What are Mini Guides? Born from the runaway success of our advice service, Mini Guides are done-for-you ideas to get you out of the house and into the woods.
Each of these guides chock full of useful, up-to-date information because it’s based on our own time spent in the outdoors, our own personal knowledge. Expect helpful descriptions, photos, GPS coordinates and helpful tips to make sure your experience is excellent.
We prioritize connecting you with obscure destinations, non hiking options, undeveloped public lands, and under appreciated hidden gems.
Don’t forget you can request a custom mini guide tailor made to your own specifications! Scroll to the end of the page to read more about our custom mini guides and travel planning services.
(PLEASE NOTE: Credit card processing is expensive, feel free to message us and arrange payment via Venmo instead. This is the easiest way to purchase multiple guides at one time.
After making a purchase, please send us a message via email or the contact form here on our website.
Be sure to include your email address and the item you purchased. The mini guide will be sent to you personally via email as soon as possible. Please be aware that sometimes we travel out of service for a few days.)
Six Micro Hikes in the Tillamook State Forest, Perfect For Winter
Sometimes finding a short, simple walk is harder than a proper hike because we’ve created so many resources for hikers. This digital downloads includes photos, GPS coordinates and detailed descriptions for six destinations that require less than 1 mile of walking round trip, as well as a winter hiking tips, nature connection practices, a list of recommended gear, and all the extra info you need to have the very best time in the outdoors, plus recommendations for how to extend each hike, and ideas for how to build on this experience in the coming seasons.
We pack a ton of info into this little MINI GUIDE, so folks who feel drawn to self guided adventures don’t miss out on the magic this land has to offer. These guides are only sold a limited number of times, and then retired for good, so grab your while you have the chance! $25
9 Abandoned Road Walks in the Tillamook State Forest
If you’re ready to dip your toes into off trail hiking, this guide is for you.
Ranging in difficulty from brushy and overgrown to clear and maintained, this selection of the nine best abandoned roads in the Tillamook State Forest will provide all kinds of worthwhile adventures and open your eyes to the possibilities that lie within the logging roads networks of the Pacific Northwest. $25- only a few copies left!
The Pedestrians Guide to the Deschutes River
No matter his much we love the misty coastal forests of Oregon, everyone needs a little sunshine in their life now and then.
Come learn the secrets that our fishing friends have known for years. The Deschutes is a timeless place- bearing the evidence of 10,000 years of human habitation. You will see animals here, you will experience powerful silence and solitude. $25
Mount Hood Mini Guide to Low Elevation Hikes
Mount Hood is best known for its alpine wonderland and expansive views, but did you know there is more to the Mount Hood territory than the National Forest?
Get to know the fringes and forgotten places in the foothills of Mount Hood with this fun little Mini Guide meant to introduce you to all the fascinating little hidden gems hiding in the woods. This covers every hike below 2000’ elevation and as many tracts of BLM, State and other public lands as possible. $25
Southeast Oregon Hot Springs Road Trip Guide PLUS Mini Guide to High Desert Travel
Imagine how relaxed and recharged you will feel after touring nine hot springs across Oregon’s Outback… Watching the sun rise and set, seeing the stars every night, soaking every day, and indulging in the solitude our desert landscapes have to offer.
If you’ve always wanted to dip your toes into this vast area of remote and beautiful views, this is the best introductory tour of the basin and range landscapes of Oregon.
PLUS we included a mini guide to high desert travel, which is full of all kinds of obscure tips and tricks we’ve picked up along the way. You’ll have everything you need to get started! $25
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument Road Trip
The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is one of the most photographed destinations in Northeast Oregon. Sadly, most people visit these three unique little monuments without exploring any of the very worthwhile and solitude-rich wilderness areas nearby.
Our newest mini guide covers each of the three monument areas, plus three nearby wilderness areas, the Ochoco Divide, and the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway.
If you love road trips, obscure public lands, unique landscapes, fossils, rocks in every color of the rainbow, desert rivers, tiny country towns, and solitude— this guide is for you.
Join our email list to be first in line for this and all of our mini guides! $25
Every Place I Slept in my Car 2021-2022, plus How to Find Your Own Free & Dispersed Camping in the PNW
Just like the name says, this is a guide to 20 places I slept in my car in the last two years.
