10 Fun Things to Do in Troutdale, OR

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Troutdale is the eastern limit of Portland’s suburbs. Once you cross the Sandy River, you leave the sprawl and enter a world of misty temperate rainforests and spectacular waterfalls. Known as the Gateway to the Columbia Gorge, Troutdale is 20 minutes from my home in Portland. I stop by often, usually for snacks on the way back from the hiking trails. My favorite attractions are the parks just outside of town, but the restaurants, shops, and music venues are worth making a dedicated visit. Here are the best things to do in Troutdale.

1. See the Columbia Gorge waterfalls

Multnomah Falls

Pass required: A $2 timed reservation is required to park at Multnomah Falls between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Learn more in my article about the timed reservation passes.

I hate to start a list of the best things to do in Troutdale by sending you out of town, but trust me, it’s worth it, and we’re not going far. A 15-minute drive will bring you from downtown Troutdale to the breathtaking waterfalls of the Columbia Gorge. The main event is Multnomah Falls. This 620-foot two-tiered waterfall makes a slightly offset plunge behind a stone bridge spanning mossy cliffs. You can see the base of the falls (and, I think, the best views) without hiking. A short and easy trail leads up to the bridge. A steeper and more difficult trail brings you to the top of the falls.

Latourell Falls

Multnomah Falls is in a unique area of the Columbia Gorge that’s famous for its high density of waterfalls. Just down the road are viewpoints overlooking Latourell Falls, Wahkeena Falls, Sheppard’s Dell Falls, and Horsetail Falls. You can reach many others on the hiking trails. For details, check out my article on the best waterfall hikes near Multnomah Falls. This area gets crowded. Visiting in early mornings, evenings, weekdays, and seasons other than summer can give you a calmer experience with the waterfalls.

2. Vista House

Vista House

Pass required: Oregon State Park Pass ($10/day)

Hours: Friday - Monday from 9 AM to 5 PM, barring inclement weather and winds over 50 mph.

Only 20 minutes from Troutdale, Vista House is my vote for the world’s prettiest rest stop. Skilled masons built the octagonal observatory in the 1910s for early motorists traveling through the Columbia Gorge. The interior is decked out with marble and opalized glass. The basement has a little cafe, a museum, and, of course, restrooms. It’s still a rest stop after all. Outside are some of the most impressive views of the Columbia Gorge that you can reach without hiking. Head upstairs to take in the panorama from the balcony. Bring layers. It can get very windy.

Local tip: If you have a tight travel budget, stop at the Portland Women’s Forum about a mile to the west. Parking is free, and the views are similar to those at Vista House.

3. Sherrard Point

Mount Hood from Sherrard Point

Pass required: NW Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass ($5/day). You can pay with exact change when you arrive or buy a digital day pass.

Season: Around June to November

The best mountain views near Troutdale are from the Sherrard Point Viewpoint. Starting from Vista House, a 30-minute drive on a paved road will bring you to a parking area at the top of Larch Mountain. From here, a 0.3-mile trail leads to Sherrard Point and a 360-degree Cascade Mountain panorama. The viewpoint overlooks five major peaks: Mount St Helens, Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, Mount Hood, and Mount Jefferson. It’s fenced and kid-friendly. Although not hard, the trail ends at a set of steps that keep it from being wheelchair-accessible.

For a challenge, you can hike up Larch Mountain instead of driving. Starting from Multnomah Falls, take the trail to the top of the falls, then take the Larch Mountain Trail to the summit. It’s 14 miles out-and-back and has some stunning waterfalls along the way. You don’t need a NW Forest Pass to park, but you need a timed reservation for the Multnomah Falls parking lot from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

4. Edgefield

Edgefield’s pub

McMenamins Edgefield is Troutdale’s weirdest attraction. The 74-acre property was once the county's poor farm, dating back to 1911. Today, it’s a quirky resort with many hidden corners. Even if you’re not staying at the hotel, it’s worth grabbing a beer and exploring the grounds. Walkways and alleyways connect flower gardens, restaurants, the ice cream shop, the underground wine bar, the glass blowing studio, and the golf course. Hotel guests can relax in the soaking pool. Inside the buildings, you’ll find bizarre art and patios with rocking chairs. One of the best things to do in Troutdale during the summer is check out one of the outdoor concerts on the lawn.

