We do have our favorite hikes. And we have our favorite training hikes. A training hike is not always our favorite, maybe because of the effort needed to complete. Maybe the training hike has no real wow factor, just a lot of sweat and strain. In recent years, one of my first major hikes of the season has centered on the Wahkeena Basin and Devil’s View high above.
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The Columbia River Gorge is one of the natural highlights of the Pacific Northwest. Only the Columbia River penetrates through the Cascade Mountain range and does so in a magnificent manner. Long an important transportation corridor whether rail, old highways, new freeways, canoes or flatboats. Waterfalls tend to bring the tourists to the Gorge along with the views of the immense canyon from spots like Crown Point on the Historic Columbia River Highway. But trails take you to the top of many other vista points as magical as those at the Vista House. Here are a few of my personal favorite Gorge views. Maybe you have others.
In no particular order with regard to personal preference, I present them from west to east.
Continue readingShowing fire sparing where the winds blew hard.
Angels Rest is one of the most popular hikes in the Columbia River Gorge. The hike lies close to Portland. The climb is reasonably easy with views back down towards Portland. It is probably too popular at times. Weekends can find a hundred or more cars parked alongside the roads. Even during the week, it pays to get to the trailhead early in the day. Overall, that hike gains 1550 feet – 472 meters – over about 2.3 miles – 3.7 kilometers. Not far away lies Wahkeena Falls.
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