Hike Oregon

28/02/2025

The central Oregon coast is an absolute paradise year-round! Whether you want to hike, mountain bike, horseback ride or go to the beach to search for rocks and shells, this booklet is for you! https://tinyurl.com/2be9nuft All of these trails are within a 1 hour drive of town and they feature lakes, ocean views, old growth forests and sand dunes. If you're looking for a short easy hike to do with the kids or you want to get a longer stretch of miles under your feet, there are multiple options in this booklet that will meet your adventure needs.
If you don't want the physical booklet but want to have it on your phone, you can purchase the digital PDF version of it here: https://www.hikeoregon.net/store/p210/PDF%2FDIGITAL_COPY_OF_Hike_Oregon%27s_Favorites_Near_Yachats%2C_Florence_%26_Reedsport%3A_10_Awesome_Hikes_Within_1_Hour_of_Town.html

27/02/2025

I get so many questions about gear, and with all of the gear brands and options out there, purchasing hiking and backpacking gear can be incredibly overwhelming. My goal is to make it easier for all of you to navigate gear by featuring a different piece of gear every week.
This week I am talking about the BearVault bear canisters https://tinyurl.com/4zeansva. If you are only backpacking in Oregon, you will probably never need one of these (although I would recommend on in the Rogue River region), but if you are planning on backpacking in California, many places there require them by law. There are a bunch of different brands, some much cheaper than others, mainly due to the material they are made out of. I have found that the BearVault canisters are middle of the road as far as price range and weight go. There are 4 different sizes to choose from (the one in the picture is the BV500 - the biggest one and I have carried 6.5 days of food in there before).
BV500 - https://tinyurl.com/4zeansva
BV475 - https://tinyurl.com/4w9jva5h
BV450 - https://tinyurl.com/y4dcjbj9
BV425 - https://tinyurl.com/4sp2p68j

26/02/2025

It's that time of year where the new snow is piling up and skiers, snowboarders as well as snowshoers all have to be careful of tree wells. Please be mindful of these dangers when recreating in the backcountry.

📲Website: www.hikeoregon.net
📚Hiking guidebooks: www.hikeoregon.net/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
🎥YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/HikeOregon
▶️Instagram: www.instagram.com/hike.oregon
📩Email: [email protected]

25/02/2025

Want to get all three of Hike Oregon's hiking guidebook titles? I now offer a bundle of '52 Hikes for 52 Weeks: in the Willamette Valley, Central Oregon Cascades & Coast', 'Oregon's Best Views: 50 Breathtaking Viewpoint Hikes', and 'Lakes of the Cascades: 50 Enchanting Oregon Lake Hikes' as a set and you get a savings of $12.00. https://www.hikeoregon.net/store/p200/Set_of_3_Hike_Oregon_guidebooks.html
If you have any questions about any of these books, please comment them below.

24/02/2025

🎥NEW on the Hike Oregon YouTube channel this week I showcase one of the Oregon Coast's most spectacular hikes, Cape Lookout! Check it out:

On December 14, 2024 my fiancé and I hiked the Cape Lookout Trail as research for my new book '52 More Hikes for 52 More Weeks'. This is an awesome 5 mile ro...

21/02/2025

Since everyone is about to get their REI dividends in the mail and there's another sale coming up, here's a little REI hacks video that I put together a few years ago, that goes over how to save money, gear items that are worth purchasing, and other fun tips and tricks.
➡Click here to check it out:

This video talks about money saving hacks at REI and some gear purchases that are worth checking out.DON'T MISS OUT on current REI sales: https://www.avantli...

20/02/2025

What is a great way to cure cabin fever? Head out into the snow!❄️ Whether you're snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or taking the snowmobile out, there are SO many amazing sno-parks to choose from. Here are just a few in the Central Oregon Cascades that offer shelters, amazing views and beautiful mossy forests to walk through. https://www.hikeoregon.net/sno-parks-in-central-oregon.html
Which sno-park is your favorite in Oregon?

