Peak Northwest

This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we connect with Jason Hardrath, an Oregon teacher who's trying to climb the 100 mountains on Washington's Bulger List... in 50 days. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the tide is out, there's so much more to discover along Oregon's coastline. From tide pools to hidden treasures, we have the best things to see and do, along with tips on how to stay safe while you're out there. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heading out into the wilderness is a rich and beautiful experience, but it also comes with some inherent risks. From sneaker waves to hungry bears, we'll go over all the biggest dangers people face in the outdoors, and how to stay safe while you're out there. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, reporter Lizzy Acker joins us to discuss a list of over 100 Oregon destinations made for those looking to get back out and explore now that it’s becoming safer to do so. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge is often overlooked in favor of the popular attractions on the Oregon side of the gorge. But the Washington side has plenty to offer in its own right. And this week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we discuss where to hike and visit on the oft-jilted side of the gorge. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad...

There’s far more to see in Salem than the state Capitol topped with a golden lumberjack, and far more to do than visit the state fair. The “Cherry City” boasts a vibrant food scene, beautiful public gardens and riverfront parks, all nestled into the center of the Willamette Valley. This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we detail the best attractions, outdoor spaces and places to eat and drink i...

It’s hard to play favorites when it comes to the Oregon coast, yet we find ourselves returning, time and again, to the central stretch of our coastline. Looking for natural wonders? How about Cape Perpetua and the Oregon Dunes. Want a beach town to settle into? Try Yachats, Newport or Depoe Bay. There are good restaurants everywhere and roadside attractions galore, from the Sea Lion Caves to Thor’...

The Northwest is home to some seriously incredible waterfall hikes, but there’s nothing else quite like the Trail of Ten Falls, which passes by 10 beautiful waterfalls in Silver Falls State Park. The waterfalls are the result of millions of years of geology, formed as streams and creeks cut through layers of ash and volcanic basalt, deposited by eruptions in the Cascade Mountains. They range from...

The Northwest is home to a host of fascinating natural features, from the Columbia River Gorge to the coastline and Cascades. But have you ever wondered what natural forces have shaped the landscapes we love? This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we connect with Leslie Moclock and Jacob Selander, the authors of “Rocks, Minerals, and Geology of the Pacific Northwest,” for a primer on our region’...

There are few sites more beautiful than fields of wildflowers over the Columbia River Gorge. Already one of the most scenic places in the Pacific Northwest, the Columbia Gorge gets a big splash of color each spring as rolling hills on either side of the river fill with yellow, purple, pink, white and red flowers. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk about not just where to go to see t...

Forest Park is one of the best natural spaces in Oregon, and one of the best urban forests in the U.S. It’s no wonder that so many people cherish the Portland park. But accessing Forest Park isn’t as easy as other outdoor recreation areas. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we dive into Portland’s sprawling urban forest, going over the trailheads, trails and best sites to see wh...

Meet Dave Hill and Nina Aragon, two Oregon State University researchers behind the Community Snow Observations project, which enables backcountry users, such as snowmobilers and snowshoers, to submit snow depth measurements using a mobile app. Those measurements are important for more than just recreation, as they help researchers better understand the snowpack and hazards such as avalanches. They...

As the sun sets later and later this spring, we’re getting a little more time every evening to get out and explore the nature. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we take a look at some of the best spring evening hiking spots around the Portland metropolitan area and break down our top five favorites. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about you...

On this week's episode of the show, we depart the beautiful Pacific Northwest — purely hypothetically, of course. As many folks dream of vacations they'll take post-pandemic, we share some of the big trips we've dreamed up. You can support this podcast and our local journalism with a subscription to OregonLive. Go to oregonlive.com/podsupport. Thank you. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-o...

Traveling during the shoulder season – just before or just after the peak season for tourism – is not just a way to beat the crowds, but an opportunity to see the Pacific Northwest in a whole new light. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we go over some of our favorite shoulder season destinations and some of the precautions you might need to take before heading out there this spring. You c...

On this week's episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, two representatives from the nonprofit Trailkeepers of Oregon discuss what it takes to maintain hiking trails and how you can get involved. You can support this podcast and our local journalism with a subscription to OregonLive. Go to oregonlive.com/podsupport. Thank you. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more abo...

Henry Backus and Matisse Nash set out late to the Cascade Mountains from Portland. The two planned to stay the night at a secluded campsite east of Eugene, then visit a nearby hot springs in the morning. What was supposed to be a quick overnighter turned into a three-day nightmare, as heavy snow started to fall in the mountains, trapping their car on a remote forest road. Their story is a cautiona...

Gray whales will once again migrate past the Pacific Northwest this spring, bringing some 25,000 of the massive mammals to the Oregon coast. Even though that seems like a sizable crowd, they can be hard to spot. This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we have some whale watching tips and tricks that are sure to help you out. You can support this podcast and our local journalism with a subscriptio...

Aching to go camping? You don't have to wait for warmer weather. We provide a rundown of how to go snow camping in the snow — and stay warm while you're out. You can support this podcast and our local journalism with a subscription to OregonLive. Go to oregonlive.com/podsupport. Thank you. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....

Watch a powerful storm batter the coastline, hike through a lush coastal rainforest, enjoy a good meal from a local restaurant and catch a radiant sunset over Haystack Rock. Winter is a magical time at Cannon Beach, and one that scores of tourists have been enjoying this season, even as the experience is blunted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podc...

Watch a powerful storm batter the coastline, hike through a lush coastal rainforest, enjoy a good meal from a local restaurant and catch a radiant sunset over Haystack Rock. Winter is a magical time at Cannon Beach, and one that scores of tourists have been enjoying this season, even as the experience is blunted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podc...

If you’re looking for bald eagles, head to the border between southern Oregon and northern California. Every winter, the Klamath Basin hosts the largest concentration of bald eagles in the continental U.S., according to the Klamath Basin Audubon Society. The birds tend to hang around between late November and early March, with the largest numbers showing up in January and February, so it’s the rig...

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we discuss the challenges of travel planning in a strange and uncertain year, using this year’s Northwest Travel Guide as a jumping-off point to generate a few ideas. Uncertainty doesn’t have to mean stagnation, but the unique circumstances surrounding this year will require Pacific Northwest travelers to be strategic and creative See acast.com...

Late last year, Peak Northwest co-host Jim Ryan took a tour of the Salmonberry Trail, a historic rail line that’s currently closed to the public but could one day become an 86-mile multi-use path connecting the Portland area to the Oregon coast. For this week's episode of the podcast, we connected with Jon-Paul Bowles, executive director of the Salmonberry Trail Foundation and Jim's guide on the S...

We all know that nature can be healing, but sometimes it’s not just as easy as going outside. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we spoke with Zoë Presley, a Portland-based psychotherapist and forest therapy guide, to talk about "forest bathing" and help us understand how best to find healing in the great outdoors. Read Jamie’s previous story about finding healing in nature at h...