Historic Columbia River Highway
A Half-Day Historic Walking Tour with Wildflowers

Departure: Portland, Oregon
Destination: Portland, Oregon
Time to allow: 1 day

In Portland with a free afternoon? Try this itinerary which fills up half a day on the Historic Columbia River Highway's nearby historic spots, and wildflower havens--with a little bit of hiking to stretch your legs. Then return to Portland more than ready to dine out in one of its fabulous restaurants.

Day 1

  • Start: Portland

  • Stop 1: Troutdale

    From previous stop: 20 minutes / 15 mi (24.0 km)
    Directions:

    Take I-84 east to the Troutdale exit and turn south.
    Suggested time at this stop: 1 hour

    With a historic downtown boasting antique shops and two historical museums, Troutdale is a splendid start to your afternoon on the Byway.

  • Stop 2: Lewis and Clark State Park

    From previous stop: 3 minutes / 2 mi (3.2 km)
    Suggested time at this stop: 30 minutes

    After you cross the Sandy River, turn left into Lewis and Clark State Park. This park honors the legendary explorers who camped and explored here in November of 1805. In their journal, they even wrote about a brief tussle with some Sandy River quicksand. Find and read the interpretive marker for details on this remarkable encounter.

    Afterwards, take the short interpretive trail and learn about the local wildflowers and other plants which Lewis and Clark recorded at this location.

  • Stop 3: Vista House

    From previous stop: 15 minutes / 10 mi (16.0 km)
    Directions:

    Continue east on the Highway, passing Corbett and Women's Forum State Park.
    Suggested time at this stop: 30 minutes

    Vista House is one of the most photographed areas along the Byway. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is a memorial to the Oregon Pioneers, an observatory and gift shop. Stop here. Take in the wonderful view up the river. Examine the remarkable architecture, both inside and out. Chat with the museum and gift shop staff. There is no other place like this on the Historic Columbia River Highway.

  • Stop 4: Multnomah Falls

    From previous stop: 30 minutes / 20 mi (32.0 km)
    Directions:

    Continue on Historic Columbia River Highway to the Falls. Parking is immediately adjacent to the highway.
    Suggested time at this stop: 1 hour

    The tallest and most visited waterfall on the Byway, this beautiful cascade falls more than 600 feet in the upper falls, and about 50 feet in the lower falls. Hike the verdant trail up to Benson Bridge to get a closer view of the Falls. Be sure to look for wildflowers and other interesting plants along the way. Afterwards, visit historic Multnomah Lodge and enjoy a bite at its full-service restaurant.

  • Stop 5: Oneonta Gorge

    From previous stop: 3 minutes / 2 mi (3.2 km)
    Directions:

    Leaving the Multnomah Falls parking area by the east exit, proceed just a mile or two, and park in the small parking area provided by the Gorge.
    Suggested time at this stop: 1 hour

    The last stop on your half-day tour, Oneonta Gorge is a botanical treasure; over 50 species of plants reside in this perpetually-cool and moist shelter. What you will find here will depend on the time of year. Hanging gardens, hidden wildflower havens, late summer blooms--all await the intrepid hiker. Beware--the hike is moderately difficult. To reach to the end with its reward of a lovely waterfall and rare plants, you may have to clamber over a huge logjam and swim through waist-high water!

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    p>Don't worry. If you don't feel up to a swim or a climb, you can explore the early section of the Gorge and find wildflowers and rare plants enough to fill out your afternoon on the Columbia River.

  • End: Portland

    From previous stop: 50 minutes / 40 mi (64.0 km)
    Directions:

    Continue east on the Byway until the junction with I-84. Get on I-84 westbound.

    After the wildflowers and history of the Columbia River Gorge, an evening at one of Portland's many cultural venues would round your day off nicely.

Totals for Day 1

Total Distance Traveled: 89 miles / 142.4 km
Total Travel Time: 2 hours 1 minute
Total Stopping Time: 4 hours