Klickitat River Hike – Columbia River Gorge
The Klickitat River Trail can be a good option for dry conditions during the rainy season. Located near Lyle, Washington, this area receives less rain than the western side of the Gorge.
Your Guide to Hiking, Backpacking & Camping in the Pacific Northwest
Labyrinth & Coyote Wall Hike – Columbia River Gorge
Located east of the Cascade Crest, the Coyote Wall area is known for spring wildflowers. This loop hike features scenic vistas of the Columbia River, several waterfalls, and outstanding rocky prominences.
Larch Mountain Crater Hike – Columbia River Gorge
Hike through the ancient volcanic crater of Larch Mountain that now contains old-growth forest and boggy meadows, and cap it off with a short walk up the former shield plug to views of five Cascade peaks.
Larch Mountain Rim Hike – Columbia River Gorge
This hike circles the rim of Larch Mountain, a former volcanic peak in the Columbia River Gorge.
Lyle Cherry Orchard Hike – Columbia River Gorge
A popular hike in the spring when wildflowers are blooming, the Lyle Cherry Orchard Trail has big views of the Columbia River, with balsamroot and lupines covering the slopes.
Lyle Cherry Orchard Hike – Columbia River Gorge
The Lyle Cherry Orchard loop hike offers amazing views of the Columbia River Gorge, and while we were there too early for wildflowers, we didn't see the ticks, rattlesnakes, or poison oak that are abundant later in the season.
Multnomah Creek & Nesika Lodge Hike – Columbia River Gorge
Nesika Lodge is in the Columbia River Gorge's Multnomah Basin. Starting at Multnomah Falls, it's a 4 mile hike up with 1,800 feet of elevation gain.
Tom McCall Point Hike – Columbia River Gorge
Each spring, the meadows and hillsides surrounding Tom McCall Point are transformed by wildflowers, with vistas of the Columbia River Gorge dominated by yellow balsamroot, blue lupines, and red paintbrush.
Tomlike Mountain Hike – Columbia River Gorge
An unmarked trail leads to the long ridge and summit of Tomlike Mountain, located between Mount Hood and the Columbia River, with views from Mount Rainier to Mount Jefferson.
Triple Falls in the Winter – Columbia River Gorge
My first hike of the year was to visit an old favorite, Triple Falls. I hadn't been here since 2016, before the devastating wildfires in September 2017. And I'd never seen it with snow and ice.
Triple Falls Hike – Columbia River Gorge
The Triple Falls area was severely burned in the 2017 Eagle Creek Wildfire. This hike begins at Horsetail Falls and features a walk behind Ponytail Falls before continuing to Triple Falls.
Wahkeena Creek & Vista Point Hike – Columbia River Gorge
This short hike starts at the Wahkeena trailhead and heads up and up, passing Wahkeena Falls and Fairy Falls to reach the springs that are the source of the creek.
Wind Mountain Hike – Columbia River Gorge
The Wind Mountain Trail is steep, but also quite short so it's over before you know it, and the views of the Columbia River Gorge from the top are amazing. It's also the site of tribal spirit quest spaces at the top.
Hope Creek & Ten Taypo Loop Hike – Redwoods National Park
This scenic loop hike in the Redwoods National Park offers more solitude than those located closer to the Prairie Creek visitors center.
Multnomah-Wahkeena Loop Hike – Columbia River Gorge
Six waterfalls, including Oregon’s highest, two cascadingspring-fed creeks meandering through lush greenery, andold-growth Douglas fir make this a spectacular loop hike.
Prairie Creek & Foothill Trail Loop Hike – Redwoods National Park
This easy loop hike is a great way to see some of the largest redwoods in the Redwoods National Park at Prairie Creek.
Rhododendron Trail Loop Hike – Redwoods National Park
This rugged loop hike combines a few less-visited trails at Prairie Creek Redwoods for a spectacular longer trek that goes through several impressive redwood groves.
The Watchman Hike – Crater Lake National Park
A prominent point on the west side of Crater Lake’s rim, Watchman Peak offers spectacular views from the decks of a fire lookout, including Wizard Island directly below, and of the Cascades to the west.
Leave No Trace Seven Principles
The I Heart Pacific Northwest website focuses on low impact practices and encourages backpackers to be mindful stewards of the wilderness. It is my belief that we are all responsible for taking care of the places that we adventure in.
Crater Lake National Park – Winter Backpacking Trip
Crater Lake averages 44 feet of snow each year, and is a great winter snow backpacking location since it's the only time camping on the rim is allowed.
How to Pack a Backpack
There’s no one way to pack a backpack, instead, practice loading until you find a method that works best for you. A well loaded backpack will feel balanced and won’t shift around when hiking, providing stability on trail.
Camping Recipe: Mexican-style Beans & Rice Bowl
This simple Mexican-style bowl combines pinto beans with rice, avocado, shredded cheese and black olives, topped with a yogurt-salsa sauce.
Camping Recipe: Middle Eastern-style Chickpea & Cauliflower Bowl
This easy Middle Eastern-style bowl combines chickpeas with cauliflower and rice, topped with a yogurt-tahini sauce and feta cheese.
Camping Recipe: Breakfast Scramble Bowl
This easy breakfast bowl combines scrambled eggs with hash browns, bell peppers, and avocado, then topped with a yogurt-salsa sauce.