5. Downtown shops

Red Trillium Gallery

Troutdale’s most obvious shopping center is the giant outlet mall next to the highway. I won’t waste time describing it. You’ve seen outlet malls before, and it’s what you’re picturing. Instead, I’ll draw your attention across the railroad tracks. Starting from the Gateway to the Gorge sign, blocks of small businesses form a classic small-town Main Street. Think brick facades, sidewalk bistro tables, and a 1950s-style soda shop. Wander through the Red Trillium Gallery to see works from local artists. Browse the handcrafted Pacific Northwest-themed gifts at Artistree. Try one of the seasonal farm-to-table pizzas at Lolo’s Boss Pizza.

Caboose outside the Depot Rail Museum

If you keep walking east past the shops, you’ll see a bright yellow caboose in front of the Gateway to Gorge Visitor Center and Depot Rail Museum. From here, a universally accessible paved trail follows the Sandy River to a couple of viewpoints and seating areas. The quarter-mile-long trail is through the new Sharon Nesbit Heritage Park, which opened in 2025. It’s still somewhat of a work in progress, but it could be a fun side quest if you like finding lesser-known attractions or want to have a look at the river after shopping.

6. Troutdale Station Food Carts

Beer and samosas at the Troutdale Food Carts

The Troutdale Station Food Carts are one of my favorite places to stop on the way back to Portland after hiking in the Columbia Gorge. It’s a crowd pleaser that draws both locals and tourists. Inside is a large hall filled with community-style tables, beer taps, a cafe, and an ice cream counter. Outside are about 20 food carts offering all different types of cuisine. If you’re visiting with a group, everyone doesn’t have to agree on pizza versus curry versus falafel. Oh, and they have an excellent happy hour. On weekday afternoons, draft beers are $5.

7. Sugarpine Drive-In and Glenn Otto Community Park

Sugarpine Drive-In

Parking fee: $2/hour Friday-Sunday, free other days

The Sugarpine Drive-In is a great lunch spot anytime of year, but it has a special charm on summer afternoons, when the line between inside and outside starts to blur. The patio is a row of picnic tables set back in the trees. The interior resembles the large back porch of a camp concession stand. The 1950s nostalgia made me expect a standard menu of burgers, hot dogs, and fries. Instead, it’s full of creative flavors, local ingredients, and dishes that change with the season. It’s a place to save room for dessert. The soft serve has a reputation, and the cherries jubilee got a write-up in the New York Times.

One of the charms of Sugarpine is that it’s next to Glenn Otto Community Park, which has a lovely beach on the Sandy River. On a hot summer day, one of the best things to do in Troutdale is spend a lazy afternoon by the river, then head up the hill for a cold beer or soft serve at Sugarpine. Be careful about swimming at Glenn Otto. The lifeguard station makes it seem safer than it is. The water is very cold, even in the height of summer, and has fast-moving currents.

8. Thousand Acres

Trail at Thousand Acres

Pass required: Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass ($5/day). You can buy a pass when you arrive.

Thousand Acres is what parks would look like if dogs designed them. Hiking trails across the Sandy River Delta span cottonwood forests and open fields where dogs can run off-leash. On clear days, you see Mount Hood’s summit above the trees. The network of trails makes it easy to choose your walking distance. All are flat and easy. A good default is the 2.5-mile Confluence Trail, which leads to a cool cylindrical bird blind made of wood slats. Inside are inscriptions comparing how Lewis and Clark identified animals to how we know them today. They were hit and miss. Notable oversights are the mountain goat, which they called “something like a sheep,” and the harbor seal, which they called a river otter.

