Peak Northwest

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...

With countless mountain peaks in view, rolling hills and one of the most breathtaking views of Cove Palisades State Park, it’s hard for cyclists to not love Madras Mountain Views Scenic Bikeway. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, Vickie chats with Jamie about her most recent bike trip to central Oregon, where she biked 29-mile loop to celebrate her birthday. Here are some highlights from th...

Of all the beach towns on the beautiful stretch of Pacific coastline in Oregon, Yachats might well be the most charming. Located on the rocky shores of the central Oregon coast, Yachats features a small but bustling corridor of restaurants and small businesses, with forested trails, tide pools, beaches and towering sea cliffs found nearby. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, Jamie recounts a...

Welcome to the weird, wonderful world of tide pooling. Both primal and alien, tide pools are chock full of interesting life, from tiny shore crabs to giant green anemones. Exploring these intertidal areas is a cherished pastime on the Oregon coast, but what do you need to know to get started? On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk to Jamie Kish, a marine biologist and tide pool ambassad...

Wildflowers are everywhere in the Columbia River Gorge, but one small stretch of the scenic area is more jam-packed with flowers than the rest. This wildflower corridor of the Columbia Gorge, located between Mosier and Lyle, is home to several beautiful recreation areas, where being among the blooms can be as easy as stepping out of your car, or as difficult as hiking up the side of a mountain. On...

Imagine rolling out of your vintage Airstream trailer, walking across the road and reaching the sand, ready for a beautiful day at the beach. That fantasy can be a reality at Hart’s Camp Airstream Hotel at Pacific City on the north Oregon coast, the destination for this week’s episode of Peak Northwest. Located steps away from Cape Kiwanda – not to mention all the shops and restaurants in Pacific...

Love hanging out at Mount Hood, but hate driving up to the mountain? Do we have some good news for you. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk to Lizzy Acker, trending news reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive, who recently wrote about the experience of travelling by bus to Oregon’s tallest mountain. The latest in Acker’s car-free travel series once again features her 3-year-old daught...

Forget everything that comes to mind when you think about “a day at the lake” – these spots aren’t it. That doesn’t mean the little lakes of the Clatsop State Forest, found on the north end of Oregon’s Coast Range, aren’t worth checking out. Despite lacking amenities and featuring little in the way of actual water, they nonetheless make interesting attractions for year-round hiking between Portlan...

Hiking the entirety of the Wildwood Trail is a classic Portland bucket list item, and something many people accomplish – just not in one day. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk to two local hikers who took on the famous 30-mile trail in Forest Park, with tips and words of caution for anybody else who feels up to the challenge. The hikers, Rachel Dumont and Noelle Crombie, who is the...

Programming note: This is a rebroadcast of an excellent episode from July, 2021. Be sure to visit the Circles in the Sand Labyrinths this year. Denny Dyke’s elaborate sand drawings are a sight to behold. But to experience the labyrinths for yourself is an entirely different experience. Dyke has since 2011 been drawing the labyrinths into low-tide Oregon beaches, and his Circles in the Sand project...

Traveling to the coast this spring, but tired of the same attractions? We have you covered. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we’re headed back to the north Oregon coast to explore some overlooked attractions, just in time for spring break. There’s nothing wrong with Cannon Beach and the Tillamook Creamery, but have you seen the spectacular beauty of Niagara Falls? Stood beneath the Rockaw...

For some skiers, it’s not as easy as heading up to the mountain, strapping on a pair of skis and hitting the slopes. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we speak with Carl Burnett, an adaptive ski racer who has been working with Oregon Adaptive Sports, a nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking down the barriers faced by athletes with physical, cognitive and developmental disabilities. I...

Snowshoeing is one of the best ways to get out and active during the winter, especially for those who don’t ski or snowboard regularly. For co-host Vickie Connor, the activity seemed like the perfect opportunity to enjoy the outdoors in the winter, especially as someone who is wary of knee injuries, after an ACL tear years ago. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, Vickie chats with co-host Ja...

On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest podcast, we catch up with former host, Jim Ryan. Jim takes us through his nordic ski trip on the Methow Valley trail system, near Winthrop, Washington, for the latest installment of My Epic Adventure, a sub-series of the podcast. Here are some highlights from this week’s show: You can spend the night on trail in reservable huts. How to get a trail pass for...