Gorge Yourself With Summer Fun
By Mary L. Peers

Summer comes slowly to the Pacific Northwest.  April and May tempt us with bursts of sunshine that all too soon disappears behind cloudy, moisture laden skies.  Everything is green and lush, and wildflowers paint vast sweeps of color across the hillsides.  Something inside us starts to unfurl.  We begin to chomp at the bit, and our feet itch and squirm inside our city shoes.  Out in the garage we haul down the box labeled ‘camping’, and look for last year’s list covering needed purchases.  Hiking boots are unearthed from the dark hollows of the closet.  Bicycles descend from garage rafters, and tires are pumped.  Fishing gear is assessed and repaired.  Kayaks, canoes, kite-boards, and windsurfing paraphernalia are resurrected from layers of winter dust.  Having slipped out of our business suit and into sweats, we open the garage door while we polish and shine in anticipation, noting all the while that the bursts of sunshine are elongating into spells that sometimes last all afternoon.

It’s nearly summertime in God’s country, and for many of us, there’s no better place to be.  In some areas of the world people spend winter reading travel guides to plan summer vacation getaways.  Let’s face it.  We live in one of the places those people like to read about: the Pacific Northwest.  The Columbia River Gorge alone attracts thousands of visitors per year.  And the stretch of river from Washougal to Bingen in Washington, and Troutdale to Hood River in Oregon, is considered not only the heart of the Gorge, but the jewel in the crown of the 292,000 acre Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area.

The entry to the Columbia River Gorge Scenic area on the Washington side begins at milepost 18 on SR 14, two miles east of Washougal. Also known as the Evergreen Highway, it was constructed in the 1920s and was initially referred to as the Lewis and Clark Highway.  Although driving SR 14 is a slower route than taking I-84 on the Oregon side, the vistas are spectacular.  One view that’s worth stopping for is at Cape Horn, which rises 400 feet above the Columbia.  A tour of the Gorge can be done by car in a day if that’s all one has.  From Washougal it takes approximately five hours to drive SR 14, crossing the Columbia Gorge at Hood River, and returning on I-84 to Troutdale.  Some of the Washington sites worth noting are Cape Horn, Beacon Rock and State Park, the Bonneville Lock and Dam, the Cascade Locks, and Bridge of the Gods.  A variety of small towns along the way are also worth stopping in.  Stevenson, in particular, has done a lot in the last few years to update and remodel restaurants and shops, making it a good place to stretch the legs and grab a snack.

It is 45 miles from Washougal to Bingen on SR 14, with two possibilities for crossing to the Oregon side: the Bridge of the Gods (near Stevenson), and the Hood River Bridge (near Bingen).  The town of Hood River, settled in 1854, has been acclaimed in the past for its whiskey barrels made from oak, for its apples, and now for its pears.  Today it is, in fact, the nation’s largest grower of Anjou pears.  The town, originally considered somewhat unpleasant due to the extreme gusts of wind that blasted down the Columbia River, has become a mecca for windsurfers from around the world.  Windsurfing sites are marked along the highway, and rated similar to ski runs.  Categories typically range from intermediate, advanced to expert.  Kite-boarders are also drawn here, adding to the drama and bright colored sails so enjoyable to watch.  The activities throughout the summer are endless and include sailing, biking, and fishing (just to name a few).  To research activities and competitions check on-line at www.hoodriver.org, or call the Hood River Chamber of Commerce at (541)386-2000.

Heading back down I-84, it is 47 miles from Hood River to Troutdale, or 53 miles if you want to take the Historic Columbia River Highway.  The Oregon side of the Gorge is known for its array of waterfalls.  Look for the signs, and with a short brisk walk you can see Horsetail Falls, Oneonta Falls, and Multnomah Falls with its beautiful historic lodge that serves as a restaurant and interpretive center.  If you take the Historic Columbia Highway, Wahkeena, Bridal Veil, Shepperd’s Dell and Latourell Falls are in quick succession before you reach Vista House on Crown Point.  Built by Sam Hill and Samuel Lancaster, the observatory has a marble interior and rests on a 733-foot-high ridge.  The sweeping view both up and down the Columbia is magnificent.

The Columbia River Gorge also offers a lot to Boating enthusiasts of all kinds.  If you don’t have a boat, a good place to start might be to call the Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge in Cascade Locks (541)374-8427. A variety of day trips are available, with each cruise concentrating on a different aspect of Gorge heritage.

The activities and places to explore within the Columbia River Gorge are countless.  There are many Travel publications dedicated to the Gorge alone, which can be purchased or checked out at your local library.  And there is something for everyone, whether you are active in sports or just want to enjoy the beauty of nature.  Summer is almost here, and all this beauty is right in our own backyard.  Go ahead…Gorge yourself!

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