Community Forums

donhoward49 · 08-10-2012, 07:22 PM

Has anyone crossed the hood river bridge to White Salmon Wa. The bridge website says to avoid it with motorhomes. Garmin trucking GPS and Good Sam travel takes me over it.
Lost in Portland

Muddypaws · 08-10-2012, 07:44 PM

Be a shame to land on a barge.

I'd trust the website before I'd trust a GPS. If I remember right there's a stronger bridge East of you at Maryhill, and west at The Dulles. But therre are probably closer ones.

rockingh · 08-10-2012, 07:54 PM

Don't really know the reason why they would say avoid Hood River. The bridge at Cascade Locks, which is the first one east of Portland proper is the one to avoid. The entrance is quite curvy and the bridge itself old and spooky. The Hood River bridge is good, The Dalles good and the one at Bigg's Jct. near Maryhill museum is used all the time by big rigs. Good luck and safe travels.

laj · 08-10-2012, 07:57 PM

I believe you can cross at Cascade Locks on Bridge of gods, or as mentioned I know you can cross at Biggs junction. Biggs junction will take you up to Goldendale or you can cut back on hwy 14 to white salmon.

IWillRVToo · 08-10-2012, 08:07 PM

"the one at Bigg's Jct. near Maryhill museum is used all the time by big rigs."
Go to that one if you need to avoid I5 or The Dalles bridge.
Last fall we crossed from Wash.to Hood River. EEK!! I hated it in a full size truck. The Hood River area is world famous for wind surfing. Those same winds will raise H___ with large vehicles.
It's narrow, has curbs jutting out on the sides and it also has a perforated steel deck.

donhoward49 · 08-11-2012, 05:45 AM

Thanks guys. I believe i go over 205 then east on Hwy 14..scenic drive and no narrow bridge
Don

IWillRVToo · 08-11-2012, 09:14 AM

Ha! Brain Fart!
I've lived here my whole life and forgot about the 205 bridge...
I avoid freeways if possible.

fredaevans · 08-11-2012, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IWillRVToo

"the one at Bigg's Jct. near Maryhill museum is used all the time by big rigs."
Go to that one if you need to avoid I5 or The Dalles bridge.
Last fall we crossed from Wash.to Hood River. EEK!! I hated it in a full size truck. The Hood River area is world famous for wind surfing. Those same winds will raise H___ with large vehicles.
It's narrow, has curbs jutting out on the sides and it also has a perforated steel deck.

Right on all counts; This is one bridge to avoid, even in a car, if at all possible with a heavy wind blowing.

1ciderdog · 08-11-2012, 12:53 PM

The I-205 would be safest but I have crossed both Bridge of the Gods & the Hood River Bridge in motorhomes. I didn't know it's not recommended or safe until I read this post. I was raised on the Washington side of the Columbia River between the two bridges. Trucks used those bridges all the time when I lived there but I left there in 1961. I've been back numerous times and still seems like semi-trucks use those bridges.

Out of curiosity I looked up the Hood River Bridge and this is part what they say: "This is a very NARROW bridge. The width of a lane from center is 9 feet, 10-3/4 inches. The width of a lane between the edge of the centerline stripe to the face of the bridge guardrail is 9 feet, 4-3/4 inches. Large RVs are advised to cross at Cascade Locks or The Dalles. The height restriction is 14 feet 7 inches. "

The lanes on the Bridge of the Gods are listed as 14 feet 6 inches. Sure seems narrow when meeting oncoming traffic!

deandec · 08-11-2012, 01:02 PM

The bridge to White Salmon is narrow as previously said, but appears to be quite safe.

The road on the Washington side is a nice westerly drive to the next bridge which is wider.

My Garmin had me turn left onto the west bound road after crossing the bridge, when the RV Park was on the right. We got turned around by disconnecting the toad a few miles up the road.

Jeff and Cheryl · 08-11-2012, 01:05 PM

I've crossed at Hood River and it was not fun! My buddy, pulling a 5'r said for him it was a white knuckler, esp. where he met a simi, mid-span. We stayed at White Salmon for a couple of nights, then, as we were traveling west, he stayed on the WA side to 205. he said there were a couple of tunnels where he had to travel down the middle of the road as the slope of the tunnels was such that there was not enough height clearence for him to stay in his lane. Hope this helps.

Mr_D · 08-11-2012, 01:26 PM

If you go across the bridge at Biggs Junction there's a pretty nice RV park just off the end. Used to be called "Peach Beach". We stayed there some years ago so things might have changed.

wanderso · 08-11-2012, 03:46 PM

Seems the best option is 205 to the Washington side and enjoy the loop from Biggs Junction to come back on I84. You get the added benefit of stopping at Maryhill if you'd like as well a the Stonehenge replica and the Goldendale observatory. Have fun!

Muddypaws · 08-11-2012, 04:46 PM

We camped at Viento State Park but ended up windsurfing from Peach Beach more often than not. Not nearly as crowded as Event Site or the Hook. Bigger swells & more wind!