If you love obscure destinations, alpine sunrises, fun, easy ways to spend time in the outdoors, I’ve got a great selection of places to kick back and enjoy the solitude and silence of our beautiful region.
We’ve gotten some great feedback on this guide already, so I’m sure you will love it, too. $25
Spits, Peninsulas and Beach Walks, PLUS Oregon Coast Travel Tips and Beach Driving
If you need an escape from the relentless Willamette Valley summers; if you like easy, flat walking with no crowds and plenty of opportunities to view wildlife; if you like interesting little forests, tunnels, caves, and unique landscapes, I think you’ll really love this mini guide.
We cover everything you need to know to hike five different peninsulas along the north coast- all within a reasonable drive from Portland, as well as our six favorite sections of the Oregon Coast Trail, and three places where you can drive on the beach PLUS I give you all my best coastal hike planning tips, so you don’t get caught hiking into the wind for 32 miles, like I once did. $25
Christmas Lake Valley & Fort Rock Valley: Caves, Maars, Canyons, Lava Fields, Seeps and A WHOLE LOT of Great Camping
I have traveled extensively across every corner of the state, and there is one area that I love more than all others.
Lake County is truly the land that time forgot.
Besides all the hot springs, towering peaks, archaeological ruins, and ancient alkali lakes to the south, the northern-most part of Lake County is a fascinating area all its own, with geologic splendor and abundant solitude.
Visit massive craters, and mini ones, caves and potholes, a slot canyon, an ancient desert forest, sand dunes, a lakebed full of fossilized Pleistocene animals, fascinating lava fields and more, all in a single weekend. $25
The Owyhee River: Hot Springs, Towering Cliffs, Wild Horses, Solitude, & Milky Way Nights
The Owyhee has reached an almost mythical status in the past decade, thanks to its highly photogenic landscapes, excellent hot springs soaking, and unparalleled solitude.
The Owyhee is wild country. The roads are known for being terrible. The Little West Fork is known as the “hardest backpacking route in Oregon”, one of the last truly “wild” places in the lower 48. Certainly, there is nowhere better to view the night sky.
In this guide, you are introduced to each of the most accessible entry points to the Owyhee canyon, and given detailed instructions related to camping, hiking, soaking, driving directions, where to get gas, and anything else you might need to know to have a successful pedestrian adventure in the Owyhee river canyon. $25
Lakes to Paddle Board & Swim in this Summer
Everyone wants to swim, bask and play in the water when the weather heats up. Our summer’s feel so short sometimes, I know you want to make the best of the few weeks we get to enjoy ourselves outside in the sun.
Our mini guide covers 23 lakes near Portland, Oregon, and is organized by the condition of their access roads, so you can flip straight to the section that best suits your vehicle’s capabilities. $25
Easy, One Night Backpacking Spots
Making too big a deal about something is the surest way to make trying new things hard.
It’s easy to look at “everyone else” backpacking all over social media and feel like you are missing out on one of the best parts of summer.
Backpacking doesn’t have to be an endurance challenge, however. You can also just take your tent to the woods and sleep along among the trees. You can make it easy. You don’t need a long weekend, you don’t even need to break a sweat if that’s not your thing.
Our newest mini guide is a list of twelve easy places to visit when you want to have a quick one night camp out, test out your new gear, or just prove to yourself that you can do these things, too.
Many of these spots are accessible year-round, so you’ll be sure to get a lot of mileage out of this guide.
All you have to do is throw your stuff together and go. $25
The McKenzie Pass Adventure Guide: Caves, Lava Tubes, Hot Springs, Waterfalls, Lava Fields and Swimmable Lakes
One of the things that captivated my imagination is the idea of visiting un-visitable places. Standing in places where humans are not meant to stand. Visiting inhospitable landscapes (the desert, the arctic, the alpine, canyons, caves, lava fields….) is so intriguing to me, in part because it serves as a reminder of my insignificance and fragility.
We live in a culture that centers us and our personal narratives constantly- not least of all with natural landscapes. As modern humans navigating a modern world, everything around us is set up to minimize our risk and maintain our comfort. Breaking free from a self-centered perspective of the world is easier said than done- it’s something I’m still working on myself.
