Battle Ground Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Fall Foliage in Upstate New York Saratoga Springs Battle Ground
Fall Foliage in Upstate New York Saratoga Springs Battle Ground
The Bells Mountain Trail in Clark County is obviously in no way connected to the more famous Bells Mountain Wilderness in Missouri.  The trail which bears its name does not ascend or in any way touch the actual mountain.  But it bears some of the most beautiful views of the mountain from directly across the valley.  This was taken today (2015-01-11), on an extremely cloudy, foggy and generally soggy day.  But look at what you get to see, even in the middle of our waterlogged winters.  One drawback is that you have to pass through a lot of clear-cut forest on the trail side of the valley.  I say that, realizing now that almost none of these vistas would be possible otherwize.
OK, let me just get to this and be done with it.  Living in the Northwest, I've known many people, including ex-family members, who depend upon the timber industry for their livelihoods.  I have watched the decline of that industry in this region and the devastating effect it has had on dozens of communities and the families who live in them.  Further more, I will add for comparison purposes, an historical anecdote related to me by my father.  After he left the army air corps at the end of WWII, he entered academia as a professor of Italian literature.  To this day, he derives a somewhat ironic pleasure from the reputation both Italy and Greece have garnered for their dry and arid climates; how the world sees them and is attracted to them for bright sunshine on rocky, bleached coastlines with hardly a tree in sight.  You see, it wasn't always that way.  Both Greece, and Italy in particular, were once lush and verdant places, covered with forests that were cut down to satisfy the needs of both of those vast and long-lived republics and empires.  What we know of their climates today only came after the trees were gone.  

And if it was good enough for the Greeks and Romans, then why not for the good old U S of A? I know all this.  That there are no simple answers to complex questions.  That there are people whose lives turn upside down when an economy whithers and dies. And that they certainly deserve as much protection as the resources others clamber to keep out of their hands.  I know all this, and I walk through scenes like this one, or drive by them on my way to somewhere else, bearing the full weight of these contradictory forces in my mind.  And I see that it has to be this way.  And that it will always be this way.  

But, still, it breaks my heart.
This sturdy steel bridge crosses Cedar Creek on the downslope of the first five-mile leg of the Bells Mountain Trail.  It was made by the Continental Bridge Company of Alexandria, VA, and can withstand 6,000 pounds of weight (according to a plaque on the handrail). So unless you plan to park the Clydesdales on it , you should be good.  Of course, should it happen to collapse under you and send you hurtling downstream, you may take comfort in this fact: the plaque provides a convenient 800 number for you to call and get assistance.
The Paramount Hotel

The Paramount Hotel

3.5 out of 5
808 SW Taylor St Portland OR
The price is ₹8,645 per night from 8 Feb to 9 Feb
₹8,645
₹10,077 total
8 Feb - 9 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Portland. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the restaurant and ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (3,168 reviews)
Clean room, quiet, nice restaurants. Our only complaint was the parking charge and difficult garage to maneuver in ( elevator was not working).

Reviewed on 30 Jan 2026

The Paramount Hotel
The Duniway Portland A Hilton Hotel

The Duniway Portland A Hilton Hotel

4.5 out of 5
545 SW Taylor St Portland OR
The price is ₹13,707 per night from 8 Feb to 9 Feb
₹13,707
₹15,900 total
8 Feb - 9 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this luxury hotel in Portland. Enjoy a rooftop terrace, a 24-hour fitness centre and valet parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,001 reviews)
Super comfortable beds and a beautiful hotel!

Reviewed on 28 Jan 2026

The Duniway Portland A Hilton Hotel
Radisson Hotel Portland Airport

Radisson Hotel Portland Airport

3.5 out of 5
6233 NE 78th Court Portland OR
The price is ₹8,523 per night from 7 Feb to 8 Feb
₹8,523
₹10,346 total
7 Feb - 8 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this golf hotel in Portland. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a free airport shuttle. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (2,973 reviews)
Great

Reviewed on 28 Jan 2026

Radisson Hotel Portland Airport
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Inn at Northrup Station

Inn at Northrup Station

3 out of 5
2025 NW Northrup Street Portland OR
Stay at this aparthotel in Portland. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (2,144 reviews)
Fun place; great value

Reviewed on 19 Jan 2026

Inn at Northrup Station
Historical Portland Home < 2 Mi to Downtown!

Historical Portland Home < 2 Mi to Downtown!

3 out of 5
Portland OR
Stay at this business-friendly cottage in Portland. Enjoy free parking, a garden and patios. Popular attractions Moda Center and Oregon Zoo are located ...
Historical Portland Home < 2 Mi to Downtown!
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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