Pacific Northwest Vacations | Columbia River Gorge Travel Guide

Columbia River Gorge & Mount Hood

Before the volcanic Cascade Mountains emerged, there was the Columbia River. The resulting clash of the two carved a massive gorge studded with waterfalls and rocky cliffs and sustained Native fisherman for centuries. Now protected as a National Scenic Area, the region offers visitors outdoor recreation set against a breathtaking backdrop of the elements colliding.

World renowned for perfect wind-surfing conditions, a constant flow of sails and kites are sprinkled over the water providing endless entertainment from the riverside parks. From the ski slopes of Mt. Hood to the oak savannah and grasslands of the hills below, a web of trails take hikers and mountain-bikers through an incredible array of landscapes. Ever popular is the Hood River Valley's “Fruit Loop” where farmers and wine makers show off the best of their orchards and vineyards. After visiting the Gorge you might decide that this little slice of the region contains the best of everywhere else.