Labor Day weekend ride - Columbia Gorge

August 19, 10:34 AMSpokane Motorcycle Travel ExaminerKaren Weimer

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If you don’t want to go North for your Labor Day weekend ride, www.examiner.com/examiner/x-20068-Spokane-Motorcycle-Travel-Examiner~y2009m8d18-Labor-Day-weekend-ride--Selkirk-Loop, then maybe a trip South would be more to your liking.

A suggestion, ride a loop through the Columbia Gorge www.fs.fed.us/r6/columbia/, with stops at Palouse Falls State Park and Multnomah Falls.  Day one you leave Spokane and ride to Palouse Falls State Park www.spokaneoutdoors.com/pfalls.htm for a picnic lunch. 

From Palouse Falls continue South to the Columbia River where you turn West on Highway 14 to ride along the river. Highway 14 is a fantastic motorcycle road full of grand vistas, twisties, and even a nice selection of wineries www.winesnw.com/gorgemap.html#Wineries where you can stop and pick up a bottle of your local favorite for relaxing with after your ride.

This area isn’t part of the Columbia Gorge, but has it’s own beauty including gorgeous views of the river and the trains that run along side,

the John Day Dam www.columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/john_day_dam.html

and Stonehenge www.legendsofamerica.com/WA-Stonehenge.html. 

Just past Stonehenge is the beautiful Maryhill State Park and Campground www.freeguidetonwcamping.com/Oregon_Washington_Main/Washington/Southcentral_WA/Maryhill_State_Park.htm.  Spend the night at the campground where you can relax by fishing, swimming, or just watching the Columbia River roll by while you relax with a bottle of vino. 

Mapquest route for the day: www.mapquest.com/maps

The next morning take a short detour up to Goldendale for breakfast.  You’ll find a few small places, but the real reason to take the detour is for the views you’ll see on the way. 

After breakfast return to Highway 14.  Shortly after turning West you enter the National Scenic Area and the views go from fantastic to simply breathtaking. 

Just before Washougal, Washington you leave the scenic area and face the only dull part of the ride, before crossing over to the Oregon side of the river. 

Heading back East on I-84 you will see numerous roadside pullouts for attractions such as Vista House vistahouse.com/history/the-vista-house-story/, and the awe-inspiring Multnomah Falls, the second highest waterfall in the United States www.fs.fed.us/r6/columbia/millennium2/welcome.htm.  Just as on the Washington side of the river, there are plenty of wineries to visit to get a bottle of wine to celebrate your safe return home.

Just after crossing the bridge from Umatilla back into Washington take another short detour to the town of Plymouth, WA and stop at the Plymouth Tavern for lunch.  There are signs pointing the way.  It looks like a little dive bar, but these folks know how to do cheeseburgers and French fries!  After lunch you are ready for your ride back into Spokane. 

Your route for day two: www.mapquest.com/mq/8-fXEmqRLh

For a downloadable visitor’s guide to the Columbia Gorge click here: www.fs.fed.us/r6/columbia/forest/documents/GorgeVistas05low-res.pdf

For additional accommodations information click here: www.gonorthwest.com/Oregon/columbia/Columbiaaccom.htm

For additional activities in the Columbia Gorge click here: www.gonorthwest.com/Oregon/columbia/Columbiaact.htm

*Driving routes are approximate.  Day 2 does not have the two meal detours for breakfast and lunch, but the signage is clear.

Have fun and ride safe!