ahoyne9I recently took a work trip to conduct an audit at a plant in Southern Washington. On August 14th, 2024, we flew into Portland and rented a car for the next three days. Even though the plant was located in Chehalis, I decided to stay in Portland. My co-worker, Jen, and I arrived in Portland on a Wednesday evening and immediately made our way to Cannon Beach, something I’d always wanted to see.
Even though the drive from Portland to Cannon Beach is about three hours round-trip and we could only stay for an hour, it was absolutely worth it. This was also my first time on the West Coast of the U.S., which is quite remarkable considering how much I’ve traveled.
The highlight of Cannon Beach is undoubtedly Haystack Rock, an iconic 235-foot sea stack rising dramatically from the shoreline. The beach’s wide, sandy shores are perfect for a peaceful walk, tide pooling, or simply gazing out over the Pacific. The town itself offers a charming experience with quaint local shops, art galleries, and cafes. We explored briefly before driving along the coastline, where we even spotted wildlife lounging outside a luxurious home. Though the water was freezing at 55-60°F (13-16°C), the waves looked perfect for surfing. Maybe someday I’ll return for that.
The next morning, August 15th, 2024, we drove two hours to Chehalis to complete the audit, which took about six hours. There wasn’t much to see in Chehalis, but on the way back, we hoped to catch a glimpse of Mount St. Helens. Unfortunately, due to a landslide, the road to the Johnston Ridge Observatory was closed, and the overcast weather made it impossible to see the mountain from the visitor center.
As we made our way back to Portland, we decided to take the scenic route along the Columbia River Scenic Highway. The drive was nothing short of breathtaking, with stunning views of cliffs, forests, and waterfalls. We passed some iconic waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls, the tallest in Oregon, as well as Bridal Veil Falls, Latourell Falls, Horsetail Falls, and Wahkeena Falls, all of which required little to no hiking.
Portland itself was a pleasant surprise. Despite hearing about issues with homelessness, I found the city to be nicer than I expected. I walked along the river at night without any problems and managed to snap a few pictures of the skyline and river.
On our last day, August 16th, 2024, we had a half-day before our noon flight. We revisited Multnomah Falls in the morning, arriving before 9 AM to avoid the parking permit requirement. There are various parking options, including free parking before 9 AM or after 6 PM, a $15 paid lot, or parking along the scenic highway and taking the waterfall shuttle for $5 to $10.
The waterfall itself is an impressive 620 feet tall, cascading in two tiers. The hike to the bridge is easy, paved, and accessible, taking about 10 minutes. If you want a more challenging hike, there’s a 1.25-mile (2 km) trail to the top, which includes 11 switchbacks. The view from the top is nice, but the mid-hike overlook after the third switchback is my top recommendation if you’re pressed for time.
Though I didn’t have time to explore further, the trail at the top continues to trail #441, which offers more waterfalls and a stone arch bridge.
After our morning at Multnomah Falls, it was time to head back to the airport for our flight home. In a few weeks, I’ll be off on my next adventure to Peru and Colombia—cheers!
