Explore the Gorge
columbia river gorge national scenic area
Pictured: Cape Horn, Columbia River Gorge
elcome to the Columbia River Gorge,
the largest national scenic area in the United States. A land of
contrast between rainforest and desert, sea level passage and alpine meadows, the gorge features a network of hiking, biking,
and horseback riding trails that climb from low land forests to
windy ridges with stunning views of the Columbia River. In the
winter months, visitors to the gorge enjoy downhill and cross
country skiing on the snowcaps of Mount Hood and Mount
Adams. Summertime visitors to the area will find a wealth of
recreational opportunities on the Columbia River, including
windsurfing, boating, fishing, and swimming, as well as opportunities for picnicking, and wildlife viewing on the river’s shores.
For travelers looking to enjoy the richness of the area’s culture,
historical museums and art centers, fine dining, theaters, and
wineries provide plenty of entertainment.
river as high up as Crown Point, thus cutting the steep, dramatic
walls of exposed volcanic rock.
The first inhabitants of the Columbia River Gorge were the
Folsom and Marmes people, who crossed into the area via the
Bering land bridge from Asia over 13,000 years ago. Later historic visitors include Lewis and Clark, who traveled Lolo Pass
A place of fascinating geological and cultural history, the Columbia River Gorge dates back to the Miocene period (roughly
17 to 12 million years ago), but the gorge as we know it today
was created at the end of the last ice age, when flooding filled the
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columbia river gorge Travel and Recreation Guide