The gorge is well-known for its dozens of cascading waterfalls, some located near the highway and others requiring a hike to reach. The most famous is Multnomah Falls, which gets very crowded on holidays and weekends, as visitors crane their necks to see the two-tiered spectacle of water plunging more than 500 feet. A drive along the Columbia takes you through a handful of riverside towns. The most notable is Hood River, a windsurfing and kiteboarding hub with a walkable downtown and a buzzing waterfront area. Craft-beer fans can visit Hood River’s cluster of standout breweries, including Double Mountain Brewery & Taproom, pFriem Family Brewers and Ferment Brewing Company. Continuing east brings you to the pastoral town of Mosier and into The Dalles, worth the extra miles for the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum and the National Neon Sign Museum. A playground of thick forests and pristine lakes circles the base of Oregon’s tallest peak, Mt. Hood — famously, the Trillium Lake loop hike in the Mt. Hood National Forest. The slopes of the mountain draw skiers and snowboarders year-round. Just 62 miles east of Portland, located above the village of Government Camp, is Timberline Lodge, a mountainside ski resort in the Mt. Hood National Forest that served as a location in Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining.” Declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977, Timberline Lodge is still being used for its original intent: a magnificent mountain retreat for the public. Four other ski areas cater to different interests and skill levels, including Mt. Hood Meadows, Mt. Hood Skibowl, Timberline Summit Pass and Cooper Spur Mountain Resort. Adventure Park at Skibowl is the hub for on-the-mountain fun in the summer, with more than 20 attractions such as an alpine slide, zip lines, a mountain bike park, bungee jumps and more. (See p. 37 for more on snow sports.) CLOCKWISE: COURTESY OF TIMBERLINE; THYE GN / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO; COURTESY OF SUGARPINE DRIVE-IN; COURTESY OF FERMENT BREWING COMPANY 57 PortlandUncovered.com
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