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Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood
Entering the Columbia River Gorge is like a entering a geologist’s dream. The steep mountains carved
out of lava rock from eons ago that are covered in deciduous and fir trees make for an unbelievable
landscape. You can’t help, but catch your breath as you look up and see these vast hills with cascading
waterfalls and autumn time colors dotting the rocks. Multohmah Falls is the largest waterfall in Oregon and
also our biggest tourist attraction. Down the road from that is Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery, a place that
children and adults alike will love. There is an underwater viewing area from which visitors can see the fish
actually climbing the fish ladders. Bridal Veil Falls State Park is another breathtaking hike with falls that end just
1/3 of a steep climb upwards. In the town of Bridal Veil there is still the original post office dating back
to July 1887. All of this is just a short drive of maybe 45 minutes from Portland on I-84.
Further down the Columbia River Gorge are Hood River, The Dalles, and John Day. Hood River beckons
to the windsurfer and tourist alike. As you come close to entering The Dalles, you begin to notice a change
in the scenery. There are no longer the immense fir trees that dot the landscape to the west. What you now
see are large brush covered hills, almost looking from a distance like sand dunes with volcanic rock perching every
so often. The Dalles is a small community with touristy restaurants like “Cousins” right off I-84. Most of the
buildings were built at the end of the 19th century and this gives the city a feeling of warmth and history. The Dalles
Dam lies at the east end of town and offers train rides to the powerhouse, fish ladder and locks. John Day, about
30 minutes east from The Dalles, is a very small town that lays in a broad valley surrounded by the majestic
rocky peaks of the Malheur National Forest. Then main touristy thing to do here is visit the Kam Wah Chung &
Company Museum. It is a five block walk from the city park and is a Chinese doctor’s office and store from the
mid –1880s. It displays
Relics, artifacts, and more than 1.000 herbs both western and Chinese that are still used to this day
by a Chinese herbal doctor.
Mount Hood is located about 1-½ hours from Portland and 45 minutes from Hood River. It beckons to all of those who love any type of outdoor entertainment. In the fall, winter, and even into the spring it offers downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding. There are also great sledding hills for the little ones (and adults too)! In the late spring and summer, there are magnificent hiking trails and mountain biking down the steep snow skiing hills if one is brave enough. Mount Hood is busy all year round.
The Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood are beautiful with their diverse landscape and vegetation. They are gorgeous to just drive through on a Sunday afternoon (and yes, you can do it all in one day). But, if you stop you will see some of the most amazing things in Oregon – the windsurfing, the history, the entertainment, the summer and winter sports. This is a drive you will never regret.