Columbia River Gorge | More info
The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon of the Columbia River up to 4,000 feet deep and stretching for over 80 miles as the river winds westward through the Cascade Range forming the boundary between the State of Washington to the north and Oregon to the south. Extending roughly from the confluence of the Columbia with the Deschutes River down to eastern reaches of the Portland metropolitan area, the gorge furnishes the only navigable route through the Cascades and the only water connection between the Columbia River Plateau and the Pacific Ocean.
The gorge is a popular recreational destination and contains a variety of climates and topologies from lush wooded areas to high desert. Starting just 20 minutes east of downtown Portland, the Gorge is accessible by Interstate Highway 84 on the Oregon side of the Columbia and highway 14 on the Washington which side pass through towns, parks, hiking trails, water recreational areas, vineyards, campsites, museums, and more.
Historic Columbia Highway | MAP
The Historic Columbia River Highway is an approximately 75-mile scenic highway just east of Portland between Troutdale and The Dalles, built through the Columbia River Gorge between 1913 and 1922. As the first planned scenic roadway in the United States, it has been recognized in numerous ways, including a listing on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark, designation as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers, and considered a "destination unto itself as an All-American Road by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. The historic roadway was bypassed in by the present Columbia River Highway No. 2 (Interstate 84) from the 1930s to the 1950s, leaving behind the old two-lane road. The 24 westernmost miles starting in Troutdale provide access to dozens of hiking trails, Crown Point Vista House, and numerous waterfalls such as Multnomah Falls. This section forms a loop with the Mount Hood Scenic Byway.
An excellent destination for a drive in the Gorge, Hood River is 63 miles from downtown Portland, an hour’s drive along Interstate 84 but allow 2 hours or more if you take the scenic Historic Highway at Troutdale and stop at the many waterfalls along that scenic route.
Hood River is the western gateway to the Mount Hood Scenic Byway. Hood River is considered a "sports mecca" and offers some of the best spots for windsurfing, kite surfing, kayaking, skiing and mountain biking—all for which it draws considerable national attention from many media outlets. Hood River has been called the Wind Surfing Capital of the world. The city also features the family and kiteboard friendly Waterfront Park, a public pool, skate park, biking trails, and several small public parks and ball fields. Hood River has over two dozen sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Columbia Gorge Hotel, built in 1920 by Portland timber baron and Columbia Gorge booster Simon Benson. The oldest house in the city is the Ezra L. Smith home, which he built in 1886 for his family.
On a hot summer’s day, have an ice cream from one of the vendors on the main street or a beer at Horsefeathers brew pub and enjoy the view of the bay. Stonehenge Gardens is an excellent restaurant at the western edge of the town. The Mt. Hood Scenic Railroad offers trips through the beautiful apple and pear orchards in the area. The circa 1910 railcars are pulled by a diesel locomotive along the route of an old fruit train line through the scenic valley between Mt. Hood and the Columbia River.
This 35-mile scenic drive through the valley’s orchards, forests, farmlands, and friendly communities is a must when visiting Hood River County. Fruits and wines, lavender and alpacas, and family activities throughout the year will create wonderful memories. Sample delicious fruits and take your favorites home, visit a winery, experience fields of fragrant lavender, meet adorable alpacas, savor delicious baked goods, and create memories by participating in family activities hosted at Fruit Loop locations throughout the year.
The Fruit Loop starts at Hood River and is one of the few places that offers the complete experience of growing, producing, and then enjoying fruit and wine.
Timberline Lodge is a mountain lodge on the south side of Mount Hood in Oregon, about 60 miles east of Portland. Built in the late 1930s, the National Historic Landmark sits at an elevation of 5,960 feet, within the Mount Hood National Forest and is accessible through the Mount Hood Scenic Byway. It is a popular tourist attraction, drawing more than a million visitors annually. It is noted in film for serving as the exterior of the Overlook Hotel in The Shining and was also used in a number of other films. The lodge was constructed between 1936 and 1938 as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project during the Great Depression. Workers used large timbers and local stone, and placed intricately carved decorative elements throughout the building. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Lodge on September 28, 1937. You will often find snow at or near Timberline in the summer and skiing is popular in the winter with several ski slopes in the area.
The Willamette Valley is the heart of Oregon’s agriculture country. During spring and summer growing seasons, roadside stands dot the country lanes, and farmers’ markets appear in the valley’s historic towns. Covered bridges beckon drivers to explore the many back roads, and the valley’s flat terrain and temperate climate make it a favorite for hikers and cyclists, who also enjoy the paved paths in the college towns of Eugene and Corvallis. Nestled among its rolling hills are over 200 wineries producing a medley of vintages—Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Riesling to mention a few. The valley, dubbed Oregon’s Wine Country, is one of Oregon’s major wine-growing regions.
The town of Bend is a pleasant three and a half hour drive from Portland and the center of many interesting sites and things to do. With 300 days of sunshine a year (as many as Arizona!) and oodles of fresh powder come winter, the 3000-foot elevation high desert country of Central Oregon is an idyllic playground for sports lovers. Rekindle your spirit with a gamut of possibilities such as world famous golf at more than 25 unique courses, coveted fly-fishing at over 150 rivers and lakes, and outdoor adventures including hiking, rock climbing at Smith Rock and an abundance of snow sports atop Mt. Bachelor. And what’s more, the region boasts an equally impressive selection of restaurants and breweries, a vibrant nightlife, unique lodging and a growing arts scene.
The Northern Oregon Coast has a number of favorite coastal tourist destinations in Oregon. The North Coast of Oregon includes Astoria through Lincoln City. Each of these many cities is unique and enjoyable in their own right.
Furthest to the North is Astoria, which has a large amount of history and tradition. It is located next to the Columbia River, just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean. Seaside and Cannon Beach are the next two cities and offer terrific family vacation spots with tourist attractions including Ecola State Park.
Further down the coastline you will find Rockaway Beach and Pacific City, two smaller cities that offer beautiful coastline with smaller crowds. The Northern Oregon Coast finishes off in Lincoln City, one of the largest cities on the Oregon Coast. This city offers amazing hotel options, two golf courses and the Chinook Winds Casino.
The Southern Oregon Coast includes North Bend through Brookings on NWcoast.com. This coastline doesn't get quite the same attention as the North and Central Coast of Oregon from visitors, but it is mostly a factor of driving distance rather than beauty or amenities. North Bend and Coos Bay is rich with history; an old Mill town that even today continues to be a mixture of work and play. You can enjoy the Mill Casino, or drive west to Charleston and visit some spectacular spots on the Pacific Ocean.
Further south you will find Bandon, which is host to Bandon Dunes, a world-class golf resort. Next you come to Port Orford and Gold Beach: This area offers parks and trails that roll high above the ocean giving sight to breathtaking scenery that is screaming, “take a picture!” On the far end of the Southern Oregon Coast is Brookings. Here you will find beautiful beach while you are just a hop skip and a jump from the California Border and unbelievable Old Growth Forests!