At the end of January, you should absolutely be prepared for winter driving. At that time of year, the roads require chains or traction tires. If you are comfortable driving in the snow, you could get by with chains, but if you’ll find yourself white-knuckled on the wheel, I’d recommend 4-wheel drive and chains/traction tires…
You’re correct that most of the trails in the Columbia River Gorge are closed as a result of the Eagle Creek Fire and the potential of landslides. However, some of the sights have recently opened back up, and we have several alternative options! The Old Columbia Highway is open from Troutdale to Bridal Veil Falls,…
Unfortunately, your options for hiking in the Gorge this winter are limited due to the recent Eagle Creek Fire. The fire devastated the Gorge, and all of the interstate exits and trails are still closed. They’ll remain closed for the winter since we now face a danger of landslides. That said, I’m happy to provide…
Since you’re already planning on hiking Mirror Lake, I’d recommend continuing up Hwy 26 for about 30 more minutes to Timberline Lodge and jumping on the Timberline Trail. The trail itself circumnavigates all the way around Mt. Hood and is approximately 40 miles long, but you could hike out as far as you’d like, and…
The Columbia Gorge offers some pretty stunning sights that are easily accessible. To see a panorama of the Columbia River and learn a bit about its history, visit the Vista House at Crown Point off the Historic Columbia River Highway. Depending on your mobility, you may be able to snap some photos at the first…
Driving a loop through the Gorge and up over Mt. Hood is actually a perfect, popular and picturesque day trip from Portland. The total drive time is approximately three hours, so you’ll have time to for multiple stops. Keep in mind that the Gorge waterfall corridor around Multnomah Falls is extremely popular, especially on a…
I think you’ll find plenty to explore here in the Gorge! Here are some accessible outdoor and indoor activities: As for outdoor activities: Drive the Historic Columbia River Highway along the waterfall corridor to see multiple majestic waterfalls directly from the road. These waterfalls are a must-see — especially in January! For a 3- to…
Off the top of my head, I believe the trail you’re referring to is the Larch Mountain trail in the Gorge. From the top on a clear day you can see Mt. Shasta, the Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens. Larch Mountain has 3 trailheads. The first is…
You can absolutely do it! My suggestion would be to drive from Portland to the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Byway. Take in the waterfalls, take in the misty air, take in the probable rain (bring a rain jacket) and then stop for ice cream at EastWind Drive Thru in Cascade Locks before making your way…
There are so many fun things to do on Mt. Hood in the summer. It’s actually my favorite season on the mountain (probably because I am not much of a skier). Though, there are plenty of other things to do on Hood in winter if you don’t ski! Do you like to hike? There are many…
Thanks for the question. The resort that would most suit you is Mount Hood Meadows. It has everything you are looking for and has the most expert terrain along with the most varied terrain. When it is clear, the upper lift is all above tree line and has incredible skiing along with beautiful views. The…
There really isn’t a bad place to camp in the Mt. Hood National Forest. For starters, you should bookmark this complete list of campgrounds in the Mt. Hood National Forest. If you don’t like crowds, the Lost Creek Campground off Lolo Pass Road would be a good option for you. It’s near many hiking trails, such as the ever…
Fleece is king here, as is dressing in layers. The weather in March can be a bit unpredictable — bright sunshine one minute, thunderstorms the next. So just be prepared for a bit of everything. I wouldn’t suggest going down to Oneonta Gorge it in spring unless you are in waterproof clothing. If 50 degrees is cold for you,…
First blooms usually start appearing around mid to late April, and continuing until the hot (well, hot for Oregon) weather arrives sometime in early July. To catch a nice selection of wildflowers, I would probably suggest sometime in early to mid May. The exception to this is the higher elevations around Mt. Hood, where the…
You will find that there are TONS of accessible sights along the Historic Columbia Gorge Highway, including Multnomah Falls. There is an elevator in the historic lodge there and a wheelchair ramp to the main viewing area. The trail is paved all the way to the bridge, but it might be a little steep for…
Huckleberries generally grow in the mountains above about 3000 feet. There are some great spots around Mt Hood, and I have even gone over to the Wallowas to pick. A free permit is required from the Forest Service, even if you are only planning on harvesting a small amount for your personal use. My best…
You can absolutely visit both the waterfalls and then make the “loop” around the mountain to visit Mt. Hood thanks to extended summer daylight hours, or if you plan on getting an early start. I would suggest taking I-84 east, then taking the Corbett exit to join the historic highway. While most people start in…
To be honest, there really isn’t a BAD time to visit the Columbia Gorge. There are a few months in the winter, when ice can be an issue, but even then the waterfalls are beautiful when they are half frozen over. For wildflowers, the best time to visit is generally in late April through June….
I would recommend checking out the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center/Wasco County History Museum in The Dalles, along with the Fort Dalles museum. You may also be interested in WAAAM (WAAAM: Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum) in Hood River. Definitely some interesting photographs of the vintage vehicles could be had there. While not indoors, I would…
Are you looking for an organized tour, or one you can drive on yourself? There are actually Gravenstein apples are actually in season right now, and there are many U-pick farms where you can go and pick your own. For the most variety in apples the best time to go is generally anytime in October….
