Touch Grass: Columbia River Gorge

Horsetail Falls, photo credit Adrian Keller Feld

Covered in Touch Grass three times already, this article will be similar to the recent November 22, 2024 article, “Touch Grass: Washington Park”, an overview of a larger space that includes multiple smaller sites to visit. 

The Gorge sits less than 30 minutes northeast by car from Reed, on the border of Oregon and Washington, so knowing how much is available there can be useful when planning an outing, as it is such an endeavor. Public transit is not a viable option to explore the Gorge, however there are day trips available for purchase. Sites such as GetYourGuide offer day trips, such as exploring the waterfall corridor in the Gorge. The tours aren’t cheap, as they run over $80 per person, but could be an option for visitors nonetheless.

The Columbia River Gorge is “a spectacular river canyon, 80 miles long and up to 4,000 feet deep, that meanders past cliffs, spires, and ridges set against nearby peaks of the PNW’s Cascade Mountain Range,” according to its section on the Forest Service website. The Gorge is an expansive area, but this article is most concerned with he first 18 miles of the Columbia River Highway from Troutdale to Dodson, which per the Oregon State Parks visitor’s guide “boast iconic panoramic views of the wide, majestic Columbia River that give way to a lush, mossy forest and spectacular waterfalls.” The guide advises visitors to “bring your camera, a picnic, and your hiking shoes as you explore the following state parks along the way.”. This guide also highlights the sites within the Gorge, which include the three listed above as well as the Portland Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint, Vista House at Crown Point State Scenic Corridor, Guy W. Talbot State Park, Shepperd's Dell State Natural Area, and Bridal Veil Falls State Scenic Viewpoint (which is close to Horsetail Falls). More information on these sites, as well as campgrounds in the area and other services, can be found in the Oregon State Park guide.

With a car, the price of an outing to the Gorge decreases drastically, as all of the sites within the area have no entrance fees (save for Multnomah Falls which requires online reservations during peak season for a $2 fee). Free-to-park car lots are also scattered around, though it is important to note that travel within the Gorge is on winding roads and is therefore often time-consuming, which should be kept in mind when planning a trip with multiple stops. Due to the rural nature of the area winter weather and fires can also be serious hazards. Be sure to check online before planning and executing any trips to the area. To learn more, visit its section on the Forest Service website. So, go out and touch grass in the Columbia River Gorge!