Plan a day trip out of Portland Oregon on the Mt. Hood scenic loop. Stop for donuts, play in the snow, return through the Columbia River Gorge.

Volcanic Mount Hood, Oregon’s highest peak, is a must-see when visiting the Portland, Oregon area. You’ll certainly see it when you fly into PDX and on clear days, you’ll see the snowy peak rising from the east from many vantage points in Portland and Vancouver, Washington. But, in a day, you can actually walk on that impressive mountain by taking a day trip to Mt. Hood. The Mt. Hood scenic loop will bring you in touch with mossy forests, entice you to throw a snowball on the mountain, and then return through the shady steep cliffs of the Columbia River Gorge.

Along the Mt. Hood scenic loop you’ll find places to stop for a meal, taste wine, and even pick some lavender. This drive, on one of Oregon’s Scenic Byways, is best done in summer or early fall before the snows return to make driving unpredictable. While there are many ways to drive this loop, this itinerary was always a favorite of my out-of-town guests.

Views and Famous Donuts in Sandy

You may start and end your beautiful day on I-84. As you head east out of Portland, take an exit in Wood Village to go south and join Hwy 26. Travel Oregon has an interactive map of the Mt. Hood Scenic Byway online.

As you leave the hustle and bustle of the Portland area, you’ll make your way to Sandy. The town is named for the Sandy River, which explorers Lewis and Clark dubbed the “Quicksand River.” Today, the Sandy River, which flows to the Mighty Columbia River, offers recreation and fishing. Before Hwy 26 divides, check out a great viewpoint for your first Mt. Hood photo. Not too far up Bluff Road (you’ll be turning left), you’ll find the Jonsrud Viewpoint that looks across the Sandy River Valley where the pioneers made their way west to “Eden.” Mt. Hood is the centerpiece of this view.

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