Day trip to Columbia River Gorge & Mt Hood

We%26#39;ll be vacationing in Portland in June, 09. My family enjoys sightseeing and hiking. Is one day too rush to drive from Portland to the gorge and Mt Hood and do 2-3 short hikes? Try to justify spending one night in the Hood River area. Also read some recommendation to drive to the gorge on the Washington side and come back on Oregon side, would this take a lot longer? Really appreciate your input. Thanks.

Day trip to Columbia River Gorge %26amp; Mt Hood

you might have to cut and past the urls below

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/columbia/maps/

Mt_Hood_Loop.pdf

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/

destinations/Portland/Mount_Hood_Loop.html

http://www.traveloregon.com/Explore-Oregon/

Mt-Hood-Columbia-River-Gorge/Trips-We-Love/

Mt-Hood-Scenic-Byway.aspx

These websites will give you the info you need on the routing. I would suggest going from Portland to Mt. Hood, having lunch at Timberline...taking a hike...and then continuing to Hood River. If it%26#39;s still early enough, continue along the Gorge westward (on the Oregon side), taking the old hwy. You can then stop at Multnomah Falls and hike to the top of the falls...and still be back in Portland for dinner. However, if the day is getting late, you will have several options for stopping overnight and getting back to PDX in the morning.

Day trip to Columbia River Gorge %26amp; Mt Hood

Thank you so much. One day trip is better, less packing.

Personally, I would start in Portland, get an early start on the Gorge, when the crowds might be lighter, then stop somewhere in the Hood River area for lunch. This also puts most of the pull outs on your right, so you are not having to make a lot of left turns or cross the historic highway. There are lots of places along the highway to take short hikes. The URL%26#39;s that were previously provided will give you some good information on that.

Then from Hood River, you take Hwy 35 around the mountain. Lots of good places to stop as this is the fruit loop, and lots of hiking opportunities on the back side of Mt. Hood as well.

Then, at this point, if you are totally exhausted, you can just head straight back to Portland, or make the drive up to Timberline Lodge. Lots of good places to stop in Sandy on the way back to eat dinner as well.

While depending on how many stops you make, it can be a long day, it is a very doable day trip which I do quite often.

I know oregonpoppa is the real hiker here, but I have to agree with mahjerle on this one. Starting from Portland, if you want to include Mt. Hood in the same day, take the itinerary she suggests.

The drive on the Historic Gorge Hwy is best done west to east (for the same reason as driving the coast highway north to south) the major sights are on the right hand side.

If you get to Hood River and feel that you will not have the 2-3 hours needed to make the return trip via Mt. Hood, you can came back to Portland on either side of the river.

If you cross the river at Hood River or Cascade Locks (Bridge of the Gods)and return on the WA side, the drive back to Portland will take about 1 1/2 hrs.

On the Oregon side you can return on I-84 in less than an hour.

I%26#39;m being outvoted...but I still think having lunch at Timberline makes my route the better one.

How about this...take mahjerles routing advice (which is the way we do it), but take some snacks with you, and then do a late lunch at Timberline? Yes, trying to please everyone here, lol!

We always do the route that majherle mentioned...never really thought about it before as to why we do that, but yes the pullouts are easier.

If for some reason you miss eating at Timberline (definitely stop there anyway) and want to eat soon, just head down the hill to Government Camp to Huckleberry Inn. It is a dive sort of place, but with a die hard following.

What is your idea of a short hike?

All your input are very valuable. More homework for me. A short hike is less than 3 miles and preferably not too strenuous.

I am not sure exactly what it is called, but there is a small Forest Service informational area at Multnomah Falls at the lodge next to the gift shop at the lodge. There is usually someone in there staffing it, and they can give you good information on hikes in the area. Tell them exactly what you are looking for and they will point you in the right direction, and give you a map.

Oneonta Gorge is a popular hike, but if you do this plan on getting dirty and wet!!

www.oregon.com/hiking/oneonta_gorge.cfm