Round 8 of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championships presented by FMF takes us to the scenic Pacific Northwest and the foothills of the Cascade Mountains in Southwest Washington. That’s where you’ll find Washougal Motocross Park, which has been hosting AMA Nationals since July 6, 1980, when Mark Barnett and Chuck Sun took the wins in the 125cc and 500cc classes, respectively. For more information about the facility, visit www.washougalmxpk.com.
For a list of some Things To Do… in the area, we got some help from UFO Plastics’ Wes Parker, who is a Washington State resident and a veteran attendee of the Washougal MX National.
Multnomah Falls
You can hike up to the top (1.2 miles) and have an awesome view of the waterfall and the Columbia River Gorge. Click here for their website.
Bridge of the Gods (Cascade Locks)
"The Bridge of the Gods was completed in 1926 it is the third oldest bridge on the Columbia River. It is built in the exact location where a land bridge once stood as told in a Native American legend. The bridge is open to motor and foot traffic and crosses the Columbia River from Cascade Locks, OR to Stevenson, WA."
http://www.portofcascadelocks.org/bridge.htm
This is a really cool bridge across the river, and its east of Washougal. There is freeway on the Oregon side and a windy highway on the Washington side so when we go to Washougal from my house we always cross the river in Eastern Washington, travel west down the Oregon side and then cross the Bridge of the Gods back to Washington to Washougal.
The Columbia River Gorge is a huge windsurfing area. Check out the video. People claim you can occasionally see exhibitionist nude surfers on the river. Unfortunately, they are probably mostly dudes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4IiOJhUQ7o
Mt. St Helens
At 8:32 Sunday morning, May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted. In 1982, the President and Congress created the 110,000-acre National Volcanic Monument for research, recreation, and education. Inside the Monument, the environment is left to respond naturally to the disturbance.
The Washougal River
There are a bunch of cliff jumps and rope swings set up along the Washougal river road. Good place to go for a swim or cool off. It used to be a huge deal to jump off the bridge. A lot of riders would stop after the races Sunday and do it. I believe Travis Pastrana and his dad did it in '00. Unfortunately, it's illegal and patrolled heavily now. Lots of people were getting tickets for jumping the last few years.
Here is a
website with some general touristy things.
Washougal also always has some of the best track food and although it's super-mellow compared to the ‘80s and ‘90s, it's always entertaining to go for a walk though the field and mingle with spectators camping out.
And finally this from DC: “Instead of getting off at the Washougal Exit on Route 14 East from the Portland area, skip the traffic and keep going out alongside the Columbia River on Sunday morning for some amazing views from high above the water. About six miles out, make a left and come into the track from the secondary entrance.”
