So, if you haven’t done it yet, you must put “drive the Columbia River Gorge” on your bucket list — preferably on the Washington side (route 14). You will have to swing onto the Oregon side (and interstate 84) east of Portland to catch Waterfall Row, but all will be worth it. Along the way, you will want to stop at Columbia Hills Historical State Park (formerly Horsethief Lake State Park) to catch some interesting geological features and petroglyphs. From here, you will be viewing the impressive Mt. Hood for much of the day, and you might want to stop along the water’s edge to dabble your toes (it’s cold!). While driving, be sure to watch the water for windsurfers and kiteboarders, two popular activities on the very windy river. Further west, you will want to climb Beacon Rock to capture some beautiful views of the gorge — plus, this was where the Lewis and Clark expedition first measured tides on the river, definitively indicating that they were nearing the ocean. Once you swing down into Oregon, you will have your pick of EIGHTEEN (and really there are about fifty) very impressive waterfalls! My top five are Bridal Veil, Horsetail, Latourell, Multnomah, and Wahkeena. Trust me, the others are no slouches. For a few more details about the gorge area and its history, you might want to read “Lewis and Clark: Episode 4” under the Naturelated tab.
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