Road Tripping to Stevenson, Washington
Head to the banks of the Colubmia River for the annual Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival
By Claire Buss June 11, 2013
This article originally appeared in the July 2013 issue of Seattle magazine.
WHERE: Stevenson, Washington, on the banks of the Columbia River
WHY: For the annual Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival (7/25–7/28. $55–$150 weekend pass. 710 Rock Creek Drive; 509.427.3980; columbiagorgebluegrass.net), showcasing the best in bluegrass, including beloved bands The SteelDrivers (from Nashville) and Town Mountain (from Asheville, NC), plus workshops, family-friendly jams, and craft and food vendors. PICK AND GRIN: For a $5 contest fee, revelers can compete for a $100 cash prize by displaying their musical prowess on the banjo, fiddle, mandolin or guitar. GO CHASING WATERFALLS: Take a 20-minute drive northeast on State Route 14 and hit the Falls Creek Falls Trail (just north of Carson). The flat and kid-friendly hike (3.4 miles round trip) offers heart-thumping views—with a roar to match—of a three-tiered, 250-foot-high waterfall set in a clearing surrounded by trees. GETTING THERE: Head south on I-5 and continue onto I-205 south. Take exit 27 for City Center/Camas, then merge onto S.R. 14 east.
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