Outstanding Oregon: Columbia River Gorge is a scenic feast (PHOTOS)
Known locally as “the Gorge,” the Columbia River Gorge is the largest designated national scenic area in the country and boasts some of the most stunning river and mountain scenes known to man.
It may draw in visitors looking to feast their eyes on the scenery, but there are plenty of other attractions to the Columbia River Gorge, including craft beers, markets, and bespoke retailers. Yes, there are smaller portions of the Gorge that deserve their own feature here, but we wanted to start this one broad (like the Gorge) and narrow in the future.
For your own safety, please make sure you are prepared before heading out on your next adventure. Information on how to prepare for your trip and stay safe while on your hike is available from OregonStateParks.org and PortlandOregon.gov. Always remember to leave no trace, pack out what you pack in, stick to designated trails, and refrain from feeding wildlife — and please note that irresponsibly taken selfies (even if they look great for the ‘gram) can be fatal.
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Where is it?
The Columbia River Gorge scenic area is east and slightly north of Portland, along the Columbia River. Depending on your route, the Gorge is roughly an hour and change away (by car) from downtown.
How do you get there?
There are two very easy roads to get to the Columbia River Gorge scenic area. Leaving Portland, either head north out of town and take WA-14-E along the Northside of the river, or leave town going east and hop on the I-84-E.
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What’s there?
Without getting too zoomed in to the smaller attractions of this stunning region, the Gorge itself is a sight that must be seen in a lifetime. Oregon is home to many wonders, and although this isn’t technically one of them, it’s a designated national scenic area for a darn good reason.
Just look at all of this reason!
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