Gorge Online - Recreation in the Gorge

Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler
Cruise the beautiful Columbia River Gorge National scenic area on an authentic Sternwheeler. Developed for comfort and ample viewing, this authentic triple deck river boat presents 360 degrees of breathtaking vistas. Less than 45 minutes east of Portland in Cascade Locks, at Marine Park, Exit #44 off of I-84. http://www.sternwheeler.com/

Mosier Twin Tunnels
A two lane cave-like passages stretching 400 feet along a cliff overlooking the river. Closed for the past 50 years due to falling rocks, they have been reopened, reinforced and lined with cedar posts. The newly reopened trail connecting Mosier to Hood River, about 70 miles east of Portland, is the second portion of the highway to be dedicated to pedestrians and bikers.

The new Twin Tunnels segment of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail is 70 miles east of Portland . From Seattle , take I-5 south to I-205 and I-84 east. To enter the trail at the Hood River entrance, take exit 64 to Highway 35 south, then go east on a drivable section of the Historic Columbia River Highway (near the China Gorge Restaurant) for about one mile to the Twin Tunnels Visitors Center and the Mark O. Hatfield Trailhead West.

For the Mosier entrance, continue east on I-84 to exit 69. Follow the signs to Highway 30 and Mosier. Go north on Rock Creek Road about a half-mile to the Mark O. Hatfield Trailhead East.

Trail information: Check in at the Twin Tunnels Visitors Center in Hood River for general information about the trail, maps, water and orientation services. The center is staffed weekdays from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For information, call 541-387-4010. Access to the trails is free. A $3 Oregon State Parks day-use permit is required to park at either trailhead.

For information on the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, contact the Oregon State Parks Information Center, 800-551-6949. Web: www.prd.state.or.us. For details on the Twin Tunnels restoration project, see the Oregon Department of Transportation's Web site, www.odot.state.or.us.

Timberline Lodge today is a masterpiece among mountain lodges. Now a National Historic Landmark, Timberline stands as a tribute to the rugged spirit of the Pacific NW. Inside, you'll find everything from accommodations and gourmet meals to public areas and complete conference facilities. Timberline is located on Highway 26, 60 miles east of Portland. The ski area at Timberline is open year round, the longest ski season in North America . In winter, the Palmer Express quad whisks skiers and boarders to the 8540-foot level of Mount Hood ’s south face, opening up 3590 vertical feet of terrain.

Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery
Visitors can see adult fall chinook salmon returning to the hatchery from late August through mid-September and spawning of adult salmon beginning mid-September until mid-October. Young smolts are released from the hatchery in March, April and May. At the annual Visitors Weekend in late September visitors can see adult salmon in the hold ponds, watch the spawning process, and tour the hatchery with staff available to answer questions and provide additional information about the hatchery. Located two miles west of the Hood River/White Salmon toll bridge, at mile post 61.75 on Washington State Highway 14. . For more information regarding the event, call the Information and Education Office, (509) 538-2242.

Maryhill Winery- Far from a spin off of a multimarket winery, Maryhill started as a partnership between four individual wine enthusiasts with the common goal of making our mark as Washinton's producer of superior wines: Craig and Vickie Leuthold, with a combined experience of over 20 years in the wine industry, and family members Donald Leuthold and Cliff Brooks.

On October 11th, 2000, we broke ground on the site adjacent to the Maryhill Museum of Art near Goldendale, WA. Chosen for it's unique micro-climate, the winery's grounds command a sweeping view of the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood while providing the vineyards with unparalleled protection and nourishment for fully ripened harvests.

Designed to draw power from our setting rather than impose itself upon it, the winery offers guests the chance to host special events, picnic at the vineyards or simply taste our wines in the scenery that inspired them. Whatever the reason for coming, Maryhill gives visitors an experience long on memory with subtle tones to ensure their return.

Columbia Gorge Hotel-Located 1 hour east of Portland in the heart of the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area on Interstate 84, exit 62 - 1 mile west of Hood River
4000 Westcliff Drive Hood River, Oregon 97031
1-800-345-1921

Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
5000 Discovery Drive
The Dalles, OR 97058
Tel: (541) 296-8600
Fax: (541) 298-8660

The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center is the official interpretive center for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. This 26,100 square foot exhibit wing holds interactive displays which bring to life the tremendous volcanic upheavals and raging floods that created the Gorge, describe the mighty River which sculpted patterns for a unique and spectacular diversity of vegetation, wildlife, and ancient life ways, and follow the currents that shape our futures in the Gorge.

Windsurfing and Kitesurfing - Stop by one of the many parks durring summer to see world class windsurfing and kite surfing. The Event Site and Sand bar are the top spots on the Oregon side, and the Fish Hatchery "The Hatch", 2 miles West of the brindge on the WA side is the best viewing.