I never feel more connected to the world around me than I do when I navigate these difficult environments. They allow me to see my smallness, my place in the context of a geological time scale that relates to the landscape around me.
The lava fields of McKenzie Pass are one of my favorite places in the Pacific Northwest to do this.
Many Oregonians have driven through this area as part of the McKenzie Pass/Santiago Pass scenic byway loop, stopping at the Dee Wright Observatory, maybe pausing to admire the Three Sisters from the scenic viewpoint pull out, but rarely do they make an intentional choice to explore this area for themselves.
Below, I have described for you all of the “standard” McKenzie Pass stuff, plus every obscure little pullout along the route where one could set up a tent or camp out in the car, and cool hidden gems like shelter caves, lakes, historical wagon road segments, lava tubes, lava field explorations, and more. $25
The Kilchis River Adventure Guide
The Kilchis River is a well-kept secret. Just outside the town of Tillamook, a beautiful blue-green gem colored river has carved its way through a spectacular canyon of seasonal waterfalls, swimming holes, and fern-lined hillside.
There are tons of riverside camps, old abandoned roads to explore, and even a good sized waterfall that could look equally at home on Waterfall Alley in the Columbia Gorge, but it’s hidden here on the edge of a clearcut in the coast range.
The Kilchis has no formal trails, no advertised attractions, but plenty of the scenery and adventure that usually draws big crowds.
Camp, swim, explore, visit waterfalls large and small, forage for berries, check out the sketchy abandoned bridge, enjoy the solitude and silence. $25
Secrets of the Columbia River Gorge
The Columbia River Gorge is one of the most beautiful places on earth. It is an area well-developed for recreational use, and in the past decade, as hiking and the outdoors have increased in popularity, the gorge has seen an explosion of new visitors.
Beyond the big, showy waterfalls and sweeping vistas, there are little pockets of public land, hiding special little places that feel a world away from Waterfall Alley.
If you feel like you’ve done all the gorge hikes already, this guide will open you up to a whole new level of exploration and adventure.
Here you will find ghost towns, secret trails, back roads, quiet trails, forgotten trails, unmaintained trails, and of course, interesting waterfall features.
Now you can enjoy a quiet little slice of the gorge anytime.
My favorite thing about this guide is that there are recommendations for hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, swimming, paddle boarding, rock climbing, camping, fishing, cycling AND foraging tips in this guide. Everything you need to have multi-sport, four-season adventures in the most beautiful place on earth. $25
The Alvord Desert & Steens Mountain Adventure Guide
The Alvord Desert and Steens Mountain have become legendary destinations in the American West.
People come from all around to land race various types of vehicles, camp out on the playa hosting their own private Burning Man, or enjoy the unique and (mostly) solitude rich landscape of the Alvord Desert.
Towering thousands of feet above the desert, Steens Mountain is unlike any other landscape in the Pacific Northwest. High desert landscapes mix with Aspen meadows, mountain mahogany stands and U-shaped glacial valleys. Steens mountain is a living museum of natural wonders.
Driving from Portland to see Steens Mountain and the Alvord Desert is a minimum investment of 1,000 miles on your car. So many people hit two or three destinations down here and then promptly return back to the city, which is such a shame when you consider the time, money and effort that goes into executing a road trip like this one.
I want to make sure you see all the best hidden gems, don’t waste your time and gas, and get to experience more of this magical place that you would otherwise.
Visit fascinating sites of geothermal activity, high mountain lakes, aspen groves and historical sites. There will be playa times, lava field explorations, expansive views, world-class birding, rock hounding sites, HOT SPRINGS, lots of scenic driving, and gorgeous, gorgeous gorges. $25
The Central Columbia River Gorge Adventure Guide
We’ve got a lot in store for you with this newest mini guide.
Rock Climbing. Swimming in secret slot canyons. Backpacking and hiking options all over the place. Locals-only secrets. Dispersed camping. Abandoned orchards. Fruit stands with the best produce. Abandoned infrastructure of all kinds. Expansive views. Big skies. And… consistently better weather.
