Transportation around Portland and to the Columbia Gorge
BIKING AROUND PORTLAND
- Biketown – City of Portland’s official bike share with stations covering metro Portland and adaptive bikes for those with disabilities.
- Bikabout.com has a travel guide to help you wander Portland by bike with rentals, tours, bike friendly hotels, airbnbs, locally curated itineraries and logistics like etiquette, security and safety info.
TRANSIT, BUS & SHUTTLES
- Columbia Gorge Express – Leaves from the Gateway station 5 times a day in the winter and 8 times a day in the summer. Gateway is a major transit hub easily accessible by Trimet or car from almost anywhere in the Portland area.
- Tri-Met – bike friendly transit service with light rail and bus service connecting metro Portland.
- Greyhound Bus – service from Portland to Hood River and The Dalles. Bus does not allow bikes.
BIKING FROM PORTLAND TO THE OREGON COLUMBIA GORGE
- Sixty-eight of the original 73 miles of the Historic Columbia River Highway are now open to travel. Only 5 miles are needed to complete the connection.
- The Troutdale to Cascade Locks segment passes by many waterfalls, Crown Point Vista House and the Bridge of the Gods.
- The following Cascade Locks to Hood River segment features a new car-free segment of the restored state trail from Starvation Creek Trailhead to Viento State Park.
- Here is where the trail is under construction, including the the Mitchel Point Tunnel project which is expected to be complete in the Spring of 2023.
- The Hood River to The Dalles segment includes a beautiful 4-mile car-free leg that goes through the Mosier Twin Tunnels, followed by a ride to the Rowena Crest Viewpoint and Columbia Gorge Discovery Center.
- East Multnomah County Cycling Hub – information for biking from Portland east to Gresham.
- Alternatively, Columbia Area Transit (CAT) can accommodate bikes. Here is the Bike route to Portland’s Gateway Transit Center.
TRAIN
- Amtrak – Empire Builder service from Portland’s Union Station to Bingen, WA. From, Bingen, you can call Hood River taxi or catch the Mt Adams bus.
- Amtrak lines that allow bikes:
- Cascades – $5 reservation required.
- Coast Starlight – $20 reservation required.
- Empire Builder – $25 reservation required. ONLY folding bikes allowed if you’re getting off at Bingen, WA station in the Columbia Gorge.
- Amtrak lines that allow bikes:
- Exploring Portland from the train station:
- There are a few Tri-met options outside the Amtrak station. Use Google maps for the best directions and real-time train and bus info.
You can walk from the station to most places in downtown Portland.
The station is in a bike friendly spot in downtown Portland.
TAXI & CAR RENTALS
- Lyft – one way only from Portland to the Gorge
- Uber – one way only from Portland to the Gorge
- Hood River Taxi – on-call taxi for in trips or pre-scheduled rides to and from Portland Airport
- Enterprise Rentals – rent a one-way or round-trip car from any Portland office to Hood River.
TO & FROM PORTLAND AIRPORT
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Tri-met has a station right at the airport outside baggage claim and will take you downtown in 45 minutes and cost $2.50. Use Google maps for directions and select “transit” for real-time train and bus info.
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This airport is quickly becoming known as one of the most bike friendly places to fly in or out in America. Just the fact that they have a bike info page for how to bike there, bike assembly and Tri-met connections is a big deal.
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Several providers offer shuttle service between Gorge destinations and PDX.
- Enterprise Rentals – rent a one-way or round-trip car from any Portland office to Hood River.