FloridaLaura

My hubby and I will be traveling from Spokane to the Columbia river gorge on our way to the oregon coast. We are heading out early morning Labor Day and should arrive at 1pm near the columbia river gorge. Since it is a holiday should we expect big crowds??Coming in from the east, which falls should we stop at to view closer and explore, or any other stops you might think are beautiful.

Which hotels would you recommend on the western side of the highway. Since we will be heading out to the coast in the morning I would like to have some of the driving out of the way. We think we will have about 4-5 hours to spend around the river and the waterfalls. What order would you make the stops. Any restaurants recommendations for that evening near a hotel/motel would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. I know I will have lots more questions as we get closer to our trip out west!

Andrew

Multnomah Falls will be mobbed Labor Day weekend, since it is the most visited tourist attraction in Oregon and is very easy to get to directly from I-84. The Highway will be busy I'm sure but the other falls will likely be less busy than Multnomah Falls.

I'd get off I-84 at what looks like (from Google Maps) exit 35, Ainsworth St. Park, and continue on the Columbia River Highway west to Multnomah Falls (which has separate parking from the I-84 exit, probably less crowded), then continue on the Highway (can't get back on I-84 from the Highway there anyway) west through the woods past several other falls (Latourell, Wahkeena, etc.) and then eventually up to Crown Point (great view down back into the Gorge) and the Women's Forum (view of the Gorge + Crown Point) and then west on the highway to Troutdale.

It's really an easy drive to the Oregon Coast from Portland, so it's really up to you where you want to stay. Only about a half hour from the Gorge to Portland, so I'm not sure it saves you tons of time driving west past Portland or something and staying overnight there.

I like to recommend the McMenamins Edgefield in Troutdale as a neat place to visit and perhaps stay (European-style hotel), a unique complex of bars, restaurants, (and hotel rooms) in a renovated old "poor farm" with a lot of history to it. But the "European style" hotel (shared bathrooms) isn't for everyone. This place is definitely worth a stop for dinner or just to walk around the grounds and the hallways of the main building and check out the murals, at very least.

Otherwise, I'd probably just stay in Portland.

beachbum

Piggy-backing on Andrew's recommendations, there's no reason not to stop at Horsetail Falls before Multnomah. It's just steps from the Historic Highway. After Multnomah (heading west) my favorites are Wahkeena and Bridal Veil; both involve a short walk. There are a couple others that can be seen from roadside parking lots, so again, no reason not to stop at those.

Ditto to Andrew's other comments, especially the McMenamin's Edgefield recommendation. It's a uniquely Oregon kind of place. But as he stated, downtown Portland would also work, and you'd have lots of options for great meals if you went that way.

beachbum

Oops! I meant to provide a link: http://www.columbiariverhighway.com/...er_highway.pdf.

FloridaLaura

Thanks so much for all the info. The map will be handy too! I am really hoping the crowds arent too overwhelming. I was hoping to arrive there on Tuesday following labor day which will cut down on the crowds but then shortens our coastal time and we hated to do that. Thanks again, any more info please keep it coming!

happytrailstoyou

I did not read the other replies.

We prefer views of the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood from WA 14. Were I making this trip, I would drive WA 14 from Maryhill (museum and winery) to the bridge at Cascade Locks and I would pick up the historic highway at Dodson, OR.