Traveling the Columbia River Highway
After our trip up the 5 we made it to Portland, OR. Each of us had a list of things we wanted to see in the area and after a good night’s sleep we decided to check them off. First up, Multnomah Falls.
Multnomah Falls lies 30 minutes east of Portland just off the Columbia River Highway. Along the way I witnessed some of the most beautiful landscape I’ve ever seen. The Columbia River Highway travels along the Columbia River – the same river Lewis and Clark traveled along all those years ago. The Columbia River also divides Oregon and Washington and we could see the beauty of that state as we drove along. I’ve heard on clear days you can see Mount Rainier and Mount Hood along the drive but on our visit it was cloudy with intermittent rain showers. That suited me just fine after days of a heat wave in SoCal.
To get to the falls we actually had to cross under the highway and the above Union Pacific trestle. You can actually see the falls from the highway but it’s nothing like seeing them up close.
There’s a paved trail that travels all the way to the top of the falls. Not feeling ambitious enough we decided to trek to Benson Bridge which crosses the falls at its first base.
Benson Bridge is itself a historic structure and is about 100 years old. Despite it’s age it’s extremely sturdy and the perfect vantage point to view the cascading water in all its glory. Multnomah Falls is incredibly beautiful and it was the perfect way to start our Portland adventure.
On our way to the falls we saw an interesting building perched on a cliff overlooking the Columbia River. At the Multnomah Falls visitor’s center I discovered it was called Vista House and offered unparalleled views of the Columbia River Gorge. Inspired, we made it our next stop on our adventure.
Vista House was built in 1917 as a resting spot for people traveling along the Columbia River Highway. After decades of highs and lows a five year restoration was undertaken in the early 2000’s. The building is now fully restored and a must see stop for travelers along the highway.
Heading inside I was immediately struck by the beautiful rotunda.
Could you picture any modern rest stop exhibiting such detail? The interior contains museum exhibits, a gift shop and a snack bar but the main highlight is the second floor observation deck.
The views it offers are simply outstanding and I was awestruck by the beauty of my surroundings. What did I do to be lucky enough to experience such magnificence?
After taking our time observing the beauty of the area we started our return journey to Portland although we did make a quick detour into Washington.
Just across the river in Washougal is one of the Pendelton Mills. We didn’t get a chance to tour the historic structure but we enjoyed shopping in the attached store. I may have even picked up a blanket.
Our adventure along the Columbia River was the perfect start to our stay in Portland and a true adventure. It’s something I’ll never forget.