Why is Troutdale, Oregon the best city in the Portland area?

Troutdale, Oregon.

Funny name for a small city next to Portland. But it’s a city that packs a punch for stuff to do. A quick search online may not yield a bunch of results for Things to do in Troutdale, but don’t be fooled, this nice little suburban town is full of stuff to do. And, at the very least, makes for a perfect starting point for some amazing Oregon adventures.

Here are 5 of our favorite things to do in (or near) Troutdale!

• Visit Dabney State Park
• Have lunch at McMenamins Edgefield
• Pick fresh berries on a local farm
• Go on a waterfall hike
• Fly with Envi Adventures on a scenic flight

Sit On The Banks Of The Sandy River At Dabney State Park

Summer in Oregon is one of those unbeatable times of year. While Oregon, and the Pacific Northwest, is pretty well known to be a wet and rainy part of the country, summers are warm, dry, and simply incredible. Luckily, in the Portland area, there are a lot of lovely places to enjoy a warm summer day next to a tranquil water setting. Whether it’s a river, lake, stream, waterfall, or ocean. Dabney State Park in Troutdale is one of those great places to visit making it a popular destination for fishing and swimming, and a launching point for a tube float down the river to Lewis & Clark State Park! Here are some of the fun things you can do at Dabney:

• Fishing
• Boating (with restrictions)
• Swimming
• Picnics
• Volleyball
• Horseshoes
• Disc golf

It should be noted, that if you do want to dip in the river, you should be cautious and aware of the following (this is directly from the Oregon State Parks website):

• Be aware of swift currents and hidden obstructions beneath the surface. Do not swim, float, paddle or boat without a life jacket. Wearing a life jacket, and making sure it fits properly, saves lives.
• Two life jacket loaner stations are on site, with life jackets of various sizes available.
• No pets are permitted.
• Alcohol is permitted in the park and picnic area. Alcohol is not permitted on the beach, or on the beach below the Stark Street Bridge.

Visit McMenamins Edgefield For Lunch, Concerts, Golf, And More!

McMenamins is a Portland based company that owns a lot of different properties through the Portland area. What makes McMenamins great is that they buy and repurpose properties, and each of them have their own very special vibe.

Edgefield in Troutdale is a really special place where you can enjoy a relaxing weekend with loads of activities to do during your stay. During the summer, they have a series of concerts attracting well-known artists and bands! Additionally, Edgefield has a hotel, a spa, a golf course, winery, brewery, restaurants, and a movie theater. And it’s all in a very lovely setting.

U-Pick Berries At A Local Farm

Oregonian’s love their summer berries (who doesn’t?). A favorite activity for many is to go pick juicy strawberries at the beginning of summer, and raspberries, marionberries, blackberries, and blueberries throughout the rest of the summer months, at a local farm. You’ll go in saying “we’ll pick a gallon of berries and that should be good. Then 25 gallons later, you tell yourself you have to stop picking. Then you get home and say, “this will last for months!” It doesn’t. You’ll be back in a couple of weeks for more.

Store bought berries are good. Locally picked berries and produce are exceptional. Plus it supports a local farm, and that’s a really good thing.

Go On A Waterfall Hike In The Columbia River Gorge

Hiking isn’t for everyone. I get that. While I love it, it takes me 3 hours to get motivated to actually go, then when I’m there, another 20 minutes to get into the groove of it all. Then I stop next to a waterfall, listen to the birds, and the cascading water falling, and remember that it was all 100% worth it.

The nice thing about Oregon is there is a lot of waterfalls throughout the state. And their big! However, Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge is by far the most popular, and it is the tallest waterfall in the state. But while it demands a huge crowd every year, and it is lovely, there are so many other amazing waterfalls in the Gorge to visit. Some are worth the hike, so are a nice roadside stop. Here are a few in order from West to East if driving on the Historic Highway:

• Latourell Falls (easy-moderate)
• Bridal Veil Falls (easy)
• Wahkeena Falls (moderate-difficult)
• Horsetail Falls (easy)
• Wahclella Falls (easy)

Air Tours With Envi Adventures Is A Must

So, yeah, we have to mention Envi Adventures. Aerial tours in Portland wasn’t really a thing before Envi came along, surprisingly, and since starting in 2017, we fly several thousand passengers per year on aerial tours in the Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, the Oregon Coast, Portland, and a lot more! We can even customize flights for you to fly above Crater Lake, go to Sunriver, or really wherever you want to go (within reason!)

In the summertime, the most popular flights are mountain flights at sunset, so if you want to experience Mt. St. Helens or Mt. Hood, that is definitely an excellent time to book your flight for!

Oregon is a fabulous place, especially in the summer! It’s warm, it’s actually sunny, it’s stunningly beautiful, and there is a lot to do. Troutdale, Oregon is kind of a sleep town to the east of Portland, but it shouldn’t be overlooked. It has a lot going for it, and a lot of really great things to do in and nearby!

Visit and explore Troutdale this summer, and make some of your best memories out here!