Mt. Hood Scenic Byway (Photo: Alastair Allan)Mt. Hood Scenic Byway
Oregon
The 105-mile Mt. Hood Scenic Byway follows a half-loop around one of Oregon's iconic landmarks: the Cascades Range's glacier-coated, 11,245-foot-high Mount Hood. Cruise past farmlands, vineyards, and orchards; temperate rain forests and alpine timberline; gushing waterfalls and rivers; and parts of the historic Oregon Trail.
Hit up the recreational hub town of Hood River (the byway's eastern entrance; its western portal is in Troutdale) to try your hand at world-class windsurfing on the Columbia River. Get out and stretch your legs amid the dramatic vistas of the Columbia River Gorge; or, pop into the historic Timberline Lodge to bunk down, refuel, or simply ride the scenic chairlift—it's celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2012.
