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Mt. Hood Territory Travel Articles
- Hidden Gem
- Just an Old Barn
- Road Trip
By M.J. Cody, Mt. Hood Territory Travel Planner 2007
“Are we there yet?” asks Josh after a short ride toward Mt. Hood from the historic town of Troutdale. The Warners—Jim, Janet and their two kids, Josh, age 11, and Ariel age 8, have scheduled four days to drive the Mt. Hood National Scenic Byway around Mt. Hood.
Luckily, “Are we there yet?” will not be heard again with all the adventures along the way. In Sandy, the first stop is Jonsrud Viewpoint interpretive overview.
“The pioneers came around that mountain?” asks Ariel, in awe at the sight of Mt. Hood and the Sandy River Valley far below. They find more interpretive pioneer signage at Sandy’s Meinig Park and Josh and Ariel take advantage of the Fantasy Forest wooden play structure. Then it’s Calamity Jane’s for whopper burgers and milkshakes, and on to the Oregon Candy Farm to stock up on treats for later.
“Fish on!” yells Jim, as both Josh and Ariel reel in trout at the Rainbow Trout Farm. At Wildwood Recreation Site and Cascade Streamwatch, they spy on fish through the window embedded in the stream and follow trails leading through the forest and wetlands. The kids skip rocks and wade in the Salmon River, when Janet, pointing at imprints on the shore says, “Look, bear tracks.”
Ariel leans to look, then screams as Josh grabs her.
After Josh stops laughing, it is arrival at The Resort at The Mountain, their home for the night.
“Be back for dinner,” waves Jim as he heads out for a round of 18 on the resort’s golf course, while Janet and the kids head for the swimming pool.
That evening, they find birding and wildflower guidebooks at the Wy’East Book Store before dinner next door at the Rendezvous Bar and Grill. The berry cobbler? Yum!
The next morning, the kids team up against Jim at Mountain Air Miniature Golf Course, while Janet shops for lunch groceries then gets gear and advice at the Fly Fishing Shop.
Hiking the lower Salmon River Trail they find a picnic table in the old growth forest overlooking the pristine river. Josh and Ariel try to link arms around a huge Douglas fir tree and Janet finds a perfect fly-fishing spot near a cascading waterfall.
“Cool,” says Josh when Jim points out a pileated woodpecker on a nearby snag.
They head out on the Scenic Byway for overnight at Government Camp, following the “last leg” of the Oregon Trail with the help of the entertaining Barlow Road audio driving tour CD. Josh and Ariel careen down the Alpine Slide at Mt. Hood Skibowl Summer Adventure Park, then it is on to the magnificent historic Timberline Lodge at the 6,000-foot level on Mt. Hood.
“We’re on a volcano!” announces Josh, posing heroically.
They’ll soon be traveling around that volcano to the orchard valleys of Hood River and finally the Columbia River Gorge, the remaining segment of the splendid Mt. Hood National Scenic Byway.
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