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 to Alaska with his partner and their two dogs in a vintage Volkswagen bus he rebuilt himself.

The three-week excursion was full of good hiking, incredible scenery and a lifetime of memories. How, exactly, do you go about planning a trip of this magnitude? And is it a reasonable excursion for the everyday Northwest adventurer?

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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-- Jamie Hale and Vickie Connor

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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 or fall travel ideas around the Pacific Northwest, we have some excellent ideas for you.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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-- Jamie Hale and Vickie Connor

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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.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

Subscribe to Peak Northwest on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

-- Jamie Hale and Vickie Connor

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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 Falls State Park.

The experience of climbing into the forest canopy, as Rosen-Fischer tells it, is like nothing else. And the adventure of ascending up the trunk of a living giant is one you won’t soon forget.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

Subscribe to Peak Northwest on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

-- Jamie Hale and Vickie Connor

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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 forces you into a state of relaxation. We have everything you need to know about the resort, and an impassioned endorsement of the retreats they provide.

Here’s the full episode:

Subscribe to Peak Northwest on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

-- Jamie Hale and Vickie Connor

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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 like no other.

On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we explore all there is to see at the national monument, with tips on how to see it all for yourself this season. Bring water, grab your camera and get ready to be wowed.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

Subscribe to Peak Northwest on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

-- Jamie Hale and Vickie Connor

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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 Hale, who recounts his very first backpacking trip on the Rogue River Trail in southern Oregon.

With blisters, bears, snakes and ticks, it’s a true Oregon backpacking adventure. But one luxurious twist made the trip a bit easier to handle, and gave Jamie some much-needed rest along the way.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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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 this week’s show:

Subscribe to Peak Northwest on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

-- Vickie Connor and Jamie Hale

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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 recent trip to Yachats, where a spring rainstorm forced some last-minute adjustments and allowed for a fresh take on the coastal town.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

Subscribe to Peak Northwest on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

-- Jamie Hale and Vickie Connor

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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 ambassador based in Yachats, who not only offers some tide pooling tips, but dishes on her own love of these strange, beautiful ecosystems.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

Subscribe to Peak Northwest on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

-- Jamie Hale and Vickie Connor

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