Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area extends 80 miles along the Columbia River on the Oregon–Washington border, forming the only sea-level break through the Cascade Range. This landscape — carved by catastrophic Ice Age floods and shaped by volcanic uplift — creates one of the most geologically diverse regions in the Pacific Northwest. On the Oregon side, perpendicular basalt walls rise up to 4,000 feet above the river, funneling powerful winds that have made Hood River and Mosier premier windsurfing and kiteboarding destinations. The Historic Columbia River Highway (US-30), completed in 1922 and regarded as one of the country's first scenic roads, ribbons along the western gorge offering access to dozens of waterfalls including Latourell, Crown Point, and Multnomah. Vista House, a sandstone octagonal structure perched at Crown Point 733 feet above the river, provides sweeping gorge views and an interpretive museum of the highway's history. To the east, the gorge transitions to semi-arid oak savannas and basalt outcroppings around The Dalles. The Columbia River itself remains a working waterway for barges and salmon migration, and the corridor includes numerous state parks with camping, waterfall hikes, and river access. Wildflowers blanket the gorge slopes from February through May, and October fall foliage draws road-trippers from across the region. Hood River serves as the gorge's visitor hub, offering restaurants, breweries, and the Hood River Valley fruit loop where farms sell pears, apples, and cherries in season. The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles provides in-depth natural and cultural history exhibits. A half-day covers the western gorge; two days allows exploration from Crown Point to Rowena Crest.