The Highway was left partially intact after the construction of I-84. Prior to the construction of Interstate 84, the Old Columbia River Highway was the main transportation link between Portland and the desert. It is included in the National Register of Historic Places, designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, and considered a “destination unto itself” as an All-American Road. Its design intended to take advantage of the many waterfalls and vistas in the area.įor its scenery and engineering feat, the Historic Columbia Highway has been recognized in numerous ways. Built between 19, it was the first planned scenic roadway in the United States. The Historic Columbia River Highway is a 75-mile-long scenic road that connects Troutdale with The Dalles. It parallels the historic Columbia River Highway and acts as the most convenient transportation route along the gorge. Interstate 84 travels along the southern banks of the Columbia River, connecting Portland with Salt Lake City. The stretch between Troutdale and The Dalles boast’s the gorge’s best waterfalls, its most renowned scenic viewpoints, and its most charming population centers. Though the Columbia River Gorge boasts numerous attractions in both Oregon and Washington, its southern banks contain all but a few of the area’s most noteworthy destinations. Today, it still remains one of the most efficient corridors for travel across the Cascade Mountains. It has acted as a transportation corridor for thousands of years-first for Native American populations and later for Lewis and Clark as they journeyed west. The Columbia Gorge is steeped in history. The scenic area consists of 293,000 acres that spread out across six counties in Oregon and Washington. I’m always struck by the river’s sheer magnitude.įrom 1980 to 1986, the Columbia Gorge became the second National Scenic Area in the United States. By the time the Columbia reaches the shores of the Oregon Coast, it appears as grand as the ocean itself. Along the way, it grows larger and larger as it collects tributaries. The mighty Columbia River begins in the mountains of British Columbia and empties out into the ocean near Astoria. With its plethora of vistas and diverse topography, the national scenic area certainly puts the ‘ gorge‘ in gorgeous (sorry, I had to). Its hiking trails feature fern-lined canyons, gushing waterfalls, wildflower-strewn fields, and grand vistas of snow-capped peaks. The outdoor wonderland attracts hikers, kiteboarders and windsurfers from around the world. The gorge is a microcosm of many of the region’s most alluring features-showcasing verdant wonderlands, arid plateaus, and one of the mightiest waterways in the United States. A national scenic area and magnet for recreation enthusiasts, it encapsulates much of what makes the Pacific Northwest so special. The Columbia River Gorge divides Oregon and Washington in spectacular fashion.
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