Columbia River Gorge

Carved by ice age floods and framed by waterfalls, the Columbia River Gorge is one of the West's most dramatic meetings of river, forest, and cliff.

Stretching across the Oregon-Washington border, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is where the Columbia River cuts through the Cascade Mountains, leaving behind towering basalt cliffs, more than 90 waterfalls, and a patchwork of microclimates that shift from lush temperate rainforest in the west to high desert in the east. Hood River, Oregon anchors the Gorge's western half and has earned a reputation as one of the windsurfing and kiteboarding capitals of the world, thanks to the steady gorge winds that funnel down the river canyon. Beyond the water, the town's historic downtown is home to century-old buildings, craft breweries, and orchards that produce some of the region's best pears and apples. Among the many places to stay near the Columbia River Gorge, Hood River offers some of the easiest access to both the water and the trails.

The Gorge's layered history runs just as deep as its geology. Long before it became a recreation destination, this stretch of river was a vital trade and fishing corridor for Native peoples, and later a key passage for the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the Oregon Trail.