Your national forests and grasslands are 193 million acres of vast, scenic beauty waiting for you to discover. Over 3 million acres of land located in 22 National Recreation Areas managed by the Forest Service is preserved for recreational activities like hiking, boating, fishing and swimming, while highlighting natural, cultural and scenic resources. Visitors who choose to recreate on these public lands find 162,984 miles of trails, over 30,000 recreation sites, over 400,000 miles of streams and 3 million acres of lakes, 127 alpine ski areas, 338,000 heritage sites, and specially designated sites that include 36.7 million acres of designated wilderness areas, 130 wild and scenic rivers, 15 monuments, and one preserve. And remember, “It’s All Yours.”
Displaying 1 - 25 of 50Catherine Creek Loop
This 1.9 mile loop, northeast of the Catherine Creek Trailhead, offers spectacular wildflower viewing during the spring and passes within sight of a natural arch. The vicinity surrounding the arch is closed to protect resources and is marked off by a fence. Please help keep it nice for the next generation, and do not enter the closed area.
Watch for poison oak, ticks, and rattlesnakes. This trail is lightly…
Husum Boating Site
Located in Husum, WA, this site offers an opportunity to portage around Husum Falls, a class V waterfall requiring a lot of white water boating experience or a guide to pass.
Wyeth Campground
Wyeth Campground includes 13 individual sites and 3 group sites in a beautiful setting surrounded by Douglas-fir and bigleaf maple trees. Reserve early -- up to six months in advance -- to ensure a spot at this popular campground, which books up early between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Sites 1 and 2 are available on a first-come, first-served basis only; however, with the Gorge's busy pace all summer these spots…
Gorge 400 (MP 0 - 12.5) Angels Rest to Ainsworth
The first 4.8 miles of this hike is the Angels Rest Trail #415. Continue on from this panoramic viewpoint through Wahkeena Creek basin to Wahkeena Trail #420. Hike down past Fairy Falls, a 20 to 30 foot tiered waterfall, before reaching Wahkeena Falls and the return trail…
Gorge 400 (MP 15 - 19.5) John Yeon to Wahclella
This 5.2 mile section of Gorge Trail #400 traverses through evergreen forests and wildflower blooms. The trail is a nice day hike for people of all ages. Look for calypso orchids in early spring, along with other wildflowers throughout the season. Enjoy the view of the towering basalt cliffs.
This section runs from John Yeon…
Gorge 400 (MP 19.5 - 22.5) Wahclella to Eagle Crk
Hike this section of the Gorge Trail #400 through the forest from Wahclella Falls Trailhead to Eagle Creek Day Use Area/Trailhead. Access to other trails along this section such as Wauna Point Trail.…
Gorge 400 (MP 22.5 - 25) Eagle Cr to Cascade Locks
From Eagle Creek Trailhead this 2.6 mile stretch of the Gorge Trail provides some paved sections of the historic Columbia Highway as well as some single track trail. This section ends at Cascade Locks, OR at Bridge of the Gods Trailhead which accesses Pacific Crest…
Gorge 400 (MP 25 - 35) Cascade Locks to Wyeth
This section of the Gorge Trail #400 "piggybacks" on other trails for much of its distance. From the Bridge of the Gods Trailhead in Cascade Locks cross the toll bridge road to find the Pacific Crest Trail. In about 1/10 of a mile, you’ll come to Moody Road as you cross under the freeway. Walk the road uphill to the right and continue straight…
Multnomah Falls Lodge
The Visitor Center, lodge restaurant, restrooms and gift shop are currently open to the public.
Built in 1925, the Lodge is on the National Register of Historic Places. Within its structure, it embodies every type of rock found in the Columbia River Gorge. Bring binoculars to get a better view of these iconic falls and enjoy the sound of rushing water during the winter flow. Look for…
White Salmon Wild & Scenic River
From Gilmer Creek, near the town of B Z Corner, to Buck Creek, the Lower White Salmon is designated as Wild & Scenic. Along this stretch of the river, glacial headwaters are supplemented by seeps and springs along the canyon walls, sustaining a cold but consistent flow of water year round. The Lower White Salmon's rapids, waterfalls, and abrupt drops can challenge even the most advanced…
Klickitat Wild & Scenic River
The lowermost 10.8 miles of the Klickitat River, from Wheeler Creek to the confluence with Columbia River, are designated as a Wild & Scenic River. This stretch of river begins as a broad canyon with rolling hills that drops at a steady gradient of 26 feet per mile before cascading into a Class V gorge around river mile 2 with an unrunnable entrance feature.
