Information
Landmark: Columbia River Gorge Scenic AreaCity: Hood River
Country: USA Oregon
Continent: North America
Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area, Hood River, USA Oregon, North America
Overview
The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is a sweeping, federally protected canyon carved by the Columbia River, winding between Oregon and Washington with cliffs that catch the late-afternoon light.Famous for its towering cliffs, rushing waterfalls, deep forests, and rich cultural heritage, it spans about 292,500 acres and invites visitors to hike, take in sweeping views, and step back into history.Stretching for roughly 80 miles, it slices through the Cascade Range, plunging as deep as 4,000 feet where sheer cliffs shadow the valley floor.The land rises from the river’s edge, where the air smells faintly of salt, to cliffs and high forests perched several thousand feet above.Natural features include more than 90 waterfalls, from the misty rush of Multnomah Falls to the graceful drop of Wahkeena and the sheer cliff plunge of Latourell.The Columbia River rushes past foaming rapids, slips through navigation locks, and offers sweeping views from its rocky banks.Sheer volcanic cliffs rise above jagged basalt, with dark conifer forests crowding the slopes.Wide open meadows stretch across the plateau, giving way to gentle hills where the grass ripples in the wind.Indigenous Heritage: The Wasco, Wishram, Chinook, and other tribes once lived here, fishing for salmon, hunting game, and gathering wild plants to eat and trade.In the early 1800s, European-American explorers first made their way through the Gorge, among them Lewis and Clark, who sketched the river’s curves and noted the pine forests along its banks.Transportation Corridor: Once a bustling trade route, it’s now a modern highway stretch that carries Interstate 84 alongside the winding, scenic Historic Columbia River Highway.Since 1986, it’s been a National Scenic Area, set aside to safeguard its wild ridges and cultural landmarks while still making room for hiking trails, responsible forestry, and thoughtful land use.Recreation and activities include hiking on hundreds of trails, from a quick stroll to a misty waterfall to rugged, miles-long climbs along windblown ridges and sheer cliffs.Water sports include kayaking, windsurfing, and kiteboarding, with Hood River’s choppy blue waves drawing the boldest riders.Casting a line or steering a small boat along the wide, wind-ruffled waters of the Columbia River.Scenic Drives: The Historic Columbia River Highway-one of the nation’s earliest scenic routes-winds past roaring waterfalls, sweeping overlooks, and century-old stone bridges.The I-84 Corridor winds through the Gorge, with plenty of pullouts where you can stop and take in sweeping cliffside views.Go camping or enjoy a picnic at state parks and national forest sites like Memaloose Lake, where the water glints in the sun, or explore Beacon Rock and Starvation Creek.Watch for bald eagles soaring overhead, osprey diving for fish, salmon thrashing upstream, and the quiet shapes of black bears, deer, and passing flocks of migratory birds.Photography captures iconic landscapes-mist curling over waterfalls, wide river views, and bursts of seasonal color.On the western slopes, a lush temperate rainforest thrives, where Douglas fir and western hemlock rise above a soft carpet of moss.On the eastern slopes, the land dries out into open oak savannas, sun-bleached grasslands, and wide stretches of sagebrush.Fauna includes deer, elk, black bears, cougars, and smaller creatures like squirrels rustling through the underbrush.Birds-eagles slicing the sky, herons gliding low over water, songbirds flashing through leaves, and sharp-eyed raptors on the hunt.Fish - salmon, steelhead, and other species that run the cold, fast waters of the Columbia River.Geology: Massive Missoula Floods at the end of the last Ice Age carved deep channels and left sheer basalt cliffs, their dark walls still echoing with the sound of rushing water.Molten rock and ash from ancient eruptions carved Mount Hood and the rugged peaks around it.Indigenous cultural and historical sites include weathered petroglyphs, old fishing platforms slick with river spray, and other treasured landmarks.Historic highway relics include bridges, weathered stone walls, and scenic pullouts built during the roadwork boom of the 1910s through the 1930s.Lewis and Clark sites include visitor centers, trail markers, and winding paths that honor the expedition’s journey.Check out the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles, the roaring Bonneville Lock and Dam, and a string of interpretive centers scattered along the Gorge.Visitors can take in the sweeping views at Crown Point, feel the mist at Multnomah Falls, climb Dog Mountain, and stop at Vista House, Latourell Falls, and Horsetail Falls.Spring bursts with roaring waterfalls and slopes dotted with bright wildflowers.Summer means long hikes through pine-scented trails, afternoons splashing in cool lake water, and every warm-weather adventure you can find.In fall, the Hood River Valley glows with fiery leaves and the scent of fresh apples fills the crisp air.Winter brings snow-dusted peaks, crisp hikes along quiet trails, and viewpoints where you can hear the wind instead of the crowd.It’s easy to reach from Portland, Hood River, The Dalles, and nearby Washington towns, with highways and trailheads leading right to it.Nearby, you can explore Mount Hood National Forest, where trails wind through pine-scented air and adventures range from hiking and camping to skiing.Hood River Waterfront Park offers sunny spots for picnics and easy access to the river for paddling or a quick swim.Fruit Loop-filled with orchards heavy with ripe apples, welcoming wineries, and plenty of hands-on agritourism.Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery-where massive concrete walls meet the Columbia’s roar, stories of the river’s past unfold, and you can spot trout flashing silver in the water.Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum showcases vintage planes and classic cars just outside Hood River, where you can almost smell the old engine oil.The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area blends breathtaking scenery, rich history, and endless ways to explore, with sheer cliffs rising overhead, waterfalls spilling into mist, and sweeping views of the river far below.Easy to reach, rich with wildlife, and full of shifting landscapes-from mossy forests to rocky shores-it stands as one of the Pacific Northwest’s most unforgettable spots.
