Hi I am very excited to be coming to Oregon this summer in August. My husband and I will be flying into Portland and landing Tuesday afternoon. We plan to drive straight to Hood River (depending on time we will make a few stops on way to see the scenery). Then Wednesday we plan to go to the gorge and waterfalls. (I know we need a pass for Multnomah falls) Which hikes are not to be missed? Plan to sleep again in Hood River and then Thursday go to Mt hood and drive the fruit loop. What are the not to be missed hikes there? We need to be back in Portland Friday afternoon and it looks like if we go back to Hood river we are back tracking. So should we just head to Portland Thursday night (rather then Friday afternoon?) is there something else we should do in the Mt. hood vicinity that we are missing by doing that? (On Sunday we plan to go to the coast and go straight to the airport from there on Tuesday, for now focusing on this portion of trip)

En route to Hood River, drive over the Bridge of the Gods @ Casade Locks. This famous toll bridge crosses the highly scenic Columbia River Gorge linking Oregon with Washington. Built in 1926, the bridge is a part of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail and is named from a Native American legend.

Thanks for the idea? is there anything to do close by on the other side?

I'd recommend visiting the Maryhill Museum of Art, which is located off WA 14, the main road on the north bank of the Columbia. The museum is roughly an hour east of Hood River, and is a remarkable place, built by Sam Hill, who also created the ("historic") Columbia River Highway, the one that goes past all the waterfalls in the "waterfall zone" of the gorge. It has a pretty eclectic range of exhibits, notably a number of works by Rodin, including plaster studies the sculptor made enroute to "The Thinker" and other famous works.

The museum also boasts an outstanding collection of Native American arts and artifacts, and a remarkable exhibit of French fashion mannequins from 1946, when the postwar shortage of fabrics dictated that the Parisian fashion houses rely on miniature versions of their outfits, set in scenes designed by the Paris Opera set designers. Pretty amazing.

The museum is set in beautiful grounds on a bluff above the great river. Maryhill is on the "dry" side of the Cascades, red rock and sagebrush country that is vastly different from the "wet" side. (Hood River is roughly at the convergence of the two climate zones.) WA 14 is a VERY scenic road, especially westbound, passing red cliffs and excellent "old west" scenery, with Mount Hood in the distance.

A couple of minutes east of the museum is a replica of Stonehenge, built as a WW1 war memorial by Sam Hill. It's a curious relic, in a stupendous setting. The whole trip is really worthwhile.

Maryhill Museum of Art - Maryhill Museum of Art

We really enjoyed the Eagle Creek Trail on the way to/from Multnomah Falls from Hood River. Also liked visiting the Bonneville dam nearby, see Herman the sturgeon, fish ladders, and the visitor center. Don't know anything about Washington side.

Last trip we stayed a night at the Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood and really liked it, might make sense for Thursday night. Historic lodge in beautiful location, don’t’ expect luxury though clean/basic/rustic rooms and cool common areas

I looked at the map and I am confused. Would we need to drive over the bridge to get to the museum?
Not sure where it would fit into our itinerary even though now I really want to go to the stone hedge part. So I'm thinking maybe we could drive straight to the memorial from the airport. (we are landing at 2) Then Wednesday go to the gorge, drive over the bridge and do some hiking? is that too much in a day? we definitely want to at least hike to the top of Multnomah falls and see some other water falls. IF it is maybe we should do our waterfall hiking on Wednesday, Thursday go to Mt hood and Friday morning on the way back to Portland go to the gorge and over the bridge. There is so much we want to do and so little time. We have to be back in Portland my 3ish on Friday afternoon TIA

I have heard good things about Timberland lodge but hesitate to move to another hotel. I'm considering going back to Portland Thursday night to avoid moving so many times.

i am noticing that the time I am posting is not my local time? When i googled it like you guys have two time zones??!! is Mt hood ,Portland and the coast all in one time zone?

The Bridge of the Gods is at Cascade Locks, which is west of Hood River. To get to Maryhill from Hood River you could cross the Columbia at Hood River (to White Salmon WA) then east on WA 14, or you could just head east on I-84 to US 97, then across the Columbia and you're very close to Stonehenge. I'd then return to Hood River on WA 14 to White Salmon, then across the bridge to Hood River and you're done. As i said above, the views from WA 14 driving westbound are excellent.

