There are few sites more beautiful than fields of wildflowers over the Columbia River Gorge.

Already one of the most scenic places in the Pacific Northwest, the Columbia Gorge gets a big splash of color each spring as rolling hills on either side of the river fill with yellow, purple, pink, white and red flowers. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk about not just where to go to see the flowers, but also when to visit and how to enjoy them responsibly.

Read Jamie’s full story, How to see wildflowers in the Columbia River Gorge.

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Forest Park is one of the best natural spaces in Oregon, and one of the best urban forests in the U.S. It’s no wonder that so many people cherish the Portland park. But accessing Forest Park isn’t as easy as other outdoor recreation areas. On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we dive into Portland’s sprawling urban forest, going over the trailheads, trails and best sites to see while you’re there.

Read Jamie’s full story, Forest Park unraveled: How to discover Portland’s sprawling urban forest.

See Jim’s video about running the length of the Wildwood Trail through Forest Park.

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Meet Dave Hill and Nina Aragon, two Oregon State University researchers behind the Community Snow Observations project, which enables backcountry users, such as snowmobilers and snowshoers, to submit snow depth measurements using a mobile app. Those measurements are important for more than just recreation, as they help researchers better understand the snowpack and hazards such as avalanches. They also support water runoff models that inform us about water resources, ecology, tourism and the effects of a changing climate.

Jim took a trip to Santiam Pass earlier this year, during which Dave and Nina taught him how to take proper snow depth measurements. The trip was captured in the latest episode of the Peak Northwest video series. Find it here: https://youtu.be/V6os0rGRZVM

Find the Community Snow Observations project communitysnowobs.org.

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On this week's episode of the show, we depart the beautiful Pacific Northwest — purely hypothetically, of course. As many folks dream of vacations they'll take post-pandemic, we share some of the big trips we've dreamed up.

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Traveling during the shoulder season – just before or just after the peak season for tourism – is not just a way to beat the crowds, but an opportunity to see the Pacific Northwest in a whole new light. On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we go over some of our favorite shoulder season destinations and some of the precautions you might need to take before heading out there this spring.

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On this week's episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, two representatives from the nonprofit Trailkeepers of Oregon discuss what it takes to maintain hiking trails and how you can get involved.

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Henry Backus and Matisse Nash set out late to the Cascade Mountains from Portland. The two planned to stay the night at a secluded campsite east of Eugene, then visit a nearby hot springs in the morning. What was supposed to be a quick overnighter turned into a three-day nightmare, as heavy snow started to fall in the mountains, trapping their car on a remote forest road. Their story is a cautionary tale for all who venture out to Oregon’s mountains in winter, but also one that shows how to escape a hairy situation with some quick thinking, hard work and a little bit of luck.

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Gray whales will once again migrate past the Pacific Northwest this spring, bringing some 25,000 of the massive mammals to the Oregon coast. Even though that seems like a sizable crowd, they can be hard to spot. This week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we have some whale watching tips and tricks that are sure to help you out.

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Aching to go camping? You don't have to wait for warmer weather. We provide a rundown of how to go snow camping in the snow — and stay warm while you're out.

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