Joyride: Skamania Mountain Adventure
Mountain Escape
Suggestions from the The Skamania Chamber of Commerce
Start your Journey
1 & 2: Base your stay at the Resort at Skamania Coves or Carson Hot Springs Resort, where you can opt for a room with a private balcony hot tub—or rent an RV space!
3: The challenging Dog Mountain Trail is particularly spectacular in the spring when wildflowers are blooming, but it offers amazing views of the gorge year round. Be prepared for a challenging hike with an elevation gain of almost 3,000’ in 3.5 miles. A NW Forest Pass is required at the trailhead and you must have a permit to hike the trail on weekends in May and June.
Places to Stop
4: Enjoy dinner at the Red Bluff Tap House in Stevenson.
5: You can either follow the original itinerary suggestion, and hike the Wind Mountain Trail, or the alternative we are showing on this map is the Pacific Crest Trail. You can start the trail at the Columbia River if you are up for an energetic climb, or you can start at the Panther Campground or nearby trailhead and enjoy a peaceful but gentle walk along the ridge top.
6-9: After you hike, head down to Stevenson where you can check out the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center (6), which provides an overview of the economic, geological, and cultural history of the area; enjoy Teo Park (7) on the Columbia River waterfront; and enjoy local stores such as Bloomsbury Flowers and Gifts (8) or Out on a Limb clothing and home decor (9).
10 & 11: For dinner, head to Carson Backwoods Brewing Company’s pub (10), with an outdoor patio and indoor dining, and then finish the evening with a nightcap at the nearby Bungalo Bar & Grill (11).
Day Trippin’
12: On day two, check out Beacon Rock State Park and the Hamilton Mountain Hike. Hikers will experience lush forest scenery with views of Hardy Creek, Rodney Falls, and the Pool of Winds, an impressive cavern enclosing Rodney Falls. The trail is eight miles round trip, and one of the coolest features is the opportunity to look down on Beacon Rock. Make sure to bring your Discover Pass.
13: For the second night, treat yourself to dinner at the Cascade Dining Room at the Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, known for superb dishes that are interestingly unique to the Cascades as well as their impeccable service.
14: Before heading home on your last morning, take a hike up Silver Star Mountain. Sitting in the center of the Chinook Trail System near Battle Ground, Silver Star offers expansive vistas from the get-go and is one of the absolute best spots in Southwest Washington for wildflowers in the springtime.
