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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 particular species of carnivorous plants? You can find it all in Florence.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
The Florence Rhododendron Festival is the Oregon coast’s answer to Portland’s Rose Festival.
Why snowboarders might be at a disadvantage when it comes to sandboarding.
The best places to eat in Florence.
Sea Lion Caves, Heceta Head and other sights around the area.
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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 Florence. The bare-bones overnighter was nevertheless a huge learning experience for Profenna, who walked away with some worthwhile lessons and a new appreciation for sleeping outdoors.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
How Profenna ended up taking her first camping trip as an adult.
What to pack (and what not to pack) to go camping.
Cooking over the fire vs. going out to eat.
Overall lessons from a first time camping experience.
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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 AmigxPNW, share how the group got started, how people can join upcoming hikes and why representation and community matter in outdoor spaces.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
How and why AmigxPNW was created.
What first-time participants can expect from the group’s hikes and events.
Why representation matters in outdoor recreation spaces.
How community-building can help people feel more connected to nature and each other.
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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 ecosystems and build community through outdoor education.
Guest Shelby Lynn, foraging instructor for Wildwood Folk School, shares insights into their programs, how to get involved and why foraging is about more than just finding food.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
What exactly is a folk school.
Wildwood Folk School’s free foraging plants walks and other programs.
The essentials of foraging responsibly and targeting invasive species.
How to use your bounty for cooking, crafting or medicinal purposes.
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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 new to the outdoors, you’ll likely need to do a little planning before taking on the tough little hike. With steep trails, unpredictable weather and loads of poison ivy, there’s a lot to consider.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
When is wildflower season on Dog Mountain?
How hard is the hike, really?
What to pack for your adventure.
Some tips on doing a difficult hike like this.
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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 guest instructor for Trackers Earth, returns to the podcast to give a primer on how to properly identify morels, where to find them and how to cook them into a delicious meal.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
What is a morel and how can you identify it?
A note of caution about so-called “false morels,” some of which are toxic.
Where to find morels throughout the season.
How to cook the delicious mushrooms, and few recipe ideas for foragers.
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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 the crowds that never came, and twice saved from ruin, the park remains one of the most enigmatic destinations in Oregon.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
A brief history of Eagle Creek, one of the most important recreation areas in Oregon.
How dam watchers spurred the creation of the Overlook area.
Why didn’t anybody show up?
How two separate efforts finally made the park into what it is today.
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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 of the Peak Northwest podcast, Yeahpau recounts her rafting trip on the Klamath River, which she said was both a great adventure and a deeply moving experience.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
A brief explainer on the 2024 dam removals.
Why it’s important to take this trip with an outfitter.
What Yeahpau saw on the river that stirred her spirit.
How to plan your own rafting trip on the Klamath River.
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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 actually find one.
Co-host Jamie Hale recounts his recent float hunting journey, which took some unexpected twists and turns, and wound up with a surprising ending.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
What is Finders Keepers?
Jamie’s plan to find a float in Lincoln City.
Why the Lincoln City beaches are perfect for this kind of treasure hunt.
Some of the best restaurants and attractions to see on your way.
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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 recent attention, there’s a lot more to discuss about the beloved landmark, including its still uncertain fate and the treacherous journey hikers face to get there.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
How did a waterfall end up on Redfin?
What’s the latest with the sale?
Could Abiqua Falls really become an Oregon state park?
What you need to know about the treacherous drive and hike to the waterfall.
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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 outside: Evergreen Hosp aka Thespis D.Light and Fiona Skye, aka Efemmera Gendera. The pair talk about their backgrounds in ecology and ornithology, and the importance of making a safe outdoor space for the local queer community.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
The origin story of Drag Me Outside.
Why it’s important to make safe outdoor spaces for the queer community.
Why birds are an important symbol of the group.
How people can sign up for the drag hikes around Portland.
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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, more offbeat attractions are hidden away.
On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we descend into basements, enter unmarked doors and find hidden entrances to some of the weird, hidden attractions of Astoria. Samantha Swindler, features reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive, gives us her latest recommendations after another visit to the coastal destination.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
A 1980s sci-fi movie still draws fans to filming locations in town.
How cable TV was born in Astoria.
Why the Vampira Walking Tour is one of the best historical tours around.
An underground spaceship arcade, a speakeasy izakaya and a basement “freak boutique.”
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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 much to see and do in small towns across the state, it’s easy to plan a perfect spring break trip in Oregon.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
Why the bus to Cannon Beach is more than just a good way to save money.
Last-minute camping trips can take you to state parks you would never have thought to visit.
These local events help keep spring break fun.
Which small towns to visit for a nice day trip close to home
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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 Crowson about their podcast, discussing what it is about trees that captivates people.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
How the two friends started the podcast in the midst of the pandemic.
While based in Oregon, the podcast focuses on trees from around the world.
What is it about trees?
Where you should start in the extensive Completely Arbortrary catalog.
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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 syrup, talks about the joy of watching people discover local-made syrup, and how people can learn how to tap trees in their own backyard.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
What’s the difference between bigleaf maple syrup and sugar maple syrup?
Why bigleaf syrup isn’t usually put on pancakes.
How to tap a bigleaf maple tree for sap.
What will it take to get bigleaf maple syrup in grocery stores?
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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 Harding, visitor services program manager at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, about the Lewis and Clark Expedition’s famous stay on the lower Columbia River. Like many new residents, they learned firsthand just how tough a Northwest winter can be.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
How joy turned to misery almost immediately.
The expedition was well equipped for the journey — just not for the Northwest.
The famous story of the stolen canoe.
Why you should visit Lewis and Clark National Historical Park today.
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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, “Crisis on Mount Hood: Stories from 100 Years of Mountain Rescue.”
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
How the Crag Rats perform their rescues.
What it takes to be on the mountain rescue team.
The storied 100-year history behind the group.
How did they get the name Crag Rats anyway?
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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 highlights from this week’s show:
It’s hard to pick, but these are our favorite Oregon landscapes.
Why small towns have some of the best charm.
Is Portland the perfect city?
Oregon’s world-class food scene is spoiling us.
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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 Department about the new changes, with tips for navigating your state park adventures for the year ahead.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
What you need to know about the new camping rules.
Why state park cabins and yurts are still a great deal.
Get ready to pay at coastal parks.
Consider traveling to some of these lesser-visited state parks to avoid new fees.
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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 taken over the department as parks director Lisa Sumption works as interim director of the Oregon Department of Transportation.
As you make your spring and summer plans at Oregon parks, here’s what you need to know.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
How bad is the budget shortfall?
Visitors can expect higher camping and parking fees for 2026.
What is Division 15 and what do those rule changes mean?
Several major construction projects are now on hold.
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