Columbia River Gorge

Best time to visit: Year Around

Recommended Hikes: Tunnel Falls, Wiesendanger Falls, Wahclella Falls, Tamanawas Falls

Ideal For: Hiking, Backpacking, Camping, Wind Surfing, Paddle Boarding

Where to stay: Anywhere between Portland and Hood River, on the Oregon side of the river.

Park Website

Useful Info:

• Dogs - the Columbia River Gorge is more dog-friendly than National Parks. Most trails in the Gorge allow leashed dogs.

• Oneonta Gorge is currently closed, but the hike to Punchbowl Falls and Tunnel Falls (Eagle Creek Trailhead) his now open after 4 years of closure.

• There are no official park gates, but a fee is still required when parking at any Columbia River Gorge trailhead. A day pass is $5 dollars and can be deposited at trail heads with cash or purchased in advance. Federal National Park annual passes are accepted.

• AVOID crossing the Multnomah Falls area on the Historic Columbia River Highway - use I-84 instead. The Multnomah area is a mad-house and it can take really long to get through it in a car. You can use the Historic Columbia River Highway further east to access Oneonta Gorge, Horsetail Falls, and Elowah Falls without having to pass the Multnomah area.

• Hiking paths in the gorge are hard on the feet. They are well-developed, but often studded with jagged volcanic rocks that pop up above the dirt. Make sure to wear sturdy hiking shoes - no sandals!

• There are two bridges that cross the Columbia River in the towns of Hood River and Cascade Locks. Both are toll bridges which cost a view dollars per crossing.

• Cascade Locks is a small town with a grocery store and a few options for food. Hood River is a bigger town with more lodging and dining options.

• Drinking water is available at campgrounds in the gorge and at Multnomah Falls, but not at trail-heads. Bring your water bottle to fill up.

• There is no shuttle service at the Columbia River Gorge.

The Columbia River Gorge is famous for lush green vegetation and abundant waterfalls. The gorge is close to Portland and it can be seen as a long day-trip from the city. Summer provides the best chance of sun… rain and clouds are common in the spring, fall, and winter.

Must See Attractions:

The waterfalls of the gorge are the main attraction. Some of them are right next to the highway, while others require miles of hiking to reach. They are often small but remarkably pretty and diverse.

Multnomah Falls - The tallest and most famous waterfall in the gorge. This is the waterfall with "the bridge" that you have likely seen in photos. It can be seen from I-84 as you drive past, and it's the first major attraction you'll see if coming from Portland. You can hike all the way to the top of the waterfall or just see it from the bridge at its base. This is by far the most crowded area of the Gorge. 

Parking at Multnomah Falls - There is a big parking area near Multnomah Falls, which is accessible from I-84 from the LEFT LANE of I-84 in both directions. This is the parking area to use - from here it's a short walk under the highway to the waterfall. AVOID trying to park right next to Multnomah on the Historic Columbia River Highway (which is where google maps might take you). This road is very narrow and there is extremely limited parking here compared to the big lot off of I-84. You will get caught in a major traffic jam if you try to use this smaller lot.

Horsetail Falls - Right next to Oneonta Gorge and right along the Historic Columbia River Highway. There is a small parking lot here to stop and see the waterfall. 

Elowah Falls - At over 200 feet, Elowah is impressively tall. The water-flow of Elowah ranges dramatically from a wisp in late summer to a roaring drop during wet months. You can extend the hike to see Upper McCord Creek Falls, but it's not a must-see compared to Elowah. Read more about the hike to Elowah Falls here.

Wahclella Falls - This is a shorted waterfall but it flows from a deep canyon which is really impressive. Seeing Wahclella Falls requires about 2 miles of hiking which is well worth the effort. Read more about it here.

Silver Falls State Park - Worth mentioning as it is very similar to the Gorge, although it is further south near the town of Salem, Oregon. If you only have one day, I actually recommend Silver Falls instead of the Gorge. There is an incredible hike here called the "Trail of Ten Falls" which features 10 waterfalls that can all be seen in one day.

Where to Stay:

If you are visiting Portland, the Gorge can be done as a long day trip. You should have enough time to see a few major waterfalls and do one of the shorter hikes in a single day. 

Hood River is closer to the waterfalls than Portland, but it will still be a daily drive of about 20 minutes, one way. There are numerous lodging options, as well as activities for visitors, including windsurfing on the Columbia River.

There are several campgrounds along the stretch of the gorge in between Portland and Hood River. One of them can be reserved online in advance here.

Hiking in the Columbia River Gorge

Tunnel Falls - This hike was just reopened in summer 2021, having previously been closed since a 2017 wildfire. A great turn-around point for the hike is Tunnel Falls, a large waterfall with a cool tunnel that runs behind it. If you reach this area, there is another big waterfall a little further up the trail thats worth seeing as well. Use the “Eagle Creek” trailhead to start this hike.

Multnomah Falls Loop to Wahkeena Falls - This is a good long hike that passes 4 major waterfalls, including the top of Multnomah Falls. Park at the Multnomah main lot and start either up to the top of Multnomah Falls or west towards Wahkeena Falls - the trails are well marked. The other two waterfalls on the loop are Fairy Falls and Wiesendager Falls, both are really cool. Read more about the hike here.

