Welcome to the Park of the Week Newsletter for December 12, 2024. This week we’re featuring a park that contains the most visited national recreation site in the Pacific Northwest.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Location
The state line between Oregon and Washington, United States
Claim to fame
The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon up to 4,000 feet (1,200 m) deep that delineates the border between the states of Oregon and Washington. Carved by the Columbia River, the canyon meanders over 80 miles (130 km) through the Cascade Range.
Protected by the US Forest Service, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (NSA) works in partnership with the Columbia River Gorge Commission, which protects non-federal parts of the gorge.
Reason to visit
The Columbia River Gorge has been a major transportation corridor for thousands of years and remains one today. The Columbia River Highway built along the gorge’s edge was the first major paved highway in the Pacific Northwest, and the river itself is still a center of recreation, transportation, and industry.
The Columbia River Gorge NSA is popular for hiking, camping, and scenic drives for visitors from nearby cities like Portland. Multnomah Falls is the most popular natural attraction in the region.
Wild Fact
Multnomah Falls is 620 ft (189 m) high, making it the tallest waterfall in Oregon and one of the tallest in the US. The falls attract around 2 million visitors a year and are the most visited national recreation site in the Pacific Northwest. The Benson Bridge, a footbridge that allow hikers to cross the falls, was built in 1914. This unique bridge is one of the most photographed pieces of architecture in Oregon and a major reason for the popularity of the falls.
Want to learn more about Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area? Visit the park’s website.
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