Visiting Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge as a Wheelchair User

As a power wheelchair user, I love finding destinations with a plethora of accessible things to do while visiting. Often, predominantly outdoor destinations do not provide the greatest wheelchair accessibility and are difficult to enjoy as a wheelchair user. But I recently found that the Mt. Hood and Columbia River Gorge region is exceptional, no matter what your abilities are.

After flying into the Portland airport, I rolled toward the wheelchair accessible van that I rented from United Access. They had it waiting for me at the valet, so I was quickly on my way to explore Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge. Over the course of my trip, I discovered some of the best wheelchair accessible things to do, places to eat, and fantastic hotels in this region.

Whether or not you are already planning to visit, after reading my suggestions below, I know that you will be itching to book a trip of your own to this beautiful part of Oregon. Here are some of the amazing wheelchair accessible things that I was able to do in Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge.

Honestly, I never expected to find an automobile and airplane museum in Oregon, but the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum in Hood River blew me away! They offer wheelchair accessible parking near the entrance and offer wheelchairs, scooters, and walkers if needed.

Here, you can see over 400 airplanes and cars on display, and they are spaced out over a very large area. You can roll the smooth aisles and see everything in there, but there are so many that it will take a while to see them all. This place is huge!

I was very interested to see that they even have some extremely old wheelchairs on display with old wooden and wicker seats. And the massive collection of still-flying airplanes and still-driving antique cars is one of the largest in the country.

The Hood River Waterfront Park offers a beautiful view of the Columbia River and Mt. Adams. From here, guests can access a 2.8-mile paved pathway that twists along the riverfront.

The Park offers a playground, wheelchair accessible picnic tables, and paved walkways throughout, making it super easy for people using wheelchairs to enjoy the day with their families. Wheelchair accessible parking is offered street side and curb cuts lead to the park.

Located in The Dalles, the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum has a variety of exhibits about the history of the surrounding area. Wheelchair accessible parking is free and located at the main entrance. As you roll inside, you will be in awe at the spectacular views of the scenic Columbia Gorge area, from their floor to ceiling windows at the end of the building.

The entire museum is wheelchair accessible and smooth to roll across. I was happy to see that manual wheelchairs were offered at the entrance in case one is needed. This Center is open daily from 9am to 5pm, and admission is $12 per adult and $7 for children aged 6 to 16. There is also a gift shop, so you can grab souvenirs for your friends and family back home.

After viewing the exhibits, it is easy to roll outside and have wheelchair accessible access to The Dalles Riverfront Trail. This trail is a must-do when visiting the museum.

The Dalles Riverfront Trail stretches about 8 miles along the Columbia River in The Dalles, Oregon. The path is between eight and twelve feet wide and paved for easy access throughout the entire route.

I started the trail at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, and the views of the river along the two miles that I rolled were stunningly beautiful. I enjoyed seeing some random wildlife along the trail such as squirrels, birds, geckos, and butterflies.

If you are wanting to get outside in the great outdoors, The Dalles Riverfront Trail is perfection! I also enjoyed watching the boats from the trail, as they floated along the Columbia River.

When visiting the Mt. Hood/Columbia River Gorge Region, don’t miss a stop at Phelps Creek Vineyard. This winery ships wines all over the world and I can personally see why.

After parking near the entrance, I was able to roll up their ramp and enter the building. There were several table options, and I found the one best for my needs. I was also impressed to catch both of the owners here and they spent their time making sure that I was comfortable and happy.

I was happy to do a wine tasting with five different kinds of wines. I tried Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Rose just to name a few. They were all so smooth and I had a hard time deciding which one was the best.

They also have a food menu, so that you can enjoy a few bites while devouring your bottle of wine. I chose the grazing board with salami, three kinds of cheeses, bread, fig jam and seasoned corn nuts. It was all so tasty, and it was the perfect pairing with the wine tasting.

Located in Boring, Oregon, The North American Bigfoot Center really made me question the possibilities of what is out in the woods! This museum is unique and fully wheelchair accessible with an easy entry and accessible parking near the entrance.

Inside, you will find lots of video footage from Bigfoot sightings throughout the U.S. I was also intrigued by some clay molds of footprints left behind by him. It was spine chilling to watch the short film in the mini theatre that told the story of actual encounters with Bigfoot himself.

I also enjoyed the gift shop, so that I could grab some gifts for my friends back home. I found t-shirts, signs, and tons of great Bigfoot merchandise. After making my purchase, I was happy to see that there is a wheelchair accessible restroom here as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed some time in nature with an accessible hiking experience with the organization Adventures Without Limits. From adaptive kayaking to skiing and much more, this non-profit organization in Oregon provides outdoor adventures to people of ALL abilities.

