Small, serene park. Perfect for a lunch after hiking the nearby Catherine Creek Trail or Arch Loop…read more Especially since they have clean restrooms with soap and water. 5 stars just for that! When it's windy, it is a great spot to watch the windsurfers and kites. There is launch area for small boats. I've seen people fishing, too. And people playing with their dogs, fetching their toys from the water. Lots of picnic tables, the kind where you can slide into from the side, another plus! Peaceful place to read, have a picnic or just chill. Plenty of parking. And just a minute from the downtown area of Bingen and just a few more minutes from the bridge over to Hood River. Lots of times when I'm exploring the trails and sights on the WA side of the Gorge, I stop here afterwards to use the restroom and have a snack or lunch that Ihave packed. Feels like a secret since there is hardly anyone here!

Beautiful area along the Columbia River with views of the boats in Marina and the White Salmon…read moreBridge. Lots of green space, several picnic tables, benches, and even a covered gazebo with picnic tables. The paved walking paths take you to the launch area where you can watch the always entertaining kite boarders and wind surfers, even some saleboats. It's so peaceful here! Perfect for a picnic, to gather with friends, read a book, or take a stroll. Minutes from downtown Hood River and further east along the river, away from the more crowded beach area.

Great hike good views to get to the punch bowl water fall took about a hour and a hour to get back…read morebut you can keep walking after that fall if you like longer hikes o recommend going early to find parking

Eagle Creek is now on my top 10 of hikes of all time…read more SO many waterfalls on one trail :') AND I didn't even get to see all of them! I did the 10 miles round trip to Tunnel Falls, and boy, was it well worth it. It was mostly flat with some twists and turns, gradual inclines, and narrow walkways. Good thing I had snacks, a lunch wrap, and a smoothie because that helped me get through! If you're up for it, this is a MUST! Btw it's salmon spawning season, and you can see all of the salmon swimming upstream at the very start of the trail. So cool!

Who would have thought to put a hatchery as one of their stop on their vacay adventures???? WE DID…read moreand heck ya, i would recommend it. Not just information on the salmon, but the ground. In the garden, it is tucked in the woods with well manicured landscaping adorned with beautiful flowers. Inside the visitor center is a quick video of what they do. Very informative Highly recommend

We love visiting hatcheries and Bonneville did not dissapoint. We came to help celebrate Herman the…read moreSturgeon's birthday. Parking was plentiful despite the increase in people present. There were cupcakes to celebrate, birthday hats, Herman pictures to color, and a raffle. We enjoyed the coffee shop/gift store and picked up a new fridge magnet and some peanut butter fudge. Enjoyed viewing the rainbow trout and sturgeon ponds. The grounds are gorgeous and teeming with wildlife and gorgeous flowers. We would definitely go back!

It is such a beautiful and scenic drive each and every time going through the Columbia River Gorge!…read moreIt's something I never tire of and there are so many things to go see both on the Oregon and Washington side of the Gorge. One of the most notable places to stop is Multnomah Falls. It's a highly popular place and it is certainly understandable as to why but it is best to go early. You may even need to look into getting a reservation in order to get a parking space as well... because yes... it is actually that popular all year round. There are so many cute little towns through the Gorge as well. Hood River is a favorite of ours and I believe it's a favorite for a lot of people but Cascade Locks is nice as well and the Washington side has cute towns as well. On the Oregon side is Interstate 84 but don't explore this Interstate or route as a quick, brisk route to get east to west (or vice versa) as you cannot go typical Interstate speed through the Gorge. The curvature of the road and through this long stretch simply doesn't allow you to do that so it would be worth looking into alternate routes as possible if quickness is the only thing in mind otherwise you kind of just have to endure the reduced speeds. The Columbia River itself one doesn't have to repeat how beautiful it is but it's understandable if you do. River activities never fail to mesmerize. Like the group of people we once saw sailing down the river with boogie boards ( perhaps there's another name for it I'm not in the know with that) and the almost other worldly appearance of numerous fisherman on boats once fishing season was in full swig in the early morning. It's something one can never get tired of, The Columbia Gorge and I enjoy it each and every time I drive through it. It's breathtaking and truly one of essential drives to partake if visiting Oregon.

