Accessible Road Trip Around Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge

Find our entire Accessible Road Trip series here: 1. Willamette Valley / 2. Central Oregon / 3. Portland Region / 4. Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge / 5. Southern Oregon / 6. Eastern Oregon / 7. Oregon Coast

Jennifer Allen returned home from Oregon in spring 2025 with one song on her mind: “Hakuna Matata” (translation: no worries), from “The Lion King.” Allen, a global travel blogger, visited the Mt. Hood & Columbia Gorge Region with her 9-year-old daughter, Nella, and 10-year-old son, Jaden, who has a spinal cord condition called Spina bifida and uses a wheelchair.

“Of course we saw beautiful places and did fun things,” Allen says, “but the best part was being able to enjoy it together, without having to worry about what we could or couldn’t do. [Wheel the World’s] expert planning leaves no room for stress — only room for adventure.”

Wheel the World is a travel platform that has partnered with Oregon and 43 of its communities, meaning a significant percentage of the state’s hotels, activities, transportation and restaurants have been reviewed and verified by accessible community travelers. These listings include detailed accessibility information and photos to help travelers plan their trip to Oregon with confidence.

In fact, Oregon is the first Accessibility Verified state in the U.S., and the Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge Region invites travelers of all mobilities to enjoy its waterfalls, accessible paths and scenic beauty. Here’s how to take an accessible 2-day road trip around Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge.

Day 1: Multnomah Falls, a River Cruise and Riverfront Strolls

When you think of Oregon, you might think of Multnomah Falls — the 611-foot double cascade, Oregon’s tallest waterfall. With more than 2 million visitors each year, this top attraction draws major crowds, especially in the summertime. That’s why locals know that the best way to visit (other than to avoid peak season) is to take alternate transportation like the Sasquatch Shuttle. The wheelchair-accessible shuttle runs late May through early September and takes the stress out of parking and permit requirements (shuttle riders are not required to book an advance timed-entry permit).

Allen and her family boarded the Sasquatch Shuttle at Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets in Troutdale, where there’s free and ample parking. Departures and returns run every 45 minutes 7 days per week, and the $5 round-trip is free for pets and riders under 5. A somewhat steep, paved ramp leads to the main viewing area for an up-close-and-personal view of this iconic spring-fed falls, the second tallest year-round waterfall in the U.S.

Want to see the beauty of the Gorge from the water? Book a ticket on a scenic Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler cruise and board in downtown Cascade Locks, 13 miles east of Multnomah Falls. Allen and her family appreciated the accessible restrooms and ramps that make boarding and movement around the main deck easy.

When it’s time to fuel up, you’ll find lots of options in the region including Solstice Wood Fire Pizza & Bar in Hood River, 20 minutes east of Cascade Locks. After dinner Allen and her family let the kids get their wiggles out at Hood River Waterfront Park, with its step-free entrance, accessible parking and restroom and smooth ground.

You can rest your head at a number of accessible lodging properties in the region including Best Western Plus Columbia River Inn, which has several accessible rooms and views of the river.

Woman and two children (one in wheelchair) look in wonder at the greenery around them as they follow a wide forested dirt trail — Wildwood Recreation Site

Day 2: Car-free Cruising, Forest Trails and Gorge Views

There’s still more scenic beauty to soak up, and the Mark O. Hatfield West Trailhead just east of Hood River is the place to start your adventure along the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. The paved, car-free trail winds through the Mosier Twin Tunnels and back for an easy, family-friendly 10-mile round trip or however long you choose — by foot, bike or wheelchair. Along the way, it is impossible to ignore the spectacular geologic formations that tell the story of the gorge’s creation. One highlight is peering out of the rock windows at the cars and landscape from inside the cool tunnel. Walkers and strollers should keep right so cyclists can pass on the left.

Grab some snacks and hop back in the car for a mini road trip about 90 minutes south along the incredibly scenic south side of Mt. Hood and back along Highway 26 to Welches, where an inconspicuous turnoff leads to the marvel that is Wildwood Recreation Site. This scenic natural area offers lush forests, hiking trails, picnic areas and access to the pristine Salmon River — all with step-free entrance, smooth ground accessible parking and restrooms. While parking can be crowded at times for river access it’s worth the stop for any nature lovers, and a perfect rest stop on a long drive.

Boy holds big horns to side of head as girl watches — Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum

Day 3: Hands-On Museum, Brewpub and an Ancient Fish

Start your day by heading east from Hood River to The Dalles, known for its 300 annual days of sunshine. You’ll notice the landscape change dramatically, from Doug firs and greenery to the high-desert. Learn more about the geology of the region — as well as local history, culture, live raptor shows and more — at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum, perched on a bluff overlooking the Columbia River. The center, parking and interpretive trails are fully accessible. The interpretive programs are also designed for visitors of all abilities. The center is also the trailhead for the fully accessible, 8-foot-wide, paved Riverfront Trail that winds along the southern bank of the Columbia River for 10 miles.

A quick drive east to downtown The Dalles brings you to a host of unique dining options; most are part of the East Gorge Food Trail, a self-guided road map for culinary and farm-based adventures. Freebridge Brewing focuses on ales, scratch-made pizzas and sandwiches made with locally sourced ingredients. It’s located in a restored historic bank building called “The Mint,” built but never finished in 1869 during the end of the gold rush in Eastern Oregon. Accessible features include a step-free entrance, low dining tables, accessible restroom and a working elevator.

Up for one more stop? Head about 45 minutes west, past Cascade Locks, to Bonneville Fish Hatchery for some hands-on science education for young and old. You’ll find indoor and outdoor trout and sturgeon ponds and a sturgeon viewing center that is home to Herman the Sturgeon (over 10 feet long and 80 years old) — all of which is wheelchair-friendly, along with accessible restrooms and paths.