1.
Travel from Troutdale
This magical history tour begins in Troutdale, a suburb 17 miles east of downtown Portland. From Interstate 84, take Exit 17, follow the signs south to the Historic Columbia River Highway, and prepare yourself for some unforgettable scenery.
2.
Views and Vistas
The highway climbs to the rural towns of Springdale and Corbett, offering dazzling peeks at Mt. Hood. Your first view of the gorge comes at the Portland Women's Forum State Park at Chanticleer Point. This is the former site of the Chanticleer Inn, where the highway's masterminds met in 1913 to plan construction. Here's the place to shoot your "gorgeous" calendar photo of Crown Point. A mile farther east, Vista House (1918) at Crown Point State Park serves as a rest stop, an observatory and a memorial to Oregon's early pioneers.
3.
Unforgettable Falls
Heading into a mossy rain forest, a series of graceful figure-eight loops gently drops you 600 feet. Within five miles of each other, you'll encounter four dramatic cataracts _ Latourell, Shepperd's Dell, Bridal Veil and Wahkeena falls. Each has a misty footpath to offer you a closer look.
Next is two-tiered Multnomah Falls, the grandaddy of them all. At 620 feet, only three falls in the nation are higher, and none are more beautiful. It attracts large crowds on summer weekends, so plan accordingly. A trail from famous Multnomah Falls Lodge (1925) climbs to the Simon Benson Bridge across the lower cascade, then zigzags to the top.
4.
From Mosier to Rowena
To begin the second leg of the Historic Highway, continue on I-84 east to Exit 76 and follow the signs to the agricultural community of Mosier. The quiet town was bypassed when the new highway _ which became Interstate 84 _ was built along the Columbia River in the 1950s. But the fruit industry continues to blossom.
Beyond Mosier lies the Rowena Plateau, site of the Tom McCall Preserve, a 230-acre refuge for a diversity of plants and animals. Wildflower enthusiasts are drawn here in the spring and eagles and hawks soar overhead all year. At nearby Mayer State Park, the Rowena Crest Overlook serves as a companion to Crown Point. From here, you get a preview of the Rowena Loops, gracefully descending to the town of Rowena.
5.
The Dalles
The Historic Highway ends appro-priately at The Dalles, a richly historic town itself. Ages before Lewis and Clark and other pioneers arrived, this was an important gathering place for Native Americans. Oregon Trail lore abounds in unique murals and historic buildings, including the Fort Dalles Surgeon's Quarters. The perfect finish to your journey is a visit to the new Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Wasco County Historical Museum at Crate's Point. Here, you can explore the Gorge's entire 40-million-year history.
For more information on the Historic Columbia River Highway, contact the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, (Wacoma Center) at 541-386-2333 or The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce at 800-255-3385.