This area is an absolute must see if you are in the Portland area. It is really gorgeous. We drove…read moreto the visitor center and from there hiked up toward Multnomah Falls. It is a great way to get your steps in while surrounded by nature at its finest. There a number of waterfalls in this area and if you don't have time to get out and hike, there are some that can be seen from your car while driving by. We spent most of a day driving and hiking to the waterfalls using a map we got from the visitor center. It was raining during our visit, but we still got to see some beautiful scenery. There's a restaurant at Multnomah Falls Lodge in case you are looking for a place for lunch while in the area.

Beautiful place, paid I think it was $5 dollars and parked and went to the clothing optional area…read moregot naked and enjoyed nature absolutely loved it nobody there judges you and I got nice compliments as I'm a young guy 20 years old lol but man it's so pretty the trails are sandy and good on your bare feet so u don't really have to worry about wearing shoes I do recommend only for some areas the majority is sandy and soft though for the trails leading to the beach area obviously I can't post my naked pictures but god it's just heaven on earth you are surrounded by green tall grass and trees so very pretty :)

Rooster Rock State Park has some hiking trails and a gold course, but I come to hang on the…read morebeautiful river beaches. It's located in the Columbia Gorge, which is my happy place. Regarding the beaches, to the west are the family beaches and those that prefer to wear clothing. To the east are the clothing optional beaches. If you choose to go to the clothing optional, it's all good, no gawking, just people enjoying the beach and water in whatever way is comfortable for them. For me, that's a swimsuit. In the simmer when the river is low, the beaches are wider. And the water is surprisingly warm. Not tropical warm, but refreshing! Located just past Vista Point and before Multnomah Falls and the other 6 waterfalls along I-84, you can do all of this in one day. Or just spend the entire day at Rooster Rock enjoying walks, a swim, a picnic. Or do the hikes and waterfalls and come back here for a picnic and sunset. The fee for parking is $5 and you pay at the booth as you enter the park. Then you can continue driving and park anywhere, depending which side of the river you want to hang out on. There is plenty of parking but it does get crowded on hot days. If you are taking the shuttle to Multnomah Falls or other sites along the Scenic Highway, you pick it up here, after you pay and park. It's just 30 minutes from Portland so if you are looking for something different to do, that doesn't really cost anything, and you enjoy nature, chilling in a beach or grass and picnicking, it's a nice spot.

This was a great little hike. Very easy. Well maintained. Great signage. Absolutely beautiful.read more

Barlow Wayside Park is located 11 miles east of Sandy. It is a short trail, adjacent to the Sandy…read moreRidge Trail biking system. So it's a good option for those on foot rather than bike! There's just about a mile and a half of walking trails that are very well-maintained with rustic bridges, stone paths, and wooden benches. The trail takes you through woodlands, wetlands, and beside a stream that shelters salmon and steelhead. There's also a self guided nature tour. Though there is a waterfall trail, the waterfall mentioned is quite small for Oregon. It is lovely nevertheless.

First, check out the website for details on how to access this interesting, short hike…read more Second, don't bring dogs--the grated platform will injure their paws. Third, wear solid walking or running shoes. Hiking boots are good, too. The footing is always even and smooth, but it's mostly great. Thanks to the creative folks who thought of this as a hike for the public--it's fun, safe (assuming you make good choices) and another reason to visit Hood River. There are beaches you can enjoy for the day but no bathrooms, water, or garage cans. Also, no overnight camping. It's an easy hike. https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Hood_River_Pipeline_Hike

One of my favorite easy hikes. The abandoned building covered in graffiti is always exciting to see…read moreand the actual hike is scenic and beautiful. You walk along a metal grate the whole time and are guided by rails on both sides. The fall foliage and the roaring river makes it incredibly worth it. And whenever I've been there's never too many people to enjoy it. 10/10! So fun!