19/02/2025

I get so many questions about gear, and with all of the gear brands and options out there, purchasing hiking and backpacking gear can be incredibly overwhelming. My goal is to make it easier for all of you to navigate gear by featuring a different piece of gear every week.
This week I am talking about the Counter Assault Bear Spray (https://tinyurl.com/45y3un5m). I carry a can of this, especially when I am solo hiking. Some folks might consider this overkill, but I prefer taking this over a gun or a knife for personal protection. There are two different sizes of cans you can choose from and it also comes in a double pack which is a cost savings if you want to go in on it with a friend. Also, sometimes Costco carries this product for a little bit less than you can get it at REI. What do you carry for protection?

18/02/2025

BOOK UPDATE: I just wanted to give you all a heads up that the book release has fallen a little bit behind. I generally don't like excuses, but the weather delayed the last little bit of my book research towards the end of 2024, I had a miscarriage in November and we had a death in the family in January, so there was not a lot of book writing happening over the past few months. But I am at the tail end of finishing up the book now...
Here is the tentative timeline- I have 12 more hikes to write about and do some finishing touches to the book before I can send it off to print the proof copies for myself and my editor. The goal is to have the proof copies being printed by the end of March. Once I have the proof copies in hand, I will begin the pre-order process for you guys so that I know how many books to print. I will do book signing events at the end of April and throughout May in Eugene/Springfield, Salem, Portland and Bend.
Please don't hesitate to ask me any questions about the book. And if you don't already have the original 52 Hikes book that this book is a sequel to, you can grab on here: https://www.hikeoregon.net/store/p127/hike-oregon-guide-book-2020-edition-52-hikes-52-weeks-willamette-valley-central-oregon-cascades-coast.html

17/02/2025

🎥NEW on the Hike Oregon YouTube channel this week I have a video for you about an amazing route through the Eastern Sierra. It’s that time of year for planning summer trips so this one could be helpful if you’re traveling to CA this summer. ➡️

July 23 - 28, 2022 my friend Holly and I hiked the Benson Lake loop from Mono Village. Where we camped and all of the daily mileage and elevation details are...

14/02/2025

💗Happy 166th birthday Oregon and happy Valentines Days!
Here are some fun facts about Oregon that you might not know:
🌲Portland has one of largest urban forests in the U.S. — Forest Park. It is also home to the world's smallest park. According to the Guinness World Records website, Mill Ends Park, along Southwest Naito Parkway, has held the title of "World's Smallest Park" since 1976.
🦙According to the International Llama Registry, Oregon residents own 2,153 llamas, as of Feb. 13, the second highest llama population in the U.S. California has the most registered llamas at 2,587.
📺The beloved cartoon, "The Simpsons," has long been speculated to be based on some other Springfield. But in fact, the real Springfield is modeled after Springfield, Oregon, the show's creator Matt Groening said.
👻Oregon has over 250 ghost towns, more than any other state. Some of the ghost towns are well known, like Sumpter, a former mining town, but most are really obscure.
🚣‍♀At more than a mile below Oregon's west rim, Hell's Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America. It is deeper than the famed Grand Canyon in Arizona and about 10-miles wide and 5,500 feet below sea level.
🧐Crater Lake is the deepest in the U.S. and was voted the "most beautiful" of national parks in 2023, according to a survey by Travel Lens. Located in south-central Oregon, the iconic lake is famous for its deep blue and clear water.
📍Portland won its name in a coin toss. Back in the 1800s, Asa Lovejoy, a lawyer from Boston and Francis Pettygrove of Portland, Maine were trying to decide what they would call a portion of land they both owned. They found themselves in a stalemate and decided to leave it up to a coin flip to determine who would have the honor of naming the land — as one could guess, Pettygrove won it. The Oregon Historical Society Museum has the actual coin — or what historians believe it to be the coin — in the lobby.

(these facts are from https://www.kgw.com/article/features/oregon-165-birthday-fun-facts/283-61d72942-456a-4c1a-ad18-c6952217ea0a)

13/02/2025

It's that time of year for rainy day hikes. I put together a list of some of the best rainy day hikes in Oregon. Enjoy🌧☔🥾🌲 https://www.hikeoregon.net/best-rainy-day-hikes-in-oregon.html

12/02/2025

I get so many questions about gear, and with all of the gear brands and options out there, purchasing hiking and backpacking gear can be incredibly overwhelming. My goal is to make it easier for all of you to navigate gear by featuring a different piece of gear every week.
This week I am talking about a food item...the Honey Stinger energy waffles (https://tinyurl.com/64zcjy9k). These are so delicious as a treat especially when hiking and snowshoeing in the winter time when it's cold and you are just burning through calories like crazy! I always notice that I have to eat twice as much food when I am hiking/snowshoeing in very cold weather. What are some of your snacks for cold weather outdoor recreation?