One of the best things about living in Portland is the way we have close proximity to all kinds of other environments. The beach, the desert, the rainforest, the mountains…. For some reason, the Mid-Columbia Gorge doesn’t get the recognition it should. It might not be lush and green, with waterfalls on every creek- but the dry side of the gorge is every bit as dramatic and beautiful.
I have a relationship with this area that goes back almost twenty years, and I have lived out here at several different times in my life, so I had a lot of very obscure beta available to bring this guide to life.
This area is so close to town, and so convenient, that it really should be part of your rotation. Send me an email straight away to reserve your copy and learn all the secrets of the Mid-Columbia Gorge for yourself. $25
Pacific Northwest Fall Adventure Mini Guide
There are two things about fall hiking in Oregon that you NEED to know.
The first is that some of the best weather of the entire year is happening at the Oregon Coast in September and October, not to mention the fact that you can be chasing those last “feels like summer” days out in the Mid-Columbia Gorge and Northern Central Oregon. Get out there and soak up that sunshine while you still can!
The second is that there is more to fall leaves than deciduous trees like maples and oaks.
We also have deciduous conifers- the Western Larch!- which turn golden in the fall.
And don’t forget our favorite friend, huckleberry, who turns violet in the fall and paints huge swaths of the alpine red and purple.
There’s so much more to autumn hiking than you might think. Luckily, our new guide covers it all- the hucks, larches, maples and more- PLUS the best coast hikes, dry side hikes and alpine hikes so you can absorb every last bit of sunshine before the rains take hold for good.
We even included a bunch of urban destinations, including parks, cemeteries and other public spaces, so you don’t have to leave town to make the most of this season. $25
Central Washington State Adventure Guide
Eastern Washington is one of the most underrated landscapes in the West. Granite mountains really steal the show in Washington State, and they draw most of the crowds, too.
That means it’s easy to find solitude, sunshine and gorgeous views in this beautiful place, any time you choose. Here, the canyons and coulees, the sinks and seeps, the rolling hills and plateaus all tell a story of the ancient floods that carved our landscape- a story that is written into the rock.
In our Central Washington State Adventure Guide, we give you all the details you need to hike, camp, rock climb, and explore this amazing terrain for yourself.
Expect to see lots of animals (BIGHORN SHEEP!!!), big vistas, epic sunrises and sunsets, and gorgeous valleys carved by glacier and flood.
Inside this guide, you’ll find some of the best early/late season backpacking around, some of my favorite places to camp, and one of the most gorgeous scenic drives I’ve ever taken. $25
Coastal Highway Side Quests
This guide is perfect for anyone who visits the coast regularly and wants to know what fun little side trips await them, hidden just out of sight.
We have included every hidden gem along highways 30, 26, and 6.
There will be waterfalls on and off trail, cool bridges, springs, sweet little forested areas, places for picnics, rivers and creeks, trails, lakes, mountains, beaches, old homesteads, cemeteries, and viewpoints-galore.
This mini guide is perfect for parents, dog parents, anyone who has business at the coast frequently, day trippers, people who are interested in learning more about the coast range, folks who hate driving and want to take lots of breaks, and, you. $25
The Complete Sandy River Adventure Guide
Wether you are looking for a big backpacking adventure, a chill walk in the forest, an obscure destination where you can hide from the crowds or you’re ready to experience one of Oregon’s classic hikes, this mini guide covers absolutely every accessible piece of public land from the Columbia River confluence to the Sandy Glacier.
You’ve got swimming, camping, fishing, rock climbing, backpacking, waterfalls, historic sites, and a ton of great places to walk your dog, run kids, or maybe just get a little nature time in after work. $25
Winter Hot Springs Mini Guide
From southwestern Washington to Northern Nevada, we’ve rounded up every hot springs typically accessible in winter to bring you this highly researched mini guide.
We have everything from historic lodges and fancy resorts to a literal mud hole in a meadow, and everything in between.
You’ll find current, up-to-date info about each location, ideas for things to do locally (besides just soaking) and some pretty obscure gems that fall under most folks radar.
Plus, I’ll tell you where not to go- the springs that aren’t super warm, the ones that have rude owners, and the ones that are open but require travel through hazardous areas and should be avoided. $25
Charismatic Megafauna and Other Wild Animals
Some of my favorite memories have been animal encounters in the outdoors.
