Matthew H Fish
Lead Service Attendant
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- May 28, 2019
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Adventures off of the Amtrak Cascades
This is a quick guide to what towns and cities of interest can be reached from the train stops on the Amtrak Cascades line (which are also, for the most part, the Pacific NW stops of the Coast Starlight). This guide is intended for “adventure travellers” who are travelling with backpacks and using public transportation. Of course, many of these places can also be visited by renting a car and hauling luggage and staying in a hotel---but this is intended for the lighter traveller, especially those who wish to explore through transit.
Because schedules change constantly, the exact times and hours that buses leave might vary after this is published, and some routes might be gone. Be sure to double check. I will try to at least suggest whether these cities can be visited in a day trip, before returning and getting on a continuing train. I will also mention whether the trip is a “city bus”, or a bus that needs reservations.
Starting from the South:
Eugene, Oregon:
Eastward: McKenzie Bridge
McKenzie Bridge is located 50 miles east of Eugene, but it is still accessible by “city bus”, and costs the same fare as to take a bus across town in Eugene. LTD Route 91 goes eastward up the McKenzie River Valley into the Willamette National Forest, stopping at small towns along the way. It currently runs 4 times a day M-F, less on Saturday and Sunday.
It is currently possible to do this as an out-and-back, and to continue northward.
Westward: Florence
Florence is located about 50 miles west of Eugene, on the Oregon Coast, and has some great natural areas and beach access. There is currently a bus that doesn’t require reservations, but is not a normal “city bus”, with a listed fare of $5. It is currently 2 trips a day, both ways, and it is not currently possible to do this as an out-and-back trip with a northward continuance.
Note that in Eugene, the local transit center is located about 10 blocks from the Amtrak Station.
Albany, Oregon:
Eastward: Lebanon and Sweet Home
These two towns are not as far into the Cascades as McKenzie Bridge is, but they still have views of the Cascades and access to the Santiam River. They can be accessed by a city bus from the Amtrak station for a few dollars. There are currently 10 trips a day. It is possible, and even easy, to continue north or south after taking a trip to these places.
Westward: Newport, Oregon.
Newport is one of the main scenic towns on the Oregon Coast. There is a bus that offers both hop-on/hop-off service, as well as being cross-ticketed to Amtrak, that has several trips per day. It costs $5 and also leaves from the Amtrak station. It is theoretically possible to travel to Newport and back and resume a train journey.
Salem, Oregon:
Eastward: Silverton, Mount Angel and Stayton: Are all small towns east of Salem that are reachable on regional city buses. The transit center for these buses is located several blocks away from the Amtrak stations, and these buses cost a few dollars. Depending on the town, it is possible to visit these towns and then continue north or south.
Westward: Lincoln City is another important tourist town on the Oregon Coast, and it is reachable from a bus that, like the Newport bus, is both a local bus and a reservation bus. It costs a few dollars, and is possible, if not easy, to continue north and south.
Portland, Oregon:
Eastward: Cascades Locks, Hood River and The Dalles
From the Gateway Transit Center, it is possible to take a county bus 50 miles eastward to Cascade Locks and Hood River, and from there, to continue to The Dalles. The bus costs $10 each way and is a touring bus with luggage racks and USB outlets. It travels through the scenic Columbia River Gorge. It runs around 10 times a day, so it is possible to take a day trip and return and continue northward on the Amtrak Cascades, especially Northward
Southeastward: Mount Hood Express goes from Sandy to Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood, and has room for bicycles and skis. To get to Sandy, a traveller has to first go to the end of the MAX line in Gresham, then take a bus to Sandy, then ride the Mount Hood Express. This can take some time! However, the chance to get to close to the top of Mount Hood via public transit is a great opportunity. This bus costs a few dollars, and runs a few times a day.
Westward: Tillamook and Astoria both have transit connections. The Astoria bus is a reserved long distance bus that is cross-ticketed with Amtrak. The Tillamook bus is through a county agency, and can be ridden with a reservation. These buses take a bit longer, so I am not currently sure that they could be ridden out and back with a continuing trip.
Vancouver, Washington:
Eastward to Stevenson and White Salmon, along the Columbia River Gorge: local buses leave from the Fisher’s Landing Transit Center in the east side of Vancouver, and travel to Skamania County on the north side of the Columbia River Gorge. It is also possible (and maybe easier) to get to the Fisher’s Landing Transit Center from Portland.
Kelso-Longview, Washington
Westward: It is possible to go from Cathlamet, on the north side of the Columbia River, and then connect to buses that go to Long Beach, Washington. Looking at the connections, it seems that it might require very careful planning.
Centralia-Chehalis, Washington:
Eastward: The local “Twin Cities Transit” Brown Route goes 30 miles east, to the mountain towns of Mossyrock and Morton. It seems like this is fared like any other city bus, despite going further. The Centralia TC is located about a half a mile from the Amtrak Station. There are 6 trips a day, which means it is likely this could be done as a day trip.
Westward: There are trips between Centralia and Aberdeen, on the Washington Coast. These are city buses, run by Grays Harbor Transit. They run frequently enough that it should be possible to take a day trip on them. These buses also stop at Centralia Amtrak, as well as the transit center.
Olympia, Washington:
Westward: There are a dozen trips on Grays Harbors buses between Olympia and Grays Harbor, so it should be possible, and even easy, to visit Grays Harbor and then return to Olympia, and to continue north. This is especially so, since once we have reached Olympia, there are other, non-Amtrak transit methods possible.
One thing that does make Olympia more difficult is that the Olympia Amtrak station is located several miles outside of the city, so getting from Olympia to the Olympia Amtrak station is in itself a challenge. The buses from Aberdeen currently stop at the Olympia Transit Center, and do not continue to the Amtrak Station.
