Mosier to Chelan: Scenic Road Trip Guide

Leaving Mosier, Oregon, population 433, you immediately climb the Columbia River Gorge's basalt cliffs on I-84, passing the historic Mosier Twin Tunnels before crossing into Washington via the Hood River Bridge. This 180-mile route to Chelan, Washington, crosses two mountain passes and four climate zones, ending at a 50-mile-long glacier-carved lake.

Allow about 3.5 hours of pure driving time, but plan for a full day to savor the landscapes. The journey follows US-97 north through the arid shrub-steppe of the Columbia Plateau, then climbs over Blewett Pass (elevation 4,102 feet) before descending into the apple orchards of the Wenatchee Valley.

The Columbia River Gorge is a National Scenic Area, and the route crosses several designated scenic byways, including the Mountains to Sound Greenway. The most dramatic geologic feature is the massive flood basalts formed by Miocene-era lava flows, visible along the gorge walls.

This is how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities - by checking for state scenic byways and visitor centers.

The Columbia Gorge offers waterfalls, windsurfing at Hood River, and the Maryhill Museum of Art, housed in a 1914 mansion. Further east, the landscape turns to rolling wheat fields and the Badger Mountain viewpoint near Waterville.

Blewett Pass is the apex of the journey, with pine forests and granite outcrops. The pass is part of the historic route to the gold rush town of Liberty, now a ghost town.

• Maryhill Stonehenge (full-size replica) and Maryhill Museum with Rodin sculptures.
• Yakima Valley - 450 wineries, the most in Washington.
• Wenatchee - Apple Capital Loop Trail along the Columbia.
• Chelan - Like a Swiss lake, but with a desert climate.

Local commerce is agricultural: fruit stands sell cherries and apples in summer, and winery tasting rooms dot the route from The Dalles to Chelan. The Toppenish and Wapato areas are home to the Yakama Nation, with cultural sites and a casino.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites are not on this route, but the nearby San Juan Islands are a tentative candidate. The Maryhill Stonehenge is a memorial, not a UNESCO site.

The route is fully paved and maintained year-round, but snow tires are required from November through March. Cell service is intermittent east of Goldendale, so download offline maps.

Fuel prices in Washington average $4.50/gal (2024), slightly higher than Oregon's $4.10, but Goldendale often has the cheapest gas on the route. Expect to fill up three times: Mosier, Goldendale, and Cle Elum or Wenatchee.

• I-84 east to Hood River, then US-30 west to the Bridge of the Gods (toll $2).
• WA-14 east along the Columbia to US-97 north at Maryhill.
• US-97 continues through Goldendale, Toppenish, and Yakima, then follows I-82 and I-90 to Ellensburg.
• US-97 north from Ellensburg over Blewett Pass to Chelan.

Rest areas with restrooms and picnic tables exist at Maryhill, Toppenish, and near Vantage. The route has no major construction zones as of 2024, but be alert for farm equipment on US-97 through the Yakima Valley.

For electric vehicles, fast chargers are available in Hood River, Goldendale, Yakima, and Ellensburg, but not in Chelan yet (2024). Plan charging stops accordingly.

US-97 has two-lane segments with high-speed traffic; use pullouts to let faster vehicles pass. Winter conditions can be icy, especially over Blewett Pass, where chain-up areas are marked.

For families, the Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles has interactive geology exhibits. Kids will enjoy the Wenatchee River park in Cashmere, with a petting zoo and miniature train.

• Maryhill Museum has a sculpture park with open spaces.
• Yakima's State Fair Park hosts a kids' activity area.
• Chelan's Lakeview Park has a beach and playground.

Pets are welcome at most outdoor stops, but be mindful of rattlesnakes in the lower elevations. The Vantage rest area has a designated pet exercise area.

Fatigue can set in on the monotonous straightaways east of Goldendale. Stop every 2 hours; the Cle Elum rest stop has picnic tables and vending machines. If you're tired, pull over at a rest area or truck stop; there's no shoulder on narrow passes.