A practical Mount Hood and Columbia River Gorge road trip itinerary from Portland: waterfalls, Hood River, Timberline Lodge, driving legs and how to pace the loop.
Oregon packs two of America's great drives into one easy loop from Portland: the waterfall-lined Historic Columbia River Highway through the Gorge, and the Mount Hood Scenic Byway up to Timberline Lodge. This Mount Hood and Columbia River Gorge road trip itinerary breaks the 105-mile circuit into a relaxed six days, with short driving legs and a clear sense of where to linger.
The loop starts and finishes in Portland. Driven clockwise, it runs east along the Columbia River Gorge past Crown Point and the waterfall corridor, through Cascade Locks to Hood River, then turns south on Highway 35 to round Mount Hood. You climb to Timberline Lodge before dropping back to Portland on Highway 26. The whole circuit is only about 105 miles, so the trip is less about distance and more about how often you stop.
This is a scenic, experience-led drive rather than a hard adventure. It suits travellers who like waterfalls and short hikes, orchard and cider tastings, and one big alpine view, with easy driving in between. Any car copes in summer. The only real demand is care on the mountain roads once snow returns.
Six days is a comfortable pace that lets the Gorge and the mountain breathe. With less time you can drive the headline version in a long day, but you will skip the hikes and tastings that make it memorable. With more time, add nights for trails around Mount Hood or a run east to the drier landscapes near The Dalles.
Collect your car, walk the waterfront, and stock up. On a clear evening Mount Hood appears on the skyline, a preview of the far side of the loop.
Follow the Historic Columbia River Highway past the Vista House at Crown Point and a run of waterfalls: Latourell, Bridal Veil, Wahkeena and 620-foot Multnomah Falls. Start at sunrise to beat the crowds, and reserve a summer timed-use permit for Multnomah in advance.
Cross under the Bridge of the Gods and ride the Columbia Gorge sternwheeler, then watch salmon climb the fish ladders at Bonneville Dam. This is where the Gorge wind really begins to build.
The adventure hub of the Gorge and the best base on the loop. Watch the windsurfers, drive the 35-mile Hood River Fruit Loop through orchards and cider houses, and taste local wine with Mount Hood on the horizon. Two nights stops the trip feeling rushed.
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Turn south on Highway 35 to round 11,245-foot Mount Hood and climb to Timberline Lodge, a hand-built 1938 landmark with summer skiing and a huge stone fireplace. Detour to Trillium Lake for the classic reflection, then descend Highway 26 through Government Camp and Sandy to close the loop in Portland.
Front-load your time in the Gorge, which is slower and busier, and keep the mountain day flexible for weather. Two nights in Hood River is the key to an unhurried trip; everything else can be a single night.
June to early October offers open mountain roads, long daylight and the best chance of a clear summit. July and August are busiest in the Gorge, so book accommodation ahead and start waterfall stops early. Outside summer, the Mount Hood section may need traction tyres or chains.
This is a self-drive loop on good roads: I-84 and the Historic Columbia River Highway in the Gorge, then OR-35 and US-26 over the mountain. Any car is fine in summer. The Bridge of the Gods at Cascade Locks is a narrow metal-grate toll crossing, so take it slowly, and check Oregon TripCheck for mountain conditions before you climb.
Gorge trailhead lots fill early and parking is tight, so arrive at sunrise or use summer shuttles. Weather on Mount Hood changes fast, even in summer, so carry layers. Watch for high winds near Hood River, and keep an eye on fire-season closures, which can affect Gorge trails in late summer.
Ready to plan it in detail? Use our full Mount Hood and Columbia River Gorge route below to see every stop, driving leg and overnight on the map.
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The full route — stops, maps, and driving times — is on Routebook by Kington.
A 6-day scenic loop from Portland that pairs two famous Oregon byways: the waterfall-lined Historic Columbia River Highway through the Gorge and the Mount Hood Scenic Byway up to Timberline Lodge.
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