As the fourth largest river in North America, the Columbia River winds its way 1,200 miles from British Columbia, Canada to the Washington/Oregon Border and out to the Pacific Ocean. Eighty miles of the river run east to west cutting a canyon through the Cascade Mountains and forming the border between Washington and Oregon states. The Gorge and its surroundings are considered a national treasure and protected within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area created in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan.
The Columbia River Gorge provides an incredibly beautiful setting for a wide range of activities and attractions including boating, white water rafting and wind surfing, hiking and rock/mountain climbing, vineyards and art museums, forest campgrounds and waterfalls, outdoor concerts and more. To get your first look at its grandeur, take a drive along Interstate I-84 on the Oregon side of the river, specifically the 70 miles designated as the Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway.
The first section of the Historic highway begins about 17 miles east of Portland, Oregon at Troutdale. One of its first spectacular viewpoints is at Crown Point State Park where the 1916 copper-domed Vista House sits on a cliff 733 feet above the river offering a fabulous 30-mile view of the Gorge. Next you’ll pass four waterfalls (Latourel, Shepherd’s Dell, Bridal Veil and Wahkeena) on your way to one of the highest year-round waterfalls in the U.S. – 620 foot, two-tiered, Multnomah Falls. If you like, wear your sensible walking shows and follow one of the misty-wet trails to get a closer look.
The second section of the Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway (I-84) runs between the towns of Mosier and The Dalles. Highlights along the way include the Tom McCall Preserve known for its spectacular gorge views and spring wildflowers, and the Rowena Crest Overlook at Mayer State Park. At The Dalles, stroll through this historic Oregon Trail town before visiting the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and the Wasco County Historical Museum.
As beautiful as the Columbia River Gorge Highway is, the Columbia River and The Gorge offers so much more. For example, there are many waterfalls to see, 77 on the Oregon side alone. There are 14 hydroelectric dams on the river including Grand Coulee, Bonneville and John Day.
Four bridges cross the river from Oregon into Washington: Cascade Locks to Stevenson, Hood River to Bingen, The Dalles to Dallesport, and Biggs to Maryhill. My favorite is The Bridge of the Gods which begins on the Oregon side at Cascade Locks – a 1926 cantilever bridge with a span of 1, 858 feet, 130 feet above the river. Be sure to learn about its ancient predecessor.
The Gorge offers year round opportunities on both sides of the River for sightseeing (on a clear day you can see Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams) small-town shopping, hiking (including the 16.1 mile Pacific Crest Trail #2000), biking, camping, rock and mountain climbing, downhill and cross country skiing, whitewater rafting and kayaking, and of course world-famous windsurfing and kiting.
There are several museums and dozens of wineries to visit on both sides of the Gorge and the 20,000-seat Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington presents summer concerts. If you can, catch a sunset over the Gorge – unforgettable!
Happy travels!
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