Getting Outdoors

College Outdoors

College is all about reaching new heights and going on adventures, and the Pacific Northwest is full of places to explore outside the city limits.

Let us do all the planning and provide the gear: your job is to show up ready for adventure. College Outdoors offers trips for everyone from newbies to experienced adventurers, ranging from one day to one week long. We provide access to the spectacular outdoor environments of the Pacific Northwest and beyond through organized activities including cross-country skiing, backpacking, whitewater sports, sea kayaking, and hiking. 

East

Mount Hood! Only ski area open 12 months in North America. 

(Pictured: view of Mount Hood from campus.)

North

Two Vancouvers! Washington and British Columbia.

(Pictured: students on a College Outdoors trip to Vancouver Lake.)

South

Crater Lake! Deepest in the U.S., formed by a volcanic eruption and famous for its blue color.

(Pictured: students on a College Outdoors trip to Crater Lake.)

West

Pacific Ocean! Year-round hiking, surfing, exploring.

(Pictured: College Outdoors trip on the Oregon Coast.)

In the City

Portlanders love any excuse to be outside, even when they’re sticking close to home.

• Chinese Garden
• International Rose Test Garden
• Japanese Garden
• Oregon Zoo
• Portland Parks
• Portland Rose Festival
• Tryon Creek State Park (located right next to Lewis & Clark)
• Sauvie Island (berry picking, river swimming, pumpkin patch)

In the Region

The Pacific Northwest contains some of the most spectacular and well-maintained scenic areas in the United States.

• Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (including 620 foot-high Multnomah Falls)

• Gifford Pinchot National Forest (including Mount St. Helens)
• Mount Hood National Forest
  
• Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (on the Oregon coast)
• Crater Lake

In the Snow

Ski or snowboard? Mount Hood is just an hour away from Portland. Among the ski areas on the mountain, Timberline has the longest ski season in America—and Ski Bowl is the largest night skiing venue in the country. For information on all the major ski areas in Oregon, visit Ski Oregon.