Spring — when waterfalls such as the 620-foot Multnomah and 242-foot Wahkeenah are at their fullest — is the best time to undertake this journey, but summer and fall are spectacular too. There are plenty of places to camp along the 146-mile loop — it’s particularly pretty to wake up in the Columbia River Gorge — as well as many hiking options, from paved trails to multiday backcountry treks, and myriad ways to get on several bodies of water, including windsurfing, fishing and whitewater rafting the Columbia and Hood rivers.
The route most traveled: The loop begins 16 miles from Portland on Interstate 84, which then connects to U.S. 35 and U.S. 26.
Off the beaten path: If you’re a fan of mountain passes and want a little more time on a road with classic Pacific Northwest views — including up close of Mount Hood — consider a slight detour to the mostly paved Lolo Pass Road (Oregon 18), which sits at 3,415 feet and is 32.5 miles long from Dee to Zigzag, one-way (it will take an hour to drive). Lost Lake is a nice rest stop (or fishing spot), and an ambling 3.2-mile hike around it is a good way to stretch your legs.
The kitschy-kitschy coup: Nothing says kitsch like a casino, but this one comes with a bonus, in the form of soothing mineral-rich hot springs. Continue south on U.S. 26 toward Bend, and you’ll come to the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, where the Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort & Casino (6823 Oregon 8, 800-554-4786, ) offers the usual penny games and blackjack tables. But the complex also houses a year-round, Olympic-size pool with water slides and a separate kids pool, which may be inviting if you’ve been traveling with them for a while. There’s a private pool in the middle of the lodge for guests only, as well.
Refuel on road food at: Hood River, Ore., hits at about the halfway mark on this loop, and that means that you can hit lunch or dinner seven days a week at the Sixth Street Bistro & Loft (509 Cascade Ave., 541-386-5737, sixth ), a small, welcoming spot with a dozen microbrews on tap and a wide range of menu options, from an inspired coconut curry to a well-regarded burger and locally caught grilled salmon.
Sweet dreams: The Timberline Lodge (27500 E. Timberline Road, 800-547-1406, ) is the hotel exterior shown in the movie “The Shining,” an imposing 1936 resort in a dense alpine setting. In real life, it’s not at all scary — in fact, the lodge is warm and inviting, with a heated outdoor pool open well into the wee hours, top-notch restaurants with fantastic views and cozy, mountain-rustic rooms. Rates start at $120 a night.
Info:
Need help planning your route?
Visit , which will direct you to the best site for the trip you’re planning. The online TripTik Travel Planner plots your trip from one location to the next, with the added advantage of alerts regarding road advisories, including conditions and construction.
AAA also offers three smart-phone apps (iPhone and Android), one of which, aaaTripTik mobile, is available for nonmembers. It allows you to get the gasoline prices for your destination updated daily.
Another helpful website: . Simple and easy to use, the site allows you to plug in two locations and the make and model of your vehicle, and it then “galculates” the cost based on an average gas price (which it lists). It also gives your carbon footprint, an estimated drive time and the mileage to a few good stopping points along the way, with a Google map showing the route they’re using.
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