Best of PDX

50 Things to Do in Portland

From markets to movie houses to museums, here's your expert list of the absolute best things to do in this city.

05/26/2023 By Shannon Daehnke, Michelle Harris, Fiona McCann, Conner Reed, Margaret Seiler, Julia Silverman, and Matthew Trueherz

Forests

Why You Should Visit Wildfire-Burned Forests This Summer

Witnessing the destruction and rebound of once-lush forests on a wildflower hike helps put the impact on Oregon forests into perspective.

05/25/2023 By Matt Wastradowski

Columbia Gorge

Timed-Entry Permits Are Back at Multnomah Falls

Visitors to Oregon's tallest waterfall will again need to obtain a timed-entry permit beginning May 26.

05/22/2023 By Sam Stites

Trails

Hike of the Month: Mosier Plateau by Transit

With the CAT bus, you don’t need a car to get to this wildflower standby in the Columbia River Gorge. Bring a bike and hit the Mosier Twin Tunnels, too.

04/27/2023 By Margaret Seiler

Hiking

12 Great Wildflower Hikes within Two Hours of Portland

Spring is wildflower season. Celebrate with some of our favorite floral displays in the region in the Columbia River Gorge or the Portland metro area.

04/07/2023 By Michelle Harris and Portland Monthly Staff

Spring Break

4 Hikes for Families Close to Portland

Take a hike in the Columbia River Gorge, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, along the Banks-Vernonia Trail, and at Canemah Bluff Nature Park in Oregon City.

03/27/2023 By Sam Stites

Outdoors

Hidden Gems among Oregon's State Parks

From a sleepy spot on the Minam River in Eastern Oregon to a so-close-yet-so-far island in Portland on the Columbia, these parks are off the beaten path.

03/08/2023 By Sam Stites

Outdoors

Our Favorite Oregon State Parks

From lush coastal rain forest to mountain waterfalls to arid high desert, and everything in between.

03/08/2023 By Sam Stites

Trails

Hike of the Month: Linear Trail at L. L. “Stub” Stewart State Park

Take in views of the Oregon Coast Range while exploring this state park’s 25-mile network of hiking, mountain biking, and horse-friendly trails.

03/06/2023 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Family Fun

6 Lessons Learned from Snowshoeing with a Baby

Simple advice for keeping your little adventurer safe, warm, and happy during winter excursions to Mount Hood and other Oregon destinations.

02/27/2023 By Sam Stites

Trails

Hike of the Month: Oxbow Loop

Explore 12 miles of trails through towering old-growth forest and the glacier-fed Sandy River just minutes from Portland.

02/14/2023 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Trails

Hike of the Month: Gnat Creek

Stuck inside this winter? Head out to this hike along a rushing creek through a dense, evergreen forest between Portland and Astoria near the Oregon Coast.

01/31/2023 By Sam Stites

Outdoors

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

As permits are becoming the norm in the Pacific Northwest, having a plan in place for your next outdoor adventure is key.

01/20/2023 By Gabriel Granillo

Outdoor Investments

Oregon Lawmakers Introduce Bills to Improve Outdoor Recreation

In Salem, the state legislature considers more urban fishing, funding for communities rebuilding from wildfires, and more connections for the Oregon Coast Trail.

01/11/2023 By Sam Stites

Trails

Hike of the Month: Neahkahnie Gap Trail

This two-mile addition to the Oregon Coast Trail offers beautiful scenery of Nehalem Bay and secondary-growth forest, and connects to Neahkahnie Mountain.

12/08/2022 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen