Fall is one of the best times to head into Oregon’s forests, and for mushroom hunters, it also marks the start of matsutake season. These fragrant, highly prized mushrooms can be found in forests across the state, but finding them takes some knowledge, patience and plenty of walking.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we’re heading into the forest to learn more about one of Oregon’s most sought-after wild mushrooms.

Joining me is Jess Liotta, an independent mushroom forager and guest instructor for Trackers Earth, a local organization that teaches outdoor skills. We’ve talked about chanterelles and morels on the podcast before, but this time we’re diving into matsutakes, from where they grow to how to identify them and what to do with them once you get home.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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You don’t need to wait for the leaves to change to start getting excited about fall in Oregon. But with cooler weather, cozy weekends and some of the best events of the year just around the corner, we’re more than ready for the season.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we’re talking all things fall, from the best reasons to love the season to some of our favorite ways to enjoy it around Oregon.

We’re getting into the cozy side of fall, including soup season, warm baked goods and hot tea, as well as some of the state’s best fall traditions and destinations.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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You don’t need to hike the Oregon Film Trail to know that there are a lot of great movies made in Oregon. But how do some of the classics hold up?

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we take a fresh look at three filmed-in-Oregon classics that are celebrating milestones this year.

From a famous 100-year-old silent film to a 15-year-old western, this trio of movies represents a century of filmmaking in Oregon. They highlight some of the state’s most beautiful places, including roaring rivers and arid high desert plains.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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The temperatures are falling and clouds are on the horizon — summer is nearly at a close.

If you’re still itching for a last-minute summer excursion, you would do well to get yourself out to a body of water, ideally for a picnic. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we have a few ideas of places you can go.

From riverside beaches to lakeside parks, there is undoubtedly a great late-summer picnic spot near your home. At this time of year — with summer vacations in the rearview mirror and school back in session — these should be no-hassle adventures.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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Summer camp can be a special experience for anyone, but there’s something extra special about Camp Cleawox.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we talk to Lizzy Acker, features reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive, who recently wrote about her deep relationship with the Oregon coast Girl Scout camp.

Acker, who started going to the camp when she was 8 years old, followed in her mother’s footsteps, learning all about the magic of the camp. Now Acker’s 6-year-old daughter is finding that magic and continuing the tradition for another generation.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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Anyone who has struggled with a camp-cooked meal knows the stress of making meals in the great outdoors. Rashad Frazier is here to tell you that it doesn’t need to be so hard.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we get some practical advice — and some great food ideas — from Frazier, author of the camp cookbook “Cook Out” and cofounder of Portland-based outdoor hospitality brand Camp Yoshi.

Frazier’s secret? Make things simple. While fresh-caught crab boil with foraged ingredients can be nice, that level of effort isn’t necessary. There are many easier, perfectly delicious meals you can make that won’t bring unneeded stress to the campsite.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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When the Pacific Northwest heats up, there’s no better way to cool off than drifting down a river on an inner tube, kayak or raft.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, hosts Jamie Hale and Chiara Profenna dive into the region’s best river floats, from the wildly popular Clackamas River to scenic stretches of the Sandy, Willamette and Deschutes rivers.

Along the way, they share what makes for a great float, offer essential safety tips and talk about some of Oregon’s favorite summertime waterways.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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Many locals already know one of the open secrets in the Pacific Northwest: some of the best beach spots are found not on the coast, but along the rivers.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we look at one of the most scenic river corridors in the region, the Columbia River Gorge, an 80-mile stretch of river that is home to some of the best beaches in Oregon and Washington.

The sandy or rocky beaches that line either side of the Columbia River are perfect places for day trips, with room to spread out, gorgeous scenery and convenient amenities. Some of the biggest and most beautiful spots are also the ones best equipped to handle crowds; the smaller, hidden beaches might feel a little rougher around the edges.

They’re all worth a visit.

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When a group of childhood friends looked for a destination to take a trip of a lifetime, they landed on one of the most awesome regions of the Pacific Northwest.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, Anusha Fathepure, a politics and education reporting intern for The Oregonian/OregonLive, recounts her trip to the northern Cascade and Rocky mountains, all centered on a visit to Canada’s Banff National Park.

Between canoeing in the blue waters of Banff’s mountain lakes, hiking in the snow fields atop Mount Rainier and spending time in Vancouver and Seattle, their 10-day adventure was one they’ll never forget.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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People often assume that outdoors and travel reporter Jamie Hale has been everywhere in Oregon, but even he has a bucket list of places he hasn’t seen.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, Hale opens up his deep-cuts bucket list: destinations around the state that, for one reason or another, he has yet to visit.

These places, often remote or rugged in nature, represent a side of Oregon that relatively few people make the trek to see. Still, they contain some truly spectacular sights: towering trees and eroded columns of rock, sweeping sagebrush landscapes and arid, windswept mountains.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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