Bus + bike is a fantastic combination.
All Gorge buses have racks and ways to travel with your bike -the Columbia Gorge Express can carry 9 bikes each and even the most remote routes have room for at least 2 bikes per ride.
It’s a great way to get out to new places and explore. Below are descriptions of rides from each of the transit stops.
By Intensity
1. Troutdale to Multnomah Falls
[18 miles / +984 ft]
The Historic Columbia River Highway, completed in 1922, is the first planned scenic roadway in the United States and modeled after the great scenic roads in Europe. Follow some or all of Sam Hill’s 75 mile vision, beginning at mile 0 in Troutdale.
Take the Columbia Gorge Express to the Troutdale stop then follow the directions here.
Give yourself time to experience Vista House and 2+ waterfalls before arriving at one of Oregon’s main attractions, Multnomah Falls, where you can take the bus back to Portland or continue on the highway.
Note: this section of the highway is shared with cars and large RVs and sometimes traffic will be at a standstill so use care. No permits are required for bikes. Weekdays are ideal for this ride.
2. Multnomah Falls
[13.8 miles/ +213 ft]
From Multnomah Falls you can ride west to Troutdale (see above for reverse directions) or east to Ainsworth State Park that has guaranteed hiker-biker campsites for anyone arriving by foot or bike.
There are many falls and features to experience within the stretch between Multnomah and Cascade Locks.
Take the Columbia Gorge Express to the Multnomah Falls stop then follow the directions here.
Note: this section is shared with cars and large RVs but is car-free trail after Elowah Falls.
3. Cascade Locks
[6 – 12 miles / +500 ft]
Take your family to enjoy car-free trail from Cascade Locks, west to Eagle Creek, Bonneville Fish Hatchery or Wachlella Falls trails and then back into to town to end with an ice cream or beer before catching a ride on the bus.
It’s 3 miles to Eagle Creek, 6 miles to Bonneville (to say hello to Herman the Sturgeon) or you can simple turn back at any time along the way.
Catch the Columbia Gorge Express to Cascade Locks then follow the directions here.
4. Cascade Locks to Wyeth
[7 or 14 miles / +540 ft]
Get ready for some climbing! The section of the Historic Columbia River Highway between Cascade Locks and Wyeth State Park, though shared with cars, is very lightly traveled by them. However, the elevation gain and steepness, is meant for people riding ebikes, road bikes or just up for a sufferfest.
If you time it right, you can catch the bus at Wyeth State Park (click here for the weekday schedule) to make it a one way (7 miles) ride. Or make it a round trip (14 miles) back to Cascade Locks.
Catch the Columbia Gorge Express to Cascade Locks then follow the directions here.
5. Stevenson to Cascade Locks
[5 miles / +200 ft]
There are various buses you can catch to get to Stevenson, which is a great town to explore. For this bike ride, start from downtown and follow the directions here.
From Stevenson, take the Mill Pond trail from the Skamania Fairgrounds, west to a Mallicot (gravel) Road to Ash Lake Road, which is very lightly traveled by cars. When Ash Lake Road terminates into Highway 14, use extreme care crossing the highway with high speed traffic to the parking lot across which you can ride along until you reach the Bridge of the Gods.
The Bridge is a steel grate bridge shared with cars so not for people with a fear of heights but pretty spectacular. Pacific Crest Trail through hikers also use this bridge to cross so there is a cultural norm for looking out for people walking and biking. No toll for people on foot or bike so skip that line of cars!
Once you are in Cascade Locks, the world is your oyster with the car-free Historic Columbia River Highway trail, great eats and lots of connecting busses.
6. Wyeth State Park
[Up to 12 miles / +640 ft]
If you’re up for a super early ride, you can take the 6:30am bus from Hood River to drop you at the park. You then have 5 hours to bike, hike and picnic before being picked up again by the bus at noon.
Wyeth is a wonderful place to start a low intensity ride because riding east is a brand new car-free trail.
Depending on the distance you are up for, you’ll see a fern gully and 3 waterfalls.
Viento State Park is the dead end of the trail for now so you’ll need to ride back to Wyeth to catch the noon bus.
7. Hood River Waterfront
[Up to 4 miles / flat]
Hood River’s waterfront trail is perfect for low intensity riding with beaches, a playground and plenty of snackie stops at local breweries or the Riverside Restaurant at Best Western. Take the Columbia Gorge Express to Hood River and then transfer to the Hood River Connect to port. Or ride by through the sleepy neighborhoods with directions here.
8. Hood River to Mosier
[8 – 16 Miles / +540 ft]
One of the best rides in America and referred to by locals as the “Twin Tunnels Trail”.
From Hood River’s Port bus stop, ride up 2nd Street, through downtown Hood River to State Street, which is also the Historic Columbia River Highway.