11/02/2025

I frequently get asked about what the best towns are to move to in Oregon. While there are a lot of factors, a huge one is the weather and your preferences on rain, snow, sun etc. So, how many sunny, rainy and snowy days do each of these major towns in Oregon get?
Portland:
☀️144 days
🌧164 days w/ an average of 46 inches per year
❄️average of 3 inches per year
Eugene:
☀️155 days
🌧151 days w/ an average of 46 inches per year
❄️average of 3 inches per year
Newport:
☀️156 days
🌧169 days w/ an average of 38 inches per year
❄️average of 1 inch per year
Bend:
☀️263 days
🌧72 days w/ an average of 11 inches per year
❄️average of 21 inches per year
Medford:
☀️195 days
🌧96 days w/ an average of 23 inches per year
❄️average of 3 inches per year
Klamath Falls:
☀️300 days
🌧85 days w/ an average of 11 inches per year
❄️average of 37 inches per year
Baker City:
☀️196 days
🌧106 days w/ an average of 15 inches per year
❄️average of 44 inches per year

10/02/2025

🎥NEW on the Hike Oregon YouTube channel this week I have for you a video all about backpacking food tips and some good meal ideas. I also go over how many calories I generally eat per day on a backpacking trip and how I make sure I have the right amount of food so I am not carrying too little or a ton of extras. Check it out:

In this video I talk about backpacking food tips and show you some meal ideas for the trail. I also wrote a blog post about this topic: https://www.hikeorego...

07/02/2025

Whether you're participating in the 52 Hike Challenge, or you need a reference guide to find the perfect hikes for each season, this book will provide you with all of the information that you need! https://tinyurl.com/4xwr9zyb
For each of the 52 hikes in this book you will not only get a detailed write-up of the trail, but you will also receive information about the surrounding area like what towns and campgrounds are nearby, which is perfect for planning longer trips in the Central Oregon Cascades and Coast area! Each write-up features a color topographical map with a scannable QR code so you can have the map on your phone and leave the book in the car. There are also color photos in the book so that you can get a taste of what each adventure has to offer.

06/02/2025

I get so many questions about gear, and with all of the gear brands and options out there, purchasing hiking and backpacking gear can be incredibly overwhelming. My goal is to make it easier for all of you to navigate gear by featuring a different piece of gear every week.
This week I am talking about the Outdoor Vitals NovaPro jacket (https://tinyurl.com/4tnfusv). I have worn SO many puffy jackets over the years and this has been my go-to jacket now since I got it 4 years ago. What makes it special is the "DownLT ™ insulation combines 850 Fill Power HyperDry™ down (Allied RDS down - responsibly sourced) with a small percentage of synthetic to bring you a more stable insulation that stays lofted and warm even when soaking wet." This is SO true and it keeps me SO much warmer than other 850 fill power jackets have in the past both down and synthetic. Also the baffles are not stitched, they are woven into place, so there is nothing to snag and also no holes to let wind or moisture in. It's awesome! If you are in the market for a jacket, I HIGHLY recommend this one.

05/02/2025

HIKE OF THE MONTH - February
Maxwell Loop to Mountain View & South Maxwell Shelter - snowshoe trek - https://www.hikeoregon.net/maxwell-sno-park.html
🥾7.3 mile loop w/ 1,130 ft. elevation gain (the entire loop)
3.8 miles round trip w/ 700 ft. elevation gain (out and back to Mountain View Shelter)
📍General location: 29 miles west of Sisters off of highway OR-22
📝Permits required: Sno-park pass is required from November 1 - April 30
🆗Trail allows: Dogs on leash only, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, overnight stay in shelters (first come first served)

Maxwell Sno-Park is a wonderful sno-park located between Sisters and Detroit that has many easy and moderate trails. At Maxwell Sno-Park you will find many different loops that you can snowshoe or cross-country ski. The main highlight of this sno-park is Mountain View Shelter which is a large 4-sided shelter where you can spend the night. It is stocked with fire wood, there is a nice wood stove inside and there is even an outhouse nearby.