Just me, but the Bridge of the Gods is lovely but not worth a special detour.

So sounds like we could go to Merryhill straight from the airport. Next day go to the gorge/waterfalls and then in day 3 go to Mt hood area and drive back to Portland.

I think driving out on the Historic Columbia Hwy (it has been closed but I believe it is now open) is nice. Check out the Vista House (amazing view) and all the waterfalls. Multnomah Falls is the highlight. Then you can hit Hood River, maybe do lunch at Double Mountain Brewery or pFriem. Then you can visit a winery or two near Mt Hood. I'd recommend Wy'East but there are plenty to choose from. In Portland there are tons of places to go and lots of great restaurants.

take a look at the Edgefield Hotel in Troutdale which is at the beginning of the Gorge and not far from the airport. It is a very unique hotel with a wine bar, brew pub, restaurants. Some day trips could be made from there. The Eagle Creek hike is nice. There was a big fire there a few years ago so not sure if the area has recovered. I think it gets pretty crowded on the weekend.

Thanks for all your help on the first portion of my trip. Next we will be heading to the coast. We will leave Portland Sunday morning and go straight to the airport Tuesday for a 9pm flight. I'm thinking that if we leave Portland and go to Yachats and then drive North (stopping on the way) to Lincoln City where will will stay. Then Monday and Tuesday we can continue exploring the coast using Tuesday to go to the further northern parts since its towards the airport. Should we be saving time for anything interesting on the way to the airport? (I know its better to drive north to south because of the pull offs but don't want to drive from the south to the airport) Any things we should make sure mot to miss? thanks

One of the prettiest beaches is just maybe 16 miles south of Yachats- Heceta Head at Devils Elbow State park. You do have to pay to park. There is a trail up to one of the prettiest lighthouses in Oregon. It’s the one you always see in pictures of Oregon. Great views. It’s worth the short extra drive.

In Newport a lunch or dinner spot is Clearwaters. If it’s a nice day you can sit outside on the deck- it’s on the bay with nice views, the sea lions might be sleeping on the docks. Another good place is Local Ocean. Not a great view but local seafood.

As you go further north to Depoe Bay, you could stop at Tidal Raves restaurant. It’s wise to get a reservation if you plan lunch or dinner. If you saw the movie “ One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” the scene where they escape the state hospital to go fishing was filmed here. Depoe Bay is a good place to go whale watching and they have been seeing Orcas lately.
Hope the weather will be good.

Below are the two days we spent driving down the Oregon coast. On the second one, we visited Haceta Head. Pretty hike from the parking lot to the lighthouse.

https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/cha...-oregon-coast/

https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/cha...-oregon-coast/

Thanks for all the great replies.
still planning, I’m sure I’ll be back with more questions.

Oregon Coast Magazine has a guide to the Oregon coast- Mile by Mile. You might find helpful in planning. As you go north from Lincoln City the road goes inland for a bit so not so much to see. Manzanita and Cannon Beach are fun to explore. Cannon Beach is more upscale town with lots of shops, restaurants and it gets very busy!
Enjoy!

Hi If I will be coming from Hood river (and going back there at the end of the day) i am trying to figure out the order I should do things in terms of going to the river gorge and the various waterfalls. I am concerned about how the road closure is going to effect things. I was hoping to get to Multnomah falls early so parking wont be an issue and then hiking to the top. (I am going to get a permit for as early as possible) Are some of the falls a connected loop where we can hike from one to the other? on the map I have it looks like I could hike from wahkeena falls to Multnomah falls. I'd love to also hike to bridal veil falls and Latrourell falls as those seem like relatively short hikes.

I recommend booking a white water rafting and wine tour. It is an amazing and unique way to experience the Columbia Gorge. Here I share some information about it. I hope it helps. Have a great trip!

I am just dropping by with a few odds & ends. Yachats is my parents favorite Oregon coast spot. but I think the entire Willamette Valley (wineries, nuts fams, etc.) is very beautiful. I would say 'unique' but in summer time reminds me a bit of Vermont!

Just depends where you happen to be exactly. Between Corvallis and the coast (say you 'hang a right on Rt 34') stunning. Mary's Peak could check that out. Eugene interesting and has a fairly substantial airport. Farmer's Markets in Corvallis, Philomath (on the way to the coast) just lots of fun low-key places that maybe don't make the guidebooks. I have family there is why I'm a bit familiar.
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