Columbia River Gorge questions
 

I’m researching a trip to the Columbia River Gorge area and have some questions that hopefully some of you can help answer.
1. Is there much of a difference in weather between late August vs. mid-Sept? How much rain could there be?
2. Is there any part of Highway 14 on the Washington side that’s worth driving through between Portland and Hood River?
3. Has anyone taken one of those river cruises (Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler) that departs from Cascade Locks? Is it interesting or worth it?

Rain shouldn't be a problem in either time frame. The Gorge can get quite toasty in the summer, hotter the farther east you go. Hood River is roughly at the transition point between western WA/OR (wet, green) and central/eastern parts - more arid and sagebrush.

The most scenic parts of WA 14 are east of Hood River, between Hood River and Maryhill (and those parts are very scenic indeed.) Between Vancouver and Hood River, it's a pleasant alternative to I-84, but not especially scenic. Of course the "historic" highway on the Oregon side above the freeway is the real gem.

Haven't taken the sternwheeler so can't comment.

Well, we were there in late September and the weather in Portland was dry and sunny and warm. We drove ourselves going some distance east into the gorge, then back along the other side of the river, then out the next day to Astoria. Sorry I do not remember the routes. But this year, the Pacific weather is like none other in many a year, who knows.

I agree with the other two posts. As far as the Sternwheeler, we did it years ago. It was ok but I would really only recommend it if you have extra time you are trying to kill. It isn't bad, but there are many other things to see and do that are much better IME.

<i>Is there any part of Highway 14 on the Washington side that’s worth driving through between Portland and Hood River?</i>

Many years ago while fighting several lanes of traffic on I-84, I noticed a few cars driving on the other side of the river. I was intrigued, crossed the river on The Bridge of the Gods, liked what I found, and I have not driven on I-84 since except to see the waterfalls or to go to towns in eastern Oregon, Idaho, and beyond.

I always prefer a two-lane road, and I find WA-14 to be a great drive from Washougal to Maryhill and vice versa.

At one point not far east of Washougal the highway rises and there is a place to pull out to enjoy expansive views of the Columbia River.

A little farther east is Beacon Rock, a landmark named by Lewis and Clark in 1805.

The rest of the drive east passes though several small towns and offers many beautiful views of the river and Mt. Hood.

HTtY

I drove across the Bridge of the Gods ($2) on Saturday and went west on 14 past the Bonneville dam to an event in North Bonneville. Leaving the event, I drove east on 14 all the way to the Hood River bridge ($1). After getting gas in Hood River (cheaper gas) I drove up Rt. 35 past some nice orchards to US 26.
Washington will be doing a lot of road work on 14 in the next month so it will be nice by mid August.
The steel grate bridges (BoG and Hood River) are old, narrow and scary.
I took a couple of pictures of about a hundred kite surfers and sailboarders from along the tracks on the north side of the Columbia River opposite Hood River.
Most of the times I looked at Mt. Hood, the fog was rolling of the snow.
The drive on the Historic US 30 route on the Oregon side is much better than anything I saw on the Washington side IMO.

Took the sternwheeler last summer. Agree with MMS. Too much else to do. We wished we had taken more time with Timberline Lodge/Mt. Hood, the wine/fruit orchard tour around Hood River, the brewpubs of Hood River, and the hikes along Historic Route 30 and the various falls.

The heavy traffic on I-84 is clear evidence that it is favored over WA-14, but I prefer a more intimate experience. Here are notes I made following a stay in Hood River two or three years ago:

Columbia River Gorge a few days ago, this is what struck me as impressively beautiful:

*The drive from Washougal to the Hood River Bridge on WA-14.
*The view from Cape Horn--nine miles east of Washougal.
*OR-35 from Hood River to Parkdale.
*The loop Moisier to The Dalles on Old Highway 30 returning to Mosier on 7 Mile Hill Road.
*The loop Bingen to Klicitat, Goldendale, and Maryhill, returning to the Hood River Bridge on WA-14.
*Sitting at the foot of Multnomah Falls for an hour or so early on the morning of July 15.
*The view from Vista House, near Corbett.

I can't rank these because they were all scenic and beautiful in their own way.

<i>Is there much of a difference in weather between late August vs. mid-Sept? How much rain could there be?</i>

Hood River average high and low are 80/52 in August and 74/47 in September, and average average rain fall is 0.3 inches in August and 1.1 inches in September--according to weatherbase.com

Fair weather is likely in mid-September.

HTtY

Thanks for all the responses. I think we can skip out on the Sternwheeler and do the fruit loop drive instead, along with some of the other areas that have been suggested.

For details re normal history of temperatures, rain, cloudiness, etc, shown in graphs where you can see by the day rather than by the month, see Weatherspark.com
Most sites show only the monthly averages. Sept. is a shoulder month that varies greatly from the start to the end.
For Hood Roiver, see https://weatherspark.com/y/1228/Aver...-United-States