Glide Time

Where to Cross-Country Ski in the Pacific Northwest

Find tranquil trails, big volcano views, and a glittering ice cave.

11/24/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson

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.

11/20/2025 By Margaret Seiler and Portland Monthly Staff

Toe pick!

Where to Go Ice-Skating in Portland and Beyond

Total beginner? Wannabe Winterhawk? Aspiring Olympian? We have the rink for you.

11/10/2025 By Margaret Seiler

Get Out

What to Do in Oregon in November

Taste olive oil in Dayton, dance to Celtic music in Yachats, gorge on sausage and kraut in Forest Grove, and celebrate Thanksgiving in wine country.

10/29/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson and Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Snow!

Best Not-Too-Exciting Sledding Hills Around Portland

Portland is not a sledder's paradise, and we’re OK with that.

02/03/2025 By Portland Monthly Staff

Get Out

What to Do in Oregon in February

Leaving the house is good for you. This month delivers truffle dog competitions, sausage eating contests, ski races, and salty verse. (Also...Afroman?)

01/27/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson

Get Out

What to Do in Oregon in January

Plunge into the Pacific on New Year's Day, dance to folk music in Florence, and cheer on sled dogs in Oregon's answer to the Iditarod.

12/26/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson and Portland Monthly Staff

Let It Snow

Where to Sled, Snowshoe, and Play in the Snow in Oregon

These are our favorite spots for powder playtime, plus all you need to know about sno-park permits.

12/17/2024 By Julia Silverman and Gabriel Granillo

Deep Fake

We Took a Spin Around OMSI’s Plastic Ice Rink

The Swiss-made synthetic surface is Glice, Glice, baby.

12/17/2024 By Margaret Seiler

Winter

Will It Sled?

An unscientific analysis of Portland’s best, worst, and most ridiculous toboggan alternatives.

12/16/2024 By Portland Monthly Staff

Oregon Trails

8 Ways to Embrace Winter in Oregon

From snowshoeing to stargazing to dips in the sea, there’s no reason to fear the cold.

12/02/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson Illustrations by Jordan Kay

In Defense of Skinny Skis

Cross-Country Skiing Is More Joyful Than You Think

It’s serene, affordable, and as strenuous or leisurely as you want it to be—and a balm during dark Northwest winters.

11/19/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson

As Told To

Meet Astrophysicist and Former Elite Cross-Country Ski Racer Alison Crocker

The Reed College professor reflects on racing, working hard, and waffles.

11/18/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson

XC Ski 101

A Beginner's Guide to Cross-Country Skiing

Never clipped into skinny skis? Here's all you need to know. Plus: gear rentals, lessons, and clubs in the Portland area.

11/15/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson

Hasta Luego

This Gresham Company Offers Guided Outdoor Trips in Spanish

Loco por la Aventura aims to get more Portlanders who are Hispanic or Latino “vibing with nature.”

04/15/2024 By Ellee Thalheimer

Glow Up

Cosmic Tubing Is the Mood-Enhancing Activity You Need

Find neon lights, party tunes, and a jolt of joy on Mount Hood’s snowy slopes.

02/27/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson

Ski Trips

Beyond Hood: Eastern Oregon’s Ferguson Ridge Is the Gosh-Darn Cutest

The first rule about Fergi is we don’t talk about Fergi.

01/19/2024 By Margaret Seiler

Ski Trips

Beyond Hood: Is Anthony Lakes Worth the Drive?

Find a beer yurt, a rollicking saloon, and the highest base elevation in the state at this laid-back Eastern Oregon ski area.

01/05/2024 By Margaret Seiler

Pray for Snow

Cheap Skiing? Not While Oregon Budget Ski Spots Still Closed

Just three of the state’s resorts have opened.

01/04/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson

Movers & Shakers

Perfect Portland Party: Fall 2023

From Love Is Blind’s Brett and Tiffany to a Succession star, here’s who’s invited to our fantasy dinner table.

08/29/2023 By Margaret Seiler