We drove up the Columbia River Gorge to do some hiking and take photos of the amazing scenery. The Columbia River Gorge has the greatest concentration of high waterfalls in North America. We were able to visit three of them in a short day’s drive, and still had time for some other amazing stops.
The first waterfall we visited was Horsetail Falls. It’s incredibly easy to visit, as it is visible just off the Historic Columbia River Highway about 30 miles up from Portland.
Horsetail Falls from the highway
Look for a small parking lot marked as the Horsetail Falls trailhead, just after the tunnel after exit 31. Caution, this is a very popular hike so the parking fills up very early.
Horsetail Falls
Horsetail Falls is an impressive 214-foot drop with a pool at its base. The basalt cliffs alongside the falls are a striking contrast to the falls. We didn’t realize it at the time, but the trail continues another 0.4 miles up the hillside to Ponytail Falls. Ponytail Falls is smaller, but very picturesque, and the trail actually passes under the falls for a unique experience.
The next falls we visited was Wahclella Falls. Wahclella Falls Trail offers a relatively easy, 2.4 mile out-and-back day hike with 320 feed of elevation gain through a slot canyon.
The Wahclella Falls trailhead is just off the Historic Columbia River Highway, about 10 miles further along than Horsetail Falls. The trail begins on an old, gated road alongside Tanner Creek. Shortly after starting the hike the trail crosses a tributary stream showcasing a dramatic smaller waterfall called Munra Falls.
At the end of the trail lies Wahclella Falls, a beautiful 350-foot two-tiered plunging waterfall. The upper falls are 15-25 feet, while the lower 60-foot “horsetail” style falls plummets into an enormous splash pool below.
Wahclella Falls
After leaving Wahclella Falls, we continued on the Historic Columbia River Highway until we met the turnoff for the Mount Hood Scenic Byway. This is a short detour from the Columbia River Gorge.
Mount Hood
The drive up the Byway was spectacular, with several amazing overlooks of both Mount Hood and Mount St Helens.
Mount St Helens
There are two ski areas on Mount Hood, Timberline and Mt. Hood Meadows. We visited Timberline because it was the site of the Mount Hood overlook, as well as the Historic Timberline Lodge which was used in filming of the movie the Shining.
It’s an easy drive into and out of Timberline, and there are several amazing view points close by to the main parking lot.
View of Mt St Helens from Timberline Ski Area
Timberline is also the home of the Timberline Lodge, an amazing lodge that was built in 1937. The 55,000 square foot lodge is nestled on the side of Mount Hood at 6,000 feet, and is listed as a national historic landmark. It’s also famous as the filming location for The Shining, and gets its share of tourists trying to relive moments from the movie. The Ram’s Head Bar on the second floor is definitely worth a stop. It surrounds a huge stone chimney, and offers outstanding views of Mount Hood and Mount Jefferson. They also have a great selection of locally-inspired cocktails and Mt. Hood Brewing Co. microbrews. Read more about the lodge here: Timberline Lodge
Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood
After leaving Mount Hood and rejoining the Historic Columbia River Highway we crossed over to the North side of the Columbia River Gorge to drive back towards Portland. Our next stop was Beacon Rock State Park. Beacon Rock is an 848-foot tall basalt column that towers over the gorge. It was originally called “Che-Che-op-tin,” which translates to “the navel of the world.” But, it was renamed Beacon Rock by the Lewis and Clark party when they were exploring the area in 1805.
Beacon Rock is a striking landmark in the area, since the area around it is relatively flat. It can be frequently seen from both sides of the river, as the road winds in and out of the trees.
Beacon Rock State Park
The hike to the top of Beacon Rock is only 2 miles round trip. But, you do climb the majority of the 848 feet up the rock over the course of the hike. The trail is a series of boardwalks, stairs, and trial segments that make it seem like less of a climb than it really is.
Hike up Beacon Rock
The payoff is simply amazing views in all directions, including both directions of the Columbia River Gorge.
View from top of Beacon Rock
The Columbia River Gorge is truly a national treasure. Just a short drive from Portland and it’s like you’re in another world. Everything is beautiful blues and greens and super scenic. Definitely a great place to explore if you’re in the great Northwest.
