Distance: 14 miles round trip
Elevation gain: Approximately 1050 feet
Download the GPX file
Download the Garmin TCX file
Link to ride on MapMyRide
This gem of a ride (my favorite after-work hour) takes you from downtown Hood River to downtown Mosier, where you can have a coffee at 10 Speed East or a beer at the Thirsty Woman before heading back.
Park at the parking lot at the intersection of Highway 35 and the road leaving Hood River. This lot is across from the China Gorge Restaurant. Follow the s-curves up, and stay on this road until you reach the Mark Hatfield Twin Tunnels park. Fill your water bottles.
Ride the closed-to-cars, perfectly paved road all the way to Mosier. This section of the ride is mostly shaded and cool, even on hot days. 2/3 of the way into the ride is a beautiful viewpoint, just before a long downhill to the restored twin tunnels. After the tunnels, follow the long, curving downhill to the end of the twin tunnels trail. Take a left. Follow this road into Mosier and then turn around and come home.