Learn about my family’s short trip to the Columbia River Gorge area in Oregon, including where we stayed and the best activities to do as a family!
Our trip to the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon was our 1st time visiting the inland part of the state! First, we flew into Portland and drove to the Oregon Coast, then we spent the remainder of the week hiking and rafting in the Columbia River Gorge.
Read on to learn where we stayed, and my tips for surviving the chaos of Multnomah Falls!
Where to Stay
We stayed in a cabin near Welches, Oregon, which is close to Mount Hood Village. I would highly recommend this area! There was a nice grocery store, and several restaurants that we really enjoyed, particularly the Zig Zag Inn, a retro restaurant with awesome pizza!
This location put us within an hour drive to most hikes in the area, and we loved how affordable the accommodations were.
Surviving Multnomah Falls
We were about an hour away from Multnomah Falls, which was on my bucket list. So, on our first day, we drove up to Multnomah Falls.
You do need timed entry passes if you are planning to park right by the falls. If you forget to do this, don’t worry! There is a parking lot nearby at the Wakheena Falls trailhead. Park here, and you can hike into Multnomah Falls. It’s about a mile hike and fairly flat.
Once at Multnomah Falls, we were alittle bit overwhelmed by the amount of people. But, it is a very popular destination! It appeared that many people booked a shuttle in, and if you have mobility issues, I believe that it would be worth you booking the shuttle so that you can be dropped off right at the entrance.
Once at the entrance, it’s a short distance to the falls, which were spectacular!
It surprised me that what I liked even more was the surrounding hike. Once at Multnomah Falls, we decided to do the entire Mulnomah-Wakheena hike loop, which is about 5.5 miles. Along the way, we saw several large waterfalls as well as several streams.
I won’t lie to you. It is a rigorous hike and if you have any mobility issues, especially knee issues, don’t attempt this. The incline is extremely steep for about 2 miles of the hike. I have a temperamental knee, and it was very unhappy when we were done!
Whitewater Rafting
My son loves to raft, so we research options in the area. We wanted to do something a bit more challenging, so we landed on rafting the White Salmon river with Wet Planet Rafting, launching out of their Washington office.
It was fun, intense, and so very cold! However, they did provide us with full body wetsuits and shoes, which really help us tolerate the ice cold water.
Other Things to Do in the Columbia River Gorge
Our time was limited, but we did fit in several short hikes. They are so plentiful, and the scenery is so lush!
Other than hiking, I also recommend visiting Timberline Lodge. This is a spectacular facility, originally built as a ski lodge, that has evolved into a year-round destination. They have lodging, but it’s also a wonderful day visit. You can rent gear, go hiking or mountain biking, shop and eat.
It’s a beautiful place, and it truly feels like you’ve stepped back in time with the rock walls, fireplaces and retro decor. Visiting Timberline during ski season is now on my list for future trips!
I hope that this helps you plan your trip to the Columbia River Gorge! My only regret is that we didn’t have more time.
Let me know if you have any suggestions for my next visit in the comments below!