Sept 27 - Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

  What an incredible day of sightseeing!  Nature at its best.  We drove the Historic Columbia River Highway from Troutdale to Ramona.  This was originally one of the first Scenic Highways created, back in the 1920's.  It was an amazing engineering and design feat, as it follows the River on the side of the mountain's canyons.  I'll give a summary of all of the stops we made:

1. Portland Women's Forum State Scenic Viewpoint --delightful overlook of the Columbia River and upstream, with the mountains on each side of the river.  Washington State is on the north side, and Oregon State is on the south side.  
2. Crown Point, Vista House -- this is a really neat crown-shaped building, standing out on a towering point, on a huge mountain peak.  The peaks jut out from the main mountains, so you could see Vista House from the Portland Women's Forum Viewpoint.  If you look closely, you can see it in one of my photos below.
3. Latourell Falls -- these beautiful falls were a short walk from the parking area.  You could walk behind these falls--if you were brave enough.  Each of the waterfalls in the Waterfall Corridor had its own unique, beautiful features.  You could stand there watching the water fall, breath in the ionized air, and just appreciate each one.  Then move on to the next one!
4. Bridal Veil Falls -- these delightful falls required a 3/4 mile hike through the woods, uphill, and up a bunch of stairs, but they were worth it.  Waterfalls tumbling into a small pool. 
5. Roadside Overview-- I liked this one because you could see how important this river access is to Oregon, and has been throughout history.  But the photo shows the river, the highway, and the railroad, all next to each other.  
6. Multnomah Falls -- WOW!!!  We had to wait in line to park the car for 1/2 hour.  Then, we had lunch at the very nice lodge.  We climbed to the viewing point, and what an amazing view.  The two-tiered 620 foot water fall, with a bridge partway up.  Of course, I needed to climb up to the bridge.  Spectacular!
7. Horsetail Falls --these are just very sweet falls.  They fall into a little pond, set in a very nice area.  I learned that horsetail falls is a type of waterfall.  The water in these falls don't cascade over a ledge and tumble to the bottom.  Instead, they slide all the way down, touching the rock beneath them all the way into the pool of water below.  
8. The final section was the scenic drive from the town of Mosier to Rowena.  It climbs and winds, and has three overlooks -- Memaloosa Overlook, Mitchell Point and Rowena Crest Overlook.  They were all really beautiful vistas, but the Rowena Crest was phenomenal.  There was a 300 degree view, overlooking the river, and the switchback roads to get there.  From Mitchell Point, you could see the people on skateboards in the water with a parasail. 

Columbia River Gorge Historic Highway photos:

Vista House 

Portland Women's Forum Scenic Viewpoint

Portland Women's Forum Scenic Viewpoint

Portland Women's Forum Scenic Viewpoint-note the Vista house on the bluff

Latourell Falls

Latourell Falls

Latourell Falls

Historic Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway

Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil bridge to Falls

Multnomah Falls 

Multnomah Falls --Note the Bridge above us

Multnomah Falls -- view from the Bridge

One of the original tunnels from old scenic highway

Horsetail Falls

Horsetail Falls

Mitchell Point Overlook

Memaloosa Overlook

Rowena Crest Overlook--road up to the top

Rowena Crest Overlook

Rowena Crest Overlook

Rowena Crest Overlook

If you look closely, you can see the Columbia River, I-84 Highway, and the railroad. Three extremely important ways to move people and goods.