This is a quick guide to what towns and cities of interest can be reached from the train stops on the Amtrak Cascades line (which are also, for the most part, the Pacific NW stops of the Coast Starlight). This guide is intended for “adventure travellers” who are travelling with backpacks and using public transportation. Of course, many of these places can also be visited by renting a car and hauling luggage and staying in a hotel---but this is intended for the lighter traveller, especially those who wish to explore through transit.
Because schedules change constantly, the exact times and hours that buses leave might vary after this is published, and some routes might be gone. Be sure to double check. I will try to at least suggest whether these cities can be visited in a day trip, before returning and getting on a continuing train. I will also mention whether the trip is a “city bus”, or a bus that needs reservations.
Starting from the South:
Eugene, Oregon:
Eastward: McKenzie Bridge
McKenzie Bridge is located 50 miles east of Eugene, but it is still accessible by “city bus”, and costs the same fare as to take a bus across town in Eugene. LTD Route 91 goes eastward up the McKenzie River Valley into the Willamette National Forest, stopping at small towns along the way. It currently runs 4 times a day M-F, less on Saturday and Sunday.
It is currently possible to do this as an out-and-back, and to continue northward.
Westward: Florence
Florence is located about 50 miles west of Eugene, on the Oregon Coast, and has some great natural areas and beach access. There is currently a bus that doesn’t require reservations, but is not a normal “city bus”, with a listed fare of $5. It is currently 2 trips a day, both ways, and it is not currently possible to do this as an out-and-back trip with a northward continuance.
Note that in Eugene, the local transit center is located about 10 blocks from the Amtrak Station.
Albany, Oregon:
Eastward: Lebanon and Sweet Home
These two towns are not as far into the Cascades as McKenzie Bridge is, but they still have views of the Cascades and access to the Santiam River. They can be accessed by a city bus from the Amtrak station for a few dollars. There are currently 10 trips a day. It is possible, and even easy, to continue north or south after taking a trip to these places.
Westward: Newport, Oregon.
Newport is one of the main scenic towns on the Oregon Coast. There is a bus that offers both hop-on/hop-off service, as well as being cross-ticketed to Amtrak, that has several trips per day. It costs $5 and also leaves from the Amtrak station. It is theoretically possible to travel to Newport and back and resume a train journey.
Salem, Oregon:
Eastward: Silverton, Mount Angel and Stayton: Are all small towns east of Salem that are reachable on regional city buses. The transit center for these buses is located several blocks away from the Amtrak stations, and these buses cost a few dollars. Depending on the town, it is possible to visit these towns and then continue north or south.
Westward: Lincoln City is another important tourist town on the Oregon Coast, and it is reachable from a bus that, like the Newport bus, is both a local bus and a reservation bus. It costs a few dollars, and is possible, if not easy, to continue north and south.
Portland, Oregon:
Eastward: Cascades Locks, Hood River and The Dalles
From the Gateway Transit Center, it is possible to take a county bus 50 miles eastward to Cascade Locks and Hood River, and from there, to continue to The Dalles. The bus costs $10 each way and is a touring bus with luggage racks and USB outlets. It travels through the scenic Columbia River Gorge. It runs around 10 times a day, so it is possible to take a day trip and return and continue northward on the Amtrak Cascades, especially Northward
Southeastward: Mount Hood Express goes from Sandy to Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood, and has room for bicycles and skis. To get to Sandy, a traveller has to first go to the end of the MAX line in Gresham, then take a bus to Sandy, then ride the Mount Hood Express. This can take some time! However, the chance to get to close to the top of Mount Hood via public transit is a great opportunity. This bus costs a few dollars, and runs a few times a day.
Westward: Tillamook and Astoria both have transit connections. The Astoria bus is a reserved long distance bus that is cross-ticketed with Amtrak. The Tillamook bus is through a county agency, and can be ridden with a reservation. These buses take a bit longer, so I am not currently sure that they could be ridden out and back with a continuing trip.
Vancouver, Washington:
Eastward to Stevenson and White Salmon, along the Columbia River Gorge: local buses leave from the Fisher’s Landing Transit Center in the east side of Vancouver, and travel to Skamania County on the north side of the Columbia River Gorge. It is also possible (and maybe easier) to get to the Fisher’s Landing Transit Center from Portland.
Kelso-Longview, Washington
Westward: It is possible to go from Cathlamet, on the north side of the Columbia River, and then connect to buses that go to Long Beach, Washington. Looking at the connections, it seems that it might require very careful planning.
Centralia-Chehalis, Washington:
Eastward: The local “Twin Cities Transit” Brown Route goes 30 miles east, to the mountain towns of Mossyrock and Morton. It seems like this is fared like any other city bus, despite going further. The Centralia TC is located about a half a mile from the Amtrak Station. There are 6 trips a day, which means it is likely this could be done as a day trip.
Westward: There are trips between Centralia and Aberdeen, on the Washington Coast. These are city buses, run by Grays Harbor Transit. They run frequently enough that it should be possible to take a day trip on them. These buses also stop at Centralia Amtrak, as well as the transit center.
Olympia, Washington:
Westward: There are a dozen trips on Grays Harbors buses between Olympia and Grays Harbor, so it should be possible, and even easy, to visit Grays Harbor and then return to Olympia, and to continue north. This is especially so, since once we have reached Olympia, there are other, non-Amtrak transit methods possible.
One thing that does make Olympia more difficult is that the Olympia Amtrak station is located several miles outside of the city, so getting from Olympia to the Olympia Amtrak station is in itself a challenge. The buses from Aberdeen currently stop at the Olympia Transit Center, and do not continue to the Amtrak Station.
