This will be an epic TWO day drive down to the Columbia Gorge, there to frolic along the asphalt ribbons of delight draped over the cliffs and plateaus above the river!
Day 1 - The morning will start with some twisty roads winding over the lush rolling hills NE of Vancouver on our way to a drive along the Swift Reservoir south of Mt. St. Helens. From there we'll motor past the McClellan viewpoint (maybe a stop for pix?) before plunging down the hairpins on Wind River Rd heading south to the Columbia River. After a lunch stop in Stevenson, we'll head east through the gorge. More curvy roads await on the bluffs over the river with some spectacular scenery and views that will delight. On the eastern edge of the Cascades we'll head north along the Klickitat River for some awesome canyon driving up to Glenwood. Eventually we'll loop back to end the first day on the shore of the Columbia River in Lyle, WA before making our way across the river to The Dalles, OR.
Day 2 - We'll start in The Dalles, OR and we'll explore some wonderful winding roads south of the Columbia river. One loop will take us up to the Rowena Overlook on the Historic Columbia Highway, another will loop into the rolling hills south of town. Then a scene drive home.
Lodging
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN LODGING. To keep the logistic burden low, each of us will be responsible for figuring out our own lodging. That said, I'll be staying at:
Cousins Country Inn
2114 W 6th St
The Dalles, OR 97058
There is zero affiliation, connection, consideration, or promo between event coordinator and this motel. It's neither the cheapest nor most expensive. It's simply a decent value, clean, comfortable, with a friendly staff and a place I've stayed at occasionally over the years.
The Dalles offers many other lodging options, however.
Itinerary
For each day, be ready at the meeting point with a full tank of gas for the Miata, top off yourself with breakfast or wake-up juice (coffee), a charged radio, and any beverages or travel rations you'll want for the day.
Saturday - May 30th, 2026
Meet at Woodland Safeway
1725 Pacific Ave
Woodland, WA 98674
Meet @ 8:0am
Driver's meeting @ 8:15am
Depart @ 8:30am
Sunday - May 31st, 2026
Meet at the Home Depot, north end of parking lot
3600 W 6th St
The Dalles, OR 97058
Meet 8:00am
Driver's meeting @ 8:15am
Depart @ 8:30am
Route Handout and Rever Links
A more detailed route directions and Rever mapping app links will be available at the driver's meeting and / or via e-mail before the event. One note on Rever, we'll be out of cell reception a good chunk of the time so use offline mapping if you can.
Please see the Club website under Document > Official Club Documents > Rever App How To for a reference PDF help setting up the Rever app if you wish to use it.
Special Notes
Bring a radio! We'll be on the usual channel 5.
Given the distance from home, I won't be doing a pre-drive on this. So, that's a thing. Adventure!
This will be a full two-day's drive with an early start in Woodland, WA. We'll end about 7pm the first night. The second day will start in The Dalles and we'll be home by evening.
Rest stops are planned about 1-1.5 hrs apart but bathroom areas are limited along the route. Plan accordingly.
As mentioned above YOU will need to make YOUR OWN arrangements for lodging Saturday night in or around The Dalles, OR with the suggestion to do so sooner than later.
Date and Time
May 30th and 31st, 2026
Meet @ 8am
Depart @ 8:30am
Location
Safeway, south edge of parking lot
1725 Pacific Ave
Woodland, WA 98674
There's a fuel station, Starbucks for wake-up juice, and a McDonald's right there.
Event Coordinator
Jay Greening
jay@jay-greening.com