Tamanawas Falls - This one requires a further drive - the trailhead is about 30 miles south of Hood River along Highway 35. Tamanawas Falls stands out from most Gorge waterfalls as it is really wide with heavy water flow. The rock recedes behind the waterfall, so hikers can scramble up to the cavern behind it if physically able. Read more about the hike here.

Dry Creek Falls - A decent hike but not quite as cool as the ones mentioned above. The hike is a small section of Pacific Crest Trail which crosses the Columbia River at Cascade Locks. This is a good place to find some solitude. Dry Creek Falls is a nice endpoint, but it’s the only waterfall on the hike.

Crater Lake National Park

Best time to visit: Summer

Recommended Hikes: Wizard Island, Garfield Peak, Mount Scott, Rim Trail, the Watchman

Ideal For: Camping, Auto-Touring, Hiking

Where to stay: Hotels or campgrounds in the park

Park Website - Park Map

Useful Info:

• Dogs - the general rule for dogs in national parks is that they must be leashed and are only allowed on paved areas, which includes parking areas, roads, and front country campgrounds. Dogs are not allowed on park trails, even when leashed.

• The south entrance to Crater Lake NP is open year around. During winter, there is one small viewpoint to see the lake - everything else is covered in deep snow. The north entrance to the park and the west rim drive open in late May or early June, and the east rim drive usually opens in early July. These roads close each year on November 1, or earlier if there is heavy snowfall.

• Boat tours on the lake run when the east rim drive is open, which is roughly from July - September. Advanced reservations can be made online here.

• All boat tours leave from Fleetwood Cove on the north side of the lake. To reach the lakeshore, visitors must hike down (and up) about 700 vertical feet from the rim. This is the only place where you can access the lake's shore.

• There is limited lodging, gas, and food available at Rim Village and Mazama Village on the south side of the lake.

• Crater Lake can be seen as a long day-trip if you are driving through Oregon. Even just an hour or two here will leave a lasting impression.

• Drinking water is available at the developed areas on the south side of the lake - bring your water bottle to fill up.

Crater Lake is arguably the prettiest lake on Earth. The lake's blue color is intensely deep and vibrant, almost redefining the color itself. The park receives heavy snowfall each year, making winter and spring less than ideal times to visit. Summer is by far the best time to visit for good weather and access to the park's rim road and hiking trails. Boat tours run around the lake and to Wizard Island during the summer half of the year.

Must See Attractions:

Rim Road - There is a road that goes around the entire lake which has a ton of viewpoints - they are all worth stopping at if you have the time. Driving the full loop will take about an hour, not including stops. The entire loop is only open from July - October, but the western portion of it is open for longer. Read more about road access in the useful info below.

Wizard Island - When the boat tours are running, you can visit Wizard Island - a cinder cone volcano that rises up out of the lake. There is great hiking here to the top of the cinder cone and to Fumarole Bay, which has a swimming dock. Wizard Island is also a popular spot for fishing. You can book boat tours online in advance here. 

Phantom Ship - A cool little island on the south side of the lake. There is a viewpoint to see it which requires a short hike called "Sun Notch". Some of the boat tours go to this part of the lake also if you want to see Phantom Ship up close.

The Pinnacles - An area of jagged volcanic rock formations a few miles south of the lake. There is a single out and back road the runs to the Pinnacles overlook from the east rim drive.

Where to Stay:

There are cabins and a campground at Manzama Village on the south side of the lake - click here for the website. There is also a historic hotel called the "Crater Lake Lodge" which sits on the south rim. It has a restaurant, deck, and rooms that have views of the lake. The lodge can be booked online here. Book as early as possible - everything fills up in advance. 

There is also a small, first-come-first-served campsite in the park called Lost Creek Campground, but it only has a handful of campsites. It is located on the road which runs out to the Pinnacles.

If you can't secure affordable lodging in the park, the small city of Klamath Falls is about an hour's drive south of the park. 

Hiking in Crater Lake:

There are a handful of hikes that climb to peaks surrounding the rim, including the Watchman, Garfield Peak, and Mount Scott. All of them are covered in snow well into the summer, so they are best done during late summer or early autumn.

The Watchman is the shortest of the three hikes and leads to a nice viewpoint high above Wizard Island. The trail is well maintained is a good option for anyone who wants to reach a highpoint without too much effort. Read more about the hike here.

Garfield Peak is a longer hiking option and my personal favorite in the park. The peak offers great views of the lake and is a good vantage point to see the Phantom Ship island. Read more about the hike to Garfield Peak here.

Mount Scott is the longest hiking option in the park and it reaches the highest peak in the park as well. While the hike is fun, it’s worth noting that the view from the peak is pretty far from the lake and doesn’t quite compare to the close-up views at Garfield Peak or the Watchman. There is a fire lookout station at the peak and great views of the landscape surrounding the crater. Read more about the hike here.

There is another great trail that runs along the rim from the Rim Village to the Watchman on the crater's south-west side. This hike is perfect for getting out of the car and away from the crowds with continuous views of the lake as you hike. This trail is relatively flat compared to the three peaks discussed above.

Wizard Island - only accessible via boat tour during summer months. The summit of the cinder cone is an awesome short hike, and if you move quickly, you can also see Fumarole Bay on a standard 3-hour visit.