Jade Lake is one of the most beautiful turquoise alpine lakes in the Pacific Northwest. The hike into Jade Lake is a more challenging trek, but it’s worth the boulder scrambling and mosquito bites you have to endure to see its beauty for yourself. Although many hikers end their trip at Jade, continuing on to …
Mount McLoughlin Summit: Everything You Need to Know
Mount McLoughlin is one of my favorite mountains to summit on Oregon, yet the trail is one of the more difficult trails to follow. It doesn’t take much to end up off trail on Mount McLoughlin. Thats even when you know what to look out for. The views from the top are amazing and it’s …
Grinnell Glacier: The most Beautiful Trail in Glacier National Park
The trail to Grinnell Glacier is without a doubt one of the most breathtaking trails I have ever hiked. From walking lake side, to spotting wildlife, epic turquoise lakes and sweeping mountain views, this trail has it all. It is located within Glacier National Park in the northern area known as Many Glacier. This area …
How to Hike to Lake Valhalla and Mt. McCausland
Lake Valhalla is a beautiful lake tucked in the Cascade mountains that is accessible year-round. The lake is beautiful, sitting at the base of Litchenburg Mountain. The PCT passes right past the lake and part of the trail follows along the PCT as well. Alpine lakes in Washington are in abundance and this is a …
Broken Top and No Name Lake: The Best Oregon Trail
Hiking up to Broken Top and No Name Lake is one of my favorite places in Central Oregon. The striking turquoise color of the lake and surrounding mountain views make this a must-see place. In the winter the lake is frozen and buried under feet of snow, but as the snow melts, it pools into …
Paradise Park: The Best Wildflower Trail on Mt. Hood
Paradise Park is without a doubt one of the most peaceful and beautiful places to backpack on Mount Hood. The area is surrounded by fields of wildflowers, water streams and endless views of Mt. Hood and the Cascade Range to the south. It is one of the most amazing spots to view a sunset if …
Oregon’s Strawberry Mountain Wilderness: Everything You Need to Know
I didn’t even know Oregon had a place called Strawberry Mountain Wilderness until the summer of 2020 when I stumbled upon it while researching a road trip. This wilderness area quickly caught my attention because of its lakes and Strawberry Mountain, Oregon’s 30th tallest peak at 9,042 feet. I was trying to bag as many …
Steens Mountains: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting
Did you know that Eastern Oregon has a mountain range that combines Hawaiian-like canyons, mountain peaks, a desert oasis and alpine lakes all in one spot? Well, The Steens Mountains has it all and is well worth the long, monotonous drive to see it. One of the things I love about this area is how …
The Best Mount Hood Hikes With Breathtaking Views
Mount Hood is the Gem of Oregon and just an hour and a half outside of Portland. This area is known for having year-round skiing at Timberline Lodge. It is the only year-round ski resort in North America and endless hiking opportunities. Many trails are only open in the summer and fall months due to …
Central Oregon Viewpoints: The Ultimate List of Epic Hikes
Central Oregon is filled with mountain views, but seeing them up close from a viewpoint is hard to pass up. There are countless trails and summit hikes throughout the area. I’m going to share what I consider to be the top central Oregon viewpoints. These trails all have up close views of the Cascade range …