Defining a stretch of the Washington/Oregon border, the Columbia River cuts dramatically through the Cascade Mountains. The resulting canyon is called the Columbia River Gorge, a federally protected scenic area eighty miles long and 4000 feet deep.

Of the many attractions along its cliffs, Multnomah Falls may be the most popular. At 620 feet, it's the tallest of Oregon's falls, and debatedly the second tallest year-round waterfall in the United States. Originally privately owned, around 1915 the falls was donated to the city of Portland, along with land at its base on the contingency that the site be used for a lodge. Completed in 1925, the Multnomah Falls Lodge is now on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Though actually a series of falls - the upper and lower - Multnomah Falls is easily accessed via foot trail. Between the two drops spans the Simon Benson Bridge, which affords visitors a good view of the upper falls. Turn your back on it and a stunning panorama of river and mountains unfolds before you.

Besides scenery, the Columbia River Gorge has gained a reputation as a destination for recreation. There's hiking, fishing, and where the wind meets the water, windsurfing. And if all that activity leaves you thirsty, forget about it. Fortunately, the Gorge is also home to some of the state's most popular microbrews.



HOME | TOP