DAY 1

SEATTLE→MOUNT HOOD→SALEM

the beginning of my roomie and i’s adventure!

As everyone knows, 2020 has been quite the year. Basically everything that can go wrong does. I had some big changes hit me during June that made me feeling pretty lost. I tried spinning the events into a positive, how can I use my new free time to go on an adventure? Luckily, at the same time I was brainstorming, my roomie had PTO to take and we both decided to take a road trip! We decided to explore Oregon! Why did we choose there? Well, she and I have been to Portland many times (not our fav) and we wanted to get a better vibe of Oregon!

We started out on Monday, June 29th hitting the road at 7am from Seattle to Mount Hood National Forest. The drive was easy and basically a straight shot South taking us 3 hours and 45 minutes. We had sunshine the entire drive until we got to the very beginning of the forest (of course more 2020 luck.) We were literally driving through the clouds, I bet there is a gorgeous view going through the park, but all we could see was fog.

Stop 1: trillium lake

When we first got to Trillium Lake the clouds miraculously opened up around the lake so we could see it! Usually, you can see a view of Mount Hood too, unfortunately we didn’t see this, but still a very pretty walk around the lake. We did a mile, usually you can loop all the way around for 2 miles but part of the trail is under construction. Aside from the easy, flat walking trail, you can also kayak, fish, and swim in this lake. There is also a great camping section that I would definitely stay at next time we come back!

stop 2: mirror lake trail

Mirror Lake trailhead was only a 5 minute drive from Trillium Lake. The parking lot is small and we got one of the last spots at around 11:30am. When we got to the trailhead, it started raining and the fog rolled in again. The trail is very wooded until you reach the lake so we didn’t mind getting wet, plus we had come prepared with rain jackets. I’d also recommend hiking boots as the trail was very muddy from all the rain. The trail itself is 4 miles out and back with only 650 ft of elevation gain, you can add an additional mile if you want to walk the loop of the whole lake. On the way to the top you walk through a dense forest with beautiful flowers and a few bridges you use to cross streams. Once you get closer to the top there are a few switch backs that are doable, I would rank the trail as easy to moderate in difficulty.

When we got to the top and the trees cleared, the fog was so thick we couldn’t even see the lake. The only reason we even knew the lake was there was because I tossed a few pebbles to see if there would be a splash. We knew visibility was a risk when we started but we were hoping for a clearing. Usually on a clear day you can see the lake and a great view of Mount Hood with the reflection in the water. Even though we couldn’t see anything, there was something beautiful in the stillness. We had some fun taking pictures and hiked our way back down. PSA: Since this trail had quite a bit of foot traffic, make sure you have a mask handy :)

Stop 3: timberline lodge & Ski area

From the Mirror Lake parking lot, the Timberline Lodge was a 12 minute drive. It felt like it took double the time because it was so foggy I couldn’t even see the road. When we got to the Timberline Lodge parking lot it was so foggy we had no idea which way the lodge even was or Mount Hood lol! We heard something and looked to our right to see skiers coming down the hidden mountain! (Yes, that’s right, people are STILL SKIING in the middle of June!) As I was trying to read a map, my roomate screamed “LOOK BEHIND YOU!!!” When I whipped my head around I was in awe! There was Mount Hood in all her glory. It had taken us all day scouting out different view points and we finally had an amazing view! I literally sprinted up the hill to get a better view while the clouds kept rolling in. Once we had finished admiring the views, we went into the famous historic Timberline Lodge to explore.

The Timberline Lodge was built in 1937 and they’ve left many historic pieces around to view. You can do day visits of the Lodge or book a room for overnight stay. When we walked through the back entrance of the Lodge there are several cozy fire pits you can relax at. On the lower level of the hotel, there is a walking exhibit of the history of the Lodge and the textiles used to create the pieces in the Lodge. The Lodge is also where they filmed The Shining and you can ask the staff to hold a replica of the axe. In the lodge, there are several dining options if you’re hungry, at this time the dining halls across the street usually for skiers or mountain bikers is closed for the season due to Covid. There’s also a gift shop across the street if you’d like to purchase a souvenir.

Stop 4: willamette winery vineyards 

Willamette Valley is wine country of Oregon and is only a two hour drive from Mount Hood. On the way, you drive through Oregon City which I’m sure you could find more activities to do. We also passed by several yummy looking Taco food trucks, but we didn’t stop so we could make it to Willamette Winery Vineyards before close. Its one of my favorite spots in the valley because of their amazing wines, great views, and fantastic service. We bought several bottles, their best known for their reds but you can form your own opinions on your favorites! Their outdoor patio was perfect for social distancing.

stop 5: salem, or

We decided to stay in Salem, the capitol of Oregon, so I could visit with my Aunt and Uncle who live there. We had a great time catching up! We also drove to downtown to see the cute town, the Capitol building, and pick up some delicious burgers from Bo & Vine. I have been to Salem before, and if we had more time, or if you have more time on your adventure, I’d recommend going to Silver Falls State Park and visiting more wineries in the Willamette Valley!

I hope you enjoyed reading about Day 1 of our road trip! :)