Northwestern Oregon in Fall

A perfect time to visit, with the skies surprisingly clear, the weather crisp, and the mountains and valleys ablaze in a soft palette of autumn colors

Late October is a lovely time of year in Oregon, when fall colors are blazing across the mountains and into the valleys. The weather is crisp, the bounty of harvest time is in, and there might even be a touch of snow at the highest elevations.

We'd been to Portland in the past, and driven up and down the Columbia River Gorge, so we wanted to extend our exploration a bit beyond those bounds.

We joined a multi-day adventure tour through the Mount Hood and Columbia River Gorge region, with lots of biking, hiking, and even a night of camping.

After five days spent mostly in Portland for a conference, our journey continued to the Central Oregon coast at Heceta Head, into the interior to Willamette National Forest, and back up through the Willamette Valley to Portland.

PLANNING RESOURCES: Mt Hood and Columbia River Gorge | Travel Oregon | Visit Portland | Eugene, Cascades & Coast | Albany Visitors Association

Itinerary

Estacada, Oregon

Cascading Rivers Scenic Bikeway
Tours With Steve
SHOPPING: Mossy Rock Gift Shop
DINING: The Mason Jar Cafe, Granny's Drive-Thru

Sandy, Oregon

Mt Hood National Forest
Flying Coyote Farm
Jonsrud Viewpoint Park

Hood River Villages, Oregon

Mt Hood National Forest
Timberline Lodge

DINING: Wrapitude, Dragonfly Cafe & Bakery, Altitude
LODGING: Mt. Hood Village RV Resort, The Resort at the Mountain

Hood River, Oregon

With Mount N' Barrel Wine Tours, delightful cycling from winery to winery in one of the most productive fruit-growing valleys in the Pacific Northwest. Stops included WyEast Vineyards, The Gorge White House, and Mt. Hood Winery.

Draper Girls Country Farm
Packer Orchards & Farm Place
Phelps Creek Vineyards

DINING: pFriem Family Brewers, Broder Øst
LODGING: Hood River Hotel

Cascade Locks, Oregon

Thunder Island
Heather Soderberg Studio
Bridge of the Gods
Bonneville Dam
DINING: Brigham Fish

Portland, Oregon

Hoyt Arboretum
Lan Su Chinese Garden
Portland Japanese Garden
Evergreen Escapes

DINING: Habibi, Headwaters, Jackrabbit, Potbelly, Portland Food Hall
LODGING: The Duniway, ALoft PDX

Central Oregon Coast

Newport Harbor
Heceta Head Lighthouse

DINING: Clearwater Restaurant, Newport
Bridgewater Fish House, Florence
LODGING: Heceta Head B&B

Bend, Oregon

Cottage Grove Covered Bridge Tour
Sahalie Falls, Willamette National Forest
DINING: King Estate Winery, Takoda's Restaurant
LODGING: Holiday Farm Cabins, Rainbow