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Total
miles
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Miles from
Last point
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Most of the original Columbia River Highway
that was built in 1915 has  disappeared under the pavement of Interstate-84. However, there is still one of the most
important segments of the road that is maintained and survives in all its
glory.
The best place to start this
trip over the high bluffs and scenic vistas of the Columbia and then past 11 waterfalls is
at Troutdale.
This is a 24 mile drive so
it should only take you about 45 minutes to drive except for one thing,
every mile or so you will want to stop and get out of your car. It took us over 3 hours to drive the 24
mile drive.
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Mile 0
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0
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Interstate-84 Exit 17 – Troutdale
Head south Right at the
light onto the Graham Road. Travel south to the second light (first
light is Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets entrance) and turn left into
downtown Troutdale.
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Mile 0
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0.5
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Downtown
Troutdale – A great little town to
stop and visit.
The road
makes a hard right and head down a hill at the east end of town.
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Mile 1
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0.5
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 Bridge over the Sandy River. Turn right at the east end of the bridge
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 Alongside
the road here is a plaque reading, “On October 30 1792 off the point in the
Columbia where the Sandy empties it waters, The boat crew from the HMS Chatham
(Vancouver’s voyages) were the first white men to see the snow clad peak
which Lt. Wm R. Broughton named Mt.
Hood in honor of Vice
Admiral Samuel Lord Hood of the British Navy. He called the stream Barings River. In 1805 Lewis and Clark called it the Quicksand River. Later by common use in became the Sandy River.”
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Mile 2
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1
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The road follows the east bank of the Sandy River
along here. You will also find Tad’s Chicken ‘n Dumplins Restaurant .
This restaurant is a favorite of the locals.
Visit our Troutdale Restaurants
page.
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Mile 3
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1
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Jct. with Stark
Street – Bridge over Sandy
River to the Oxbow Regional
Park.
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Mile 3.4
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0.4
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Dabney State Park
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Mile 4.7
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1.3
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The village of Springdale
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Mile 7
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2.3
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The village
of Corbett
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Mile 7.5
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0.5
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Corbett Country Market and café.
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Mile 8.8
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1.3
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Portland
Women’s Form Scenic Outlook
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Mile 10
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2.7
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 Crown Point Vista House at Crown Point. 733 beet above the river. This vista was built by the builder of
the original highway and has a visitor information center and gift shop.
For more
information visit the State Parks web page
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_150.php
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Mile12
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2
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Pets Water Hole – a cute pull-off just west of the State
Park entrance where you can give your pet some water.
Guy W.
Talbot State
Park – entrance on left This secluded picnic park handles large groups
as well as individuals. Gently
sloping grassy hill dotted with cedar trees. A trail underneath the highway leads to
250’ high Latourelle
Falls.
Visit the web
site for more information.
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_154.php
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Mile 12.3
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0.3
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 Latourell Falls – you can view this falls from the road but you get a better
view if you park and go to the viewpoint.
There is also
a trail that will give you a closer look.
George W. Joseph
State Natural Area
Access is
possible by using the trail from Latourell
Falls and Guy Talbot
State Park.
For more
info. visit the State Parks web page.
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_153.php
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Mile 13.5
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1.2
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Shepperd’s
Deli
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Mile 14.2
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0.7
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Bridal Veil Scenic Viewpoint
There are two trails, the
upper trail takes you to the top of the falls and the lower trail is about 0.5
mi. to the falls down a rather steep trail with switchbacks.
Get more info. on the State
Park website.
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_149.php
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Mile 15
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0.8
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Angel’s Rest
Trailhead
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Mile 15.3
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0.3
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Observe cute
stone house (on left side of read)
My wife loved it.
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Mile 17.6
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2.3
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 Wahkeena Falls – you can view this
falls from the road. This is a
beautiful falls with a rocky creek running down through the viewing area.
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Mile 18
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1.4
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 Multnomah Falls – Visitor center with
restaurant. You can view the falls
from the road but you will want to park and walk up to the viewing platform
and possibly walk to the top of the lower falls where there is a bridge
over the falls.
Multnomah Fall Lodge
The US Forest
Service has an interpretive center in the Lodge. There is also a gift shop and a
restaurant open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant has a dining room, a bar,
and patio dining in good weather.
There is also a snack bar and espresso stand.
Visit their
web site.
http://www.multnomahfallslodge.com/
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Mile 20.1
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2.1
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Oneonta Trailhead
Horsetail Falls
– 0.8 mi.
Triple Falls
– 1.8 mi.
Horsetail Creek – 2.9 mi.
Larch Mountain
– 7.7 mi.
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Mile 20.3
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0.2
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Oneonta Gorge
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Mile 20.6
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0.3
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Horsetail Falls – can be viewed from the road but you
will want to walk over to the falls and view the pool at the bottom.
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Mile 21.1
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0.5
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Ainsworth State
Park – Picnic area – overlooks the train tracks and the Horsetail
Wetland (there is a info. plaque)
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Mile 21.6
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0.5
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Ainsworth State
Park – campground entrance
This campground
in the forest offers 45 full hook-up sites and five tent sites on a first
come basis.
Visit the
State park web site.
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_146.php
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Mile 24.0
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2.4
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Junction with Interstate-84 Exit 35
This is the
east end of the Columbia River
Scenic Highway.
From here you
can take I-84 back westbound to Troutdale or stay on I-84 to Portland.
The Fruit Loop
If you would like
to spend another 3 to 4 hours driving scenic highway we would suggest the
“Fruit Loop” which begins here goes to Hood
River, then South on US-35 through
the fruit country to the Junction with US-26, to Timberline Lodge and
Government Camp, and then back to Portland
on US-26
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