Outdoor Activities

Gearing Up

Meet the Outdoor Store Designed for Latinx Adventurers

BaseCamp, from the outdoor education nonprofit Loco por la Aventura, wants to make gear shopping more accessible.

10/06/2025 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Hit the Trail

9 Sublime Fall Hikes In and Around Portland

Head to these trails in Oregon and Washington for misty waterfalls, migrating birds, and golden-needled larches.

10/06/2025 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen and Portland Monthly Staff

Squash Season

13 Great Pumpkin Patches to Visit near Portland This Fall

Pumpkins? Check. Also: hayrides, corn mazes, farm animals, apple cider doughnuts, and so much more.

09/29/2025 By Cami Hughes and Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Leaf Peeping

Where to Check Out Fall Colors in Portland and Beyond

See changing autumnal foliage from the top of Mount Tabor, in the Portland Japanese Garden, and across Oregon.

09/22/2025 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen and Portland Monthly Staff

Fun with Fungi

A Beginner’s Guide to Mushroom Foraging in Oregon

Intimidated? Don’t be. Here’s all you need to know to get started—including the ultimate hack for finding the freshest intel.

09/17/2025 By Emma Marris Illustrations by Michael Novak

WEIRD OUT

Visit These 13 Oregon Oddities and Roadside Attractions

Our state has shipwrecks, shoe trees, and sinkholes awaiting you.

09/16/2025 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen, Margaret Seiler, and Portland Monthly Staff

Travel

8 Fun and Easy Fall Day Trips near Portland

Sip cider in Hood River, get spooked in St. Helens, and celebrate the fall harvest around Wilsonville.

09/09/2025 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen and Portland Monthly Staff

Bier Fest

Oktoberfest Already? Here’s Where to Go In and Around Portland.

Break out your lederhosen for pretzel tossing, dachshund races, and a goat petting zoo.

09/04/2025 By Alex Frane and Portland Monthly Staff

Hit List

The Best Farms and Orchards for Apple Picking near Portland

We’ve narrowed down the region’s autumnal offerings, with great mountain views, kid-friendly vibes, and rare varietals ripe for the picking.

09/04/2025 By Alex Frane and Portland Monthly Staff

The People's Coast

The Best Oregon Beaches Within 3 Hours of Portland

Our coast brims with spectacular beaches. Here are a few that will leave you breathless.

08/29/2025 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen and Sam Stites

Get Out

What to Do in Oregon in September

Dahlias are in bloom, Crater Lake goes car-free, the Pendleton Round-Up kicks off, and Oktoberfest has us raising our steins.

08/27/2025 By Portland Monthly Staff

Swimming

Portland Hotels with Outdoor Pools for Summer Splashing

Why should tourists have all the fun? Avoid the city's overcrowded public pools by treating yourself to a lil' staycation.

08/26/2025 By Margaret Seiler and Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Jump In

Columbia River Swim Spots and Beaches Within 90 Minutes of Portland

Postcard perfect? Not always. But the mighty Columbia is big enough for everyone.

08/05/2025 By Katherine Chew Hamilton, Margaret Seiler, and Julia Silverman

Month Ahead

What to Do in Oregon in August

Beach volleyball in Seaside, watermelon seed spitting in Hermiston, and Pig-N-Ford races in Tillamook.

07/29/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson and Portland Monthly Staff

Fire Season

What to Know About Oregon Wildfires Right Now

Where the fires are burning, how to track them, and how to stay safe.

07/25/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson

Summer Weekends

Eugene Is Oregon’s Underrated Wine and Dining Destination

Tasting flights, Trinidadian doubles, and tantalizing views.

07/23/2025 By Andrea Damewood

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

Summer Weekends

Refreshing, Sand-Free Ways to Cool Off This Weekend

Pools, splash pads, and waterslides any kid would love.

07/09/2025 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Water Ways

How a Jog and a Jump in the Willamette Became My Summer Ritual

I’ve learned to love Portland’s river like a friend.

07/07/2025 By Emily Chenoweth Illustrations by Davide Comai

Water World

The 18 Best Swimming Holes Within 3 Hours of Portland

From hidden gems to trusty stalwarts, here’s where to cool down when the mercury soars.

06/30/2025 By Portland Monthly Staff

Portland Monthly

Outdoor Activities

Meet the Outdoor Store Designed for Latinx Adventurers

9 Sublime Fall Hikes In and Around Portland

13 Great Pumpkin Patches to Visit near Portland This Fall

Where to Check Out Fall Colors in Portland and Beyond

A Beginner’s Guide to Mushroom Foraging in Oregon

Visit These 13 Oregon Oddities and Roadside Attractions

8 Fun and Easy Fall Day Trips near Portland

Oktoberfest Already? Here’s Where to Go In and Around Portland.

The Best Farms and Orchards for Apple Picking near Portland

The Best Oregon Beaches Within 3 Hours of Portland

Popular Content

9 Sublime Fall Hikes In and Around Portland

9 Sublime Fall Hikes In and Around Portland

13 Great Pumpkin Patches to Visit near Portland This Fall

Oktoberfest Already? Here’s Where to Go In and Around Portland.

Meet the Outdoor Store Designed for Latinx Adventurers

Where to Check Out Fall Colors in Portland and Beyond

What to Do in Oregon in September

Portland Hotels with Outdoor Pools for Summer Splashing

Columbia River Swim Spots and Beaches Within 90 Minutes of Portland

What to Do in Oregon in August

What to Know About Oregon Wildfires Right Now

Eugene Is Oregon’s Underrated Wine and Dining Destination

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

Refreshing, Sand-Free Ways to Cool Off This Weekend

How a Jog and a Jump in the Willamette Became My Summer Ritual

The 18 Best Swimming Holes Within 3 Hours of Portland

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The New Willamette Valley