Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Multnomah Falls
Multnomah Falls at the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon is just 30 minutes east of Portland. These falls were an incredible stop along my cross-country road trip. It is the most-visited natural recreation area in the Pacific Northwest, and I understand why!
The walk to the beautiful bridge is a short approximately quarter-mile there-and-back steep incline hike. It was tough to do this in the wintertime since it gets pretty icey but was an easier hike in the summertime. There are longer hiking trails here too if you continue past the bridge. It is important to know that timed tickets are required for seeing the falls May - September.
The best chocolate chip cookies
Multnomah Falls is a must not only for the beauty of the Falls, but for apparently the best chocolate chip cookies in the U.S. according to one of my best friends and her family! You can get these at the snack bar right outside of the lodge. They were pretty monstrous….
*Second road trip route from here: Before Multnomah Falls, we started the trip in Olympia, Washington. We visited Bend, Oregon next.
Angels Rest
Locals in Portland say that Angel’s Rest is the best hiking trail in the area. This 4.5 mile there-and-back trail offers great views of the Columbia River Gorge throughout the hike and has a few waterfalls.
I would rate this trail as a moderate difficulty hike for its steepness, length, and muddiness (mostly during the rainy season/Spring). Be sure to wear your hiking shoes for this one if it is muddy. There are 2 small parking lots at the front of the trailhead. Be sure to get there BEFORE 8:30 or 9am to get a parking spot!
