Short Sand Beach at Oswald West State Park
On a sunny day in February, we spent the morning exploring Short Sand Beach and hiked a few of the short trails in Oswald West State Park.
Your Guide to Hiking, Backpacking & Camping in the Pacific Northwest
Meal Planning for Backpacking
The key to meal planning for backpacking is to bring food that is calorie dense and lightweight.
Recipe: Spiced Nut Mix
These spiced nuts combine a variety of nuts and seeds with buttery maple syrup and fresh rosemary, creating a sweet, savory, and slightly spicy treat you can easily customize.
Review: Flextail Tiny Helio 600Z Headlamp
Lightweight, bright, and versatile, the Flextail Tiny Helio 600Z offers multiple light modes, easy operation, and rechargeable convenience for camping and backpacking.
Camping at Carl Washburne State Park
Oregon's Central Coast is one of my favorite areas to explore, with lush coastal forests, long sandy beaches, and rocky shorelines where waves pound dramatically at high tide.
Junction Lake Backpacking Trip – Indian Heaven Wilderness
For their first backpacking trip, I took two friends to Indian Heaven in the fall — one of my favorite spots for easy hikes, lakes, and colorful meadows.
Larch Mountain Rim Loop Hike
This trail loops around the rim of Larch Mountain, an ancient volcanic peak in the Columbia River Gorge. Early summer is a particularly stunning time to visit, with beargrass and rhododendrons in full bloom.
Table Rock Hike in Oregon’s Old Cascades
This hike in the Table Rock Wilderness features rhododendron-lined forests, rocky cliffs, and sweeping vistas from an open high ridge trail.
Zigzag Canyon Overlook Hike – Mount Hood
Hike the Pacific Crest Trail from Timberline Lodge to Zigzag Canyon Overlook for big views of Mount Hood, rocky ravines, and colorful fall foliage.
Review: REI Flash 55 backpack
The REI Flash 55 is a budget-friendly backpack that manages to be both lightweight and feature-rich, with multiple size options and an adjustable torso length for a more customized fit.
Review: REI Half Dome SL 2+ tent
The Half Dome SL 2+ is a generously sized two-person freestanding tent for backpacking with two people, but it also makes a super spacious car camping tent for one.
Recipe: Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Instant mashed potatoes are an easy to make meal for backpacking. No cooking on the stove is required, so this recipe is great for those who just want to add boiling water to a meal and will be ready to eat in 10 minutes or less.
Olympic National Park Backpacking Locations
The Olympic National Park is incredibly diverse – including rugged coastline, lush rainforests, subalpine meadows and lakes, as well as high peaks. These backpacking trips showcase some of the best scenery that each ecosystem has to offer.
Recipe: Artichoke-Spinach Alfredo Orzo
What's not to love about an alfredo pasta dish with spinach and artichokes? Add bacon jerky and mmm... I could eat this all the time!
Review: Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Insulated Sleeping Pad
With 3.9 inches of loft, an R-value of 4.1, and a 40% smaller packed size than its predecessor, the new Ether Light XR hits that sweet spot between performance specs and trail comfort.
Review: Itehil Solar Fan for Camping
The Itehil Portable Solar Fan delivers reliable airflow, flexible charging, and smart features in a compact design — ideal for staying cool and comfortable during hot-weather camping trips.
Sourcing Ingredients for Making Your Own Backpacking Meals
This is a list of dehydrated or freeze-dried ingredients that can be used for making your own backpacking meals.
Review: Outdoor Vitals Skyline Trail Joggers
Built for hot-weather hiking, the Outdoor Vitals Skyline Trail Joggers feature mesh ventilation in key areas, keeping you cool while offering full-length protection.
How to Lighten the Load of Your Backpack
Like pretty much everyone who backpacks, I learned that I needed to lighten my load to take less of a toll on my body.
How to Store Food on Backpacking Trips
Proper food storage is critical while backpacking — not only to protect your food supply, but also to prevent wildlife from associating humans with food.
Review: Snow Peak Alpha Breeze Camping Tent
The Snow Peak Alpha Breeze tent blends clever design and comfort to create a car camping shelter that blurs the line between inside and outside — more fully immersing you in your surroundings.
Review: Ibex GOAT Short Sleeve Tee
A lightweight merino tee built for warm-weather hikes, the Ibex GOAT Short Sleeve combines softness, durability, and sun protection in a versatile design that works just as well off the trail.
Review: Therm-a-Rest Boost 650 Sleeping Bag
The Therm-a-Rest Boost 650 sleeping bag combines comfort with versatility, featuring unique arm zips and a center zipper that adjust for ventilation or warmth – making it a flexible, all-in-one option for variable conditions.
Panoramic Mountain Scenery Backpacking Destinations
All of these backpacking trips highlight big mountain views in the Pacific Northwest – including in the Olympics, North Cascades, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and the Wallowas.