Grand Pacific Northwest Road Trip Road Trip

1

Portland, OR to Umatilla, OR

187.6 miles: 3 hours, 14 minutes

The Historic Columbia River Highway winds in and out of lush green woods, crosses moss-flecked stone bridges and provides direct access to an awesome series of waterfalls. Chanticleer Point, within Portland Women’s Forum State Park (take the signed turnoff) offers an incredible vista of Columbia Gorge. Two-tiered Multnomah Falls, 620 feet tall, is another must-see.

Recommended Stops

Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum

990, Southwest Rock Creek Drive Stevenson, Washington 98648

Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum

5000, Discovery Drive The Dalles, Oregon 97058

Shutterstock.com/Christopher Boswell

2

Umatilla, OR to Yakima, WA

111.7 miles: 2 hours, 3 minutes

I-82 passes through the arid, desert-like Columbia and Yakima valleys. Here the combination of hot summer days, cool nights and rich volcanic soils is perfect for growing grapes, and irrigated vineyards flourish. An architectural oddity along the way is the Teapot Dome; just off I-82 in Zillah; this squat little red-and-white building is appropriately named.

Recommended Stops

East Benton County Historical Society Museum

205, West Keewaydin Drive Kennewick, Washington 99336

Yakima Valley Trolleys (YVT)

306, West Pine Street Yakima, Washington 98902

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3

Yakima, WA to Mount Rainier National Park, WA

96.4 miles: 2 hours, 11 minutes

Mount Rainier National Park is a real showstopper. In addition to the 14,412-foot mountain, which can be seen as far away as Seattle, its scenic highlights include majestic glaciers, beautiful old-growth forests and alpine meadows filled with summer wildflowers. Weather plays a big role in getting around the park; the best time to visit is mid-June through August.

Recommended Stops

Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise

Paradise Road East, Washington ,

Nisqually-Longmire-Paradise Road

Mount Rainier National Park Lodging Ashford, Washington 55106

Stevens Canyon Road

Paradise Paradise, Washington 98361

tvphoto/iStockphoto.com

4

Mount Rainier National Park, WA to Portland, OR

155.3 miles: 3 hours, 18 minutes

The little hamlet of Mineral, on scenic SR 7, boasts a gem in 277-acre Mineral Lake, graced with the spectacular backdrop of Mount Rainier and known for its world-class trout fishing. Two more highlights await in Portland, where nature lovers will find abundant beauty at the International Rose Test Garden and the Portland Japanese Garden, both in Washington Park.

Recommended Stops

Washington Park

Southwest Kingston Avenue & Southwest Rose Garden Way, Arlington Heights Portland, Oregon 97205

International Rose Test Garden

400, Southwest Kingston Avenue Portland, Oregon 97205

Portland Japanese Garden

611, Southwest Kingston Avenue Portland, Oregon 97205