Oregon Field Guide

Series / 35 Seasons

Oregon Field Guide is your destination for outdoor recreation, ecology, natural resource and travel stories from across Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.

26m 14s

Bison Ranching

9m 1s

On the prairies of Northeast Oregon, bison have made a comeback. Two sisters take over the family business at the Stangel Bison Ranch in Enterprise, Ore, bringing back bison that are good for both the land and the local economy.

BIPOC Ski

7m 54s

Open Slopes PDX is making skiing and snowboarding more accessible and welcoming to Black, Indigenous and other people of color. On Mount Hood, the joy is infectious as BIPOC people try snowboarding and skiing for the first time.

Oregon Olives

7m 45s

It took a small but intrepid group of farmers to show that Oregon could be a center for grape growing and wine production. Now another small group is trying to prove the case for olive oil production. Enter Javier Fernandez-Salvador. The OSU berry and tree fruit expert is spearheading the research to find the right olive tree cultivar and growing regime to make it viable in the Willamette Valley.

Cold Dipping

10m 29s

A lot of outdoorsy folks love to jump into a cold mountain lake on a hot summer day. And some are even brave enough to dash into cold water on a dare -- what some might call a “polar plunge.” But getting into painfully cold water has become a way of life for Ivana Maclay.

Sumpter Valley Railroad

8m 55s

The Eastern Oregon mining town of Sumpter is officially known as a "ghost town." But every Christmas, the old steam engines of the Sumpter Valley Railroad bring the spirit of the season to life for hundreds of visitors. Retracing the historic route that once carried gold out of these mountains, the all-volunteer railway sparkles with storybook magic. You might even catch a glimpse of Santa Claus!

Yoder Mill

6m 43s

A lumber mill has been operating in the town of Yoder, Oregon since the 1800's. Today, it still operates much as it always has under the direction of David Yoder and his hired hand, Lowell. They spend their days together milling logs with a roughcut saw pattern created by their rare giant circular saw blade.

Cascades Wolverine Project

9m 1s

Citizen scientists trek into the North Cascades in search of the elusive wolverine. Using remote winter camera-trapping stations, their efforts contribute to our understanding of where and how wolverines are recovering after being nearly exterminated across the Northwest during the 20th century.

Beaver Assisted Restoration

8m 29s

In eastern Oregon, scientists had a unique idea; instead of using expensive machines to restore damaged streams for salmon and steelhead, they should enlist beavers to do it! This update revisits the Bridge Creek Project, which Field Guide filmed in 2009, for an update on how this project reshaped our understanding of the role of beavers in the landscape.

Octopus Brains

8m 28s

Octopuses are incredibly smart, yet the majority of their neurons exist in their arms and suckers, and not in their brain, making them as close to alien intelligence as we can find on Earth. It's like: what if our hands and fingers could think for themselves?

Is Celilo Falls still intact?

16m 41s

Celilo Falls have been at the center of an emotional controversy in the Pacific Northwest more than 50 years. Celilo Falls disappeared when the Columbia River was dammed, but some tribal members believe the government blew it up first. See new, history-making images which settle the matter.

Oregon Sunstones

9m 25s

Geologist Emily Cahoon is fascinated with Oregon sunstones. The copper-bearing gemstone is only found in Oregon's segments of the Columbia River Flood Basalts, and comes in a range of colors from deep red to light green to teal and even yellow. Join Oregon Field Guide as we set out to uncover the many mysteries of these enigmatic stones.

Slime Molds

9m 1s

Meet two amateur naturalists who comb the Pacific Northwest woods for a fascinating creature with an unappealing name: slime molds. One of the longest-living life forms on the planet, these single cell organisms have been long overlooked and underappreciated. Dedicated enthusiasts, Crow Vecchio and Kelly Brenner, have a personal mission to share the wonder and mystery of slime molds.

Acosia Red Elk

12m 12s

Umatilla tribal member Acosia Red Elk has spent years on the powwow circuit as a world champion jingle dancer. Now she's combined its steps with yoga to create powwow yoga and promote contemporary Indigenous healing through movement and dance.

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