Peak Northwest

If you’ve ever wondered what lies beneath your feet as you hike around our local volcanoes, this is the place for you. This week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast explores the dark, mysterious lava tubes of Ape Cave in southwest Washington. Found on the south side of Mount St. Helens, the cave system is a fascinating adventure for Northwest explorers. Between the more challenging upper cave...

What do you want to know about traveling through Oregon? Reddit users had the chance to ask their burning questions of Jamie Hale, The Oregonian/OregonLive’s outdoors and travel reporter who recently did an AMA (that’s Ask Me Anything) on the r/Oregon subreddit. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, Hale shared some of the best questions from Redditors and dove into his answers. Th...

One of central Oregon’s best tourist destinations has it all: good food, great views and easy access to outdoor recreation. And no, we’re not talking about Bend. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we dive into Sisters, a small town that has drawn tourists for decades. While some people make sure to stop at the Sno Cap Drive In and others are drawn in by the Old West facades that...

Author Jeff VanderMeer, best known for the creepy alien nature at the heart of his Southern Reach series, is suddenly engrossed in a different landscape completely: the neighborhoods of Portland. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, VanderMeer, who recently moved to Oregon, talks about his long walks across the city, and all the things he’s discovered along the way. While far from...

If you’re looking for a perfect, low-key summer getaway, look no further than Florence — Oregon, that is. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we explore the central Oregon coast town, home to sweeping dunes, good food and all manner of outdoor activities. Ever wanted to try sandboarding? Maybe you want to kayak a freshwater lake just off the ocean? Interested in exploring a parti...

While many Oregonians practically grow up at campgrounds, there are plenty of adults who have never enjoyed a night sleeping under the stars. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, co-host Chiara Profenna recounts her very first camping trip, taken this spring on the Oregon coast. Profenna took her partner and dog out for one night at Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park near Flor...

Outdoor recreation hasn’t always felt accessible or inviting to everyone. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we explore AmigxPNW, a group dedicated to creating spaces for Black, brown and Indigenous communities of color to connect through hiking, camping and outdoor exploration across the Pacific Northwest. Guests Maria Velador Gonzales and Diana Velador Gonzales, co-founders of...

If you’ve ever been curious about foraging in the wild, or felt intimidated by where to start, this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast is for you. Foraging can seem like a daunting hobby to get into, but it doesn’t have to be. On this week’s episode, we explore Wildwood Folk School, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching people how to forage for wild plants, understand local ecos...

With spring now fully sprung, and the wildflowers out in full force, it’s time for the annual pilgrimage to Dog Mountain. On this episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we dive into everything you need to know before tackling the iconic Columbia River Gorge adventure, known not only for its flower-strewn meadows, but for the very steep trail to get to them. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or n...

Spring mushroom foragers in Oregon are already coming back from the forests with their bounty: baskets full of beautiful, delicious morels. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast we get back into tips for beginner foragers, this time highlighting the morel mushroom, one of the most popular foraged mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest. Jess Liotta, an independent mushroom forager and gu...

Most recreation areas in the Columbia River Gorge are well-loved, seeing throngs of visitors every spring and summer to enjoy a beautiful day in one of the Pacific Northwest’s most scenic regions. So what’s the deal with the Eagle Creek Overlook? On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we dive into the weird history behind the historic park at the mouth of Eagle Creek. Designed for t...

Mandy Yeahpau has done a lot of whitewater rafting in Oregon, but she never thought she’d get the chance to run the Klamath River. That changed in 2024, when the river’s dams were removed and the waterway ran free for the first time in generations, allowing not only the salmon to return but also boaters, many of whom jumped at the opportunity to explore the reawakened river. On this week’s episode...

Finders Keepers is one of Oregon’s greatest treasure hunts, hiding more than 3,000 glass floats every year on the beaches of Lincoln City. And while those might seem like good odds, finding a float requires more than just looking. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we take a stroll along the beaches of Lincoln City in search of hidden glass floats, discovering what it takes to a...

While all of Oregon’s beautiful waterfalls deserve our attention, one in particular has been getting national headlines lately. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we talk all about Abiqua Falls, the Silverton-area waterfall that went up for sale on Redfin over the winter, causing a stir locally and turning heads across the country. While the unusual sale has been the focus of re...

Portland’s latest outdoors group is helping people discover the city’s many beautiful trails, and high-heeled hiking boots are encouraged. Drag Me Outside, a new hiking group that focuses on accessible, low-impact trails around the city, is led by two environmental scientists who are also drag performers. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we talk to the duo behind Drag Me outsi...

There’s no denying that Astoria is a cool place. From the natural splendor to the maritime history and the cultural cachet (at least in the ‘80s and ‘90s), the Oregon coast town naturally draws a community of creatives who are passionate about their home. But while most of the town’s greatest sights are out in the open — standing tall and proud like the Astoria Column — many of Astoria’s weirder,...

Looking for a more affordable spring break vacation? Think more Cannon Beach than Cancun. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we dive into some of the best, most affordable spring break trips in Oregon, offering a fun vacation that doesn’t break the bank. Some ideas are as simple as changing up your mode of transportation, others are about finding fun much closer to home. With so...

Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson are converting people into tree huggers, one podcast episode at a time. The Portland duo is behind Completely Arbortrary, a science and entertainment podcast all about trees. Running since 2021, the podcast focuses on one tree per episode, diving into the features, facts and lore behind each. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we talk to Clapp and Cr...

It might be a lot easier to do in Vermont, but you can make your very own maple syrup right here in the Pacific Northwest. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we dive into the world of bigleaf maple syrup, Oregon and Washington’s spin on the classic treat. Eliza Nelson, founder and director of the Oregon Maple Project, a nonprofit dedicated to educating people about bigleaf maple...

They hated the rain. There wasn’t enough sunshine. Everybody wanted to hug. We’re not talking about your east coast friends who just moved to Portland, we’re talking about legendary explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, who spent one miserable winter in the Pacific Northwest before making a desperate flight upriver. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we talk to Jill Hard...

If you get injured on Mount Hood or lost in the Columbia River Gorge, odds are good that a Crag Rat will find you. The Crag Rats are one of the nation’s oldest mountain rescue organizations, first formed in 1926. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we speak with Christopher Van Tilburg, a mountain rescue doctor with the Crag Rats and author of a new book about the organization, “...

What do we love about Oregon? A whole lot, as it turns out. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we honor Oregon’s birthday and Valentine’s Day with a love letter to our favorite state. It’s not just the resplendent nature — from quiet forests to majestic mountains to magical desert rivers — we love just about every part of this state, right down to the fried fish. Here are some h...

Your Oregon state park adventures might look a little different this year. With new parking and camping fees coming to Oregon state parks, as well as new rules about booking and canceling your campground reservation, there is a lot to navigate when making your travel plans for 2026. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we follow up last week’s conversation with the Oregon Parks and Recreation...

From fee increases to new rules for campground reservations, there are some big changes coming to Oregon State Parks this year. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we talk to Stefanie Coons, interim director of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, about what park visitors can expect for the year ahead, as the department hits a major budget shortfall. Coons has temporarily...

Whether you’re an art aficionado or a history buff, this year’s museum season has something for you. This time of year — after the holidays and before spring break — are the perfect time to visit Oregon’s museums. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we discuss all the best exhibits coming to museums in Portland and around the state. From the Portland Art Museum’s massive expansio...