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If you love waterfalls, hiking, wineries, fruit picking and scenic drives, then the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area in Oregon is where you want to visit.
Columbia River Gorge is an expansive, 80 mile long gorge framed by the Cascade Mountain Range, and is known for its unreal natural beauty. I would also argue it has nearly the largest concentration of high waterfalls in North America, from what we’ve seen.
Needless to say if you love nature, you’ll find plenty of things to do in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon.
If you’re thinking of visiting this canyon and not sure what to do, what’s special about it, or where to stay – here’s everything you need to know!
What is special about the Columbia River Gorge?
The CRG is a river canyon that expands for 85 miles long (80 miles in Oregon) and up to 4,000 feet deep. Carved by volcanic eruptions and Ice Age floods over millions of years, the gorge is the only sea level route through the Cascade Mountains.
The Columbia River winds westward through the Cascade Mountain Range into the Pacific Ocean, just west of Astoria and forms the border between Oregon and Washington.
On the southern side of the river you’ll find scores of waterfalls, eleven over 100 feet high tumbling down the side of the gorge.
The land bordering the river is protected as the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
The scenic area spans from Troutdale to the Deschutes River, and Washougal to Wishram. There are 13 cities, towns and urban areas in the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area. On the Oregeon side, there is Cascade Locks, Hood River, Mosier, and The Dalles.
In the Washington side, there is North Bonneville, Stevenson, Carson, Home Valley, White Salmon, Bingen, Lyle, Dallesport, and Wishram – but we didn’t visit these as we stayed on the Oregon side.
Is Columbia River Gorge worth it?
Due to its location just 30 minutes east of Portland, the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area is easily accessible and a popular destination to escape the city and enjoy a mountainous landscape.
It offers adventure, but also relaxation, with a diverse natural landscape made of farmlands, vineyards, forests, misty mountains and rolling bluffs, making it the perfect place to let nature soothe your soul. If you…
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