There was the time in Central Washington when a small band of Bighorn sheep approached me and grazed near me for twenty minutes while I sat motionless, so as not to disturb them.
There was also a morning in the Owyhee Backcountry, where I woke up to see my car surrounded by wild horses. I watched them for an hour, grazing against the backdrop of a desert sunrise.
On the Criterion Tract, where I lead hikes in spring & fall, I know all the places where the deer like to hide out- which springs they favor and which trees they rest beneath on hot days. When you spend enough time in a given place, you get to know the habits of animals who live there, part of the experience of Intimacy with Place.
This month’s guide is all about where you can see different animals in the wild- from deer and elk to bears and Bighorns, mountain goats, whale-watching spots, birds of prey, wild horses, pronghorn and more.
I can’t guarantee you’ll see an animal when you go these places, of course, but I can tell you where you’ll have the best chances of seeing them. The good news is, all these locations are super scenic and almost all are accessible by passenger car or easy walking. $25
Old Growth Vibes Mini Guide
There is something truly magical about big trees.
Big trees make me feel nostalgic for a time I never got to see, like a portal to the past.
There are few places in the northwest that haven’t been aggressively logged, small groves tucked away in canyons too steep to access or forests that have reclaimed their old growth vibes.
When I moved back to Portland a few years ago, I was surprised at how many little places you could find big, old trees close to town.
They are still found in the gorge, in the Sandy River canyon, in parks and along the banks of rivers, even in the heavily logged tree farms of the state forests.
This month, I’ve rounded up for you 14 of my favorite places to see the big trees and bask in old growth vibes across Northwest Oregon.
Buy this guide, and go soak up the dark, spooky magic of old growth forests and big trees. $25
Heavy Vibes: The Spookiest Places in Oregon & Southwest Washington
By far the weirdest mini guide I have made yet! This month’s guide is 13 places that give me the creeps.
Feeling the energy of places is something I grew up experiencing as a child. The coast forests have an intense vibe that is difficult to ignore sometimes.
Everything from in the creepy coastal forests I grew up playing in as a child, to Mount Hood National Forest, Southwest Washington, Portland parks, the desert and more.
If you want to have a spooky adventure, this might just be the mini guide for you. $25
Iconic Desert Landscapes of Oregon
Eastern Oregon is vast and beautiful, but also intimidating to new travelers. Here’s a mini guide for those of you who are new to Oregon’s Desert and are ready to start exploring.
Before you start getting into the most distant and obscure destinations, you need to check out all the classics first, and thats what this mini guide is all about.
Here are fifteen of the most beautiful, photogenic, essential places to hike, camp and explore in Eastern Oregon, all laid out for you in one tidy document.
Download our Iconic Desert Landscapes Mini Guide today and begin planning four season adventures to one of the last wild places in the lower 48- the Oregon Desert.
Hot springs, geysers, massive mountains, charismatic megafauna, lava fields, caves, playas, alkaline lakes, birding, rock climbing, mountain biking, rafting, AND A MILLION OTHER THINGS.
The White River & Barlow Road
The White River is my favorite part of the Mount Hood National Forest.
I’ve been looking forward to bringing this mini guide to life because I’m so passionate about this landscape. There is a great mix of historical elements here, and most of this part of the national forest is undeveloped, which means less rules and more fun for you.
Lots of cool secret spots to explore, great places to camp for free, swimming holes and springs to collect drinking water, and solitude.
In this mini guide, we take you from the White River sno park high on the mountain, all the way to its confluence with the Deschutes River, just down stream from the White River Falls state park in Maupin, OR.
Along the way, we’ll explore sections of the historic Barlow Road, obscure access points to the White River, visit historical sites, camp along the river and walk among the big trees in the forest.
Gifford Pinchot Weekend Adventure: The Wind & White Salmon Rivers
Tour two gorgeous rivers, a mysterious lava bed, caves, waterfalls, dispersed camping, scenic views, meadows, dozens of lakes, and more await you in this perfectly bite sized weekend road trip into the heart of the Giff.
This is our first in a series of guides we will be releasing for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, so stay tuned for more hidden gems!
