By Kristy McCaffrey
Last month I visited Portland, Oregon and had the opportunity to enjoy the riches of the Columbia River Gorge, a canyon that defines the Oregon-Washington State border. The gorge stretches for 80 miles through the Cascade Range as the Columbia River makes its way to the Pacific Ocean. The area is known for a high number of waterfalls, with over ninety on the Oregon side alone. The gorge has supported human habitation for 13,000 years, but is most famous as a pathway for the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805.
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| The Columbia River as seen from the Oregon side. |
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Multnomah Falls, with a total height of
620 feet. Be sure to have lunch at the Multnomah
Falls Lodge, at the base of the falls. |
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View from the top of Multnomah Falls. A one-mile hike on a
well-maintained trail will get you there. |
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| Bridal Veil Falls. |
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| Latourell Falls. |
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The Pacific Crest Trail spans 2,650 miles from Mexico to
Canada, with a portion running through Oregon and
the Columbia River Gorge. |
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| The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) at Cascade Locks. |
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Bonneville Dam, one of three on the Columbia River.
It provides electrical power and aids in river navigation. |
