Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
8.
Roadside Park
TotheeastoftheWhiteSalmonRiver,thelandscape,nolongerruggedandlushlyforested,
consists instead of dry, nearly treeless rolling hills. The mountains themselves account for
this remarkable change: The tall peaks of the Cascade Range force the moist, east-moving
Pacific air masses upward, where the moisture cools and condenses as rain or snow that
fallsonthewesternslopes.Bythetimetheairgetseastofthemountains,ithasbeenwrung
dry, leaving a relatively arid zone below.
On the nine-mile stretch of road between Bingen and Lyle, with cliffs to the left and
railroad tracks to the right, there are few safe places to stop and admire the view. One ex-
ception is Roadside Park, which offers an excellent view of the gorge.
9.
The Dalles Lock and Dam
The shoreline of Lake Celilo, the 24-mile reservoir formed by the dam, is frequented by
bald eagles and nesting Canada geese. A few miles east of the dam, at Horsethief Lake
StatePark,petroglyphsareetchedonthebasaltcliffsthatfacetheriver.Fartheralong,near
Wishram,theCeliloFallsMonumentoverlooksthefloodedsiteofahistoricfishingground
where the Indians used to spear salmon from wooden scaffolds anchored to the cliffs, then
smoked the fish for consumption throughout the coming year.
Visitors can prearrange a tour to view the navigation locks, powerhouse, and fish lad-
ders on select summer weekends.
10.
Maryhill Museum of Art
Looking oddly out of place amid barren hills at the eastern end of the gorge is this French-
stylechateau.Surroundedbylandscapedlawnswherepeacocksstrut,itisfilledwithworks
of art, many of which are by Rodin and other European masters.
The inspiration of turn-of-the-century capitalist Sam Hill, the chateau was constructed
ofconcrete,amaterialthatHill,aroadbuilder,particularlyfavored.Nearby,toppingabluff
beside the Columbia River, is another concrete structure: a replica of Stonehenge, which
Hill built as a memorial to Washingtonians who fought in World War I.
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