About the Author

Jon Bell

Jon Bell is an Oregon writer and author of the book, On Mount Hood: A Biography of Oregon’s Perilous Peak. When he's not out exploring the Northwest with his kids and friends, he's likely writing about it from his home in Lake Oswego.

How Mt. Hood Became Oregon’s Winter Destination

December 1, 2025
For both veteran mountaineers and folks new to the mountain, Mt. Hood is a special place. The tallest peak in Oregon at 11,245 feet, the volcano first began taking shape well over 500,000 years ago. It has an eruptive history but was also encased in ice until those sheets receded some 15,000 years ago and the mountain that we know today emerged: carpeted with forests, spring wildflowers and mushrooms; buried under snow; frozen with glaciers and flowing with rivers; and peaked with a profile that... More
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Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , Government Camp , Mountains , Destinations ,

3-Day Backpacking Trip on Central Oregon’s Broken Top

June 11, 2025
There is a very good reason that No Name Lake, high amidst the colorful striations of Broken Top in the Central Oregon Cascades, is visited by legions of backpackers and day hikers. Although no one knows how it got its highly unspecific name, one thing’s for sure: It’s quite simply stunning. More
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Central Oregon , Sisters , Favorite Trips , Hiking & Backpacking , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation ,

5 Great Bike Rides in Tualatin Valley

June 20, 2024
Thinking of someplace new or different for a fantastic bike ride? Somewhere with some singular scenery and low-traffic roads, or a farmland route that swings by wineries, pubs and inviting downtowns? Maybe a lake loop or a pedal to a one-of-a-kind train trestle that will make the whole family smile? You must be thinking of the Tualatin Valley. More
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Portland Region , Banks , Favorite Trips , Trip Ideas ,

Sillas de Ruedas de Todo Terreno en la Costa de Oregon

December 19, 2023
La organización David's Chair ayuda a que aún más visitantes disfruten de los senderos rocosos y las playas arenosas de la Costa de Oregon. More
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Oregon Coast , Accessible Travel , Trip Ideas ,

All-Terrain Wheelchairs on the Oregon Coast

December 11, 2023
In September 2023, Sylvia Longmire traveled to the Oregon Coast for the first time. A travel writer, filmmaker, voice actor and mother from Florida, she took in ocean breezes from the soft sand at the water’s edge in Newport and Pacific City. More
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Oregon Coast , Accessible Travel , Trip Ideas ,

8 Amazing Fishing Holes on Oregon’s South Coast

August 21, 2023
Think fishing on Oregon’s South Coast, and you may conjure up images of anglers casting into the Pacific surf or trolling for storied salmon out among ocean waves. But this wild, remote region is also renowned for another kind of fishing hole: lakes. More
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Oregon Coast , Lakeside , Lakes & Reservoirs , Favorite Trips , Destinations , Trip Ideas ,

Descubre Oregon con James Sampsel y Humble Heron 

August 1, 2023
James Sampel tenía solo 5 años cuando su padre lo llevó a pescar a un río por primera vez. Con una caña con reel giratorio y una lombriz, y un poco de suerte de principiante, Sampel atrapó una trucha arcoíris de 16 pulgadas (40 cm). "Y en ese momento la actividad me atrapó", cuenta.   More
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Guides & Charters , Tour Companies , Rivers & Streams , Fishing , Destinations , Outdoor Recreation , Guides & Tours ,

Travel Oregon with James Sampsel and Humble Heron

July 18, 2023
Humble Heron Fly Fishing and Fine Art, founded in 2016, specializes in year-round fly-fishing trips focused largely on the Rogue’s renowned steelhead runs. More
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Guides & Charters , Tour Companies , Rivers & Streams , Fishing , Destinations , Outdoor Recreation , Guides & Tours ,

3 Perfect Oregon Mountain Lakes for Fishing and Hiking

June 22, 2023
Oregon is home to a lot of outdoor greatness: fishing, hiking, mountains and lakes. It’s also a place with many wonderful opportunities to check off all four of those particular boxes in one fell swoop. Plus, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife ups anglers’ odds by stocking millions of trout in alpine lakes, reservoirs and ponds every year. So grab your fishing gear and hiking boots, get your fishing license, and head to one of these three great mountain lakes to cast a line. More
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Central Oregon , Lakes & Reservoirs , Favorite Trips , Destinations , Trip Ideas ,

Off-the-Beaten-Path Road Trips on Oregon’s State Scenic Corridors

June 7, 2023
State Scenic Corridors like Boardman are truly special stretches, and you can find them throughout the state. They differ a bit from the state’s 29 designated Scenic Byways and Tour Routes in that the corridors often include a measure of conservation and/or recreation along with designation, and they tend to be routes with some distinct ecological area or element to protect. More
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Scenic Drives , Trip Ideas ,