Maya Lin bird blind

Near the bird blind are muddy river banks where dogs love to dig and roll around before swimming in the freezing water. Overall, good vibes, good bird-watching, and a lot of happy dogs running around. The catch: the parking lot at Thousand Acres is a circus. Weekdays, winter, cold and gloomy, it doesn’t matter. Expect to circle and wait for a parking spot.

9. Float the Sandy River

Oxbow Regional Park

Passes required: Dabney State Park and Lewis & Clark Recreation Site require the Oregon State Park Pass ($10/day). Oxbow Regional Park has a local $5 parking fee.

Dogs are not allowed at Dabney State Park or Oxbow Regional Park. They are allowed at Lewis & Clark Recreation Site.

Troutdale is at the end of one of the most popular river floats near Portland. Starting from Oxbow Regional Park, the Sandy River makes a leisurely course through the woods to Dabney State Park (5-6 hours) and then to Lewis & Clark Recreation Site (7-9 hours). If you do the whole thing, it’s 7 miles. The route doesn’t have rapids beyond Class I, making it suitable for beginners. Besides tubing, one of the best things to do near Troutdale on a beautiful summer day is kayaking this stretch of the Sandy River. With a car shuttle from Oxbow Regional Park, it’s about 3 hours to Dabney State Park or 6 hours to Lewis & Clark Recreation Site.

10. Disc Golf

Dabney State Park

My biggest surprise, as I was looking into things to do in Troutdale, was how many disc golf courses are around town. I’d say the two best ones are at Dabney State Park and Blue Lake Regional Park. The Dabney State Park 18-hole course is billed as one of the most technical in the Pacific Northwest. I don’t know enough about disc golf to comment, but I can say that it’s through a beautiful forest with some big ol’ Doug fir and cedar trees. The park has picnic tables in the woods and short hiking trails along the Sandy River. In the summer, it’s a popular swimming and floating spot. Parking requires the Oregon State Park Pass ($10/day). You can buy one on-site.

Blue Lake Regional Park is a natural space tucked back in a residential neighborhood. It’s more of a place where locals go to relax rather than a big tourist draw. Besides the 18-hole disc golf course, it has a large picnic area, playgrounds, ball courts, and an ADA-accessible fishing pier. In summer, look for the swim beach and spray park. Parking is $5/day. Dogs are not allowed in either park.

Blue Lake Regional Park

Getting around Troutdale

The easiest and most convenient way to explore Troutdale and the Columbia Gorge is by car. The small downtown is reasonably centralized and walkable, but things start getting spread out once you leave the town center.

If you’re visiting without a car, Troutdale has public transit options. A few TriMet bus routes connect to Portland. The Columbia Gorge Express runs from Troutdale through the Columbia Gorge, stopping at Multnomah Falls, Cascade Locks, and Hood River. A day pass is $15. The downside is that it runs less than hourly, limits your destinations, and isn’t as flexible as driving.

Where to stay in Troutdale

Hotel at Edgefield

• My top recommendation for a unique stay in Troutdale is at McMenamins Edgefield. The property is beautiful, and hotel guests get extra perks like spa access. Rooms can fill up fast, especially on concert nights. It’s a good idea to book your stay as soon as you know your travel plans.

• Unexciting but adequate, Motel 6 has very reasonably priced rooms. I stayed there once with a friend when we went to a concert at Edgefield. The rooms at the venue were sold out, and we didn’t want to drive back to Portland afterward. Our room was cheaper than using a rideshare.

• The Comfort Inn is a step up from Motel 6. It offers some nice amenities, including free breakfast, a pool, a gym, and a hot tub.

Balcony at Edgefield hotel

Best things to do in Troutdale, the summary:

1. See the Columbia Gorge waterfalls

2. Vista House

3. Sherrard Point

4. Edgefield

5. Downtown shops

6. Troutdale Station Food Carts

7. Sugarpine Drive-In and Glenn Otto Community Park

8. Thousand Acres

9. Float the Sandy River

10. Disc Golf

Enjoy your trip to Troutdale!

With love,

Emma

More in the Columbia Gorge

Find the best short hikes in the Columbia Gorge.

Check out the best things to do in Hood River.