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.