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Portland Monthly

Travel

The Ultimate Guide to the Columbia River Gorge

Waterfalls, hikes, history, breweries, wineries, great food, a historic post office, and views galore

Edited by Gabriel Granillo By Katherine Chew Hamilton, Conner Reed, Margaret Seiler, Julia Silverman, and Matt Wastradowski

The Columbia River Gorge is a marvel of ecological diversity and unrivaled beauty, with a rich and often painful history. It’s been “protected” since the 1980s from certain development, but that followed dramatic alterations of its landscape. Today, find treasured treks in recovering forests, buzzing towns with bustling economies, destination-worthy food and drink, and more—all in Portland’s backyard.

Photograph of Meyer State Park at Rowena Crest courtesy Trevor Wert/Shutterstock

In This Feature:

Check Out the Closest Attractions in the Columbia River Gorge

Zip lines and treehouse suites at Skamania Lodge, classic soft serve in Cascade Locks, and hiking trails and waterfalls galore!

03/17/2022 By Katherine Chew Hamilton, Conner Reed, and Julia Silverman

The Bridal Veil Post Office Celebrates 135 Years

Every year this Oregon ghost town post office sees a flood of wedding invitations from couples hoping to secure a Bridal Veil postmark.

03/17/2022 By Gabriel Granillo

What We Can Learn 5 Years After the Eagle Creek Fire

The 2017 fire changed the landscape of the Columbia River Gorge, especially on the Oregon side of the river.

03/17/2022 By Gabriel Granillo

Where to Eat, Stay & Play in Hood River, White Salmon & Bingen

Windsurfing, cherry-picking, and rafting await in these Oregon and Washington towns in the Columbia River Gorge.

03/17/2022 By Gabriel Granillo and Julia Silverman

Shop Stops in the Columbia River Gorge

Hood River’s Oak Street and its counterparts in Bingen and White Salmon make these connected Gorge towns a stealth shopping destination for clothes, gifts, and more.

03/11/2022 By Gabriel Granillo, Margaret Seiler, and Julia Silverman

The Day The Dalles Dam Silenced Celilo Falls

Wilbur Slockish recounts when The Dalles Dam flooded Celilo Falls, the site of a centuries-old intertribal fishing and commerce market.

03/09/2022 By Gabriel Granillo

I Spy! Look for These Landmarks in the Columbia River Gorge

The Oregon and Washington sides of the Gorge are home to huge dams, towering wind turbines, tall waterfalls, a wild art museum, and a ‘spooky’ pizza place.

03/17/2022 By Gabriel Granillo and Margaret Seiler

CAT vs. Cars

Traffic, packed parking lots, and new permit requirements make driving in the Gorge tough. Take the CAT bus to Multnomah Falls and Hood River instead.

03/17/2022 By Margaret Seiler

921 SW Washington Street, Suite 318 Portland, OR 97205
Phone: 503-222-5144 • Fax: 503-227-8777
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