The Bridge of the Gods... now that's a name that carries some weight…read more And it should because long before this steel beauty ever stretched across the Columbia River Gorge, there was something else here. A real, honest-to-God land bridge. A massive landslide hundreds of years ago choked the river and let people cross on foot until the river fought back and tore it apart. The Native legends say the gods themselves had a hand in building it... and destroying it. Fast forward, and now you've got this 1926 cantilever bridge about 1,800 feet of steel hanging out over the Columbia, standing roughly 140 feet above the water like it's got something to prove. Now here's where it gets personal. Years back little younger, little dumber, definitely more ambitious I ran a marathon. And by "ran," I mean I survived it with forward motion and questionable decision-making. But the moment I remember? Crossing this bridge. No crazy wind that day. Just... calm. Which is rare out there. You're up high enough to feel it, but not fighting it. Just steady. You look out, and it's cliffs, rock, river, and sky all layered together like somebody took their time building the view. And that's the thing about this bridge it sneaks up on you. From a distance, it's all structure. Steel, angles, purpose. But when you're on it? It's exposure. You feel the height. You feel the space. You realize real quick this isn't just a crossing it's a moment suspended out over something much bigger than you. There's history under your feet. Legends in the rocks. And yeah... maybe a little bit of your own story tied into it too. It's not flashy. It's not trying to be

Bridge of the Gods the name makes it sound grand but when you get to the place it is like any other…read morebridge that you probably have seen before. I didn't really think it was that special. But it was decent I guess, to say that I did come to a place named the Bridge of the Gods.

SO MANY PICNIC TABLES!! Are you looking for a free, legal spot to have a picnic in the Columbia…read moreRiver Gorge? This is it! Where it is: Here! Where it's not: Campgrounds and other reserved areas with signs that say "No Picnicking" This seems like it would be an ideal place to have a family picnic with small children. If I had lived here when my daughter was little, this probably would have been a favorite spot for us. I'm not sure how busy it gets on the weekend, but I stopped by in the middle of the week during lunch time, and there were zero people utilizing the massive amounts of picnic space. The views of the river can't get much better than this, since the dam is in the middle of the river. The air is super fresh and breezy, and there are plenty of grounds to walk around and sights to see before/after you eat. The visitor center is honestly one of the neatest visitor centers I've ever visited. My only complaint would be that my daughter wasn't with me, because these kinds of things are always more fun to do with your kids. The first time I tried to come here, I actually turned around when a security guard approached my car, because I thought I must be in the wrong place. (This is actually what happened to the person who recently wrote a 3 star review-- it's apparent that he only visited the fish viewing ponds at the hatchery, and didn't make it out to the visitor center. The reason he's complaining about the dam being small is because he actually missed about 90% of it.) In order to get to the visitor center, you do need to pass through the security checkpoint with the armed officer. It turns out they just need to glance through your car to make sure you aren't hiding any guns or explosives. After the security check, the road passes through the active working environment of the dam. As one drives slowly over the metal bridges, they observe all kinds of scientists, engineers, rangers, and maintenance staff hard at work. The road passes two fishing day use areas. Even though I wasn't fishing, I found that it was worth driving down there just to get a closer view of the dam. I've visited plenty of dams and waterfalls, but the water at the bottom of these spillways is probably the fastest-moving water I've ever seen in my life. I was momentarily mesmerized by the white rapids. The interior of the visitor center was just as impressive as the grounds. My favorite part was the fish ladder viewing windows on the first floor, which most people access by taking an elevator from the main floor. I personally used the five-story concrete staircase to get around, and would recommend it to anyone who is able to use it. There is a lovely fish mural painted around the base of the stairs all the way from the top to the bottom. While I've seen a fish ladder before (at Nimbus Fish Hatchery near Folsom), this was a completely different experience. The viewing windows for this fish ladder are underground, which provides an underwater view. It was neat to see the fish struggling against the powerful water currents. Every once in a while, one would suddenly get blown backwards past the ones struggling forwards. On the main floor, I enjoyed the historic army posters, the views of the Gorge, and the bookstore. I ended up purchasing a few Columbia River Gorge themed stickers, since they had some of the cutest stickers I've seen anywhere. The dam also offers a Junior Ranger program, and I'm not sure about weekend staffing, but I saw several Park Rangers during my tour. I honestly thought this experience was just as cool as some aquariums I've been to that charge $40 or more. But it was completely free. Highly recommended for everyone, but especially if you have kids with you, or if you're looking for a place to have a free and legal picnic.

