Your Guide to Hiking, Backpacking & Camping in the Pacific Northwest
On my eighth Goat Rocks backpacking trip, we camped next to the PCT, hiked to Cispus Pass, and departed early due to wildfire smoke and thunderstorms.
Harris Beach State Park is a great base for camping and exploring the dramatic scenery of the southern Oregon coastline.
Exploring the McGee Creek Trail for the first time on the way to the tarns below McNeil Point, a favorite spot along the Timberline Trail.
Looking for a place to go hiking? These lists of hikes include options by area as well as by categories such as Best Waterfall Hikes, Conditioning Hikes, and more.
The best backpacking destinations in the Pacific Northwest, listed by types of trips including beginner trips, trips featuring panoramic mountain scenery, rivers and streams, and more.
These are my favorite campgrounds for tent camping near scenic locations with hiking trails, including at the Oregon Coast, Redwoods National Park, Mount Rainier, Central Oregon and more.
This is my complete list of backpacking gear with info about what I like about each item, updated for 2026.
This camping gear list contains my recommendations for items that are high quality and built to last – as well as making the camping experience more comfortable.
For camping in colder weather, I turn my Honda CR-V into a camper with a one-person bed platform and a covered camp kitchen to create a cozy, organized space.
The Nitecore NB10000 is an ultralight, trail-friendly power bank that packs strong charging capability into a compact design built for backpacking, hiking, and everyday carry.
The Berghaus Fast Hike is a frameless 15-liter daypack with a vest-style harness, designed for a stable, minimal feel on trail.
The RTIC 32-quart cooler features 2.5 inches of closed-cell foam insulation for keeping food cold on multi-day camping trips, in a lighter-weight and more affordable design than comparable coolers.
A surprisingly capable budget trail running shoe with a wide toe box, breathable mesh uppers, and good traction at a price that’s hard to beat.
This guide covers what to look for when choosing hiking footwear, along with my favorite trail runners and hiking shoes for different conditions.
Insulated jackets are a key component in a good layering system for hiking. When choosing jackets, I look for options that are lightweight and pack down small so they are easy to stash in a backpack.
Hikers and backpackers share a deep connection to the land. But preserving our trails takes collective effort. Here’s how you can support organizations working to protect the places we love.
Trip planning can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. The process of researching a destination can help you to be prepared and to avoid unexpected conditions or situations.
This easy-to-build DIY bed platform is for vehicles where the seats don’t fold down flat, and doesn’t require removing any of the car seats.
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