the wandering chick
filled with history and beauty
...The Columbia River Gorge

My headquarters for viewing this wonderful, wonderful part of the world was Cascade Locks. There, the Bridge of the Gods and an immediate hop on to the Pacific Crest Trail can be had.

It's not far from Hood River, Portland, and the historic Highway 30 that's loaded with scenic views, waterfalls and hiking trails.

The Columbia River
A view of the Columbia River from the Bridge of the Gods in Cascade Locks, looking west.
The Sternwheeler docked at Cascake Locks Marine Park
the Bridge of the Gods
the marina at Cascades Locks
The Sternwheeler offers various river cruises and rests at dock in Cascade Locks.
Bridge of the Gods
The Bridge of the Gods crosses the Columbia in Cascade Locks. A nice viewing site of the bridge can be found at the Cascade Locks Marine Park (below).
A small-boat marina at Cascade Locks' Marine Park
wildflowers at Cascade Locks Marine Park
The Bonneville Dam
The Bonneville Lock and Dam is owned by the Army Corps of Engineers and has been providing power since 1937.
A Pacific Lamprey
This odd-looking creature, which looks like an eel but is not in the eel family, is called a Pacific Lamprey. It's located in the fish ladders at the Bonneville Lock and Dam and can be viewed through windows in the dam's ladder-viewing area. The lamprey has a life span of about 7 years and its name comes from the Latin term meaning 'rock-sucking,' referring to its habit of attaching its mouth to rocks (or, in this case, the window) in order to rest while swimming upstream.
Rainbow trout at the fish hatchery
white sturgeon at the fish hatchery
Rainbow trout and (left) white sturgeon can be found at the Bonneville Fish Hatchery.
Multnomah Falls
Multnoomah Falls
Multnomah Falls is one of the more popular waterfalls along the historic Highway 30 in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. At a drop of 611 feet, it is Oregon's tallest fall. The Benson Footbridge offers a nice view of the upper cascade of Multnomah.
Multnomah Falls
Multnomah Falls
View of the Columbia River from Chanticleer Point and the Portland Women's Forum Park
A view of the Columbia River, Crown Point and the Vista House from the Chanticleer Point, Portland Women's Forum Park
lavender field on Historic Hiway 30 near Corbett
close up of lavender blooms
I ran across a lavender field off Hwy 30 near Corbett. Even though it was a small one, I had to stop.
The Vista House on Crown Point
view of the Columbia River looking east from Vista House
Vista House, built in 1916, was a resting spot for travelers as they journeyed the then-recently built Highway 30. It is also a tribute to early pioneers. It sits more than 700 feet on Crown Point above the Columbia River, offering dramatic views in all directions. Such are the views from the Vista House of the river (left, looking east; and below, looking west toward Portland).
view looking west from Vista House
Bridal Veil Falls
Latourell Falls is another waterfall in a series of about seven along the Historic Highway 30. Latourell is the one closest to Portland; it plunges more than 200 feet.
Latourell Falls, Hwy 30
Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls was one of my favorites. It has two tiers and gently becomes a soft running creek.
Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls
Historic Highway 30
The Historic Highway 30, also called the Columbia River Highway Scenic Byway, is a beautiful drive even without the waterfalls. It meanders against the wall of the gorge, and travels a distance of 75 miles between the Dalles and Troutdale. Construction began in 1913, and the engineer was Samuel Lancaster. It was the first planned scenic byway in the United States.

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Multnomah Falls