Columbia River Gorge Travel Information
Beginning just at Portland's doorstep, the Columbia River Gorge offers
miles of unparalleled scenery and outdoor recreation options. The
Columbia River defines the Oregon-Washington border for much of its
length. The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area defines the
exceptionally beautiful area, shaped by the still powerful Columbia
River, from east of Portland (beginning around the town of Troutdale)
west to past The Dalles. The western end of the Gorge is rich, dense
woodland, green and fern-filled, while toward its eastern reaches, the
landscape transitions into rolling, golden grasslands and sage-covered
semiarid deserts. The western Gorge features numerous remarkable
waterfalls, most notably Multnomah Falls, the second-highest
continuously running waterfall in the country. Hiking trails abound
near the western Gorge's falls and throughout its fern- and
wildflower-filled temperate rainforest. And on the broad, powerful
river that gives the Gorge its name, visitors partake of a wide
variety of water-based recreation. But reliable westerly winds in the
Columbia River Gorge have helped make it known by many as the
windsurfing capital of the world. The eastern Gorge is recommended by
many as the best part of the river in which to partake of the sport,
and the eastern area also hosts the bulk of the Gorge's mountain
biking. To learn more about the Columbia River Gorge, please select
a topic of interest from the navigation bar on the left.
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