The Columbia River Highway was built between 1913 and 1922, at the beginning of the automobile age. It was a significant technical and civic achievement for its time and showed aesthetic judgment and appreciation for the magnificent Columbia River Gorge landscape. The highest engineering standards were used to locate the road along the most beautiful parts of the gorge. Contemporaries referred to the highway as a poem in stone and the king of roads. The highway is a significant engineering feat because it was an early application of cliff-face road building applied to automobile highway construction. When the Multnomah County portion was first paved in 1916, it was the first major paved highway in the Pacific Northwest.

The engineer for the highway was Samuel C. Lancaster (1864-1941). Lancaster was already established as a respected highway engineer when modern highway engineering was in its pioneer stage. Influenced by historic European roads, Lancaster emulated those styles in the Columbia River Gorge, while also designing and constructing a highway to advanced engineering standards.

As construction moved east from Multnomah County, the newly-formed State Highway Department continued the work in Lancaster's spirit, after his direct participation ended. The early development of the highway contributed to the creation of the Oregon State Highway Commission (1913). The Columbia River Highway was a primary component of Oregon's initial state highway system which was adopted in 1914. When completed, the Columbia River Highway ran 196 miles, from Astoria to The Dalles. The Oregon Highway Commission called the highway "probably the most difficult and costly highway construction undertaken in America," and estimated its cost to be $11,000,000.

In 1983 the Columbia River Highway Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1984 the highway was recognized as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers.




	Gorge Online - For Advertisting Info please call 1-541-350-9850 or email: info@gorgeonline.com

		Recreation in the Gorge - Top 10 You can spend years exploring all that the Columbia River Gorge has to offer, from recreation to community history and natural wonders. Windsurf, Kitesurf, Kayak, Fish, Hiking, mountain biking, camping, boating, wildlife watching, birding, wildflower watching, photography, picnicking, rock climbing and wine tasting. You can do all this and more in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. TOP ATTRACTIONS Multnomah Falls It won’t take you long to see why Multnomah Falls is the most visited natural setting in Oregon. Plummeting 620 feet from its origins on Larch Mountain, Multnomah Falls is the second highest year-round waterfall in the nation. The Falls have been popular with travelers since the 1880s when steamboats excursions and the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company brought visitors to enjoy the natural landscape. At the base of the falls lays historic Multnomah Falls Lodge. Built in 1925 the lodge provides fine northwest cuisine with a panoramic view from your table. http://www.multnomahfallslodge.com/ Stonehenge This replica of the prehistoric Stonehenge at Salisbury Plain, England it was built as a memorial to WWI soldiers. Stonehenge overlooks the Columbia River from a 600-foot bluff. Maryhill and Stonehenge were part of visionary Sam Hill's plan to develop a Quaker farming community and town site. Located east of Maryhill Museum on Washington Highway 14.

Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler Cruise the beautiful Columbia River Gorge National scenic area on an authentic Sternwheeler. Developed for comfort and ample viewing, this authentic triple deck river boat presents 360 degrees of breathtaking vistas. Less than 45 minutes east of Portland in Cascade Locks, at Marine Park, Exit #44 off of I-84. http://www.sternwheeler.com/ Mosier Twin Tunnels A two lane cave-like passages stretching 400 feet along a cliff overlooking the river. Closed for the past 50 years due to falling rocks, they have been reopened, reinforced and lined with cedar posts. The newly reopened trail connecting Mosier to Hood River, about 70 miles east of Portland, is the second portion of the highway to be dedicated to pedestrians and bikers. The new Twin Tunnels segment of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail is 70 miles east of Portland . From Seattle , take I-5 south to I-205 and I-84 east. To enter the trail at the Hood River entrance, take exit 64 to Highway 35 south, then go east on a drivable section of the Historic Columbia River Highway (near the China Gorge Restaurant) for about one mile to the Twin Tunnels Visitors Center and the Mark O. Hatfield Trailhead West. For the Mosier entrance, continue east on I-84 to exit 69. Follow the signs to Highway 30 and Mosier. Go north on Rock Creek Road about a half-mile to the Mark O. Hatfield Trailhead East. Trail information: Check in at the Twin Tunnels Visitors Center in Hood River for general information about the trail, maps, water and orientation services. The center is staffed weekdays from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For information, call 541-387-4010. Access to the trails is free. A $3 Oregon State Parks day-use permit is required to park at either trailhead. For information on the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, contact the Oregon State Parks Information Center, 800-551-6949. Web: www.prd.state.or.us. For details on the Twin Tunnels restoration project, see the Oregon Department of Transportation's Web site, www.odot.state.or.us. Timberline Lodge In 1936, in the midst of the Great Depression, President Roosevelt's WPA program authorized funding for a mountainside lodge to be built on Mount Hood. A lodge that would be painstakingly handmade by a batallion of skilled craftsmen and artisans. A lodge that would reign like no other the mountain--or world-had ever seen. Timberline Lodge today is a masterpiece among mountain lodges. Now a National Historic Landmark, Timberline stands as a tribute to the rugged spirit of the Pacific NW. Inside, you'll find everything from accommodations and gourmet meals to public areas and complete conference facilities. Timberline is located on Highway 26, 60 miles east of Portland. The ski area at Timberline is open year round, the longest ski season in North America . In winter, the Palmer Express quad whisks skiers and boarders to the 8540-foot level of Mount Hood ’s south face, opening up 3590 vertical feet of terrain. Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery Visitors can see adult fall chinook salmon returning to the hatchery from late August through mid-September and spawning of adult salmon beginning mid-September until mid-October. Young smolts are released from the hatchery in March, April and May. At the annual Visitors Weekend in late September visitors can see adult salmon in the hold ponds, watch the spawning process, and tour the hatchery with staff available to answer questions and provide additional information about the hatchery. Located two miles west of the Hood River/White Salmon toll bridge, at mile post 61.75 on Washington State Highway 14. . For more information regarding the event, call the Information and Education Office, (509) 538-2242. Maryhill Winery- Far from a spin off of a multimarket winery, Maryhill started as a partnership between four individual wine enthusiasts with the common goal of making our mark as Washinton's producer of superior wines: Craig and Vickie Leuthold, with a combined experience of over 20 years in the wine industry, and family members Donald Leuthold and Cliff Brooks. On October 11th, 2000, we broke ground on the site adjacent to the Maryhill Museum of Art near Goldendale, WA. Chosen for it's unique micro-climate, the winery's grounds command a sweeping view of the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood while providing the vineyards with unparalleled protection and nourishment for fully ripened harvests. Designed to draw power from our setting rather than impose itself upon it, the winery offers guests the chance to host special events, picnic at the vineyards or simply taste our wines in the scenery that inspired them. Whatever the reason for coming, Maryhill gives visitors an experience long on memory with subtle tones to ensure their return. Columbia Gorge Hotel-Located 1 hour east of Portland in the heart of the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area on Interstate 84, exit 62 - 1 mile west of Hood River 4000 Westcliff Drive Hood River, Oregon 97031 1-800-345-1921 Columbia Gorge Discovery Center 5000 Discovery Drive The Dalles, OR 97058 Tel: (541) 296-8600 Fax: (541) 298-8660 The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center is the official interpretive center for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. This 26,100 square foot exhibit wing holds interactive displays which bring to life the tremendous volcanic upheavals and raging floods that created the Gorge, describe the mighty River which sculpted patterns for a unique and spectacular diversity of vegetation, wildlife, and ancient life ways, and follow the currents that shape our futures in the Gorge. Windsurfing and Kitesurfing - Stop by one of the many parks durring summer to see world class windsurfing and kite surfing. The Event Site and Sand bar are the top spots on the Oregon side, and the Fish Hatchery "The Hatch", 2 miles West of the brindge on the WA side is the best viewing. History of Tourism The Columbia River Highway was built between 1913 and 1922, at the beginning of the automobile age. It was a significant technical and civic achievement for its time and showed aesthetic judgment and appreciation for the magnificent Columbia River Gorge landscape. The highest engineering standards were used to locate the road along the most beautiful parts of the gorge. Contemporaries referred to the highway as a poem in stone and the king of roads. The highway is a significant engineering feat because it was an early application of cliff-face road building applied to automobile highway construction. When the Multnomah County portion was first paved in 1916, it was the first major paved highway in the Pacific Northwest. The engineer for the highway was Samuel C. Lancaster (1864-1941). Lancaster was already established as a respected highway engineer when modern highway engineering was in its pioneer stage. Influenced by historic European roads, Lancaster emulated those styles in the Columbia River Gorge, while also designing and constructing a highway to advanced engineering standards. As construction moved east from Multnomah County, the newly-formed State Highway Department continued the work in Lancaster's spirit, after his direct participation ended. The early development of the highway contributed to the creation of the Oregon State Highway Commission (1913). The Columbia River Highway was a primary component of Oregon's initial state highway system which was adopted in 1914. When completed, the Columbia River Highway ran 196 miles, from Astoria to The Dalles. The Oregon Highway Commission called the highway "probably the most difficult and costly highway construction undertaken in America," and estimated its cost to be $11,000,000. In 1983 the Columbia River Highway Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1984 the highway was recognized as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Gorge Online - For Advertisting Info please call 541-350-9850 or email: info@gorgeonline.com