Columbia River Gorge - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 523

Mt Hood Railroad RAILROAD
( 800-872-4661; www.mthoodrr.com ; 110 Railroad Ave) Built in 1906, the railroad once
transported fruit and lumber from the upper Hood River Valley to the main railhead in
Hood River. The vintage trains now transport tourists beneath Mt Hood's snowy peak
and past fragrant orchards, on various excursions. See the website for the various sched-
ules and fares. Reserve in advance.
Lost Lake LAKE
(day-use fee per vehicle $7) Take your own postcard photo of Mt Hood from Lost Lake,
which frames the white peak rising from a deep-blue lake amid thick green forest. This
inland side trip offers relief when the gorge gets too hot. To reach Lost Lake, which is 25
miles south of Hood River, take Hwy 281 from Hood River to Dee and follow the signs.
Canoe and paddle boat rentals are available at the resort ( www.lostlakeresort.com ) here.
Saturday Market MARKET
( May-Sep) If you happen to be around town from May to September, check out the
Saturday market at 5th and Columbia Sts for crafts, live music and fresh fruits.
Activities
Windsurfing and kiteboarding are huge in the Columbia River Gorge area. For details,
see the boxed text below.
Lovers of the grape can visit over a dozen wineries in the region for wine-tasting ad-
ventures; try nearby Cathedral Ridge Winery ( 800-516-8710;
www.cathedralridgewinery.com ; 4200 Post Canyon Dr) . Stop by the Chamber of Commerce for
a 'Columbia Gorge Wine Map,' which outlines all of them; you can also check
www.columbiagorgewine.com .
Cyclists, walkers, runners and skaters share the pavement on the refurbished stretch of
the Historic Columbia River Highway between Hood River and Mosier. No cars are per-
mitted on the 4.5-mile road, which passes through two old highway tunnels and is popu-
lar with families. To reach the trailhead, head east out of downtown, cross Hwy 35, and
continue up the hill to the parking area ($5 parking fee).
SLICING UP THE COLUMBIA
On hot summer days, the inland desert climate of Eastern Oregon attracts cool air
from the Pacific Coast, creating fierce winds that shoot westward 80 miles through