A significant…
Northwestern Park
This park was the site of a reservoir, before Condit Dam's removal from the White Salmon River in 2011. Today, it is a small park owned and managed by Pacific Power that provides a key take-out locations for boaters on the Lower White Salmon River Wild & Scenic River.
Wahkeena Falls
Wahkeena Falls is day use area and trail situated at the base of beautiful Wahkeena Falls, just west of Multnomah Falls on the Historic Columbia River Highway. One of stops along the famed waterfall area on the Historic Highway, it connnects with a network of trails that make for great day hike loop opportunities, and world-class scenery. The 242-foot falls is a tiered type of waterfall, named after the Yakama…
Upper Labyrinth (#4424)
Located just south of Atwood Road in Klickitat County, Upper Labyrinth Trail connects to Desert Parsley Trail to the east, leading to the Catherine Creek Area. To the west, it links up with Labyrinth Trail, providing spectacular views of the eastern Gorge.
Columbia River - Washington Shoreline Access
The Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area is home to one of the most spectacular stretches of the Columbia River, and within our boundaries lie a variety of state, county, and local parks that provide shoreline access from the Washington side. Be sure to check their website for applicable fees, current conditions, and restrictions:
Beacon Rock State Park. This freshwater shoreline on the Columbia River,…
Cape Horn Overlook
Cape Horn Overlook is accessed via Cape Horn Trail #4418. Follow Cape Horn Trail for a scenic 2 mile hike to Cape Horn Overlook. The site was developed in dedication to Nancy Russell, who saved this slice of heaven and its breathtaking views of the Columbia River Gorge.
You can complete the entire strenuous loop between July 16 to Jan 31.…
HCRH (US 30) - Waterfall Corridor
By far the most popular segment of the Historic Columbia River Highway, the waterfall corridor runs from Troutdale to Ainsworth.
It can be extremely congested on weekends (think: bumper to bumper) so if you are hoping for a leisurely drive, plan ahead with Ready, Set, Gorge tips on avoiding congestion.
For more information…
Herman Creek Trailhead
Herman Creek Trailhead is the access point for a number of trails including Herman Creek Trail #406 (elevation gain 3,835'), and Gorge Trail #400.
Herman Creek Trail provides loop opportunities with…
Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness: Columbia Gorge
Please view the special regulations associated with Wilderness areas and always use Leave No Trace techniques to help keep these areas wild, clean, and pristine.
Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness covers 65,822 acres of basalt cliffs, waterfalls, and lush coniferous forests between Mt. Hood’s northern slope and the sheer cliffs south of the Columbia…
HCRH (US 30) - Mosier to The Dalles
Full of outstanding panoramas, this section of the Historic Columbia River Highway (HCRH) is a delightful drive. The world-famous loops that descend from the Rowena plateau to The Dalles is even a joy to drive on weekends, as its distance from Portland has kept it one of the Gorge's less-discovered secrets. Situated on the east end of the Cascades Range, it looks over a grassland ecosystem and is often…
Columbia River - Oregon Shoreline Access
The Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area is home to one of the most spectacular stretches of the Columbia River. These state, county, and local parks provide shoreline access from the Oregon side. Be sure to check the relevant website for applicable fees, current conditions, and restrictions:
Cascade Locks - Blackberry Beach. This Port of Cascade Locks site is popular with windsurfers and…
Historic Columbia River Highway
Constructed between 1913 and 1922, the original Columbia River Highway was designed to bring travelers to the most breathtaking sights and scenes in the Gorge. From the amazing loops at Rowena plateau to Multnomah Falls, its iconic and innovative design included rock walls, bridges earned it the nicknames "King of Roads" and "A Poem in Stone." It was a new type of motorway bringing automobile …
HCRH (US 30) - Hood River
This remaining section of the Historic Columbia River Highway (HCRH) can be explored from I-84 exits 62 and 64. It heads past historic hotels and quaint shops and restaurants of downtown Hood River, leading east of town to the Mark O. Hatfield East visitor's center. There, the car-free Twin Tunnels segment of the HCRH State Trail allows bikers and pedestrians to continue to Mosier.
Just…
Mt. Hood Scenic Byway
Visit two amazing Forest Service sites in one day on this scenic byway, which runs through Mt. Hood National Forest and ends in the Scenic Area. Explore the route with this printable map or visit the Travel Oregon's website for an extended…