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 /
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Sunday: Sisters, Detroit, Breitenbush Hot Springs, Estacada, and back home

Hustling out of Bend in the morning will reward you handsomely in the afternoon, so grab a quick breakfast and head west on US-20 towards Sisters. As you wind your way back to higher elevations and thicker forests, you’ll definitely need that sweatshirt you almost didn’t pack but now are very very glad you did.

No matter what you’re driving, a quick fuel stop in Detroit is recommended; in between the handful of gas stations is an EV charging station, just off OR-22 near the Army Corps of Engineers building. And now that your vehicle is recharged and/or refilled, take NF-46 (yes, it’s paved!) east out of town along the Breitenbush River and prepare to recharge yourself.

After about 13 twisting, winding, breathtaking miles, you will come across an oasis in the forest in Breitenbush Hot Springs. If you have an extra night, this is where you should spend it. If you don’t, definitely stop for a soak and lunch. It will be the highlight of the trip.

There are certainly more amazing sights to be seen, however. If pressed for time you could continue west on OR-22 and jump on 99E north through Salem and Oregon City, or even (gasp) take I-5 if you’re in that kind of hurry. But the adventurous will want to continue the sixty or so miles further along NF-46 (still paved!) to Estacada.

The reward?

Rollie Urness, 4, hikes to Pamelia Lake in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness.
Rollie Urness, 4, hikes to Pamelia Lake in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness. /

Endless hiking and picnic spots, both accessible and off the path. And of course views that will have you numb and slack-jawed when you descend into Estacada and start to recognize signs of a major metro area again.

You’re not all the way back yet though, so stop off a the Cadazero Steakhouse for ribs, chops, and the like, or grab some of Oregon’s best tacos at Pepe’s downtown. With your belly full, it will finally be time to get yourself the last few miles home and prepare for next weekend’s trip.

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