Since we were in the area we stopped to see the Dam…read more Another good area to see the river and another fish ladder. Interesting area and views. Staff are friendly and helpful with our questions.

Pretty stoked to have found Bike The Gorge in my search for an e-bike test ride. Riding an electric…read morebike through the glorious Columbia River Gorge has got to be one of the best ways to cover ground while still being able to smell the roses in this awesome area, and BTG had a decent selection of steeds to meet my needs. Their tour offerings look even cooler, with a bunch of different options (varying in duration and destination), but I chose the self guided tour option before coming back to the shop and then doing a separate test ride on a different bike. Their bikes are all fairly new and up to date, well taken care of and prepped, and come with luggage and locks -- and the customer service I got from the friendly woman who greeted me was outstanding. She set me up, explained the bike and the route and gave me a number to call if anything went south. My Aventon Pace was clean, stout and powerful enough to handle any of the grades I came upon, though it was heavier (and heavier steering) then I liked. I was much happier test riding the new Lectric XP4. A nice rig! The shop itself is a pretty basic setup - a large open bay tucked into a nondescript row of metal industrial warehouses on the other side of the train tracks (literally), a bit east of Cascade Locks main drag. It's a small mom and pop operation, which is fine by me -- it always means better service. (BTW, booking a tour or test ride online is super easy, with availability shown in real time. I'll discuss nitpicks with their website down below) The good; -A nice selection of clean and up-to date electric models, from adventure to cargo to trikes. They're all well-maintained and outfitted with luggage and bike locks. -Owners are great; helpful and knowledgeable and ready with info. - You get to ride unbelievably scenic parts of the gorge no matter which direction you go. The shop provides good directions and destinations at a fair price (if you're doing a tour). The bad: - a better variety of bikes would have been nice. Almost all the e-bikes were of the fat tire type; some hybrids or cross bikes would help round out the options, and a more in-depth description (and corresponding photo) of specific models available on the website would be helpful too. Type of bike, features, weight, best-use, etc. But it was still a great day in the Gorge, cruising on an e-bike, and I'd use these guys again.

They were very punctual, gave us clear instructions and directions. Their bikes rode very well, and…read morethe route we were given was spectacular! Great job, Bike the Gorge! Thank you for the adventure!

We just stopped by to check out the park while driving around the area. It was a cold, rainy…read morewinter afternoon, and the whole port was apparently closed. It's a pretty area, seemed to be plenty of parking, green space, and a play area. I roamed around Thunder Island a bit too...a wedding venue, the island is lovely with gorgeous 360 views of the river and bridge. It's hard to really judge the Port from our first stop, as it seems that a lot goes on here throughout the year, but our stop-by was simply a quiet spot to stretch our legs for a bit and enjoy some gorgeous views. And for that purpose alone, it was appreciated!

Two times I have been to the Port of Cascade Locks/Cascade Locks Marine Park. Both times were with…read moregroups in mid to late August 2017 to look at the geology of the area. The park has a beautiful view out over the Columbia River of some of the rocks on the Washington State side of the river that have been displaced over time. Both times I stopped here, additional stops along the Columbia River towards The Dalles and towards Portland helped piece together the geologic history of the area especially in regards to the formation and evolution of the Columbia River Flood Basalts. The first visit was the quieter of the two. The second visit abutted the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Days event in 2017 and a bunch of tents were set up both for that and for watching the Total Solar Eclipse on the 21st of August 2017. Depending on how busy the park is and the size of one's vehicle (for example tour bus versus 10-12 passenger van) parking may be difficult to find. There are expansive grassy areas to enjoy if you want to be active or have a picnic. A restroom building with running water is available on-site.

I found this place on a roadside attractions website, that states, simply, it's "a concept stripped…read moreto the essentials: a grassy lot, a single bench, an active railroad track, and a sign identifying it as Train Appreciation Park." Let's be honest: the appeal is the photo op. Or if you need to sit down while you appreciate trains. But I'm a fan. So much that I would love to open a Train Appreciation Park Appreciation Park.

This is an interesting spot, especially to see the fish ladder. The day I was there I saw a ton of…read morelamprey swimming around, as well as a few steelheads and some smaller fish I couldn't identify. It's set up very nicely for tourists, and everything is well labeled. You can take yours, but I chose not to. Worth a stop if you're in the area.

