The trip from Portland by rail to “The Dalles,” if the tourist should chance not to arrive in Portland by the Union Pacific line from the east, will be found charming.  It is eighty-eight miles distant.  Multnomah Falls is reached in thirty-two miles; Bonneville, forty-one miles, at the foot of the Cascades; five miles farther is the stupendous government lock now in process of building around the rapids; Hood river, sixty-six miles, where tourists leave for the ascent of Mount Hood.  It is about forty miles through a picturesque region to the base of the mountain.  Then from Hood river, an ice-cold stream, twenty-two miles into “The Dalles,” where the steamer may be taken for the return trip.  In this eighty-eight miles from Portland to “The Dalles” there are twelve miles of trestles and bridges.  The railway follows the Columbia’s brink the entire distance to within a few miles of the city.  The scenery is impressively grand; the bluffs, if they may be so called, are bold promontories attaining majestic heights.  One timber shute, where the logs come whizzing into the river with the velocity of a cannon-ball, is 3,328 feet long, and it is claimed a log makes the trip in twenty seconds.

The lower Columbia.

Second Tour.—­While the Upper Columbia abounds in scenery of wild and picturesque beauty, the tourist must by no means neglect a trip down the lower river from Portland to Astoria and Ilwaco, and return.  The facilities now offered by the Union Pacific in its splendid fleet of steamers render this a delightful excursion.  On a clear day, one may enjoy at the junction of the Willamette with the Columbia a very wonderful sight—­five mountain peaks are on view:  St. Helens, Mt.  Jefferson, Mt.  Adams, Mt.  Hood, and Mt.  Rainier.  St. Helens, queen of the Cascade Range, a fair and graceful cone.  Exquisite mantling snows sweep along her shoulders toward the bristling pines.  Not far from her base, the Columbia crashes through the mountains in a magnificent chasm, and Mt.  Hood, the vigorous prince of the range, rises in a keen pyramid some 12,000 feet.  Small villages and landing-places line the shores, almost too numerous to mention.  There are, of the more important, St. Johns, St. Helens, Columbia City, Kalama, Rainier, Westport, Cathlamet, Knappa, and Astoria at the mouth, a busy place of 6,000 people.  Salmon canneries there are without number.  It is about 98 miles by the chart from Portland to Astoria.  Across the bay is the pretty town of Ilwaco.  Ft.  Canby and Cape Disappointment look across to Ft.  Stevens and Point Adams.  From Astoria, one may drive eighteen miles to Clatsop Beach, famous for its clams, crab, and trout, and Ben Holliday’s hotel.  But the fullest enjoyment is obtained by making a round trip, including a lay-over at Ilwaco all night, and returning to Portland next day, and sleeping on board the boat.  A railway runs from the town to the outside beach, a mile and a half distant.  There is a drive twenty-five miles long up this long beach to Shoal Water Bay, which is beautiful beyond description.  This district is the great supply point for oysters, heavy shipments being made as far south as San Francisco.  Sea bathing, both here and at Clatsop Beach, is very fine.