop.

09/09/2020 By Ben Tepler

Trailer Lark

Social Distancing Was Already a Selling Point for Getaway House

Units come with everything you need to get away and stay away. But pro tip: BYO coffeemaker.

08/01/2020 By Margaret Seiler

Outdoors

Here’s What You Need to Know about Outdoor Recreation during COVID-19

Should I wear a mask outside? Which trails should I avoid? Here’s our brief guide to outdoor etiquette in and around Portland.

07/10/2020 By Lauren Carlos, Gabriel Granillo, and Julia Silverman

Breaking News

Portland’s Nearby Wilderness Areas Begin to Reopen

As of May 15, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest is back in business.

05/15/2020 By Benjamin Tepler

A Walk on the Dry Side

Uncrowded Wildflower Walks, German Lagers, and Neon Signs Abound in The Dalles

Take a long weekend on the dry side of the Columbia River Gorge.

04/01/2020 By Julia Silverman

PDX Index

Wanna Play in Oregon’s Great Outdoors This Spring? It’ll Cost You.

Kayakers, hikers, anglers, and RV’ers: prepare to cough up.

02/25/2020 By Julia Silverman

Such Great Heights

Go Off the Grid in the Sierra Nevada

But no Donner Party endings here.

01/21/2020 By Margaret Seiler

Field Notes

This Easy Hike Offers Oregon’s Best Mt Hood Views

It’s less than three miles of gently graded trail to the top of Lookout Mountain.

08/27/2019 By Benjamin Tepler

History

125 Years Ago, Hundreds of Climbers Undertook a Mass Ascent of Mount Hood

And on the summit, they founded the Mazamas alpine club.

06/25/2019 By Rebecca Jacobson

Summer Adventures

The Ultimate Guide to Oregon's Great Outdoors

Hike, bike, and paddle your way around the wildest corners of the Northwest.

05/28/2019 Edited by Benjamin Tepler

Summer Adventures: Under Construction

Some of These 6 Oregon Trails Don’t Exist Yet—But They Will Be Epic

These trails are the future of outdoor adventuring in Oregon.

05/28/2019 By Ramona DeNies, Margaret Seiler, Fiona McCann, Benjamin Tepler, Kelly Clarke, and Marty Patail

Summer Adventures: The Gorge

Two Years After the Eagle Creek Fire, Some of the Gorge’s Most Iconic Hikes Are Open Again

Here are three hikes to get you back into the Gorge.

05/28/2019 By Benjamin Tepler

Summer Adventures: Hiking

6 Off-the-Radar Treks to Pull You Out of Your Work-a-Day Rut

From crushing mountainside hikes to easy coastal jaunts, here's how to get out of your head and into the outdoors.

05/28/2019 By Ted Alvarez and Benjamin Tepler