Outdoor Activities

Bike Summer

Check Out These August Pedalpalooza Rides

Learn about levees, dress up like a sheep to follow Bo Peep, do your best Nic Cage impression, or sign up for a scavenger hunt.

08/17/2026 By Rebecca Jacobson and Margaret Seiler

Star Power

Oregon Dark Sky Locations for Stargazing

Get away from the city and all its darn lights.

08/04/2026 By Margaret Seiler

Into the Night

In Antelope, Oregon, Light Breaks Through

Red bulbs and black paint show a way forward for a rural community with darkness in its past.

08/03/2026 By Leah Sottile Illustrations by Joseph Laney

Going Dutch

What Portland Can Learn from Amsterdam’s Swimming District

A former naval harbor has much to teach about public joy, civic change, and life at the water’s edge.

07/29/2026 By Willie Levenson

Month Ahead

What to Do in Oregon in August

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

07/28/2026 By Rebecca Jacobson and Portland Monthly Staff

Transit Trip

Floating the Sandy River with the Trout Route Bus

No driving, parking, inflating, or deflating required.

07/21/2026 By Margaret Seiler

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.

07/16/2026 By Rebecca Jacobson and Portland Monthly Staff

Water World

The Best Swimming Holes Within 3 Hours of Portland

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

06/30/2026 By Portland Monthly Staff

Month Ahead

What to Do in Oregon in July

Chainsaw races, lavender trails, a hazelnut festival, and dory boats on parade.

06/29/2026 By Rebecca Jacobson and Portland Monthly Staff

Fourth of July

Fourth of July Fireworks in Portland and Beyond

From the waterfront to Oaks Park, Rockaway Beach to Hood River, here’s where to enjoy some spectacular displays for the semiquincentennial.

06/25/2026 By Portland Monthly Staff

Eat Stay Play

A Visitor’s Guide to Mount Rainier

The best hikes, waterfalls, and viewpoints within Washington’s first national park.

06/23/2026 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden

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.

06/16/2026 By Katherine Chew Hamilton, Margaret Seiler, and Julia Silverman

Eat Stay Play

A Summer Visitor’s Guide to Oregon’s Three Sisters

Best hikes, nearby lodges, and mountain-view lakes.

06/15/2026 By Matt Wastradowski

Eat Stay Play

A Summer Traveler’s Guide to Mount Hood

Huckleberry milkshakes, family-friendly hikes, and the ultimate weekend backpacking trip.

06/10/2026 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Serenity Now

In Search of Seclusion on the Olympic Peninsula

During summer, quiet can be scarce—unless you know where to look.

06/08/2026 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Maximum Fun

The 22 Best Summer Events in Oregon

When it comes to festivals and fairs, our state doesn't mess around.

06/05/2026 By Rebecca Jacobson Illustrations by Davide Comai

Big Picture

When a 1905 Heat Wave Sent Swarms of Naked Boys into the Willamette

Can you blame them?

06/05/2026 By Rebecca Jacobson

Eat, Stay, Play

A Summertime Guide to the Wallowas

The hidden gem hikes, detour-worthy restaurants, and cutest cabins near the Eagle Cap Wilderness.

06/01/2026 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Cinematastic

Portland Outdoor Movie Guide

Open-air showings in and around Portland this summer include The Mandalorian and Grogu at the drive-in and Wicked, Zootopia 2, The Princess Bride, and Cool Runnings at local parks.

05/22/2026 By Margaret Seiler and Portland Monthly Staff

Ups & Downs

Millions of People Visit Oregon Volcanoes Every Year. Why?

Beyond the draw of their waterfalls and wildflowers, mountains remind us of our own resilience.

05/20/2026 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Portland Monthly

Outdoor Activities

Check Out These August Pedalpalooza Rides

Oregon Dark Sky Locations for Stargazing

In Antelope, Oregon, Light Breaks Through

What Portland Can Learn from Amsterdam’s Swimming District

What to Do in Oregon in August

Floating the Sandy River with the Trout Route Bus

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

The Best Swimming Holes Within 3 Hours of Portland

What to Do in Oregon in July

Fourth of July Fireworks in Portland and Beyond

Popular Content

Your Quintessential Portland Bucket List: 50 Things to Do in Town

What to Do in Oregon in March

12 Oregon Adventures to Get You Outdoors Every Month of the Year

A Summer Traveler’s Guide to Mount Hood

What Portland Can Learn from Amsterdam’s Swimming District

In Antelope, Oregon, Light Breaks Through

A Visitor’s Guide to Mount Rainier

Columbia River Swim Spots and Beaches Within 90 Minutes of Portland

A Summer Visitor’s Guide to Oregon’s Three Sisters

A Summer Traveler’s Guide to Mount Hood

In Search of Seclusion on the Olympic Peninsula

The 22 Best Summer Events in Oregon

When a 1905 Heat Wave Sent Swarms of Naked Boys into the Willamette

A Summertime Guide to the Wallowas

Portland Outdoor Movie Guide

Millions of People Visit Oregon Volcanoes Every Year. Why?

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Mountain Magic