Columbia River Gorge

A spectacular river canyon cut by the Columbia River over millions of years, whose beauty is now enjoyed by traveleres today.

Housed in a spectacular mansion on 5,300 acres, Maryhill Museum of Art features special exhibitions and a diverse collection, including Rodin sculptures & Native American artifacts.

The Horsethief Lake section of Columbia Hills Historical State Park is a National Historic Site. Visitors can go on self-guided petroglyph and pictograph viewings at the Temani Pesh-Wa display, which is open during daylight hours April-Oct.

The Gorge Heritage Museum is located in the former Bingen Congregational Church. The Museum was established in 1984 and strives to generate interest in the legacy passed to us by native people and the settlers who traded along the Columbia River and in the mountainous river valleys.

Experience the best kayaking and whitewater rafting in the Columbia River Gorga area. The White Salmon, Wind, and Klickitat Rivers offer opportunities for great adventures.

The Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum is located in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The Skamania County Historical Society assembles, collects, preserves, exhibits and makes available any and all of its historical data, information and artifacts, all of which has been obtained for the education and enjoyment of area residents and visitors.

Bonneville Lock & Dam, built and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was the first federal lock and dam on the Columbia and Snake rivers. The project’s first powerhouse, spillway and original navigation lock were completed in 1938 to improve navigation on Columbia River and provide hydropower to the Pacific Northwest. A second powerhouse was completed in 1982, and a larger navigation lock in 1993. The Bonneville Reservoir was created behind the dam, and is a popular spot for summer activities like boating and swimming.

Fish ladders installed at the dam are intended to help salmon, steelhead, and other native fish navigate past the dam in order to spawn upstream. That journey is a tourist attraction during spawning season. The best opportunity to see migrating salmon is late April through early November, with the first two weeks of September offering the peak opportunity.

Public tours are offered intermittently, as staffing allows, at Bradford Island Visitor Center and at Washington Shore Visitor Complex. For the most up to date information on tour offerings and times, please visit the Dam’s website or call its Visitor Center at (541) 374-8820.

Fort Cascades was built in 1855 and is one of several forts built to protect the portage around the Cascade Rapids. The site has a 1.5 mile interpretive trail where visitors may learn about the history of the site. Fort Cascades has been used by Native American Tribes, the Army in the 1850s, travelers on the Oregon Trail, and the early fishing industry.

Take a tour of the Washougal plant where famous Pendleton Blankets are manufactured!