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Columbia River Gorge & Mount Hood

169 miles/272 kilometers

Experience the soul of the Columbia, the grand river of the American West. This waterway cuts through the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, an 80-mile stretch between Portland and the town of Biggs, where basalt bluffs rise 1,500 to 4,000 feet above the water.

One of the most awe-inspiring ways to experience the gorge is to take Exit 17 from Interstate 84 and proceed along the Historic Columbia River Highway. Designated as an All-American Road by the U.S. Department of Transportation, this European-style byway features distinctive Florentine viaducts crafted by Italian stonecutters in the early 1900s. Frequent turnouts afford breathtaking views of many of the 77 brilliant waterfalls that tumble from the glaciers and snowfields of Mount Hood, including Multnomah Falls, Oregon’s tallest cataract and America’s second highest year-round waterfall.

In the nearby town of Hood River, “the Aspen of windsurfing,” windsurfers from around the world congregate on an idyllic stretch of river, their concentration broken only by winds that often exceed 30 mph.

If water sports aren't your speed, more leisurely options abound: Enjoy the jaw-dropping scenery aboard the Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge or the historic Mt. Hood Railroad; or play a round of golf at Indian Creek or Dolce Skamania Lodge.

Head southwest from Hood River on highways 35 and 26, driving toward Mount Hood, Oregon’s tallest peak. Portions of Highway 26 parallel the historic Barlow Trail – the original track taken by pioneers crossing the Oregon Trail. Historic Timberline Lodge, nestled in a national forest, offers award-winning snowboarding, nearly year-round skiing and a spectacular view of the Cascade Mountains.

Or, head east from Hood River to take in fishing and white-water rafting. Close by, The Dalles is the location of the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. Listen to early river explorers weave stories of discovery, learn about the geologic forces that created the gorge, or, for the active museum-goer, ride the waves on a windsurfing simulator.

On the Washington side of the Columbia River, visit Dolce Skamania Lodge, Bonneville Hot Springs Resort, the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center, the Stonehenge Memorial and the Maryhill Museum of Art. End your day sipping wine at Maryhill Winery, which overlooks the Gorge.

 

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