Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood

Route description

From Portland, head east on I-84 and leave it at Corbett for the Historic Columbia River Highway, which passes Vista House at Crown Point and a string of waterfalls down to Multnomah Falls, Oregon’s tallest at 620 feet. The old road is narrow and winding with stone guard walls, so longer motorhomes should stay on I-84, which has its own exit and parking for the falls. Timed permits may apply in summer.

Further east, Hood River sits where the gorge meets the orchards of the Hood River Valley, and the town is a center for windsurfing and kiteboarding. OR-35 then climbs south through the orchards toward Mount Hood, and a side road leads up to Timberline Lodge, the stone and timber lodge built by the WPA in the 1930s on the mountain’s slope.

Return to Portland on US-26 to complete the loop. Spring brings blossom to the valley and fall brings the harvest, while in winter the roads around Mount Hood are snowy and traction tires or chains may be required.