Peak Northwest

Making a first aid kit doesn’t have to mean buying tubes of pre-made ointments and salves, it can be as easy as harvesting plants from your own garden or from nature. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk to herbalists Madrone McCarthy and Tessa McKee, who teach people about the practices of healing wounds with plants. Whether you have a cut, a burn or have wandered into a patch of poi...

Most people stick to the west side off the Cascades to find good waterfalls, but just across the mountains is another incredible waterfall hike at Tumalo Falls. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk all about the Tumalo Falls Loop Hike, a Bend-area adventure that features nearly a dozen beautiful waterfalls along a relatively short and accessible trail. The waterfalls are found along T...

With the rainy season upon us, we’re headed inside. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we talk all about our favorite ways to stay active and spend time inside during the darkest and rainiest months of the year. From yoga and indoor climbing to soaking pools and trip planning, there are a lot of different ways to spend the season. None of that is to say you can’t continue to get...

It’s not every day you come across ruins in an Oregon forest. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we explore the old military batteries – concrete bunkers built after the Civil War – that still stand at state parks at the mouth of the Columbia River. From the massive complex at Fort Stevens State Park in Oregon to the many batteries at Cape Disappointment and Fort Columbia state parks in Was...

Do ghosts haunt Oregon? There’s only one way to find out. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk to Samantha Swindler, videographer and features reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive, who has made it her business to tour the spookiest places around the state. Swindler talks about sleeping alone in purportedly haunted hotels, touring Old West ghost towns and researching ghost stories aro...

Programming note: This is a rebroadcast with updates of an episode from February, 2023. An annular solar eclipse is crossing Oregon this fall, and whether you’re an eclipse-head or a casual stargazer, you’ll probably want to go check it out. The eclipse is Oct. 14. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk all about how to prepare for the big cosmic event. Because while the annual solar ec...

Our green Pacific Northwest forests are about to turn shades of red, yellow and orange. Oregon’s remarkable fall color is best paired with striking scenery like towering volcanoes and raging rivers. From the highest elevations down to the coast, there are plenty of places to find that perfect combination, ushering in the season with incredible views. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we lo...

Ever wanted to explore a cave? Lava Beds is the place to be. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, our colleague Janet Eastman tells us about her experience exploring the caves at Lava Beds National Monument, found just across the border in northern California. Featuring more than a dozen caves of various complexity, Lava Beds is a great place to either dip your toes into cave expl...

Why aren’t there more huckleberries on Huckleberry Mountain? On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, a recent trip to the Mt. Hood National Forest leads to an investigation of the fickle huckleberry plants, which are especially susceptible to the whims of the natural world around them. With a warming climate, in a place that is regularly ravaged by wildfire, what becomes of our beloved huckleber...

You’ve never toured the Columbia River Gorge quite like this. With dozens of waterfalls, small towns, hiking trails and viewpoints spread out across both Oregon and Washington, there are a lot of ways to explore the scenic river corridor east of Portland. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest we explore one of the crazier ways to do it: a zigzag road trip. Come along as we take a whirlwind trip...

Those of us who live in the Pacific Northwest have probably fielded the same question from friends and family who fly into town to visit: I’ll be exploring the area for a week – where should I go? With so many natural wonders, incredible restaurants, beautiful attractions and charming towns across the region, that can feel like an impossible question to answer. How do you pick between the Columbia...

With snow melting and trails opening up, late summer is officially mountain climbing season in the Pacific Northwest. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest we’re taking advantage of the season to climb to the top of one of central Oregon’s most scenic peaks: South Sister. The sweeping volcano west of Bend is known as one of Oregon’s more baggable peaks, and is beloved for its alpine lakes and s...

It’s always nice to bond with your parents, but how many people choose to bond over a 100-mile bike ride? On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk to Lizzy Acker, trending news reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive, who spent a warm day this summer on a century ride with her dad. Taking a route from Portland to Troutdale and back, the father-daughter duo enjoyed a great adventure that inc...

Looking for incredible coastal views? Make your way to the Boardman Corridor. Officially known as the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, the 12-mile stretch of the southern Oregon coast is known for its big views, beaches and hiking trails, all found off a series of pull-outs alongside U.S. 101. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we get into all the best sights to see at the Boardman...

A big cosmic show is coming this weekend, and conditions should be good to see it from Oregon. The annual Perseid meteor shower, one of the most reliably spectacular astronomical events of the year, will be peaking on Aug. 12 and 13, bringing beautiful streaking meteors to the night sky. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk all about how, when and where to see the Perseids, and explai...

Looking to round out summer with a few good leg-burners? You’ve come to the right place. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we dive into some of the toughest hiking trails around the Portland area, finding them at Mount Hood, the Columbia River Gorge and the Coast Range. These are not your average day hikes – they’re intense climbs meant only for the hardiest of hikers. We have all the deta...

Programming note: This is a rebroadcast of an excellent episode from July, 2021. This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we discuss how to enjoy Olympic National Park: from the coastline to the forest, lodges to campgrounds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Programming note: This is a rebroadcast of an excellent episode from September, 2022. The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens is considered the most destructive volcanic eruption in United States history. The explosion reduced the mountain’s elevation by about 1,370 feet. Today, hikers and mountaineers set off to the volcano for the day-long adventure to climb to the top. The reduced elevation makes...

There are tons of incredible road trips in the Pacific Northwest. You can loop the Olympic Peninsula, drive the length of the Oregon coast, cruise the Cascade Mountains or head out to the treasures of the high desert. A road trip to Alaska is on a whole other level. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest we talk with our colleague, photographer Dave Killen, who made the epic trip from Portland t...

Between wildflower hikes, scenic bike rides, tree climbing and tide pooling, the first half of 2023 has been especially active for the Peak Northwest crew. On this week’s episode of the podcast, we run through our favorite trips from this year so far, crossing almost the entirety of Oregon, from the roaring ocean, over the mountains to the arid high desert. If you’re still looking for some spring...

If you want to get away and really get away, you might try escaping to Owyhee. Located along the Owyhee River on the far eastern side of Oregon, the Owyhee Canyonlands are a remote high desert getaway with places to hike, boat, fish and explore. Even the drive is incredible. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk all things Owyhee, giving a primer on exploring the far-flung destination....

Maybe you liked to climb trees as a kid, but this is a whole other level. A new company in Oregon is taking people high into the canopy of an old-growth forest, offering a new perspective and a thrilling adventure. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk to Leo Rosen-Fischer, founder of Tree Climbing at Silver Falls, which takes people hundreds of feet above the forest floor at Silver Fa...

Is there anything better than soaking in a hot spring, breathing in the cool mountain air? We don’t think so. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we gush about one of our favorite resorts in Oregon, a place where you can truly disconnect from the outside world. Whether you’re at Breitenbush Hot Springs for the day or staying a couple of nights, it’s a little slice of paradise that all but fo...

If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to explore another planet, you don’t need to leave Earth to do it – or even Oregon. The John Day Fossil Beds of central Oregon are a strange natural attraction that seem out of this world. Between the glowing colors of the Painted Hills, the strange prehistoric fossils found underground and the blue badlands that emerge from the desert, this is a place...

First-time backpackers often like to go on shorter, easier trips to break their packs in. It can helpful to go with friends who have a little experience, or pick spots that are closer to society just to be safe. A solo five-day trip into bear country is a bold foray into backpacking. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we continue our My Epic Adventure series with a tale from our own Jamie H...