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When paddling, prepare by doing the following: 1. Always wear a properly fitting life jacket and know how to swim in a river current. 2. Never paddle alone. Bring along at least one other boater. When canoeing, two canoes with two canoeists each are recommended. If unfamiliar with the waterway, paddle with someone knowledgeable. 3. Never overload the boat. Tie down gear and distribute weight evenly. 4. Maintain a low center of gravity and maintain three points of contact whenever moving about, entering or exiting the boat. Keep your weight balanced over the center. Standing up or moving around in a...

Though I believe it is always useful to know how to tie different knots for backpacking and camping, there is sometimes no substitute for the speed and convenience of these little gadgets. They weigh almost nothing, so you could easily throw a few in with your camping or hiking gear along with some tent cord, paracord, or small diameter rope. I have actually just added these to the guy lines of my backpacking tarps, hammock tents, and standard tents for easy use. A few reason you want to use line tensioning products like the Pocket Knot, Brummel Hook and Paracord Cleat. 1....

The majesty of Oregon's coastline unfolds around every bend along the 382-mile Coast Trail. Hikers cross sandy beaches, meander through forest-shaded corridors and traverse majestic headlands.    Most of the route is on the beach, although some segments wind through state parks or public lands. Generous landowners provide trail easements for portions of trail on private property.  Please respect the rights of  landowners by staying on the trail. As shown on the maps, some trail segments are on the shoulders of U.S. 101, county roads and city streets.  Please watch for signs in designated western snowy plover areas and be aware of areas with seasonal beach restrictions. Learn More          

Scenic Bikeway routes are the best bike rides in Oregon and showcase beautiful scenery, state history and local communities. They run past state parks on paved paths and roads, cross mountain passes and high deserts. The Oregon Scenic Bikeway program is the first of its kind in the country. The routes are nominated by locals and selected by Oregon State Parks. Bikeways are official state-designated routes with printable maps, gps and on-road signage.  Many of the bikeways do not have cell service and are on roads with car and truck traffic. For car-free riding check out the Banks-Vernonia trail on...

How to access if a hike is with in your physical limits. Go through this checklist to make sure you will be safe on your hike.