The Columbia River Gorge

You'd be hard pressed to find more beautiful views than these. Crown Point, located at the western end of the Gorge, provides a front-row seat to the mighty Columbia as it unfurls and cuts through the Cascade mountains. From there, dozens of breathtaking waterfalls, including the famous Multnomah, Bridal Veil, and Latourell falls, cascade from basalt cliffs along the Historic Columbia River Highway. As you travel east, the landscape appears to grow larger, grander, and brighter.

Bring your sense of adventure because the Gorge was designed to be explored. Walk along the beach, look for hidden waterfalls, follow the wildflowers at Rowena Crest, or take on Dog Mountain. Cycle the back roads of The Dalles or the Post Canyon mountain bike network. And it's difficult to resist water sports on the Columbia, especially when Hood River is known as the world's windsurfing capital.

But the Columbia River Gorge is more than just beautiful scenery. There's also plenty of handcrafted beer and farm-fresh food. The Gorge boasts a world of wine, thanks to its unique geography, ranging from pinot noir and chardonnay in the cool western hills to tempranillo and syrah in the drier, sunnier east.

Google rating: 4.8/5.0

Location: the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest of the United States

Distance from Oregon City: 22.7 miles

Travel Time from Oregon City: 23 minutes

Best Months to Visit: Late April through June, September and October