Columbia River Gorge, Canyon on the Washington–Oregon border, United States
Columbia River Gorge is a canyon that extends 80 miles through the Cascade Range, separating Washington and Oregon states. The rock walls rise up to 4000 feet (1200 meters) above the riverbed on both sides, forming a natural corridor between mountain ranges.
Indigenous tribes established fishing sites here over thirteen thousand years ago and used them for generations. Celilo Falls formed an important gathering place for trade and fishing until a dam flooded it in the 20th century.
The gorge's name comes from the Columbia River, named after the ship Columbia Rediviva. For over 10,000 years, Celilo Falls was a salmon-fishing and trading site for Native Americans until The Dalles Dam submerged it in 1957. Today, the Bridge of the Gods, a 1926 bridge, carries the name of a landslide remembered in indigenous legends.
Visiting is possible throughout the year, though autumn and spring offer milder temperatures and fewer crowds. Many viewpoints and trails sit directly along the main roads and are accessible even for less experienced hikers.
More than ninety waterfalls sit on the Oregon side, with some visible directly from the road. Multnomah Falls ranks among the tallest waterfalls in the continental United States with its 620-foot (190-meter) drop.
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