Columbia River Gorge Disney Travel Agents Near Me

Overview

Introduction

The beautiful Columbia River Gorge canyon runs through the Cascade Mountain Range. At 80 mi/130 km long and up to 4,000 ft/1,240 m deep, its canyon walls flank Washington to the north and Oregon to the south. Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams and Mount Hood are all nearby.

The gorge can be seen quickly from Interstate 84 (on the Oregon side), but it deserves a closer inspection. Take the Columbia River National Scenic Highway (Washington Highway 14) or a summertime cruise on the stern-wheeler Columbia Gorge (operated by the Portland Spirit; phone 503-224-3900 or toll-free 800-224-3901; http://www.sternwheeler.com). The absolute best way to see the gorge, however, is to hike. Outstanding routes include Sleeping Beauty and Dog Mountain trails in Washington and the hikes to Wahclella Falls and Multnomah Falls on the Oregon side of the river. Horsetail Falls and Wahkeena Falls, both on the Oregon side, are also worth a visit.

The Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center near Stevenson has exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the area (phone 509-427-8211 or toll-free 800-991-2338; http://www.columbiagorge.org). The center's logo, for example, is a piece of Native American aboriginal art based on the legend of Tsagaglalal, which translates as "she who watches."

Windsurfers will be in heaven on the river, particularly in the eastern part of the gorge, as its west-flowing waters and east-blowing winds provide some of the best conditions for the sport in North America. Nearby Bonneville Dam has a fish hatchery, underwater windows for watching fish navigate the dam's ladders and giant sturgeon ponds. We highly recommend a stop.

Beacon Rock, named by Lewis and Clark and near North Bonneville, is said to be the world's second-largest monolith after the Rock of Gibraltar (848 ft/258 m high). Hike up the trail to the rock's summit to see what the two famous explorers saw in 1805: a spectacular view of the Columbia River, Mount Hood and Mount Adams. Another popular hike is to Multnomah Falls, the second-highest year-round waterfall in the U.S. at 620 ft/86 m.

For more information on the area, call 541-308-1700. http://www.crgva.org. The Columbia River Gorge is 135 mi/215 km south of Seattle.

Overview

Introduction

The spectacular gorge of the Columbia River forms the border between Oregon and Washington. The gorge is filled with high waterfalls, high dams and high winds. (To get a good overview of all there is to see and do in this region, cross the river into Washington and visit the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center near Stevenson.) The gorge extends for a long distance, but we think the section of the river that slices through the Cascades, from about The Dalles to just east of Portland, is the prettiest. The best views in the gorge are from the Vista House at Crown Point or from the Bridge of the Gods at Cascade Locks.

The best way to experience the gorge is either to venture off onto one of the many hiking trails (especially the moderate 2-mi/3-km climb to Angels Rest) or to drive the awe-inspiring (and sometimes terrifying) Historic Columbia River Highway—no RVs allowed. To reach the highway, exit off Interstate 84 about 6 mi/10 km west of Bonneville Dam. The road was an engineering marvel in its day, and every turn offers gorgeous view of the gorge. Highlights of the drive include Oneonta Gorge, Horsetail Falls and Wahkeena Falls. If you can see only one cascade, though, make it Multnomah Falls, which is more than double the height of Niagara.

By far our favorite dam to visit along the Columbia River is Bonneville Dam. It has everything from a fish hatchery to underwater windows for watching fish navigate the dam's ladders. We highly recommend a stop. Also worth visiting is the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles. There, you can learn the history of The Dalles Dam and of the spectacular waterfalls and ancient fishing grounds that were flooded once the dam was completed. The spectacular stretch of the Columbia near Hood River is considered one of the windsurfing capitals of the world—steady breezes provide ideal conditions for windsurfing and the increasingly popular sport of kiteboarding.

In late 2017, the Eagle Creek fire tore through the region causing enormous damage to more than 48,000 acres of pristine wilderness. Many of the trails were quickly repaired, but historic structures such as Benson Bridge were destroyed. Regardless, while the Douglas firs may now be gone, the fire has revealed interesting basalt cliffs and rock formations. Multnomah Falls (at 620 ft/190 m, it's the highest falls west of the Rockies) marks the entrance to the park.

The fire didn't damage the trails on the Washington side of the Columbia River, which will undoubtedly become a popular alternative for hiking in the gorge. The pastoral fruit orchards and vineyards on the "Fruit Loop" to Mount Hood were likewise unaffected. http://www.visitcolumbiarivergorge.com.