i got a lot of great suggestions for restaurants and neighborhoods in that last thread, but being that it's 6 weeks later, i wonder if your suggestions for great hikes might be a little different. the wife and i will have three days to check things out, do some hiking, and decide if portland is where we want to relocate to... so, any tips for knock-your-socks-off hikes this time of year? the gorge? proxy falls? what do you recommend?
Certainly hit the Gorge and the waterfalls. Stop at Horsetail Falls and then do the loop up to Ponytail and around the top of Oneonta.
Don't come out to Hood River unless you want to be bummed that you have to live in Portland though.
The Gorge is a must! If you have a whole day free, I'd hit the Porland Women's Forum Lookout for Sunrise and work my way down the Historic Hwy visiting the waterfalls along the road until you reach Horsetail Falls that Mark mentioned above. I'd also suggest hiking up Multnomah Falls as far as Weisendanger falls.
If you can make it to the Coast, my favorite spot for sunset is Oceanside on the south side of Tillamook bay. On the North end of the beach, there is a tunnel through the cliff that leads to several coves filled with sea stacks and a whole mess of photo opportunities.
If your wife loves to hike and you guys want to spend a day doing photography, last Tuesday Kevin Peiper and myself did the Eagle Crest Hike starting at 6am - stopping at Punchbowl falls as the final destination. You have to get into the water to actually see punchbowl falls but it is very very much worth it. Drive to Hood River and have lunch at the Big Horse Brewing Company (you can sit outside and watch wind surfers while eating really great food) - Next drive west and take the 40 exit (turn L) and do the 1 mile hike to Wachella Falls (my favorite falls in the gorge because of the diversity) which is sunk back far enough to be an excellent middle of the day waterfall to photograph. In the later afternoon, if you still have legs, the Horsetail/Ponytail/Oneata Falls/Triple Falls hike is really good but it is a pretty decent workout for only being about 2 miles to Triple Falls - but worth it !!
Drive to Lost Lake for a sunset - it's open now and you will be very close to Mount Hood with lake reflections. I don't think Trillium lake will be open for a while - same with Mirror lake. Google will help you here.
At the Beach, I love Ecola State Park - Indian Head beach has a lot to offer for a nice sunset and you are close to Canon Beach where nice food awaits for diner.
Also, the river walk on the East side of the Willamette river is great for a sunset with a view of Portland. Heck, both sides are nice, but the West side tends to have more homeless people.
If you have other questions, feel free to email me - I live in SE Portland just North of Sellwood and love it. Moved here from Los Angeles 1 year ago and instead of noisy traffic and airplanes all day/night I have canadian geese that fly over my house to the Oaks Bottom wildlife refuge that we are close to every morning and night.....
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asking for some advice on visiting portland. well, as it turns out, that trip was rescheduled for next week. i'll be in portland from 23-May - 29-May interviewing and checking things out.
i got a lot of great suggestions for restaurants and neighborhoods in that last thread, but being that it's 6 weeks later, i wonder if your suggestions for great hikes might be a little different. the wife and i will have three days to check things out, do some hiking, and decide if portland is where we want to relocate to... so, any tips for knock-your-socks-off hikes this time of year? the gorge? proxy falls? what do you recommend?
thanks,
scott
Don't come out to Hood River unless you want to be bummed that you have to live in Portland though.
If you can make it to the Coast, my favorite spot for sunset is Oceanside on the south side of Tillamook bay. On the North end of the beach, there is a tunnel through the cliff that leads to several coves filled with sea stacks and a whole mess of photo opportunities.
Drive to Lost Lake for a sunset - it's open now and you will be very close to Mount Hood with lake reflections. I don't think Trillium lake will be open for a while - same with Mirror lake. Google will help you here.
At the Beach, I love Ecola State Park - Indian Head beach has a lot to offer for a nice sunset and you are close to Canon Beach where nice food awaits for diner.
Also, the river walk on the East side of the Willamette river is great for a sunset with a view of Portland. Heck, both sides are nice, but the West side tends to have more homeless people.
If you have other questions, feel free to email me - I live in SE Portland just North of Sellwood and love it. Moved here from Los Angeles 1 year ago and instead of noisy traffic and airplanes all day/night I have canadian geese that fly over my house to the Oaks Bottom wildlife refuge that we are close to every morning and night.....