Mayer State Park, State park near Rowena, Oregon, United States

Mayer State Park is a state park along the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon, with a sheltered cove, forests of ponderosa pines, and the Rowena Crest viewpoint high above the river. The park is split into three sections, each set up for a different use: windsurfing to the east, and swimming and fishing in the central areas.

In 1924, Mark A. Mayer donated roughly 260 acres of his orchard land to Wasco County, and that gift laid the foundation for the park as it exists today. Over time, the site grew and was officially designated as a state park.

The Historic Columbia River Highway (U.S. Route 30) climbs from the community of Rowena to Rowena Crest by way of the Rowena Loops, a series of horseshoe curves within the park's south-easternmost parcel. Drivers and cyclists on this road pass through the park's disjointed parcels, which are cut by Interstate 84 and Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

The park is made up of separate parcels divided by Interstate 84 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, so plan which parcel you want before setting out. The southeastern parcel holds the Rowena Loops, where the Historic Columbia River Highway climbs in horseshoe curves from Rowena to the Rowena Crest overlook.

The Rowena Loops, a series of paved switchbacks descending from Rowena Crest to the valley below, are part of the old Historic Columbia River Highway, one of the first paved scenic roads in the US. Cyclists ride the route regularly, as each bend opens up a different view of the river and the surrounding cliffs.