Get out!
Enjoy Oregon’s Outdoors
Experiencing Nature in and Around Portland
Being in the midst of a pandemic has really put a damper on life and has made it challenging to keep Portland weird. As such, there has been little opportunity for Keep-Portland-Weird.com to report on the festivals, art shows, off-beat silly and strange events that keep weirdness alive in Stumptown. With that in mind, why not make a point of spending more time outdoors enjoying the Pacific Northwest wilderness?
Oregon is in the top five or six states in the US in terms of percentage of public land. This is a good time to get out in nature and enjoy yourself away from people. One of the wonderful things about living in Portland is that you don’t have to travel far to get away from it all. Forest trails, waterfalls, hot springs, rivers, lakes, and streams can all be accessed quickly from the city. There are also a great many spots where you can retreat without even leaving Portland. Among them are Forest Park, Tyron State Park, Hoyt Arboretum, and Marquam Nature Park.
We have nearby mountains, caves, lava flow trails, hot springs, incredible forests, miles of coastline, and two clothing optional beaches less than one hour from the city (Rooster Rock State Park and Collins Beach). The Columbia River Gorge is only about one hour from downtown. It is the largest national scenic area in the country and has dozens of waterfalls. So if you are bouncing off the walls suffering from cabin fever, get the hell out and commune with nature! If going out for a day trip, it is suggested that you take with you food and beverages and whatever else might be needed so that you are not tempted to stop along the way for meals and provisions. Make it about isolating without quarantining.
Over the next many weeks, Keep-Portland-Weird.com will be publishing new content and sharing photos of some of our favorite outdoor escapes, wildlife sightings, and scenic areas. To kick this off we are adding articles about hot springs near the city and other clothing optional retreats. Be sure to check with those who manage places before visiting. Some are closed seasonally or temporarily shut down due to Corona virus related restrictions. Start your outdoor adventure by browsing the photos on this page and then continue your journey with a virtual visit to the clothing optional beach at Rooster Rock State Park, Bagby Hot Springs, Terwilliger Hot Springs and Breitenbush Hot Springs.
