About the Author

Adam Sawyer

Adam Sawyer is an outdoor and travel writer, photographer, published author, guide, and public speaker based in the Northwest. He is the author of numerous guidebooks, including Hiking Waterfalls in Oregon, Urban Hikes Oregon, and 25 Hikes on Oregon’s Tillamook Coast. His weekly Substack newsletter, Collecting Sunsets, covers a broad set of topics including grief, addiction and recovery, travel, and the healing powers of nature.

Crab, Concerts and Crafts in Coos Bay

January 24, 2023
The Coos Bay area is famous for wild dunes, miles of windswept beaches, and forests filled with hiking and biking trails. But did you know it’s also home to a year-round calendar of annual festivals, from a winter crab feed to midsummer celebrations of the arts? Here’s how to make one of these beloved community events a highlight of your next visit. More
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Oregon Coast , Coos Bay , Favorite Trips , Trip Ideas ,

Cascadas en Invierno

August 22, 2022
Las cascadas son atractivas en cualquier temporada. La cascada cautiva la mirada, pero la anticipación que se acumula al escuchar el sonido de las cascadas a lo lejos, o el latido de su pecho al pararse frente a una, intensifica los sentidos y hace algo bastante especial por el alma. More
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Waterfalls , Destinations ,

The Restorative Power of Fishing in Oregon

May 18, 2021
Whether you’ve grown up fishing or have never cast a line, you can get out on the water in Oregon looking like a pro in no time. As an avid hiker, it’s easy to carry a rod in my backpack when I know I’ll be near a lake or river. Hiking, backpacking, camping, paddling — whatever the activity happens to be, if you’re by or in the water, you can also fish it. Here’s how. More
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Fishing , Outdoor Recreation ,

The Joys of Hiking the Mid- and South Willamette Valley

August 26, 2020
While most hikers in Oregon are busy heading for the Gorge, up to the mountains or over to the Coast, there is some hiking gold in the mid- to southern Willamette Valley that remains largely untapped. Remote trails provide rare glimpses of native and migratory wildlife, and urban paths lead to unexpectedly verdant forested oases. More
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Willamette Valley , Corvallis , Hiking & Backpacking , Outdoor Recreation ,

Winter Waterfalls

October 21, 2019
Waterfalls are alluring in any season. The cascade is transfixing to the eye, but the anticipation that builds when you hear the falls off in the distance — or the pounding of your chest when you stand next to one — heightens the senses and does something pretty special for the soul. More
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Waterfalls , Destinations ,

6 Must-See Waterfalls Along the Rogue and Umpqua Rivers

October 21, 2016
With hikes filled with cascades and fewer hikers to encounter on the trails, it's tough to beat the chain of waterfalls east of Roseburg along these two rivers. Here are some favorites. More
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Southern Oregon , Lakes & Reservoirs , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Waterfalls , Hiking & Backpacking , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

A Gem in Newport

May 9, 2012
One of the benefits of living in the Willamette Valley is its proximity to a number of diverse geographic playgrounds. From downtown Portland you can be in a lush forest, near the top of a Cascade peak, in an arid desert landscape, or at the beach­—all roughly within a 2 ½ hour drive. It’s hard to get bored… More
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Oregon Coast , Newport , State Parks , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Family Fun , Lighthouses , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,