I am always looking for more ways to travel and ski, even in the springtime. Everyone is getting ready for warm weather and well I am just wondering how I can extend my winter season. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy all seasons in their own way and get excited to go on those warm adventures. So there's something about being able to do it all in one trip that really sounds too good to be true.
How in the morning can I ski down snowy slopes and by the afternoon be walking on a breezy sandy beach? Welcome to Oregon, this trip was nothing like I have ever experienced before. Let me show you how you can make the most of Oregon in just a week.
MT. HOOD
I am going to start with the main attraction sitting at 11,239 feet (3,425 meters) high Mt Hood, is the largest peak in Oregon which offers nearly year round skiing for all you addicts out there.
When visiting you have the option of staying at the wonderful Timberline lodge. Which has the longest running ski and snowboard season in North America. Making it the perfect destination for riders who want to get in some more laps during the off season.
Illumination rock
Below is a picture of me standing in front of Mt Hoods Illumination Rock. Unfortunately, I didn't get to hike up to the top so that is definitely on top of my list next time I visit Mount Hood. Its definitely a long hike so if you are interested make sure you get an early head start because it takes about a full day to get up there!
Government Camp
Just a little bit down the mountain is the government camp which is where I stayed in a beautiful log cabin Airbnb that was just a few steps away from town and a short drive up to the mountains. I highly recommend renting a car. There's lots to do but it is all so spread out so having your own form of transportation makes it is easier to get to explore more.
Right in town there are restaurants, bars, and small convenient stores. My favorite place to visit to grab some breakfast before a long day of skiing was the Huckleberry Inn. Which has AMAZING huckleberry milkshakes. If there's one thing I want you to take away from this article is that you have to try one and let me know what you think. Because I am obsessed and crave them enough to fly back…
Oh, and a persian roll it's a huge donut, great for a nice slope snack.
ZIG ZAG FALLS
Good ole zigzag falls, a beautiful refreshing hike is how I remember it. If you have some time during your trip take a drive over and enjoy this little scenic trail.
TRILLIUM LAKE
This is another great LONG hike my friends and I went on. I recommend going on a nice, clear, sunny day, not when it's raining and there are still mounds of snow covering the ground. Because that's what we did and well the forest was lovely the 5 mile hike we took through the snow was not so fun. The one thing that got me through it was a good refreshing Rainer, huckleberry flavored of course.
But in all seriousness Trillium Lake has some of the best views of Mt Hood and definitely worth the visit if you want to capture the mountain from off the slopes.
HOOD RIVER & PANORAMA POINT
If you are looking to do some shopping and try some really good restaurants head over to Hood River. You can explore the town and even stop to grab some Mike's Ice Cream, all while enjoying the views of the river.
Since you can never get enough of Mt Hood. On the way back from Hood River, headover to Panorama Point county park. A group of us went during sunset to capture some photos of the volcano and it was worth the stop!
Since you can never get enough of Mt Hood. On the way back from Hood River, head over to Panorama Point county park. A group of us went during sunset to capture some photos of the volcano and it was worth the stop!
PORTLAND & ECOLA STATE PARK
Oregon is one of those places where there is so much to see and do that you just have to plan another trip back as soon as you come home. Although skiing was the main priority of this trip we really made an effort on those rainy days to see more of just the mountains.
We started the day off heading over to Portland for some breakfast at a restaurant called Jam on Hawthorne. One of my favorite breakfast foods to get is a breakfast burrito and this one was a burrito to remember. After walking around Portland for a bit and doing some shopping we got right on the road to head straight to the coast.
Arriving at our destination Ecola state park where the infamous Goonies was filmed felt like we found the gold after seeing these spectacular views. It was so fun to roam around Indian Beach, watch the waves come crashing in, climb rocks, and capture the moment.
I felt like I was on top of the world, or at least a giant rock, where I could see miles and miles of the pacific ahead of me.
Ecola State Park and Indian Beach
Cannon Beach
MULTNOMAH FALLS
To end the trip on a bang, we took a drive over to hike up to Multnomah Falls which even though it was raining on us it was really enjoyable and a pretty good workout. I couldn’t tell if I was sweating or if it was just rain. But it was worth being able to see the falls from the top, it's really hard to capture the falls and how massive it is in a picture. You are just going to have to go and see it for yourself.
This is your sign to plan that trip to Oregon now, because overall I just couldn’t get enough. From the mountains to the coast there's just so much to see and do. I need to work on planning my trip back now.
What part of the trip would you want to add to your itinerary to Oregon? Any recommendations for my next trip that you would want to hear about?