Epic road trips await in Oregon. With drives that will take you along the coast, through the desert and even into lava beds, you’ll be hard-pressed to decide on which route to take first.
If you’re interested in a good ‘ol American, classic road trip with stops to see sights, trails and enjoy cold drinks along the way, we recommend the Historic Columbia River Highway. This 43-mile paved road has been dubbed the All-American Road and is a designated National Scenic Byway. From the road you’ll have a constant eyeful of Gorge scenery plus Mt. Hood sightings. You’ll also get the chance to chase waterfalls, walk across a suspension bridge and enjoy a meal aboard a sternwheeler on this road trip.
Bonus! It’s easy to get to from Portland so you can enjoy some cities highlight and leave it and the impressive Portlandia tent communities behind for a memorable weekend side trip or parts of it can be done in a single afternoon.
Here is a quick rundown of the superstars you’ll get to see and experience on this road trip plan we’ve put together:
Historic Columbia River Highway Road Trip Itinerary
- Bridal Veil Falls
- Multnomah Falls
- Mitchell Point Overlook
- Bridge of the Gods (Cascade Locks)
- Dinner on the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler
Read on for all the details and pro tips we learned along the way!
1. Hike to Bridal Veil Falls
As the name hints at, this dreamy first stop serves up some serious romantic vibes.
Bridal Veil Falls is a scenic spot offering hikers two short trail options. Both trailheads are easy to find and located off the paved parking lot. We recommend the lower trail, which is a steeper, bushwhack path down an estimated 0.3-mile downslope trail to the base of the waterfall. The full waterfall drops about 120 feet and is feed in part by waters from a nearby creek being diverted by a lumbering company. Depending on your comfort level, you can attempt to cross some of the large boulders/rocks to get closer to the falls. This is a great place for pictures and is the spot my sister eloped! You could even strip down or suit up for a quick plunge on a hot day or just enjoy getting close enough to get a waterfall spray to cool down.
The overlook trail is about half a mile long and it is both easier and flatter. Personally, we think the lower trail has better views but either way you will get the chance to see stunning mother nature flexing to her fullest.
Full disclosure, our GPS for tracking hikes out in the Gorge didn’t always want to work so all hiking distances are estimates. If you’re anything like us, you will enjoy the lack of cell use when out in these parts. Let us know if we were wildly off with any distances shared in this post!
2. Stand in Awe Below Multnomah Falls
There are 7 roadside waterfalls all easily accessibly and hanging out along this highway. We loved the intimacy of Bridal Veil Falls and how up close and personal we could get there but the most well-known of all the falls on this highway is Multnomah Falls. Hands down. This right here is ever the crowd-pleaser and the 4th highest in the U.S., with a total height of 620 feet.
The popularity of this place is the first thing you notice when you try to find a parking spot in a downright cruelly small lot that closes once it is at capacity. The falls are located about a 5-minute walk from the public parking lot. If you aren’t dead set on scoring a parking lot spot, you could copycat us: we parked alongside the road a bit further up from the falls and walked back. Also, if you’re traveling with your pups, this is a stop they will be able to enjoy as well!
There are two primary trails here and the higher one is said to be very difficult. We did not hike the higher trail instead we remained on the trail that led to the bridge to enjoy the lower falls. The lower falls are 69 feet tall and impressive. Here are three of our favorite things about the trail to the lower Multnomah Falls:
- The trail was paved so we had energy and willpower to hike later in the day at other spots
- You hike through a Cascade rainforest filled with fir and alder trees and tons of moss
- Giant slimy snails are everywhere. If you hike this and don’t end up with snail guts on your shoes – even unintentionally, we’d be shocked.
Before you muscle your way to the middle of the bridge, this is where we recommend you pull out a raincoat and waterproof camera if you’ve got ‘em. After you take hundreds of photos and videos, head down to the gift shop and snack stand where you can end your visit with waterfall trinkets and ice cream.
3. Hike Mitchell Point Trail
For those looking to get hella active on this road trip – this one’s for you! This trail is not for the faint of heart. The climb up this basalt outcrop is STEEP and we’re quite grateful we went into this a rather blind.
Before we dive into the details, here are a few, critical “know before you go’s”:
- The ascent will take longer than the descent but the nearly 3-mile round trip will take you hours to complete. Easily.
- Some would categorize this as a “moderate” trail; we would argue the label “hard” is more accurate.
