The peaceful tranquility of a mountaintop retreat like Chehalem Ridge B&B and its central location in Newberg, Oregon offers guests convenient day-tripping opportunities to must-see tourist attractions like the Columbia Gorge and Mount Hood. Here we lay out where to go, how to get there and what to do. We offer itineraries for a deep dive into hiking in the Gorge or around Mount Hood as well as a Boss Level itinerary for experiencing both of these natural wonders in one amazing day trip.
Hike the Falls of the Columbia Gorge - with Multnomah Falls
From the town of Newberg, the home of Chehalem Ridge B&B and the gateway to Willamette Valley Wine Country, day-trippers can drive to the most popular tourist destination in Oregon – Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. With water cascading 620 feet all year-round, it’s a magical sight to behold and easy to see why so many travelers make it a top priority on their convenient Oregon daytrip to the Gorge. Visiting the Gorge also gives you a break from wine tasting (in case you need it).
The Scenic Drive
For the most picturesque approach to the Columbia Gorge, take I-84 to Exit 22 for the town of Corbett and follow the Historic Columbia River Highway, a 2-lane windy road. While it can get a little congested during the summer, the scenery is worth the slow drive. The first vista point is the Portland Women’s Forum Overlook State Scenic Viewpoint where you can see the expanse of the Columbia River stretching east with the Vista House at Crown Point in the foreground. The road winds down to the Vista House, an octagonal building built in 1918 with a great view and a lovely little museum. (A State Park parking permit is required to park at Vista House.) You’ll have another 20 minutes of scenic driving along the “waterfall corridor”, with loads of waterfalls and their small parking areas. Each of these parking spots is free (more about that later) and has a sign indicating how much of a hike is involved at each trailhead.
Multnomah Falls
Towards the end of the “waterfall corridor”, you’ll find Multnomah Falls, which is majestic from the bottom viewpoint. We highly encourage you to undertake the 10-15 minute walk up the paved path to Benson Bridge in between the two sections of falls. Be prepared with your camera, and also a jacket as you will experience the spray from this massive cascade. The trail continues, unpaved, for a mile and 760 feet of elevation through 11 switchbacks, up to the top of the falls. However, we are firm believers that there are better hikes around other neighboring falls. The ranger station at the base of the falls (next to the bathrooms and coffee and ice cream), has maps and current information about nearby trails that lead to more than 7 other amazing waterfalls, like Wahkeena Falls and Latourell Falls. Pack a lunch for a picnic, visit their snack bar, or dine at the Multnomah Falls Lodge Restaurant.
Parking Logistics for Multnomah Falls
Beyond the free trailhead parking along the Historic Highway, parking at Multnomah Falls gets a little complicated. The small Multnomah Falls VIP lot that is accessible from the historic highway is $20 per car. The larger parking lot is accessible only from I-84, so if you’ve taken the scenic route described above, you’ll need to drive past the falls and get back on the freeway westbound to take Exit 31. (Not taking the scenic route? Head east on I-84 from Portland to Exit 31.) For this lot, a parking permit from recreation.gov is required between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends between 9am and 6pm. It is highly recommended that you plan your visit in the morning or the later afternoon. You can buy your parking permit online up to two weeks before your visit; same day permit availability is rare. (If you have our hike-worthy breakfast at 8, plan for 11 if taking the scenic route and 10 for the direct route.) The $2 permits are timed for entry but have no restrictions on how long you stay. The previously mentioned trailhead parking spots do not need the permit, though they do fill up.
Side Quest: Hood River
Thirty miles east of Multnomah Falls, where our route turns south to the Mountain, lies the lively watersport and beer loving town of Hood River. Beyond the breweries and kite surfing, it is also the starting point for more excursions to explore the Hood River Valley. The Mount Hood Railroad runs a scenic 45-minute train ride up into the valley with a layover near The Fruit Company and back to Hood River. They also have a 2-person railbike tour to The Fruit Company (takes a bit longer 😉). For a self-driving route around the valley, the Fruit Loop is a route that heads south out of the town, meandering through agricultural farmland filled with pear, apple, and cherry orchards, wineries, cideries and flower fields.
Hike Mt. Hood National Forest - with Timberline Lodge
Mount Hood is Oregon’s tallest active (but currently dormant) volcano, peaking out at over 11,000 feet. Most guests get their first peeks at it from the airplane window or from a winery vista, but the 1.1 million acres of the Mount Hood National Forest provides many more chances to get up close and personal with our spectacular mountain and Insta-worthy pics.
South Bound on Hwy 35:
Continuing with our clockwise route, you have entered a portion of the Fruit Loop, with orchards of pears, apples and cherries filling the landscape. Lavender fields, cideries, and wineries also abound. Pop into a farmstand for seasonal produce, small batch syrups, ice cream, and local artisan goods.
The first ranger station is just outside Parkdale. The rangers there can fill you in on trail about hiking options and current trail conditions. A favorite hike on that east side of the mountain is Tamawanas Falls.
East Bound on Hwy 26:
Coming direct from the B&B, Hwy 26 takes you south of the mountain first. Once free from the ‘burbs, you are quickly deep in the forest, with small communities abutting the road. History buffs can stretch their legs at the Oregon Trail 1845 Historic Marker. The Zig Zag ranger station is your info stop and Mirror Lake, where the mountain reflects in the lake with dazzling beauty, is a great hike. In the late summer, be on the lookout for huckleberries in the shady forested areas.
Timberline Lodge, also known as the exterior of the hotel from the 1980 movie The Shining, has hiking and biking trails in addition to skiing and dining options. It is also known for having the longest skiing season in North America, with ski camps using the Palmer Glacier all summer long. The road to the lodge has 1,000 feet of elevation gain, giving a closer view of the mountain, though in late fall and winter, the road often requires traction devices. At slightly lower elevations, the town of Government Camp has pubs and sporting equipment. Mt. Hood Meadows and Ski Bowl have winter and summer activities like hiking, mountain biking, and, our favorite, the ½ mile long alpine slide at Ski Bowl.
Boss Mode: the Whole Loop
So you want to see as much as possible in one day? It’s doable with less stops for hiking. Here’s how we’d build a day of the Gorge and Mount Hood with about 5 hours of driving in the summer (when we have sunset after 9pm). This includes time to take photos at Women’s Forum Overlook, see a few falls on the way to Multnomah Falls, hike to the Benson Bridge, a stop in Hood River for lunch, visiting some farmstands and Timberline Lodge, wrapping up with a stop at the Portland-tastic McMenamin’s Edgefield’s Black Rabbit restaurant for dinner. Whew.
Your Wine Country Hub for Outdoor Adventure in the Columbia Gorge & Mt Hood
Whew! We know sight-seeing is important when you visit a new part of the world. To help you get the most out of your time, your money and, let’s face it, your day’s worth of energy, stay with us at Chehalem Ridge B&B. Our location in the Northern Willamette Valley, offers guests a convenient central homebase for travel to Portland and the airport, the Oregon Coast, and the Colombia Gorge, and Mount Hood.
Add to that, our knowledgeable and talented innkeepers will be on hand to provide a 3-course gourmet breakfast each morning and provide you with invaluable expertise on our exciting corner of the world! Be sure to visit our website for more information on not only our lodging experience, but wine country, restaurants, area activities, and day-tripping ideas. Chehalem Ridge Bed & Breakfast – the perfect place to start each day’s adventure.