We started our hike at the Wildwood Recreation Site in the Mt Hood National Forest on the Cascade Streamwatch Trail, which was about 3/4 mile long and paved for easy access. The views of nature were stunning and being at one with nature felt so good to the soul.

We then rolled along the Wildwood Wetland Trail, which was about 1/2 mile long. This trail is also paved and wheelchair accessible. Hearing the vast array of birds and seeing the beauty of nature made the entire hike so rejuvenating with Adventures Without Limits.

Altitude Restaurant - Located inside the lobby area of Mt Hood Oregon Resort, Altitude Restaurant serves up delicious food. Open 7 days a week for breakfast from 7am - 11am, and dinner on Friday, Saturday and Sundays from 4pm - 11pm, this restaurant offers an elegant yet casual dining experience. Diners using wheelchairs can access the restaurant from entering the lobby of the hotel and rolling directly forward to the access ramp. For my starter, I chose the Santa Fe Chicken Egg Roll and my entree was the Lemon Herb Cod Florentine. This meal was so tasty that I cleaned my plate.

Ferment Brewing Company - Ready for some good food and tasty brews? Head on over to Ferment Brewing Company in Hood River, Oregon. This brewery has a large bar and a full menu of delicious foods. Wheelchair accessible parking is found on the side of the building, and there is a short, paved sidewalk to the entrance. Next, take the elevator to the 2nd floor and either grab yourself a drink at the bar, or be seated for a full dining experience. I chose the “Lost in Fragaria Strawberry Sour Ale” for my drink, and it was so refreshing! I then opted for a giant soft pretzel and falafel banh mi. It was scrumptious! I was also happy to see an accessible family restroom here.

Bargeway Pub - Located in The Dalles, Bargeway Pub is the perfect family-friendly spot to enjoy dinner in their riverfront garden or dine inside with their big TV’s. No matter which dining experience that you choose, it is all wheelchair accessible, and the food options are super tasty. For my meal I chose the Fish Tacos with lightly fried cod and chipotle aioli, and that sauce was the icing on the cake for me. If dining outdoors, you will relish in the waterside view of the Columbia River and can even watch the people that are enjoying a stroll in this section of The Dalles Riverfront Trail.

Riverside- Riverside restaurant is located inside the Best Western Plus Hood River Inn, sitting waterfront on the Columbia River. The views from this exquisite restaurant are amazing and offers diners the perfect atmosphere for a fine dining experience. While here, I enjoyed the fried calamari with chili aioli as my starter. Next, I chose the Salsiccia Pasta, which had spicy Italian sausage ragu, sweet peppers, Kalamata olives, basil, pecorino, and penne noodles. I can honestly say that this might have been the best meal of my year so far. Everything was so good, and I would highly suggest visiting for yourself.

Thunder Island Brewing Co - Thunder Island Brewing Co, located in the Cascade Locks, Oregon area is a 7-barrel brewery with fantastic views of the Columbia River. This two-story brewery offers on-site parking, with the wheelchair accessible spots near the entrance. Once inside, you can view the brewery in action and then enter the elevator to access the bar and the restaurant on the second level. They offer both indoor and outdoor accessible seating options, and an expansive menu of brews and delicious foods. I opted for the chips and salsa with housemate guacamole to start and next, the Patty Melt with wagyu beef, and it was scrumptious.

If you are looking for a room with a view of the water, Best Western Plus Hood River Inn is your spot! This hotel, based on the banks of the Columbia River, is spectacular!

I stayed in a wheelchair accessible suite known as the Waucoma Suite. It had a full living room, kitchen, bathroom with a roll-in shower, a pull-out sofa, and a king-sized bed. The legs of a Hoyer lift can roll underneath the bed, and it sits 25 inches tall.

My favorite feature of this room is the massive wheelchair accessible balcony, which overlooks the Columbia River. It does have a small lip that’s about one inch that you will need to roll over, but if possible, don’t let that deter you from enjoying your morning coffee with this view.

The Mt. Hood Oregon Resort is located in Welches, Oregon. This Best Western property is only 15 minutes from the Mt. Hood ski area, and I highly recommend a drive to the top for the views of the snowcapped mountain. This resort offers a spa and plenty of outdoor activities.

My room had a roll-in shower with a hand-held shower wand. There were also grab bars by the toilet, two beds, a mini fridge, microwave and a sliding glass door to the patio area. The beds had space underneath for a Hoyer lift to easily roll underneath.

Although my time in Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge had to eventually come to an end, I will definitely return one day. There is so much to see in this area, and I barely scratched the surface of the region’s many wheelchair friendly offerings. If you are looking for accessible fun in the great outdoors, or some of the most amazing attractions in the Pacific Northwest, this part of Oregon has you covered.