Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bridge of the Gods. It offers hiking, mountain-biking and horseback-riding trails, pic-
nicking, camping and river access.
The ascent up 848ft
Beacon Rock
is a 0.9-mile trail with 52 switchbacks; views are
grand. For a longer hike, climb 2445ft
Hamilton Mountain
(nearly 8 miles round-trip;
about 4½ hours); going just 1.25 miles leads to Hardy and Rodney Falls.
Beacon Rock is one of the few
rock-climbing
sites in the gorge. The majority of
climbs are trad and multipitch, and for experienced climbers only. To protect raptor nests,
climbing is not allowed from February to mid-July.
Dog Mountain
HIKING
(day-use fee $5)
It's a steep 3.8 miles up the popular
Dog Mountain Trail
, but this is the
best place in the gorge for late-spring wildflowers. Once on top of Dog Mountain, the
views of the Columbia River and nearby Cascade volcanoes are spectacular. Allow ap-
proximately five hours round-trip and take a jacket - it's windy up there.
Sleeping
Skamania Lodge
HOTEL$$$
( 800-221-7117;
www.skamania.com
;
1131 SW Skamania Lodge Way; d $140-250; )
Up the hill from the bridge is the gorge's biggest and cushiest resort. Facilities include
hiking trails, tennis courts, a spa, an indoor swimming pool, an 18-hole golf course with
shop and even a zip-line course. There are 254 beautiful lodge rooms and suites with
either forest or river views, plus two restaurants.
Rates vary depending on occupancy; reserve ahead in summer.
Bonneville Hot Springs Resort & Spa
HOTEL$$$
$$$
( 866-459-1678;
www.bonnevilleresort.com
; 1252 E Cascade Dr; d from $229, pool day use Mon-
Thu $15, Fri-Sun $25; )
With a grand five-star lobby and 78 stylish rooms (nearly
half with private balcony hot tubs), this resort offers fine dining and full spa services.
There's an elegant 25m indoor pool filled with mineral water, plus indoor and outdoor
Jacuzzis.
The resort is about 4 miles west of the Bridge of the Gods; look for the entrance road
('Hot Springs Way') across from the Bonneville Dam visitor center road. Sunday through
Thursday rates are $50 less.
Information
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