Continue east on the Highway, up the switchbacks to the Mark Hatfield trailhead where it turns gloriously car-free.
This route is highly traveled by people biking so cars are the guest on the shared section. Once on the car-free trail, marvel at the views, flora, quiet and historic tunnel.
There are some pretty epic downhills so take it slow and use your bell or voice to call out passing.
You can grab some coffee, food or a beer in Mosier before catching the bus back during the week or returning back the same way.
9. Hood River Post Canyon
[8+ Miles / +780 ft]
Post Canyon is renowned for the epic mountain biking with over 50 miles of trails.
We recommend downloading the free Trailforks app and the map for Oregon before going so you won’t have to worry about cell phone signal or getting lost.
From the Columbia Area Transit main bus stop, ride west to Mount Adams Road and Country Club Road, which is short, but a good climb. Take a right on Post Canyon Road and follow it straight into the 7 Streams Staging area, up the gravel road to the trailhead and then choose your own adventure!
10. Hood River Fruit Loop
[14 Miles / +800 ft]
You will see some of the most iconic Hood River orchard and double mountain views on this ride, but there is an incredibly steep, 1/2 mile climb to surmount first. Ebikes will have no problem, but make sure you are psychologically ready for the grade.
From Hood River’s Port bus stop, ride up 2nd Street, through downtown Hood River to State Street, which is also the Historic Columbia River Highway. Continue east on the Highway, up the switchbacks and take a right on Highline (the beast) Road. Highline turns into Eastside Road.
Check out Panorama Point for views of 3 mountains (Adams, Hood and St. Helens) on a clear day.
Continue on Eastside to Mason Road. Right before the train tracks, take a right in through the orchard towards the American flagpole to Gorge White House for one of the best meals in Hood River. Waits for food are sometimes long, but worth it, so order first, go get a beer, cider or wine, pick some flowers or berries and chill out.
Return back to Hood River, using the same route except stay on Eastside Road all the way to Highway 35 for a short bit down the hill.
11. Mosier to Hood River
[8 Miles / +460 ft]
This is the same ride as #8, only in reverse.
One of the best rides in America and referred to by locals as the “Twin Tunnels Trail”.
From Hood River’s CAT or Port bus stops, catch one of the weekday buses to Mosier.
Grab coffee and have a look around before making your way to the trailhead using these directions here.
12. Mosier to Rowena Crest
[6 – 13 Miles / +700 ft]
The section of the Historic Columbia River Highway between Mosier and The Dalles is shared with light to heavy traffic but gorgeous, especially during the Spring wildflower bloom.
From Hood River’s CAT or Port bus stops, catch one of the weekday buses to Mosier.
From downtown, follow Hwy 30 east and ride to Memaloose Overlook Trail for a short hike (6 miles return) or to Rowena Crest for an iconic view of the highway switchbacks (13 miles return).
Return back the same way or continue all the way to The Dalles to catch a return bus (15 miles one-way).
13. The Dalles Riverfront
[4 Miles / +40 ft]
The Dalles Riverfront Trail is a wonderful low intensity ride with multiple views and super cool rock formations.
From Hood River’s CAT or Port bus stops, catch one of the weekday buses to The Dalles.
From the main bus stop behind Home Depot, you’ll have a short ride across Interstate 84 to access the trail, but use care with your kiddos at the entrance and exit ramps.
At the trail, you can take a left to ride a mile to the Discovery Center or turn right to ride all the way to The Dalles city center.
Explore downtown and grab something to eat or drink before catching a city bus back to main bus stop where you’ll transfer to a bus back to Hood River.
14. The Dalles to Rowena Crest
[18 Miles / +600 ft]
This section of the Historic Columbia River Highway between Mosier and The Dalles is shared with light to heavy traffic and tackles the iconic Rowena Loops.
From The Dalles Link station, turn right on Chenowith Loop Rd then left on Hwy 30 which you will follow for 9 miles to Rowena Crest.
Return back for a complete loop or continue on to Mosier for another 6 miles. There you can catch one of the weekday buses to Hood River or keep riding another 8 miles along the Twin Tunnels trail to Hood River via bike.
15. The Dalles to Mosier
[13 Miles / +1600 ft]
For an ebike or road bike rider that doesn’t mind sharing traffic, this is an epic climb from The Dalles over 7 Mile Hill to Mosier.
You can wander endlessly on paved or gravel roads in this area so be mindful of weather and timing.
From The Dalles Link station, turn left on Chenowith Loop Rd, right on 10th St, and in .5 miles turn right on 7 Mile Hill Rd.
From Mosier you can catch one of the weekday buses to Hood River or keep riding another 8 miles along the Twin Tunnels trail to Hood River via bike.