Fall for the Gorge

Coyote Wall Trail, strenuous, trail loops around a 200-foot outcrop of crumbling basalt that resembles a fence, http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/coyote-wall.

Doetsch day-use area, Milepost 34, easy, 1-mile paved interpretive trail (ADA accessible).

Some autumn group hikes organized by Friends of the Columbia Gorge:

Sunday, Oct. 14, Klickitat Trail to Pitt. Two hikes, easy 4 miles, no gain, or strenuous 8 miles.

Friday, Oct. 19, Cape Horn Loop, strenuous 6.8 miles.

Saturday, Oct. 20, Swale Canyon, moderate 6 miles.

Tuesday, Oct. 23, Columbia Hills, Homesteads, moderate 3 miles.

Friday, Oct. 26, Petroglyphs and Dancing Rock, easy 4 miles.

Saturday, Oct. 27, Petroglyphs and Horsethief Butte, easy 2-3 miles.

Details and registration: gorgefriends.org/hike, 503-241-3762 ext. 103.

Viewpoints

Cape Horn lookout: Milepost 23.

Franz Lake lookout: Between Milepost 30 and 31.

Education

Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center: http://columbiagorge.org.

Bonneville Dam: http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environment/Fishcameras.aspx.

Biking

State Highway 14 http://wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/9D93F041-32D6-4E32-9334-747AF5DA7352/0/columbiagorgebikingguide.pdf.

Windsurfing/kiteboarding

Locations on the Washington and Oregon shore, http://gorgeonline.com/windsurfing/windsurfing.loc.htm.

Fishing sites

Locations, http://skamania.com/columbia-river-gorge/fishing.php.

Picnics

Doetsch Ranch day-use area, Milepost 34.

St. Cloud Day-Use/Picnic Area/Nature Trail, just before Milepost 29. http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/crgnsa/recreation/recarea/?recid=29980.

Hot springs

Bonneville Hot Springs Resort & Spa; 1252 E. Cascade Drive, North Bonneville; http://bonnevilleresort.com.

Carson Hot Springs Spa & Golf Resort; 1901 St. Martin’s Springs Road, Carson; http://carsonhotspringresort.com.

Skamania Lodge

http://skamania.com

Washington wines

Klickitat Canyon Winery tasting room, 350 Highway 14, klickitatcanyonwinery.com, noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

White Salmon Vineyard tasting room, 63281 Highway 14, WhiteSalmonVineyardWineTastingRoom on http://www.facebook.com, 12:30-5:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday, through the end of October, then, by appointment, 509-493-4640.

The pass can be purchased for $10 per day per vehicle or $30 per year at various stores along the Gorge. Vendors such as the Chevron on Cascade Drive in North Bonneville may charge a dealer fee, and some accept only cash. To pay with credit card or debit card, visit the green kiosk in front of the Beacon Rock trailhead or buy the pass from the ranger station across from Beacon Rock on Highway 14.

Imagine the possibilities of a cross-continental hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail, which spans from Mexico to Canada, meanders to its lowest point along the Washington riverbank. The Bridge of the Gods connects the trail between Washington and Oregon. The bridge’s junction at Highway 14’s Milepost 40 marks where the trail picks up in Washington.

Biking

Highway 14’s moderate traffic levels allow bicyclists to share the road along the Gorge. The highway, however, is often two lanes with no or a limited shoulder and no bike lanes. The Washington Department of Transportation offers a biking map with preferred routes, interpretive sites and points of interest. Stay on Highway 14, or try the Bike Route Loop in Stevenson, which crosses over Rock Creek.

Hot springs

To warm up from the cold or shed some stress, visit one of the Gorge’s hot springs in Carson and North Bonneville.

Carson Hot Springs Spa & Golf Resort, about 50 miles east of Vancouver, offers an hourlong mineral bath and wrap for $20 in the former St. Martin Hotel, built in 1901. Portland naturopathic physician Elise Schroeder, who visited Oct. 7 with a friend, said the soak and wrap are relaxing and detoxifying. The waters, pumped from the riverbed of the Wind River, provide potassium to regulate heart beat, sodium to balance fluids, osteoporosis-preventing calcium, magnesium for metabolism, sulfates for healthy nails and hair, ammonia and phosphate, according to the hot springs’ website.

Picnics and dining

Schroeder followed that up with a lunch of organic greens on a sun-bathed picnic table by the Stevenson Landing cruise ship dock, visible from Highway 14 in the city of Stevenson. The landing offers a view of the river, and on the right day, a flock of kiteboarders look like giant butterflies on the water. There’s also a 1-mile hiking trail and interpretive signs along the water’s edge for an easy stroll.

One of the Gorge’s best picnic spots is in the Doetsch Ranch day-use area in Beacon Rock State Park. On Highway 14 from Vancouver, swing a right onto Doetsch Ranch Road near Milepost 34 into the day-use area and go to the area’s boat dock and launch at the end of the road. Perched on the shore is a picnic table with a priceless close-up view of Beacon Rock.

A Discover Pass is required to park in the day-use area.

Another dining option with a gorgeous view of the Columbia Gorge is at the CXXX Bar & Grill, 130 Cascade Ave., right next door to the Stevenson Landing. The restaurant has a wind-guarded patio overlooking the river. Happy hour is from 3 to 6 p.m. daily and offers dishes from $3 to $5 with a one-drink minimum.

The Skamania Lodge in Stevenson at 1131 S.W. Skamania Lodge Way offers breathtaking views of the river and a good example of Cascadian-style architecture. Escape the rain and dine in the lodge’s restaurant with a view of the Gorge.

Wineries

The Columbia Gorge is wine country. Sample some of its bounty at the Klickitat Canyon Winery tasting room at 350 Highway 14 in Stevenson. The wines are extra-dry, sulfite-free and organic.

Continue east 22 miles to the White Salmon Vineyard tasting room at 63281 Highway 14 in Underwood. Visitors to the White Salmon tasting room can sip wine while looking at the river and Mount Hood.

“It’s a pretty cool location,” said Faye Brehm, vineyard owner. “Especially at the end of the day, it’s so quiet.”

On Friday nights, there’s free live music at the AlmaTierra tasting room at 208 W. Steuben St. in Bingen.

Water sports

The Washington riverbank offers some windy locales for windsurfing and kiting. There are no places to take lessons on the Washington side. Cross over to the Oregon side for lessons at The Hook near the Port of Hood River, exit 63 off Interstate 84. For the experienced surfer or boarder, Home Valley at Milepost 50 offers free parking and an easy-to-difficult ride. More difficult options are in Swell City at Milepost 61 and The Hatchery, four miles west of the Hood River Bridge.

Paris Achen: 360-735-4551; http://twitter.com/Col_Trends; http://facebook.com/ColTrends; paris.achen@columbian.com.