WHILE IT’S HARD to step away from the breathtaking beauty of the Columbia River Gorge, the surrounding area is full of other remarkable, not-to-bemissed gems.
The oldest apple tree in the Northwest, planted in 1826, lives in Vancouver’s Old Apple Tree Park.
Just outside of Goldendale is the St. John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox monastery (stjohnmonastery.org), home to 20 nuns who make the sweetest, flakiest baklava, soaked in a syrup of honey from local beekeepers, as well as jams, candles, and lotions.
Skamania County was declared a Sasquatch Refuge in 1984 due to the hundreds of reported Bigfoot sightings in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest (fs.usda.gov/giffordpinchot), which is also the site of ice caves and of natural, lava-flow-carved bridges.
If it has been too long since your last ration of sea biscuits, or if your wagon wheel needs repair, step back into the mid-19th century at Fort Vancouver (nps.gov/fova) and experience reenacted fort life, complete with bakers, blacksmiths, and more.
The Columbia River (columbiarivergorge.info) is the seventh longest in the U.S., and the Gorge contains the greatest concentration of waterfalls in North America. —AMANDA ZURITA
Read More About The Gorge
Forming much of the border between Washington and Oregon, the Columbia River cuts through a dramatic, windswept gorge, with steep cliffs, mossy side canyons, and thundering waterfalls.
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On the state's southern border, Vancouver has earned itself a reputation as a destination.
From our Archives
WHILE ITS HARD to step away from the breathtaking beauty of the Columbia River Gorge, the surrounding area is full of other remarkable, not-to-bemissed gems.
TOUR HISTORY, from lava-plug trails to modern-day microbrews, on a Columbia River Gorge drive.
JUST 164 MILES south of Seattle and a hop, skip, and a swim from Oregons Rose City, Vancouver is Washingtons own historic citadel, bordering the Columbia River.
PERCHED MILES ABOVE the Columbia River is the small farm and timberland town of Goldendale. Getting there and away may be half the fun.
SAM HILL had a dream. The turn-of-the-century gas and electric magnate wanted the world to realize the magnificence and grandeur of the Columbia River Gorge. So he built a town...
A DRIVE ON HIGHWAY 14 alongside the Columbia River provides spectacular views of natural wonders, but plan for an occasional stop to visit some manmade beauties.
Besides a love for the local playground,hikers, windsurfers, and bikers in theColumbia River Gorge have one thing incommon: big appetites. Heres where tochow down after a day at play.
Vancouverwith the Columbia River for asouthern borderis a hotbed for kayaking,boating, hiking, and biking, but the cityalso offers other fun family pursuits.
A MAJESTIC RIVER, vines clinging to windswept canyon walls, and unusual art set the stage for breathtaking adventures along the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Byway.
Lewis and Clark laid down the first of many trails that now traverse Vancouver.
Find Out More
Please visit our Tourism Partners
North Bonneville Business & Community Association
Visit Vancouver USA / Southwest Washington Visitor & Convention Bureau
877-600-0800