Columbia River Gorge

Columbia River Gorge


On our way from Craters of the Moon monument in Idaho to Seattle, we stopped in the Columbia River Gorge area. Wow!  Another beautiful place. 

Green (finally!), green hills and mountains and trees. The mighty Columbia River, having made its way down from its namesake glacier in the Rockies of Alberta, Canada to empty its waters into the Pacific ocean, was wide and full of water. Cliffs and rock. This is not the soft sandstone rock that sculpts so beautifully into amazing formations. No, this is hard metamorphic rock. So what do you get when you have water and rock and cliffs? Waterfalls, of course.  Astounding waterfalls all along the gorge pouring water into this magnificent river. 

Nestled into this valley, ok the valley is narrow enough that they call it a gorge, they have tucked little wineries, bed and breakfasts, craft breweries and some unique restaurants to match the unique location. This should definitely go on the list of should sees, especially if you have a penchant for waterfalls.

On to pics:

We overnighted at Farewell Bend State Recreation Area just over the border in Oregon on our way from Craters of the Moon to the Columbia River Gorge.

Pioneers on the Oregon trail, left the Snake River at this point after following it for over 300 miles on their trip westward.

Snake River - view from campground 

cows grazing on the hillside next to the campground 

Our touring day of the Columbia River Gorge included fog, rain, blue skies and showers in that order.  It was still remarkable, no matter which part of the day we saw the different features … it was just that some were wetter than others. 

First stop, Crown Point and Vista House, an octagonal building built by the CCC with amazing views down the gorge. Looking east up the Columbia River 

and looking west at the same spot, five mins later

Latourell Falls - 249’ drop

Pacific Coast Bleeding Heart with a raindrop

raindrops gathered on leaves

moss covered rocks

vibrant colors

and larkspur

Wahkeena Falls was surrounded by a series of steep cliffs.

Horsetail Falls

some pics as we're crossing from the parking lot up to the viewing platforms of Multnomah Falls 

Multnomah Falls - over 620’ drop in two falls. It was gorgeous!

lower falls

a women posed her two dogs to have their pic in front of the falls

Toto, we are not in the desert anymore... 

interplay of light and shadows 

moss coated branches

and banks of the tributary streams

and along the forest floor

saturated colors and strong, healthy plants are abundant in this rich temperate soil with plentiful water

we ended the day with a brew and a sandwich, at pFriem's family brewery. (Just don't ask me how to pronounce their name! haha)

Next stop: Seattle! Family ❤️ kitties and pups, Japanese Gardens for Mother's Day, Discovery Park and Chihuly glass,  (and maybe a surprise treat for myself...)

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