Southern Oregon Coast Road Trip Adventure
From the breathtaking Boardman State Scenic Corridor to the rugged reefs and secluded coves of Cape Arago and Cape Blanco, this guide takes you through every must-see park, pullout, and hidden gem between Coos Bay and Brookings
Inside, you’ll find:
• My favorite scenic stops along Highway 101
• Essential detours worth leaving the main road for
• Insider tips on local small towns you’ll pass through
• And more to make this classic road trip unforgettable
This guide is perfect year-round but has a special charm in the fall, when the coast’s beauty is unmatched.
P.S.- stay tuned for an episode on Citycast Portland that covers this very area, coming in November!
Bull Run Dreamin’
This mini guide has been in the works for a long time, because this area is so near to my heart.
Bull Run Dreamin’ is a guide to all of the legal access points to the Bull Run Watershed area and its boundaries, including some very special, super obscure places that only few people know how to access.
If you’ve ever looked at a map and wondered what the long-hidden watershed unit is like, this is the mini guide that will get you as close as you possibly can without risking a charge from the feds.
Lower Clackamas River Guide
There is a lot of interesting public land along the Lower Clackamas River, and putting this guide together was a bit daunting. The sheer number of different parcels of public land quickly turned this project into a massive undertaking.
There are many tracts of land along the Clackamas that have difficult access due to a lack of public parking options as well as environmental challenges like erosion. We have omitted those here and instead only included the public lands that were reasonable to access for anyone driving by car.
There is an interesting mix of traditional recreation minded state parks like Milo & Carver, as well some obscure hidden gems like North Logan and interesting historic sites like the Kipling Rock & the Powwow Tree.
ADVICE SERVICES
I grew up on the Central Oregon Coast and spent summers on the Metolius River as a child. Currently, I spend over 150 days a year traveling, camping and hiking in the Pacific Northwest. I have lived all over the western and central parts of the state, so I have locals-only knowledge over a wide range of areas in Central and Northwest Oregon.
In addition, I am downright obsessed with the Southeastern part of the state, particularly Lake County. I have talked to locals for hours, and read countless books on the area. If you endeavor to spend any time around Hart Mountain, Summer Lake, or Christmas Lake Valley, you won’t want to miss out on acquiring a healthy dose of my expert advice. Desert travel comes with its own sets of challenges and rewards, so if you are uninitiated to the basin and range landscape, don’t miss your chance to optimize your experience.
I also have extensive experience with Northern California, Mount Saint Helens, Mount Adams, the Gifford Pinchot, the Dark Divide, Blue Mountains (Oregon), Oregon Coast Trail, and parts of Washington State east of the cascades.
Just Ask! If we don’t know the answer, or you have questions about an area that we aren’t knowledgeable about, there’s no charge.
Norther Knows Best! Custom Mini Guides:
$40+
Tap into my encyclopedic wealth of knowledge about local destinations and I will recommend three to five hikes, camp sites, points of interest or travel ideas, based on your time and experience level.
The end result is like a blog post written just for you, with more involved descriptions, photos, and tons of extra info.
PLEASE NOTE: We only accept a limited number of requests per week, and we also travel extensively out of cell service, so ask your questions early for best results! We suggest a minimum of 72 hours to process your request, but feel free to reach out about last minute requests, too! We are happy to accommodate you if possible.
Norther Knows Best Advice Request is perfect for you if you have questions like….
“Where can I go backpacking with views, no crowds, and no permit system?”
“Where should I take my out-of-town and out of shape family when they come to visit next weekend?”
“Where should I take my date hiking near Portland? Short drive/not too hard/enough people around that she doesn’t get creeped out?”
“Where can I go camping with my kids in the Tillamook? Somewhere with water to play in but not enough to be a hazard?”
“Where can I take my dog hiking off leash?”
“I want to know all the best swimming holes near Portland”
“I want help planning a hot springs road trip in the desert”
“Help me plan a romantic camping trip to the coast for my anniversary”
“I want some ideas for a full summer of easy to moderate hikes within 90 minutes of Portland,”
“I’m new to town and overwhelmed by my choices! Help me understand different areas and their strengths and weaknesses so I don’t feel so lost!”
Ready to learn more? Follow us on instagram!
Wild Solitude 