Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
14.
Ainsworth State Park
Atexit35leavetheinterstateforthe22-milewesternsectoroftheHistoricColumbiaRiver
Highway, which skirts a lush forest of birch, maple, and fir trees on its way to Ainsworth
State Park. Perched atop steeply rising bluffs, the park sits back from the smooth-coursing
Columbia River. Of the area's many hiking trails, one standout leads to nearby Horsetail
Waterfall, where the hiking path actually passes behind the falling water.
15.
Oneonta Gorge
Traveling two miles farther west through the dense forest, you'll come to Oneonta Gorge,
a botanical area maintained by the U.S. Forest Service. The narrow cleft of this
gorge—shady, moist, and cool—shelters a verdant array of lichens, mosses, and shrubs.
A fairly difficult hike (especially in the wetter winter months) climbs 900 feet to Oneonta
Falls, and other trails loop through the area.
16.
Multnomah Falls
The Historic Columbia River Highway passes more than a dozen waterfalls, but most
people consider Multnomah Falls to be the grandest of them all. Divided into upper and
lower cascades, the falls plunge a total of 620 feet. The icy stream resounds with a roar as
it leaps and lands, while clouds of mist envelop the mosses and ferns clinging to the cliff-
sides.
Plenty of parking is provided for the area's many sightseers, and a nature center and
1920s stone lodge have fine views of the falls above. Trails—paved, but on the steep
side—explore the hillsides; one crosses an arched footbridge above the lower falls.
Back on the scenic highway, more waterfalls come into sight, tumbling down the steep
ridges that line the road. From east to west, the major cascades visible from the highway
are Wahkeena, Bridal Veil, Shepperds Dell, and Latourell falls.
17.
Crown Point State Park
A winding drive on the Historic Columbia River Highway climbs upward to Crown
Point State Park, a well-maintained preserve that sits perched atop an enormous volcanic
rock—the park's namesake—that rises more than 700 feet above sea level. The preserve,
with unobstructed views extending both east and west, is an excellent place to observe the
breathtaking beauty of the mighty Columbia River, its awesome gorge cut through the vol-
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