Portland visitors’ dilemma: Mt. Hood or river gorge?

Portland, Ore. — One-hundred and 50 years ago, settlers traveling the Oregon Trail to the Willamette Valley had a dilemma: Head through the Columbia River Gorge on the Oregon Trail or pass the south side of Mount Hood along the Barlow Road.

Today visitors ponder a similar question: Play on Mount Hood or explore the gorge?

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Steven Nehl/The (Portland) Oregonian

Oregon’s Trillium Lake, in the shadow of Mount Hood, is known for its grand views and recreational activities. If kayaking or boating isn’t on the agenda, hiking, biking and skiing are minutes away.

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The answer: Do both.

The region’s attractions are obvious: world-class windsurfing, stunning views, plunging waterfalls, and snow, snow, more snow.

The area’s proximity to Portland is a big draw for out-of-towners who visit the metro area for pleasure or business. Get your cosmopolitan fix in Portland, then experience the postcard-perfect nature escape to the east.

The Mount Hood experience begins with the national forest, which has about 200,000 acres of designated wilderness amid its 1 million acres.

Trillium Lake, Lost Lake, Timothy Lake and some 1,000 miles of hiking and riding trails await visitors.

And then there’s the snow.

Late flurries and a strong base pushed a record number to the snowy slopes of Mount Hood this past season, with the major resorts of Mount Hood Meadows, historic Timberline Lodge and Mount Hood Skibowl enjoying more than 1 million visits by skiers and snowboarders.

And climbers? An estimated 10,000 trek the 11,239-foot marvel each year.

In the gorge, obvious destinations such as Multnomah Falls and the massively popular Eagle Creek Trail draw tourists by the busload.

The canyon, its numerous waterfalls and nearly 300,000 acres are protected by an 85-mile national scenic area designation, established by Congress in 1986.

And for the adventurous, what better location to take in views than smack-dab in the middle of the Columbia River?

Katie Crafts, executive director of the Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association, describes the conditions on the river simply as “epic.” Centered in Hood River, the expanding windsurfing community flocks to the water with a cult-like following.

The wind is unique, Crafts said, and each beach has its regulars who swear their location is the best spot.

Never been? A two-hour lesson shouldn’t cost you more than $75.

“It’s just a great feeling,” Crafts says. “And the gorge is a great place to learn it.

“You can say you learned it in the windsurfing capital.”

IF YOU GO

Timberline Lodge: www.timberlinelodge.com

Mount Hood Meadows: www.skihood.com

Mount Hood Skibowl: www.skibowl.com

Mount Hood National Forest: www.fs.fed.us/r6/mthood

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area: www.fs.fed.us/r6/columbia

Hiking recommendations: www.oregonhiking.com

Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association: http://windsurf.gorge.net/cgwa/

Mount Hood general information: www.mthoodterritory.com