| Drive through the national treasures that neighbor Oregon's largest city.
Loop around 11,235-foot Mt. Hood through the magnificent Columbia River Gorge National
Scenic Area, past a dozen waterfalls, Bonneville Dam, Cascade Locks, Timberline Lodge and
countless panoramic viewpoints. Stop along the way to learn of the region's rich pioneer
and Indian history. Although you can cover the entire route in a leisurely four-hour
drive, you'll want a day or two to really take in the sights.
|
The Skier's Route:
Follow Hwy. 26 to Sandy, once a stop on the Barlow Road segment of The Oregon Trail. Visit
Wasson Winery, known for award-winning raspberry wine, and then proceed through Welches to
Government Camp on Mt. Hood. Gere, SkiBowl features the Northwest's only alpine slide, as
well as the nation's largest lighted night ski area. Mt. Hood's five major ski areas
include Timberline, site of Timberline Lodge, built in the 1930s and a National Historic
Landmark. Nearby, Mt. Hood Meadows is the mountain's largest ski area. The Hoodland
district welcomes visitors with lodging and dining services.
Ring Around the Mountain:
Leaving the ski areas, loop around Mt. Hood onto Hwy. 35, over the Barlow Pass at the
summit of the Cascades where you can still hike parts of The Oregon Trail. From here,
drive through the Mt. Hood National Forest and into the Columbia River Gorge National
Scenic Area on your way to Hood River.
The Hood River Valley:
At the foot of this fruit-growing valley is Hood River, known as the “sailboarding
capital of the world.” Watch the action from the Sailpark in Port Marina Park. Visit
the county historical museum. Experience the grace and history of the Columbia Gorge
Hotel. And wander down to the Mt. Hood Railroad Depot, departure point for 2- and 4-hour
train rides to the foothills of Mt. Hood. Scenic car routes from Hood River include the
country road to Lost Lake and scenic route east to Mosier, leading to the Tom McCall
Preserve.
Cascade Locks and Bonneville
Dam: Traveling west on I-84, the drive leads along the Columbia River to Cascade
Locks. See Indian and pioneer artifacts at the old lock-tender's former residence, and in
the museum at Marine Park. From there, you can board the Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge for a
two-hour summer cruise to Bonneville Dam.
By car, the massive hydroelectric facility is just minutes west of Cascade Locks. The Bradford Island Visitors Center offers salmon migration interpretive displays, navigational history and an under-surface viewing room. Take a self-guided tour of the hatchery, and walk along the canal to see the boats and barges.
The Historic Columbia River
Highway: About six miles west of Bonneville Dam, exit I-84 and wind through the
Scenic Area at a more leisurely pace along the Historic Columbia River Highway. Intricate
stone work, arched bridges, viaducts and tunnels decorate this route which passes a dozen
waterfalls - including 620-foot Multnomah Falls - before arriving at the famous lookout at
Crown Point. Here, Vista House provides a visitor center and gift shop in a stone memorial
built in 1916. A little farther on, the town of Corbett sits high on the cliffs
overlooking the Gorge.
Troutdale back to the City:
I-84 and the Historic Columbia River Highway merge at Troutdale, known as the Gateway to
the Columbia River and Sandy River gorges. Visit the Harlow House Museum, built in 1900,
before returning to the beauty of Portland.
The Mt. Hood/Columbia River Gorge Loop is one of eight drives detailed in a guide available through The Northwest Oregon Visitors Center, Box D.L., 26 SW Salmon St., Portland, OR 97204. 503/295-7387.
Return to Oregon: Discovering Our Routes!
