 Historic Columbia River Highway map brochure, Troutdale OR to The Dalles with waterfalls, Mt Hood, and more I caught the CAT (Columbia Area Transit) at Multnomah Falls due to complications with catching it in Troutdale OR--both eastbound and westbound stops are accessible, but on opposite sides of I-84. There was no way for me to get back to my vehicle. Hopefully they'll be able to address that little issue. You can also catch it at Gateway Transit Center, Portland OR, but I had a couple concerns: the lengthier day's travel, and leaving my vehicle there all day as it would be dark when I returned. Catching the CAT at Multnomah Falls gave me a chance to get some nice photos of the Falls. Since it was Fall, there was more chance of finding parking. Warning signs about leaving valuables in your vehicle are no doubt especially crucial during the height of tourist season. Most people can be trusted, but there are opportunists in every tourist stop, no matter where you go in the world. There are definite advantages to riding the CAT--someone else does the driving, and you don't have to worry about the expense of and finding parking. By buying a yearly pass, you can travel the Gorge pretty cheaply, see and do more for your money, and not have to try to do and see everything in one day. I thought it would be a great chance to get photos along the way, since I wouldn't be driving. It's a little challenging to get good pictures while speeding by, and the bus is not a super-smooth ride. But I wanted to give some idea of the beauty of the Gorge. The CAT stops in downtown Cascade Locks, however, as I didn't get off the bus, I couldn't get good photos. Multnomah Falls, Cascade Locks, and some of Hood River (including the WAAM) are included in my 2020 post of the exits off I-84. I'll mention here how kind and caring the CAT drivers I experienced were . . . for instance, on the way home there was a dad who needed to drop off his little girl in Cascade Locks on his way to Portland. But the mom wasn't there to meet the bus. The dad was frantic, and finally thought he'd have to take his daughter with him on to Portland. He called the mom and found out she was stuck behind a truck, but nearly there. The CAT driver waited without getting upset, nor did any of the passengers get upset. We all know that sometimes things happen, and it's good that there are good people in the world who help and care.  https://visithoodriver.com/ upcoming events, click a link to get the Visitor Guide Hood River OR Dawn, working with the The Columbia Gorge Tourism Alliance, had contacted me about creating a post featureing travel to Hood River via the CAT, and Fall 2025 seemed like good timing, especially with the Hood River Harvest Festival the very weekend I had been planning to go. As this was my first experience riding the CAT, she arranged for Emily (at Columbia Gorge Tourism Alliance) to meet me at the CAT station in Hood River, and I was so very glad, as I had not realized I would need to transfer to another bus in the system to get around Hood River itself (and get to the Harvest Festival). CAT Transfer Station--224 Wasco Loop Rd, Hood River OR; transfer to or from the Hood River route The CAT station is very close to Walmart--2700 Wasco St, Hood River OR 97031 It's quite a little circuitous ride around Hood River to get to the site of the Harvest Festival (Hood River Event Site--Portway Ave & N. !st St, Hood River OR), and the streets are not all broad ways, but I noticed plenty of interesting architecture, the library, and the hospital along the way. The route lists stops at: Walmart, Safeway, Rite Aid, the Aquatic Center, Rosauers, Waucoma Ctr (historically a huge cold storage building for fruit, developed into an office building), and a couple other stops. I didn't see a way to signal the driver, it appeared that you just let him know where you want to get off. I would suggest checking with CAT to find out which stops are handicapped accessible. From the event site it's not a long way back to the transfer station so as to catch the CAT home. Hood River Harvest Festival--2025 Dawn arranged to have a ticket to the Hood River Harvest Festival waiting for me at admissions. That was nice, though I think for seniors it was only $5/person. I had worried about rain forecast that day, and temps in the 50s. But then the rain left a clearing during the hours I'd be there, and the temps were in the 60s. I dressed warmly, took an umbrella, and I saw that the event provided tents for vendors, and visitors watching the stage show and such. It was a feast for the festival goer, but be prepared . . . I had a hard time finding anything for under $10. That seemed the minimum.  A whole line-up of temptations . . . between crowds at the 2025 Hood River Harvest Festival at Hood River Event Site--Portway Ave & N. !st St, Hood River OR Various vendors came in trucks, little tents, and big ones . . . Return journey--Hood River to Multnomah Falls, I-84 along the Columbia River My phone wasn't recording locations properly, but here's what I could catch on the way back. Hood River (OR) City & County map Although these images are not clearly legible on this post, they give an idea what the map shows. I got the map for free at the Harvest Festival booth, but I'm sure they can be obtained from the City, the Visitor Center, or ordered from them online. Hood River County Columbia River Gorge Visitor Guide--2025-26, sample pages I've pictured a sidebar of annual events, but it's well worth perusing the 6 pages of 2025 events listed by month, which no doubt gives an idea of when to watch for things you may be interested in planning to attend next year. Looks like they have done a good job of listing addresses, contact numbers, and websites to find out more. You can order the Visitor Guide at
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