ELLYHIKES

Spend the perfect weekend in Oregon with this close-to-home road trip.

Check out the map we created to visualize our itinerary: Oregon Adventure Map

After only 48 hours in Oregon, it’s easy to see why so many people from across the country have fallen in love with the Pacific NorthWest. From beaches to tropical rainforests, the state truly is a playground for adventure enthusiasts, and we are lucky in Vancouver to have it so close to home. Last summer, when temperatures in BC reached an all time high of 47 degrees, we decided to drive down for the weekend and get out of the city.

getting there

Most people have not heard of Mist, Oregon. The town of less than 1700 people is nestled at the meeting point of Highway 47 and Highway 202, containing little more than a cemetery and grade school. The drive to Mist is 5 hours, excluding any stops you may take along the way. We left at 5pm on Friday night and pulled into our airbnb at 11pm on the dot, after making a stop for groceries at Trader Joe’s. If you can put up with the Friday night border crossing rush, Mist is a straight shot down the I-5, not to mention a stunning drive.  

staying in oregon

There are many small towns in northern Oregon with affordable accommodation. We chose to stay in Mist because it was central to our itinerary and we found a unique airbnb. We stayed at Mist Oregon Hub, a camper van set up in a family’s backyard, alongside their chicken coop. We loved the sense of tiny-living and we really felt connected with nature. Two queen beds anchored the sides of the trailer and there was a heater, fold-out stove, kitchen accessories, and a BBQ. The property had beautiful gardens surrounding the trailer and we were greeted in the morning by the host’s cats and dogs, as well as a dozen fresh eggs.

saturday itinerary

With only two days, we set off for the day early, around 8am. We piled in the Mazda and headed east.

• Bonneville Dam and Fishery
• Wahclella Falls
• Trillium Lake
• Mount Hood & Timberline Lodge
• Cannon Beach

bonneville dam and fishery

Although we didn’t know anything about fish, we enjoyed the large viewing windows that offered a look under the water, and reading about the technology and current systems that are used within the hatchery. The Fishery controls the entire life cycle of the fish, from adult collection to egg incubation and rearing. This quick stop just off the highway was worth it to learn more about the local fishing practices and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

wahclella falls

After very quickly realizing that we were not able to visit Multnomah Falls without a reservation, we did a quick search for alternative waterfall hikes in the area. We chose Wahclella Falls because of the rewarding waterfall and relatively short hiking distance. The total length of the trail loop is 3.1km or 1.9 miles, weaves through the forest, across a bridge and under some shallow caves before finishing at the rushing waterfall.

The waterfall itself stands at 100m. For a Saturday, the trail was quiet and we could climb up to higher rocks on the left side for a great photo. On a hot day, pack your bathing suit and enjoy a quick dip in the pool before heading back to your car. 

trillium lake

As we made our way across to Mount Hood, we stopped at Trillium Lake, for what was said to be the most stunning reflective view of the massive volcano. There is free parking here – if you’re willing to walk a short distance – and tons of people out and about around the lake.

Kayaks and floaties drifted lazily around as people enjoyed the sunshine and the panoramic views, and a boat launch was available for larger vessels. Although we did not have time to explore this area any further, there are plenty of trails around the Lake Loop and also a campground if you are looking for somewhere to crash for the night. 

mount hood & timberline lodge

One of the most scenic roads of the trip was the Mount Hood Scenic Byway, the high elevation road that takes you from Trillium Lake up to Timberline Lodge. The view from the Lodge is breathtaking, with a panoramic vista featuring Mt Rainier, Mt St. Helens and Mt Adams. For all the horror movie fans, Timberline Lodge was the filming location of the iconic movie The Shining, much of the lodge still resembles the scenes from the film.

This is the perfect place to grab a snack or a drink and enjoy the views from the patio. Before you leave, make sure to check out the scenery outside as well, depending on the time of year, there are scenic trails or great ski slopes. Heading back down, we stopped in at Mount Hood Brewing to grab some of their local beers to take with us and enjoy at our next destination, Cannon Beach. 

cannon beach

Although quite a distance away, we decided to head dead west and try to make it to Cannon Beach for the sunset. We made only one stop, and that was to grab bagels and smoothies in Hood River. Freshies Bagels is a local spot and possibly the best bagel I have ever had. It took us just under 3 hours to get to Cannon Beach, and when we arrived, the beach was filled with bonfires and dogs playing in the water. 

The seemingly gray sky suddenly broke through with bright rays, showering the entire beach and Haystack rock in golden light. We walked a short length of the beach and sat down to enjoy the beers that we had picked up at Mt Hood Brewing. Although Cannon Beach was out of the way, it was certainly worth the detour to see this iconic beach. We packed up the car and headed back to Mist to BBQ some steaks at our trailer. 

sunday itinerary

After a late night spent star gazing around the fire, we decided to sleep in the next morning and have a slow start in the trailer.

• Drive to Portland
• Brunch at Daily Feast
• Powell’s bookstore
• Drive back to Vancouver

the daily feast

I was told by a few people that Portland brunch is truly one of a kind, so we made sure that our trip home included a breakfast stop. We ate at the Daily Feast, sitting on the patio and enjoying the sunshine. We ordered the salmon and locks scrambled eggs and loved every bite. 

powells books

Powell’s Books is the largest independent bookstore in the world. With hundreds of different sections to explore, it’s not hard to see why people spend hours browsing the shelves here. I picked up a copy of 101 Essays to Change the Way You Think, a book I’ve heard a lot of buzz about on social media but could never find in stores. If Powell’s is on your itinerary, plan to spend at least an hour exploring the shelves.

way home

With Monday morning looming, we decided it was time to start the 6 hour drive back to Vancouver. For only two days, we were so grateful for the time we spent in Oregon and there was no question that next summer we would return, next time for longer than one weekend.