We rolled into Cascade Locks on a Sunday in July, the kind of Gorge afternoon where everyone within…read morefifty miles has the same idea: get out, get sun, get a burger. Eastwind Drive-In sits right on Wa Na Pa Street, red and white building, that iconic soft serve and hamburger sign swinging out front like it's been doing this since before any of us were born. And it has. The line was out the door and down the sidewalk by 3pm, easy thirty minute wait, and nobody seemed to mind. That tells you something before you even taste the food. We ordered the double bacon cheeseburger, and it did not disappoint. Real griddled beef, two patties, melted cheddar doing exactly what melted cheddar should do, crisp lettuce, all of it stacked on a sesame bun that held together through the whole ordeal, which matters more than people think when you're eating standing up in a parking lot with a dog giving you the full guilt trip. Speaking of: we took our food down to the park by the lake, picnic tables under the trees, and Willow, our English lab, decided that burger was the single most important object in the entire state of Oregon. Nose right up against it, patient as a saint, working every angle. She didn't get any. She deserved some. That's the tension of loving a good dog and a good burger at the same time. Prices are fair for what you get, hamburger starts under seven dollars, the shakes and soft serve looked like the real draw for half the line, and the menu board out front covers everything from tater tots to Italian cream soda, which is a detail I did not expect and now can't stop thinking about. If you're passing through Cascade Locks, Eastwind Drive-In is worth the wait. Bring cash patience, bring an appetite, and if you bring a dog, be ready to share eye contact you won't win.

A wonderful spot to take your dogs where they can explore 100 archers of land and water with the…read moreluxury of being off leash. There's enough room for dogs to run around while not interacting with one another.

First time trying this place out for my first hike. Definitely a good starter hike if you want to…read moredo a hike. It's not that big. Easy to get too. I really enjoyed it and have already been back .

They get a bonus star for the spectacular view of Mount Hood there is at the top at the picnic…read moreshelter. It's more of a butte in height, rather than a mountain, so don't let the name discourage or mislead you. They have a parking lot at the top and a loop trail with inclines you can explore in under an hour. There's also a large covered picnic shelter at the top with attached restroom facilities. They have a couple of open, grassy areas if you want to play frisbee or bring some other yard games. At the moment (October 2023), the only downside was there is a new residential subdivision being built next to it, so there was a lot of construction noise on that side of the trail.

Lewis and Clark boasts one of the best, and most accessible swimming holes in the Portland metro…read morearea, particularly for those with little ones, or for people lacking in strong swimming skills. The current here is negligible, the water relatively shallow all-throughout, and there is plenty of sand and shade to go around. Plus, free parking (no day use fee), and it's literally right off the highway! The only downside to be aware of is that the railway bridge is heavily used: during our three hour visit, no less than four trains came barreling through, roaring and blowing their horns, which spooked our young son a little each time; he would cling to me until each passed which, due to their length, lasted several minutes. People sensitive to loud noises should take note and prepare accordingly.

One of my favorite parks, due to easy access to nature without a car. I can get there from the…read morecity in about 45 minutes via Trimet and be in wooded trails. The Sandy River area is beautiful.

Everytime I'm in Portland in the summertime, I come here to go swimming…read more I was super lucky, I was actually staying way over in the NW part of town and found out that the #77 crosstown busswhich was literally a block away from me would bring me straight here. So I gathered all my stuff for a day at the river, towels, sunscreen, plenty of water, snacks, hopped on the bus and spent a fantastic day here. Go early because there really isn' a lot of shade by the river and all the best spots get taken up early. There's also the woods to walk through filled with wild blackberry bushes everywhere. I guess my Canadianness comes out because I went straight into the water and swam about like it was nothing while everyone else was freaking out over how cold the water is and stayed close to the sandy shore. It's not. Especially on a scotching hot day, it really isn't a big deal. Also I have no idea how there can be drowning in a river which you can literally walk across, and never gets very deep. The current isn't all that strong if you go further away from the bridge, in fact the water is downright meandering at that point. If you have an umbrella, some reading material, lots of water, snacks, and you don't easily burn or get sunstroke, you can easily pass an entire, serene day here.

Great trails leading to the Sandy River. A nice park to stroll through on a day trip to Troutdale.read more

This park is a great place to walk along the Columbia River with views of the river and Mount Hood…read moreon a clear day. They have a few different parking lots, and some public restrooms near the parking & picnic shelters, but some restrooms close for the Winter and there aren't any restrooms out on the trails. There's a couple of covered picnic shelters and beach access at a few spots, so it can be popular in the Summer. The trails is quite long, and connects to the trail system at the wildlife refuge next to it, so you can just walk out & back for as far as you'd like. The trails are mostly flat and gravel, so it's not to bad or muddy if it's rained recently. And if you're in this area and want to grab a beer after you finish your walk, both Recluse Brew Works and 54-40 Brewing are very close by (and 54-40 has a great patio open in the warmer months and great food, too).

Love the "beach" as we call it. Summer is fantastic but winter is the best. Bring the dogs and…read morethere are days you have your own private beach to run and play.

Came here for an educational lesson…read more There are multiple parking lots and stations. This area is beautiful.

Had a super fun birthday party here with no issues. Booking the gazebo was easy, and I enjoyed the…read moreriver access. It led to a somewhat more private portion of the beach, though the water wasn't as deep as it is further downstream.

This trail is just okay for walking. It seems to be taken over by bicyclists, who don't seem too…read morecourteous to walkers. It is well-maintained and has viewpoints to stop at along the way. There are few restrooms along the entire 20 mile trail and no pet waste stations that I saw. I've only walked it recently near Sellwood to get to the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge loop trail. I have heard about an increase in encampments over the last few years, so do research before exploring. Overall a decent way to get to the wildlife refuge, but not sure I would just walk along the corridor for exercise.

Just found this hike. Splits off into smaller connecting trails but allows you to explore and still…read morego in a loop. It felt like I was way out of town in certain areas of the hike. It was amazing to find a spot like this just outside of Portland!