Columbia River Gorge
Tunnel Falls on the Eagle Creek Trail (Hike 30).
The Columbia River Gorge is home for many hikers in the Portland area. When I first moved to the Portland area many years ago, I found myself hiking primarily in the Gorge. Over the next several years I hiked almost every trail in the Gorge, and to this day the Gorge is my go-to destination when I cannot think of somewhere else to go. Presented here are nine of my favorite hikes in the Gorge; here you’ll find waterfalls, far-reaching views, spring and summer wildflowers, and many reminders of Oregon’s past and present. As you head east through the Gorge, the climate becomes much drier, becoming almost desert-like by the time you reach the Deschutes River.
Although most people visit the Gorge during the warmer months, the best time to explore the Gorge is between October and May. During fall and winter, the waterfalls run at their fullest, and the eastern Gorge is a fantastic place to escape the rainy doldrums of western Oregon in search of sunshine and blue skies. Spring brings frequent showers and sunbreaks to the Gorge, and wildflowers line every one of these trails. Summer in the Gorge can be very hot, especially east of Hood River. Rattlesnakes are frequently seen in the eastern Gorge in the spring and summer, particularly on hot days. Whenever you visit, you’ll be sure to find something to love on these hikes.
27. Angels Rest
28. Multnomah-Wahkeena Loop
29. Wahclella Falls
31. Chinidere Mountain
32. Mitchell Point
33. Mosier Twin Tunnels
34. Tom McCall Preserve
35. Deschutes River Trail