Outdoor Activities
Skiing Year Around?
Skiers and snowboarders flock to Oregon's snowcapped Mount Hood, site of North America's longest ski season - an average of 345 days per year (including 90 summer days). It takes just over an hour to get from a sidewalk cafe in Portland to the chair lift at Timberline. There are four ski resorts at this 11, 235-foot peak. It’s a mecca for skiers, ice climbers, snowboarders and hikers. The surrounding wilderness boasts spectacular trails for snowshoeing – Oregon’s newest winter sports rage – as well as cross-country skiing. Best of all, this adventure zone is just an hour’s drive from Portland’s city center. Prefer to leave your skis in storage? No problem. Just ride the chair lift and enjoy the spectacular views. Or go downhill mountain biking or enjoy other extreme sports at Ski Bowl’s Adventure Park. Another great option is to hike around an alpine lake near Mt. Hood.
A leisurely drive back to Portland affords the proper ending to an adventurous Pacific Northwest day: a pint of local microbrew or glass of Oregon Pinot noir, and a fresh salmon dinner.
Kayaking
For a real outdoor treat, go kayaking in Scappoose Bay (www.scappoosebaykayaking.com/). Scappoose Bay is a wetland, watershed area rich in cultural history and home to a variety of migratory birds, bank beaver, heron and eagles. It's a naturalist’s hideaway where few boats travel and a secluded waterway yet to be rediscovered.
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