Columbia River Gorge--Washington Side

Portland/Fairview RV Park, Portland, OR:  Explored the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge today.  Crossed over on the I205 bridge and then took Rt. 14 east which hugs the river pretty closely.  This side of the river is quite a bit different from the Oregon side, showing the diversity of the landscape in the gorge.  And it gives another perspective of the stunning beauty on the Oregon side.  Stopped at a beautiful lodge for lunch.  After lunch we continued on and took a side road which climbed way up above the river into a landscape of orchards and vineyards and a stunning, snow-capped mountain in the distance—not sure if it was Mt. Hood or Mt. Adams.  Crossed back over to Oregon on the “Bridge to the Gods” (so called because you’re praying the whole time you’re on this very narrow bridge) and then took scenic I84 back through the gorge to our park.  77 today.

View from an overlook called "Cape Horn".  This pull-off was just a wide spot in the road.  There was a guard rail, but the other side of the guard rail was a sheer drop of several hundred feet.  But it shows this pretty little valley on the Washington side and huge mountains on the Oregon side.

A huge Douglas Fir.

This huge rock Lewis and Clark called "Beacon Rock".  It's about 800 feet high.  There's actually a very steep and zig-zaggy hiking trail to the top.  No thank you.

Lodge where we had lunch.

We had to pass through a series of tunnels on the Washington side.

Wind surfers and kite surfers.  Most--but not all--had wet suits on.

A fuzzy picture, but you can see how rough the water was.  All from the wind!

Mt. Adams

All over Oregon and Washington are these signs.  Not "falling rocks".  Just "rocks".