Contact: Marcus Hibdon, 503.275.9786 Driving ToursMt. Hood Scenic BywayHome to some of Oregon’s most scenic landscapes including the state’s highest peak, visitors have long considered the drive around Mt. Hood’s south side an unofficial tour route. Officials with America’s BywaysTM Program proved they agreed in September 2005 by designating the 105-mile route a National Scenic Byway, making it the sixth in the state. The Byway boasts an exceptional number of intrinsic natural and historic qualities, and treasures along the route include views of Mt. Hood and the Cascade Range, Oregon Trail/Barlow Road historic sites, outdoor recreation (biking, hiking, fishing, windsurfing, year-round skiing/snowboarding), parks, rivers, fertile valleys and farmland, and lodging properties, including historic Timberline Lodge. The route runs between Troutdale and the intersection of Highways 35 and 30 in Hood River. Visitors can begin traveling the Byway from either Troutdale or Hood River, and it becomes a circular loop when the Historic Columbia River Highway Scenic Byway/All-American Road is included in the trip. For more Mt. Hood Scenic Byway information, visit: www.mthoodterritory.com/byway.htm or www.byways.org. Mt. Hood Territory CD Driving ToursYou are the tour guide. Travel at your leisure, stop when you like, rewind when you choose. Each tour can be completed in several hours or enjoyed over a few days, all from the comfort of your own car. Take Your Senses for a Spin – The Feast for the Senses Driving Tour CD spends nearly two-and-a-half hours introducing listeners to the region’s bountiful splendor through three distinctive tours – The Prairie Ferry Berry; A Country Patchwork; and City Pleasures & Treasures. The routes take visitors from the lofty heights of Mt. Hood’s forested glades and scenic rivers to the gorgeous wide-open spaces of the fertile Willamette Valley and the friendly faces of our small towns. Drive the Oregon Trail – The Barlow Road Driving Tour CD traces the final leg of the rugged Oregon Trail route braved by thousands of pioneers. Thanks to nearby paved roads, the journey is much less daunting today. Traveling from Mt. Hood to Oregon City, visitors can witness first-hand the obstacles emigrants faced on the historic route Sam Barlow carved out of the wilderness in 1845-46. It was a vastly more affordable, yet only slightly less dangerous alternative to the outfitters that transported wagons and pioneers along the currents of the Columbia River. Modern-day travelers can follow the route while learning historic facts, listening to tales of the trail as documented in pioneer journals, or exploring historic sites such as Laurel Hill, Timberline Lodge and Baker Cabin. Barlow Road and Feast for the Senses Driving Tour CDs are available for $9.95 online at www.mthood.info/sales/, or by calling/visiting our regional visitor centers – 888.622.4822.
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