The Columbia River Gorge is one of the most scenic areas of the Pacific Northwest, and certainly one that you should not skip. If you’re planning a trip to either Oregon or Washington, consider allotting one or more days to the Columbia River Gorge area. When visiting, its best to look for hotels in Vancouver, Washington or Portland, Oregon, where you can easily make a day trip to the gorge.
From either Portland or Vancouver, it’s approximately a one hour drive to reach the Columbia Gorge. Here, you can do a self-guided driving loop that will take you on both sides of the river and through some of the river’s best sights. You can do the full 250-mile loop, but you should definitely allot a few days as there is a lot to see.
There are a number of options for various self-guided tours, but here are a few of the not-to-miss sights along the Columbia Gorge:
Multnomah Falls – If you’ve seen photos of Columbia Gorge, you’ve likely seen photos of Multnomah Falls. The over-600-foot-tall waterfall is one of the tallest waterfalls in the United States, and it’s impressive to say the least. Take a photo from the base, or consider the 2.6-mile round trip hike to the top. Multnomah Falls is located on the National Register of Historic Places so expect it to be a bit crowded, especially on weekends or during a holiday period. I made the mistake of going over President’s Day weekend and it was packed.
Beacon Rock – Beacon Rock is one of the tallest monoliths in the United States. It’s located on Highway 14, about 20 minutes east of Washougal. Stand on the nearly-900-foot-tall viewing point, which is atop the core of a volcano.
Bonneville Dam – The Bonneville Dam is located in North Bonneville. It features historical exhibits, a visitor center, and a fish ladder viewing station.
Oneonta Gorge – In the Oneonta Gorge, you’ll find the Oneonta Botanical Area, where you will find a number of wildflowers that only grow in the gorge.
Vista House at Crown Point – Vista House at Crown Point is an iconic landmark in the Columbia River Gorge. It was built as a shelter for those who made the trek to check out the gorge scenery. Today, you’ll find educational exhibits, guided tours, a gift shop, and of course, impressive views! Be advised, the Vista House is only open from April through mid-October.
Farms and Wineries – As you drive along the gorge, you’ll find a number of orchards and vineyards. Farmers are growing a wide variety of prized fruits like pears, peaches, cherries, apples, and more. Vineyards have started popping up along the gorge as well, so grab a few bottles of wine to take back to your hotel room.
Mount Hood – Mt. Hood offers a whole vacation option in itself. A loop road, skiing, summertime lake kayaking, rafting, and hiking are just some of the adventure that awaits visitors to Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory.
Cascade Locks – Located in the Hood River area, the city of Cascade Locks was named after the set of locks built to help navigation.
If you’re looking for suggested itineraries for self-guided Columbia River Gorge tours, check out Travel Oregon or Great Outdoor Recreation Pages to get you started on your Columbia Gorge day trip.
This post is in conjunction with the Hipmunk #CityLove project, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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