This VFR tour continues on from where the Cascade Mountains VFR tour left off, at Southwest Washington Regional.

Depart KKLS, climb up to 2500 feet and follow the Columbia River south along the border of Washington and Oregon, down to Portland. When the river meets the mouth of the Willamette River, turn left to follow it through downtown to Portland, modelled in 3D photogrammetry by Asobo.


Track around the southern and eastern suburbs of the city, then re-join the Columbia River again and follow it eastbound through the dramatic steep gorges. Stay nice and low to appreciate the grandeur of the landscape, passing by the Cascade Locks until you reach the town of Hood River on your right.

Turn inland, make a touch and go at Ken Jernstedt Airfield (4S2), and then track south along Hood River itself, climbing up to 8500 feet towards the summit of Mount Hood. Arrive at the volcanos northern face and follow the GPS flight path in an anti clockwise direction, around to the ski fields on the south, before commencing a gentle descent back down towards 6000 feet.

Clear the ridgeline between waypoints 17 and 18, then drop down at Badger Lake into the Badger Creek valley and follow its course in an easterly direction until it joins White River, which in turn flows into the Deschutes River. The meandering course takes you through barren and rugged valleys, best appreciated from a low altitude, before the river re-joins the wider waterway of the Columbia River.

Turn left as you reach the Columbia and you’ll be aligned for an 11 mile final for runway 25 at Columbia Gorge Airport (KDLS), adjacent to the town of The Dales.