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Curve Rating:
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The Gorge
On the
Columbia River, Oregon |
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By Laura Dawn
Lewis
Few places compare with the beauty and
grandeur of The Columbia River Gorge. The
Columbia River is the second longest river in the
United States and it divides the states of Oregon,
Washington and Idaho as it winds through the lush
green forests and long ago volcanic lava beds changing
radically into a land of barren plateaus. Swiftly it trudges
from its headwaters between the high desserts of Eastern Washington and
Oregon.
For
the Outdoorsman
Most of the key attractions are easily accessible to
the elderly even the handicap. For the more
adventurous, All along this 84 mile route (each way)
you'll find hiking trails, picnic areas, fishing
streams, giant waterfalls just a few hundred feet off
the highway, world class wind surfing and many quaint
hotels, motels and restaurants. If you bring the kids
with you, stop by the Cascade Locks and Salmon
Hatchery/ladders or the Bonneville Damn for a unique
educational experience. You'll need a
NW Forest Pass ($5 a day or $30 a year) for
overnight and some day camp areas.
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Looking West From
the Cascade Locks
Click Photos to View Larger
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Multnomah Falls
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Approaching The
Dalles
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Crown Point Vista
(This Photo
courtesy of the US Forest Service. All other
photos taken and rendered by LD Lewis)
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For the Scholar
If you attended college in Oregon or Washington and opted for
Rocks for Jocks (AKA Geology), mapping the wide variety of
geological creations from wind, water, volcanoes and earthquakes in
The Gorge was a required excursion. Fortunately the students at
Portland State University have done this for you. Feel free to
dazzle your spouse, date or kids with your knowledge! We won't
tell where you got it from!
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About the Weather
The Gorge is prone to severe wind and weather (ice, sleet and snow).
If you're towing a trailer or in a motor home, check the Gorge
forecast before venturing in, especially during the winter months. Also,
bring wind gear if you don't want to freeze, even in the summer.
Once you get off the river, you'll be warm but it can get very cold very
fast!
Our favorite romantic stop is to have dinner at the
Multnomah
Falls Lodge or to camp and eat breakfast with the sunrise coming
over the river.
The Route
The Route is simple covering 84 miles
from Portland to the Dalles If you choose to travel on the Washington
side, use
State Route (SR) 14. Our route follows Interstate I-84 on the Oregon side
are the main highways along the Columbia River. Four bridges help you
get from one side of the river to the other: Cascade Locks/Stevenson;
Hood River/Bingen; The Dalles/Dallesport, and Biggs/Maryhill.
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Miles |
Multnomah Falls |
Bonneville
Dam |
Cascade
Locks |
Hood
River |
The
Dalles |
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Portland |
31 |
39 |
44 |
63 |
84 |
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PRINT MAP & Article
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Points of Interest
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Eagle Creek Campground & Trail |
1st campground in the National Forest system |
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Deschutes River Crossing |
Oregon Trail |
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Multnomah Falls |
Take exit 31 off of I-84. |
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Multnomah Falls Lodge |
Take exit 31 off of I-84. |
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Hood River Windsurfing |
Hood River, OR |
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Latourell Falls |
You can walk behind this fall Exit 28 off I-84 |
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Sheppards Dell Falls |
Exit 28 off I-84 |
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Bridal Veil Falls |
Exit 28 off I-84 |
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Wahkeena Falls |
0.5 miles west of Multnomah Falls |
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Fairy Falls |
1.1 miles up from the trailhead of Wahkeena Trail
#420. You can access this trailhead at Wahkeena Falls,
which is 0.5 miles west of Multnomah Falls |
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Triple Falls |
Oneonta Trail #424, 1.7 miles from its trailhead |
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Rock Fort |
Lewis & Clark encampment,The Dalles, OR |
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Horsetail Falls |
Horsetail Creek can be viewed from a turnout on the
Historic Highway, 2.5 miles east of Multnomah Falls |
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Horsethief Lake State Park |
View petroglyphs east of Dallesport, Washington by
appointment only (509) 767-1159 |
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The Columbia Gorge Discovery
Center |
The Dalles |
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Wasco County Historical Museum |
The Dalles |
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Hood River County
Historical Museum |
Hood River, OR |
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Gorge Heritage Museum |
Bingen, WA |
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Maryhill Museum of Art |
Goldendale, WA |
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Hutson Museum |
Parkdale, OR |
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Bonneville Dam Visitor Center |
Oregon and Washington |
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Fort Cascades-Historic Trail
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