Great post waterfalls hike. Washington side you'll be able to see the generators. Loved it.read more

Extraordinarily beautiful! Whether you are taking a drive, riding your bike, or hiking the trail,…read morethe historic Columbia River Highway (Scenic Hwy 30) is a must experience. As you follow the twists and turns of the road, incredible vistas of the Columbia River, the basalt cliffs of the gorge and the rolling hills dotted with orchards and farms awaken all of your senses. This is incredible territory and makes you understand why the early settlers came from far away to live here! Accolades to the Civic Engineering team who built the the many stone guardrails with arches, meticulous work to creat the symmetry, and the many tunnels along the way. The tunnels were cut right into the rock cliff. Amazing! over 100 years later, we are still marveling at the engineering feat and using this road, tunnels and bridges to explore this marvelous country. In several areas there are white metal guardrails that create a stunning contrast to all the green and blue along the way. The road starts around Corbett - make sure to stop At Chanticleer Point for the most amazing view, the Crown Point and Vista House for more - and continue to Hood River and then Mosier, a quant and charming town of just 430. Along the way there are dozens of trails to hike, look out points to pull over, and waterfalls to see from the road. This route never gets boring. Every day is different based in the sun, clouds, blooms and foliage. it's living art and it makes me happy every single time I am traveling this route. Breathe it all in, it's good for the soul!

Go see the wondrous twin tunnels in Mosier on the historic Columbia River Highway. It is shut down…read moreto vehicle traffic. So you can go by bikes, Ebikes, running shoes, walking shoes and strollers. Hatfield east side or west side entrance it's about 5 miles one way. From the East side it's 1 mile to the tunnels - a construction marvel for any time in history. The tunnels have been preserved and are over 100 years old. Pretty amazing that construction workers cut the tunnel right in the side of a sheer rock cliff. About 500 feet above the Columbia River level. We enjoyed a good bike ride starting at the eastside in Mosier and road west towards Hood river and back again which was a little over 10 miles. The ride totaled 1,300 feet total elevation gain on a flat to rolling paved double wide trail. Average elevation was 170 to 670 feet. Pedaling along you have extraordinary views of the Columbia River and sheer cliffs surrounding the river. Plenty of look-out stops. The majority of time you're riding under the shade of some maple and pine tree canopies. Have fun - you will enjoy!

I rarely leave reviews, but our experience on this wine tasting tour in Hood River, Oregon, was so…read morebad that I feel compelled to warn others. We were overcharged for what was advertised as a curated, prepaid wine tour -- yet what we got was the complete opposite. Our driver, Lisa, was completely unprepared and clearly had no idea what she was doing. She didn't even realize that one of the wineries she was supposed to take us to was closed. That alone shows a total lack of planning or professionalism.  Lisa failed to communicate with the wineries ahead of time (which was supposed to be part of her job), and it was obvious she hadn't done any due diligence for our scheduled stops. The entire tour felt like it was being thrown together on the spot, and for the price we paid, that's simply unacceptable. I wouldn't recommend this tour to anyone -- not tourists, not locals, not even casual wine drinkers. There are so many great experiences to be had in the Hood River area. This just isn't one of them!

Martin and Christine are absolutely wonderful people! They are so incredibly kind and thoughtful…read moreand helped make our trip out in Stevenson wonderful. They have incredible knowledge on the beautiful scenery around the area, I would highly recommend booking any sort of tour with them, not just for the knowledge, but also for their overall kindness they showed us, we'd come back to Stevenson just for them!

Great hike good views to get to the punch bowl water fall took about a hour and a hour to get back…read morebut you can keep walking after that fall if you like longer hikes o recommend going early to find parking

Eagle Creek is now on my top 10 of hikes of all time…read more SO many waterfalls on one trail :') AND I didn't even get to see all of them! I did the 10 miles round trip to Tunnel Falls, and boy, was it well worth it. It was mostly flat with some twists and turns, gradual inclines, and narrow walkways. Good thing I had snacks, a lunch wrap, and a smoothie because that helped me get through! If you're up for it, this is a MUST! Btw it's salmon spawning season, and you can see all of the salmon swimming upstream at the very start of the trail. So cool!

Keith was wonderful! He created an all day tour that fit our personal preferences. He was so…read morepatient as we reviewed our options and made changes. He was orompt. Kept us on schedule while allowing us the opportunity to take the interesting detours that he suggested. He has incredible knowledge of the area and shared it with us. All in all, a great experience..

Keith provided wonderful shuttle service for our wedding it was very smooth, everyone got there on…read moretime and everyone was able to get a ride back. We really appreciate the care and effort that went into making sure everyone was able to get a ride from the venue to our other destination. Really went above and beyond, highly recommend using this shuttle for a wedding.