Mount Hood Loop Scenic Drive Self Guided Audio Tour

Travel the Mount Hood Scenic Loop on this self-guided driving tour through one of Oregon’s most iconic landscapes. This road passes through lush wilderness rife with waterfalls, forest trails, and mountain vistas. Experience the roar of Multnomah Falls, the charm of Vista House, and the alpine majesty of Timberline Lodge. Hear stories of mountain explorers, ancient geologic forces, and pioneer trails. And of course, the views of Mount Hood itself just can’t be beat. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action, entering your unique password, and accessing your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. Simply follow the audio instructions and the route from there. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. Not an entrance ticket to attractions. Please check opening hours before visiting.

1. 1

   Mount Hood

   10 min

   This picturesque drive circles Oregon’s tallest peak—Mount Hood, rising over 11,000 feet. Along the way, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views, quaint towns, and access to alpine trails and historic spots. The tour is over 120 miles long, with more than 60+ audio stories, and takes about 7-8 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

2. 2

   Corbett

   10 min

   The interstate runs along the gorge, but we’d miss all the best sites that way! We are going to tour on the more attractive route.

3. 3

   Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail

   10 min

   This section of our tour takes us along the Historic Columbia River Highway, a route constructed between 1913 and 1922 to showcase the beauty of the gorge.

4. 4

   Vista House

   10 min

   That crown jewel along the king of roads. I know it sounds like I'm really pumping it up - but it really is a great view.

5. 5

   Stop 5

   15 min

   Multnomah Falls is the second-tallest year-round waterfall in the United States, and the number-one most-visited natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest. Besides the waterfall, we’ll also find Multnomah Falls Lodge there.

6. 6

   Eagle Creek Trail

   10 min

   It’s the Eagle Creek Trail, which follows Eagle Creek along its lush slot canyon, passing a few waterfalls along the way. The whole trail is 23 miles long, but you certainly don’t have to hike the entire length.

7. 7

   Stop 7

   10 min

   This one is called Latourell Falls, and it’s a doozy of a cascade plunging 224 feet over a cliff of columnar basalt. It’s just a short walk from the parking lot, so unless we’re in a big hurry, I do think this one is worth a stop.

8. 8

   Shepperd's Dell Falls

   5 min

   This is Shepperd’s Dell Falls, and it’s a worthy quick stop. It requires just a tenth-of-a-mile stroll next to a beautiful old bridge from 1914 to see this double-decker waterfall.

9. 9

   Bridal Veil Falls State Park

   10 min

   Bridal Veil Falls is next up on our waterfall tour, and it’s one of my favorites in a strong selection. This powerful, two-tiered cascade tumbles 120 feet over mossy rocks. Seeing this one requires a moderate, 2/3-mile hike.

10. 10

    Stop 10

    10 min

    We’re approaching a classic Oregon hike called Angel’s Rest next. This one is a workout - it climbs 1,500 feet over 2.4 miles to a stunning bluff overlook. From up there, you’ll get views of Beacon Rock, Silver Star Mountain, and the city of Portland.

11. 11

    Stop 11

    5 min

    This time, we’re coming up on the absolute showstoppers of the Columbia River Gorge. Number one is Wahkeena Falls, which you might think is a really impressive waterfall until you see number two. But first things first: Next up is Wahkeena Falls, which truly is an impressive waterfall, that tumbles a tall 242 feet through a narrow gorge.

12. 12

    Stop 12

    Pass by

    I talked about the Horsetail Falls Trail already, and we can also access that nice five-waterfall loop from this direction. You can also hike straight to Ponytail Falls from here, a 1-mile round trip.

13. 13

    Stop 13

    10 min

    This is the first federal dam project on the Columbia River, built in 1938 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. A historic building on an island in the middle of the river houses the Bradford Island Visitor Center with exhibits about local history and an observation deck with great views of the gorge.

14. 14

    Cascade Locks

    Pass by

    We have a fun suggested quick side trip coming up: It’s the little town of Cascade Locks, and it boasts a few attractions worth checking out.

15. 15

    Starvation Creek State Park

    10 min

    This is a moderate, short trail studded with cascades. In about a mile, we can see four. First, walk just a tenth of a mile east to glimpse Starvation Creek Falls.

16. 16

    Hood River

    Pass by

    Downtown Hood River is great for strolling around and exploring its many boutique shops, art galleries, restaurants, wineries, and breweries. It's interesting to poke around the History Museum of Hood River County, which has exhibits on human history from the Indigenous cultures of the gorge up through settlers, loggers, and Japanese Americans - especially as an activity if the weather isn't great.

17. 17

    Full Sail Brewing Company

    10 min

    In Hood River, I can combine both these things. If it's close to that time of day, a stop for Full Sail Brewing might be enjoyable. This little brewery opened in a former fruit canning factory back in 1987, making it one of the very first microbreweries in Oregon.

18. 18

    Stop 18

    10 min

    The Cloud Cap Inn was constructed at about 6,000 feet on the mountain’s northeastern side. This was the first permanent resort built on Mt. Hood, and opened in 1889. And what an inn it was—handsome stone-and timber construction, fine dining, beds for 30 lucky guests, and eventually, even flush toilets!

19. 19

    Stop 19

    15 min

    Starting from that same Elk Meadows trailhead, start by going up, taking the Elk Meadows Trail to connect to Newton Creek Trail and then a section of the famous Timberline Trail.

20. 20

    Stop 20

    Pass by

    The Devils Kitchen is right under the most popular routes that mountaineers take when climbing Mt. Hood, so anyone who slips and falls along those trails could end up in a fumarole.

21. 21

    Stop 21

    Pass by

    We want to follow the sign marked 26 West for Portland. So just be sure to keep in the lane that exits off to the right about a minute or so up ahead. Not long after this large merging of highways, we'll see the turn off for one of Portland's favorite weekend getaways, Trillium Lake

22. 22

    Timberline Lodge

    5 min

    Timberline Lodge itself is a National Historic Landmark, and if you'll enjoy its stylized architecture. Finished in 1937, it’s considered a prime example of a style called Cascadian architecture.

23. 23

    Stop 23

    5 min

    One is the hike to Mirror Lake, which is a gorgeous lake with a picture-perfect view of Mt. Hood. If you’re into geology, or even just beutiful scenery, this is an example of a glacial cirque lake—that means it sits in an amphitheater-shaped basin that was carved by glaciers.

24. 24

    Stop 24

    10 min

    Some stories say that a trucker got in a terrible accident at Silent Rock, and it’s been cursed ever since. Others say it goes back to a construction accident, or even back to Native tribes throwing their enemies off the mountain here.

25. 25

    Stop 25

    Pass by

    It’s called Ramona Falls, and on this tour, which has many great waterfalls to see - this one is a stand out. Ramona Falls itself is a 120-foot-tall waterfall that flows over a black cliff of volcanic columnar basalt.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
• Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.
• At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
• Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.