The Columbia River Gorge carves an 80-mile canyon through the Cascade Range — the only sea-level passage through the mountain wall. Waterfalls plunge from basalt cliffs, and the Historic Columbia River Highway is one of America's earliest scenic roads.

Stationen dieser Tour (10)

1. 1
   Crown Point — Vista House The octagonal Vista House sits 733 feet above the Columbia River. Built in 1917 as a rest stop and observatory, it was a marvel of early scenic highway design.
2. 2
   Latourell Falls A 249-foot plunge waterfall — the first major cascade on the Historic Highway. The columnar basalt behind the falls was formed by ancient lava flows.
3. 3
   Bridal Veil Falls A two-tiered waterfall accessed by a short trail through old-growth forest. The delicate cascade earned its name from early settlers who saw a resemblance to a wedding veil.
4. 4
   Multnomah Falls Oregon's tallest waterfall at 620 feet — a two-tiered icon. The Benson Bridge spans the gap between the upper and lower falls, built in 1914 by Italian stonemasons.
5. 5
   Oneonta Gorge A narrow slot canyon where ferns and mosses cling to walls just 20 feet apart. The gorge harbors plant species found nowhere else — a microclimate preserved by constant mist.
6. 6
   Bonneville Dam A New Deal-era dam completed in 1937. The fish ladders allow salmon to migrate upstream — viewing windows let you watch them leap and swim against the current.
7. 7
   Bridge of the Gods — Cascade Locks A steel bridge marks where a natural land bridge once crossed the Columbia — part of the Klickitat legend of the Bridge of the Gods. The Pacific Crest Trail crosses here.
8. 8
   Hood River The windsurfing and kiteboarding capital of the world. Consistent thermal winds funnel through the Gorge, and Mount Hood provides a perfect volcanic backdrop.
9. 9
   Rowena Crest Viewpoint The old highway makes dramatic switchbacks up to this viewpoint. Below, the Tom McCall Nature Preserve blooms with wildflowers — balsam root and lupine carpet the hillsides in spring.
10. 10
    The Dalles — End of the Oregon Trail Where the Oregon Trail ended at the Columbia River. Pioneers faced a terrible choice: risk the river rapids or attempt the treacherous Barlow Road over Mount Hood.

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