Art of Gears
Fansided

Weekend Road Trips #1: Portland -> Columbia River Gorge -> Mount Hood -> Bend

By Joe Capraro

--MT HOOD AND TIMOTHY LAKE July 7, 2001. photo by Diane StevensonTimothy Lake with Mount Hood overhead.Mt Hood Timothy Lake
--MT HOOD AND TIMOTHY LAKE July 7, 2001. photo by Diane StevensonTimothy Lake with Mount Hood overhead.Mt Hood Timothy Lake /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next

In my lifetime I have driven more than one million miles around the lower 48 United States. Weekend Road Trips is my way of sharing those experiences in a way that I hope helps others enjoy and appreciate the American road trip as much as I do.

For the sake of the majority, each trip will begin in a major city and presume your available weekend starts on Friday afternoon and ends on Sunday night weekend, but can be adapted to any location and schedule with a little creativity and maybe some nighttime driving.

Most importantly, and in a break from the way most of us are used to traveling, we will be avoiding interstate highways unless absolutely necessary – and even then just momentarily.

While the US interstate system is a marvel of engineering and a great way to speed from city to city, keeping to US, state, county, and local roads shows us quaint, quiet towns frozen in decades past, and far fewer chain anythings.

I currently live in Portland, Oregon, so we’ll start there for the first installment, but have patience, we will get to you soon. So let’s load up the family truckster and hit the road!

CORBETT, OR – SEPTEMBER 26: The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is seen September 26, 2014 in Corbett, Oregon. Following considerable public outcry, the U.S. Forest Service announced Thursday it will delay finalizing restrictive rules requiring media to purchase special permits to shoot photos or videos in wilderness areas. (Photo by Natalie Behring/Getty Images)
CORBETT, OR – SEPTEMBER 26: The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is seen September 26, 2014 in Corbett, Oregon. Following considerable public outcry, the U.S. Forest Service announced Thursday it will delay finalizing restrictive rules requiring media to purchase special permits to shoot photos or videos in wilderness areas. (Photo by Natalie Behring/Getty Images) /

Friday afternoon: Portland, Cascade Locks, and White Salmon

From Portland, head north on I-5 or I-205 (unfortunately the only two ways to cross the Columbia River heading north out of the city) and just over the river, jump on WA-14 east, a mostly two-lane meander through thickening trees as you head out of Vancouver and through Camas into the wilderness.

Sticking to WA-14 instead of following I-84 along the Oregon side will make the 75-or-so-mile trip last close to two hours, so if you are pressed for time early on this isn’t a terrible stretch to choose the interstate.

The views on the south side of the river are truly spectacular, and you’ll pass closely enough to Multnomah Falls, which is well worth the 15-20 minutes it takes to park and make the short walk to the observation bridge.

Multnomah Falls
Multnomah Falls /

Spending Friday evening in White Salmon WA or across the river in Hood River OR offers the peace of river living but at a density where there is no lack of excellent dining and lodging options.

Try the Pixán Taqueria and grab a room at the Inn of the White Salmon for a family-run and family-friendly evening, or head across to the Oregon side and enjoy some wood-fired pizza at the Solstice and then mosey west along the river to the Westcliff Lodge, which offers a variety of lodging arrangements with excellent river views.

Home/Features