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Exploring the Columbia River Gorge the Right Way

MexiKen | Sep 12, 2009 |

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Exploring the Columbia River Gorge the Right Way

I'm hoping you're reading this because you're planning a trip to go to the Columbia River Gorge. And if you are, I'm envious! I lived in Portland for over a decade and miss it tremendously, and the Gorge and its surrounding activities are a large reason why.

Just east of Portland, the Columbia River winds it's way through some of the most Gorge-ous (sorry, can't resist the pun) scenery you can imagine. And when you realize that just off to either side of this beautiful, majestic river there are innumerous hikes, trails, sight-seeing view points, historical markers and other wonderful things to see, taste and enrich yourself you'll understand why it holds such a powerful and fond place in my heart. And the hearts of many, many other people to be sure.

However, one of the problems for visitors heading to Portland for a short stay is that there are just too many cool things that you could be doing. Without going into detail, there are TONS of great things to do in the city itself, including plenty of outdoor, natural options. If you want to get further out of town and into nature, you can head west towards the Oregon Coast.

On your way to the coast you will pass through the Willamette Valley, which has an abundance of wineries and farms where you can taste some fantastic fare (you'll especially want to try the local Pinot Noir; it's world class). The coast itself is breathtakingly beautiful, with more than its fair share of hikes, views, and bike rides.

So, that's many of the options to the West of Portland. Now, if you want to head east towards the Gorge you have even more choices to make. First, you'll need to decide whether you want to go directly to the Gorge along the Columbia River or if you want to take the scenic route around Mt. Hood. Actually, while it is a beautiful drive, I can't in all fairness call *it* "the scenic route", because that would imply that driving along I-84 following the river is less scenic. It is not.

Nonetheless, you can drive up, over and around Mt. Hood, a 14,000+ ft volcano on which you can snow ski year-round. That's right, there is a glacier on it that makes it the summer training area for the US Ski Team. It's quite a day to drive up in July and ski in the morning, come down and have lunch in Portland and continue on for a sunset on the coast. Seriously, this place is ridiculously fantastic when it comes to the outdoors!

With all this, I haven't even gotten around to talking about what the Gorge itself has to offer. Well, suffice to say there are many, many beautiful hike to discover, many along rivers and streams and fantastic waterfalls, and during the summer you'll find wild blackberries to snack on in many places.

With the huge number of options available and limited amount of time to check it out, (even if you are lucky enough to live nearby, you still have to plan your days' outings, right?), I was very happy to discover CURIOUS GORGE - (50 places to Discover in the Columbia River Gorge and Hood River), by Scott Cook.

While it certainly doesn't cover EVERY option available in the area, the 50 presented give you a great variety from which to choose. From drive up view points to hikes, waterfall viewing, salmon ladders or trail heads where you can unload your car bike rack and head off to do some great, scenic rides from advanced on down to the kind you wouldn't have any hesitation using your child bike carriers to bring your little ones along with you.

Until I can get back there myself, I'm stuck dreaming about the possibilities that exist in the area, and Scott's book feeds that imagination wonderfully. Hopefully you're in a position to actually go out and enjoy and discover it all!