If you are looking for scenic adventure, all you have to do is get in your car and drive. From Vancouver to Hood River along the Washington side of the Columbia River, the drive takes about an hour and a half with zero stops. While the drive is pretty enough, there are at least three places worthy of a stop for exploration, walking and enjoyment. Completing the entire loop with zero stops is 136 miles and takes around two and a half hours. However, our itinerary for the ultimate Columbia Gorge scenic drive is a full day of adventure.
While you don’t need to do all of the stops in one day, the Columbia River Gorge is one of the prettiest drives in the country. Few know that the Washington side is a scenic byway and the Oregon side of the gorge, one of the first planned scenic highways in the nation, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark. Whether you drive the gorge once a year or explore it every weekend, the following stops will help entice and inspire more adventures along our mighty river.
1. Stop #1 – Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuge
2. Stop #2 – Beacon Rock State Park
3. Stop #3 – Columbia River Gorge Interpretive Center Museum
4. Stop #4 – Bonneville Fish Hatchery
5. Stop #5 – Visit a Waterfall
Photo credit: Douglas Scott
6. Stop #6 – Vista House
Photo credit: Douglas Scott
