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Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Historic Columbia River Highway
Stonework, mossy forest, and a chain of waterfalls on America’s first scenic highway.
00 ratings
Photo: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives · Wikimedia Commons
Distance70 miles
Wheel time3 hr 30 min
Road demandRelaxed
ShapePoint to point
Why this road
The drive in one breath.
Climb from Troutdale to Crown Point, then follow the old highway beneath dense forest to Multnomah Falls. Continue east as the Gorge opens and the light changes over the river.
Route outline
Troutdale, OR to Hood River, OR
1
Troutdale, OR
Start
2
Vista House
A sunrise panorama high above the Columbia River.
3
Latourell Falls
A tall ribbon of water with a short approach.
4
Multnomah Falls
The Gorge’s iconic two-tier waterfall; check access and permit rules.
5
Hood River, OR
Finish
Built with no more than three route anchors so the Google Maps handoff works reliably on mobile.
When to go
Good light and low traffic are not the same thing.
Quietest window
Weekdays before 8 AM
Waterfall corridor parking fills quickly on weekends.Worth pulling over for
3 stops, chosen on purpose.
Community road notes
What the drive felt like lately.
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