Columbia River Gorge Trail: A Multi-Day Backpacking Guide to Oregon's Most Iconic Canyon
The Columbia River Gorge offers some of the most dramatic backpacking in the Pacific Northwest — waterfalls, basalt cliffs, wildflower meadows, and sweeping river views. Here's how to plan a 2–3 day traverse.
Olallie Lake Scenic Area: A Weekend Backpacking Loop on the Pacific Crest Trail
The Olallie Lake Scenic Area north of Mount Jefferson packs over 50 alpine lakes into a compact high-country plateau crossed by the Pacific Crest Trail. Here's how to plan a two-day loop through one of Oregon's most accessible and rewarding wilderness destinations.
Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness: Backpacking Portland’s Most Accessible Old-Growth Escape
Just an hour from Portland, the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness offers old-growth Douglas fir, rewarding ridge hikes, and genuine solitude — if you know where to look. Here’s how to plan a weekend trip.
Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness: Backpacking Northeast Oregon's Most Remote High Country
The Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness straddles the Oregon-Washington border in the Blue Mountains and sees a fraction of the foot traffic of the Eagle Cap or Wallowas. If you want solitude, elk country, and high meadows that feel genuinely remote, this is your place.
Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness: A 3-Day Backpacking Loop Through Southern Oregon's Forgotten High Country
The Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness sits between two of Oregon's most famous river drainages but sees a fraction of the traffic. Here is a complete 3-day loop through meadows, volcanic lakes, and old-growth forest in one of the state's most underrated wilderness areas.
Leslie Gulch and the Owyhee Canyonlands: A Desert Backpacking Adventure in Southeast Oregon
Leslie Gulch is one of Oregon's most dramatic and least-visited landscapes—a maze of towering rhyolite columns and slot canyons in the remote Owyhee Uplands. Here's how to explore it on foot.
Oregon Desert Trail: Planning a Section Hike Through Hart Mountain and the Steens
The Oregon Desert Trail's Hart Mountain to Steens Mountain section is 80-100 miles of remote high desert wilderness. A complete guide to timing, water planning, permits, wildlife, and what makes this route one of Oregon's finest backcountry experiences.
Newberry Volcano National Monument: A Summer Guide to Oregon's Volcanic Caldera
Newberry Volcano National Monument sits 20 miles south of Bend and contains two alpine lakes, an obsidian flow, cinder cones, and miles of uncrowded trails — all inside the collapsed caldera of one of the largest volcanoes in the Cascades.
Elkhorn Crest Trail: A 3-Day Wilderness Traverse Through Oregon's Blue Mountains
The Elkhorn Crest Trail in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest offers 23 miles of high alpine ridge walking, granite lakes, and panoramic views across northeastern Oregon. Here is how to plan a 3-day traverse from Anthony Lakes to Marble Creek Pass.
Badger Creek Wilderness: A 2-Day Loop Through Mount Hood's Forgotten Eastern Reach
Badger Creek Wilderness sits in the rain shadow of Mount Hood — drier, quieter, and less crowded than anything on the west side. This 2-day loop gives you alpine meadows, old-growth forest, and solitude.
Mount Washington Wilderness: A Weekend Backpacking Loop Through Oregon's Wildest Lava Landscape
The Mount Washington Wilderness offers one of Oregon's most dramatic and undervisited backpacking experiences — a rugged lava landscape punctuated by the jagged volcanic spire of Mount Washington itself. Here is how to plan a 2-day loop.
North Umpqua Trail to Umpqua Hot Springs: Oregon's Best 2-Day Hot Spring Hike
The Umpqua Hot Springs sit along one of Oregon's most scenic rivers, accessible via a stunning stretch of the North Umpqua Trail. Here's the complete 2-day route, camping info, and what to expect at the springs.