- The elevation gain is about 1,300 feet and while it is a relatively well-marked trail, it is the epitome of switchback.
Ready to get your hike on? Here’s how it went for us:
Things started out smoothly. The trailhead is easy to access directly past the toilet/outhouse at the edge of the large, paved parking lot. The trail starts out as a nice dirt-trodden, wooden path. Then, suddenly you’re looking out at a heaping pile of loose rocks, known as a talus field.
You have to somehow maneuver yourself across without falling flat on your face. We kept pausing to look back at the ribboning trail in awe – in reality, we both needed to catch our breaths, and this is the sly approach we took to accomplish just that. Shortly after the loose rock pile you’ll have to scamper up a dirt slope – it’s not quite a hill more like a 90-degree sharp, upwards turn in the trail. After that you will follow a bend or two around which leads to the crescendo – a sweeping view of the Columbia River Gorge. You will see jaw-dropping views of the Gorge near Hood River.
If you feel confident and comfortable, make your way to the overlook which is called Angel’s Rest. Perched on the top you will look out across parts of both Oregon and Washington state and enjoy the eastern part of the Gorge rim from a bird’s eye view. We absolutely advise against climbing higher or sitting on the razor-thin bumpy ridge unless the conditions are absolutely ideal. No view or photo is worth that risk.
Also, on the descent, be cautious on that dirt slope. When we reached this part on the way down, we were both trying to decide if we would slide down on our butts vs. inch worming down and suddenly, Justin was on all-fours, sliding down the slope. He was incredibly calm, and I was stunned into silence. Thankfully he walked away with little more than skinned palms. We laugh about this now but in the moment it was scary.
Would we hike this trail again?
Probably not. But between the views at the top and the story we can tell anyone who will listen made this worth it. It’s a trail unlike any other we have hiked to date!
4. Walk Across the Bridge of the Gods
You’ll find this steel-trussed goddess of a bridge off the highway. It grants you access to the Port of Cascade Locks.
Essentially, it’s a rad toll bridge that spans the Columbia River connecting Oregon and Washington. The best part? You can walk or drive across this bridge. We highly recommend walking across it if you can for a unique thrill. Plus, this way you can tell everyone you hiked part of the infamous Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) – the well-known U.S. National Scenic Trail that Resee Witherspoon hiked in the movie Wild.
Also, you wouldn’t know by looking at it, but this bridge is mega-historic. It marks the most treacherous part of the Oregon Trail. Today, the Bonneville dam keeps the rapids at the cascade in check.
Feeling thirsty? About 12 different breweries dot the Gorge and when if comes to the Pacific Northwest, all hail the mighty hop! After hiking the Mitchell Point Trail, we enjoyed a few pints at Thunder Island Brewing Co in Cascade Locks, Oregon. We thought they had good brews and ciders and we certainly enjoyed their generous outdoor patio. We found their “Trail Magic” program to be pretty cool – basically taproom visitors can pay it forward to a PCT thru-hiker with a complimentary pint!
5. Enjoy Dinner on the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler
By now, you’ve seen the Columbia Gorge from the road and from epic heights. It’s time to get on the water and see the Gorge from another vantage point. All aboard this historic sightseeing sternwheeler and be prepared to pass by a parade of scenic sights and learn more about the history of this majestic place.
This is an activity that you will want to plan for and book in advance. You can join a daytime trip or opt for the dinner evening trip which is what we did. Dinner tickets ran us about $90 each. Maybe $100. Check out their website for more information about current ticket prices and cruise options. We boarded the sternwheeler in Cascade Locks, enjoyed a multi-course meal (drinks available for purchase) and enjoyed some spontaneous dancing on the dock. It was a perfect day weather-wise and a fun-filled way to end our road trip.
Final Thoughts
We hope you get to hit the road soon in the Pac Northwest. And when you do…here’s to savoring every second you’re out and about in this wilderness Mecca!!
– Justin & Alyssa
Disclaimer: Parks and Planes is an informative resource for readers. Due to unforeseen conditions like park closures, policies, construction and other natural changes to the park and its trail, Parks and Planes, LLC does not assume liability for the accuracy of posts, trail conditions and directions. Parks and Planes strives to accurately describe and document details as experienced during the date and time of the visit. Please travel safely when following this itinerary and visiting recommended sites and places mentioned in this blog post. As always, all photos, content and opinions are our own.
