Head eastward out of Troutdale on the Historic Columbia River Highway (HCRH). Historic Columbia River Hwy.) and marvel at the big bronze moose outside wildlife sculptor Rip Caswell's gallery. Pick up some brewed ice tea and a mammoth apple-maple muffin at the Troutdale General Store (289 E. TroutdaleĪfter just 20 minutes on Interstate 84, take Exit 17 for Troutdale, a 100-year-old town where even a tattoo parlor fits seamlessly into the main street of antiques shops and art galleries.

When you're ready, take Interstate 84, the quickest and most convenient route, out of the city.

The city is worth at least a day of exploration before starting the drive. 'With all the creative people who have lived and still reside here-people like director Gus Van Sant and writer Ursula Le Guin-the city's neighborly Midwest vibe has a cosmopolitan edge,' says Thomas Lauderdale, leader of the local band Pink Martini. Indeed, the city's innovative spirit is noticeable to the most transient visitor. Oregon's largest and most popular city offers everything from green parks and gardens to bookstores, galleries, and an abundance of innovative eateries. Overviewĭrivers can get an excellent sense of the history, beauty, and diverse charms of the Columbia River Gorge region by starting in Portland and tracing a roughly triangular route east alongside the Columbia River, south up the slopes of Mount Hood, and then back west following the Sandy River through a picturesque landscape of small villages. The good news: The scenery in the Columbia River Gorge and the Cascade Range are just as spectacular today, but the roads have improved considerably. Some intrepid Barlow Road travelers resorted to cutting down trees and lashing them to the backs of the wagons to slow their descent. Or they could attempt the overland route through the Cascade mountains on the Barlow Road, a dirt track so steep that it could only be traversed with great difficulty. They could try to float their wagons and possessions down the river on rafts through dangerous rapids. The European settlers and fortune-seekers who made their way West along the Oregon Trail in the mid-19th century faced a difficult choice when they arrived at the steep valley known today as the Columbia River Gorge-the only sea-level pass through the north-south Cascade mountain range.

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