Plan Your Trip Pacific Northwest Outdoors - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 76

» Mt St Helens - noted for being one of the more geologically interesting climbs; some-
times blows smoke from its newly forming crater
» Mt Adams , Mt Baker , Mt Olympus and Glacier Peak - other popular climbing destina-
tions in the state.
Oregon
The Oregon coast's windswept beaches and rocky bluffs offer rugged and grandiose
beauty. Check them out from the tip of Cape Falcon or from the top of Neahkahnie
Mountain - both in Oswald West State Park. The challenging hike up Saddle Mountain
also offers unbeatable views. Further south, Cape Lookout has a magnificent coastal pan-
orama.
Just east of Portland, you can hike in the Columbia River Gorge among lush fir forests
and dramatic waterfalls. Multnomah Falls is the hallmark, but there are other knockout
hikes nearby, such as the Eagle Creek Trail or Dog Mountain (which is actually in Wash-
ington). South of the gorge, the popular 40-mile Timberline Trail Loop circumnavigates
Mt Hood through alpine forests, and offers outstanding views. Ramona Falls is another
awesome area hike.
In the Cascades, the challenging South Sister hike offers spectacular views from Ore-
gon's third-highest peak. For exceptionally lofty views of Crater Lake - that turquoise
phenomenon - hike up Mt Scott, high above the rim. In remote northeastern Oregon, the
Wallowa Mountains, Eagle Cap Wilderness and Hells Canyon are other outdoor para-
dises.
Peaks to bag:
» Mt Hood - Oregon's highest mountain and one of the most climbed peaks in the world
» Three Sisters - just west of Bend; each is over 10,000ft; hard-core climbers do all three
in one day (the 'Three Sisters Marathon')
» Mt Bachelor , Broken Top , Mt Jefferson and Three-Fingered Jack - other lofty peaks.
British Columbia
British Columbia has hundreds of out-of-this-world parks and innumerable trails. On
Vancouver Island, trails such as the 47-mile West Coast Trail in Pacific Rim National
Park wind through ancient rainforests and gorgeous shorelines. Or take one of Whistler's
gondolas and enjoy wandering on high alpine trails without making the high alpine
climb. For a stellar coastal hike, you can do an extensive trip or a day hike on the Juan de
Fuca Marine Trail.