Traveling the Historic Columbian River Scenic Highway
Photograph credits: Piers van der Merwe
If you are looking for a scenic day trip from Portland, I highly recommend taking the old US 30 as it meanders along the river.
Start at Troutsdale and be sure to get on the historic US 30 – the Columbian River Highway – and not the new motorway which bypasses most of the places you will want to see. We used the TravelOregon website to plan our route.
Our first stop was the Portland Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint where you can stand and get a fantastic view of the Columbia River Gorge.
Not much further along is Vista House at Crown Point. We just drove slowly through the parking lot but you could, of course, get out and enjoy the view and look at the historic house.
We stopped next at the Multnomah Falls. The large parking lot was full so we were lucky to find a spot. And there were lots and lots of tourists who also wanted to see the tallest waterfall in Oregon. It’s just a few minutes walk to the base of the waterfall and a few more minutes gets you a better view from a bit higher up. We didn’t continue all the way to the top, but you can. It is very beautiful – but it would have been nicer to have had fewer tourists to share it with 🙂 There are restrooms, a restaurant and a gift shop on-site should you need any of them.
The drive takes you right past the Horsetail Falls. You get a great view from the road so no need to get out of the car if you don’t want to.
We nearly drove straight past the sign to the Bonneville Dam and Locks – but on a whim decided to take a look. And it was SO worth it. I think it is a place kids will love! It takes a while to get to there once you start following the signs, so don’t give up and turn round. Just keep on driving. You will pass the power plant and the locks, then go through security and finally arrive at the parking at the visitor center. In the visitor center there are displays explaining the hydroelectric power plant and how the FDR administration had it built as part of the New Deal.
Then take the elevators to the viewing window and watch the fish swimming by. The eels like to attach themselves to the window! Go outside next and see the fish ladder. Don’t know what a fish ladder is? Neither did we – till we went there!
And, of course, you get to enjoy views of the dam! And all of this is FREE!!
After spending a lot more time there than we expected to, we drove to the town of Hood River for lunch. We stopped at the Full Sail Brewery. They have a small but interesting menu and the food was great! After lunch, we took a short walk around the town.
Instead of continuing along the river, we took the US 35 and then the US 26 back to Portland. We took this route for the views of Mount Hood along the drive, and because we wanted to hike up to Mirror Lake. The trail starts right from the 26 and is definitely more than gentle walk! I am not fit so going up was, let’s say, challenging! But the others with me didn’t have the same trouble. Eventually, we got to the top – and the fog had just rolled in. No Mount Hood was visible at all (there are supposedly great views from the lake). And then it started to rain. Fortunately, the hike is largely under trees, so they kept us from being drenched, and it was a whole lot faster going down than coming up!
It was a disappointing end to our day – but these things happen. I hope if you visit the weather is better and you are rewarded for the hike by amazing views!
