Exploring Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge

Lodging Packages Falls Tour Saint Helens

Mount Hood. An outdoor utopia along the Columbia River, 20 minutes from Portland, Mount Hood is the tallest mountain in Oregon – standing at 11,237 feet. A stratovolcano of lava flows and domes, Mt. Hood is popular with skiers, hikers, and climbers, and is the most climbed glaciated peak in North America. Crater Rock, a rocky pinnacle below the summit, is the most recent lava dome.

Mt. Hood National Forest. Encompassing 1,067,043 acres, Mt. Hood National Forest is a playground for skiing, snowboarding, biking, hiking, camping, fishing, boating, and hunting. Fish in the countless streams, enjoy a hot chocolate at Timberland Lodge high atop Mt. Hood and enjoy limitless views. The Mt. Hood National Forest extends from the Columbia River Gorge across 60 miles of forested mountains, lakes and streams to Olallie Scenic Area. Rewarding destinations are Timberline Lodge, Lost Lake, Trillium Lake, Timothy Lake, Rock Creek Reservoir, the Old Oregon Trail, and the Mt. Hood Wilderness.

Hiking Mount Hood. The dramatic drop from Mt. Hood’s forest to the Columbia River offers the highest concentration of waterfalls in the world, offering beautiful hikes through temperate rainforests to cascading rivers. For the energetic hiker, the Columbia Gorge Trail which stretches 35 miles through the Gorge - is one of the most spectacular distance trails in the country - ranging from the misty and mossy to the exposed and rocky. The trail includes the nation's most beautiful waterfalls, old-growth forest, sheer basalt cliffs, stunning narrow creek gorges and sublime views of the Columbia River. This multi-day trail extends from Portland to the Hood River. Enjoy a wonderful family hike up Tanner Creek past the beautiful Wahclella Falls.

Mt. Hood Loop Tour. The Mt. Hood Loop tour winds you around the foot of Mt. Hood, over streams, through thickly wooded forests and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and past grand, cascading waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls. This two-hour tour will give you a taste of the recreational opportunities available in the Hood River area. At Panorama Point, you can see the finest views of beautiful forests, scenic Mt. Hood, and the fruit orchards of the Hood River Valley.

Mt. Hood Ski Resorts. Ski or snowboard on miles of excellent downhill ski trails, marked cross-country ski trails and all-terrain areas at the Mount Hood Ski Area.

• The highest ski area on Mount Hood, the Timberline Ski Area (503-272-3311) offers excellent skiing, cross-country and snowboarding, and has a slope that is open through summer. After a day on the slopes, relax and dine at the historic Timberline Lodge, which was built during the Depression.
• The largest ski resort on Mount Hood, Mount Hood Meadows (503-337-2222) features more than 2,000 skiable acres, 2,777 vertical feet, and a variety of terrain for incredible downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding. The ultimate cross-country skiing on Mt. Hood is at the Nordic Center at Mount Hood Meadows, which has groomed trails, and at Teacup Lake along Oregon 35.
• Mt. Hood SkiBowl (503-272-3206) offers 1,500 vertical feet of skiing and has more expert slopes than any other ski area on the mountain. SkiBowl is one of the largest lighted ski areas in the country, and offers awesome cross-country skiing. You'll find ski and snowboard rental shops on the way from Portland to Mount Hood, as well as the ski areas.  [Top]

Mt. Saint Helens. On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted. Shaken by an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, the north face of this tall symmetrical mountain collapsed in a massive avalanche. Nearly 230 sq. miles of forest was blown away or buried beneath volcanic deposits. A mushroom-shaped column of ash rose thousands of feet skyward, turning day into night as gray ash fell over eastern Washington. The eruption lasted 9 hours, but Mount St. Helens and the surrounding landscape were dramatically changed forever. In 1982, Congress created the 110,000-acre National Volcanic Monument for research, recreation, and education. The Monument, which is left to respond naturally to disturbance, is a one-of-a-kind destination for mountain climbing, hiking, fishing and exploration. Visit www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm.

Experience Mount St. Helens. While Mount St. Helens is an enchanting destination for climbing, hiking, and fishing, the growth of the new lava dome inside the crater continues. In the heart of the blast zone, at 4,255 feet, Johnston Ridge Observatory’s interpretive displays portray the sequence of geologic events that transformed the landscape and a new era in the science of monitoring an active volcano and forecasting eruptions. Read eyewitness accounts from eruption survivors and take a ½-mile walk on the Eruption Trail. Experience breathtaking views of the lava dome, crater, pumice plain, and the landslide deposit, or see a wide-screen theater presentation and interpretive exhibits. Incredible hiking adventures await you in Seaquest State Park, which offers scenic camping, hiking and picnic areas, and the Silver Lake Wetlands Trail.

Tour Mount St. Helens. Experience a full-day luxury van tour of Mt. St. Helens. Learn about the Blast Zone and pyroclastic flow that changed the landscape forever. View the mighty volcano from the Johnson Ridge Observatory and see and feel its awe in the Multi Media Theater. The immense geological effects from the eruption of Mount St. Helens must be seen to be appreciated! Mount St. Helens tours include: a luxury van, narration and professional guides specializing in Pacific Northwest nature and history. Coach tours for large groups, conferences, and conventions can also be arranged. You’ll need two days to really enjoy this adventure.  [Top]