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Crown Point Vista View
Crown Point Vista View
Looking for a bird's-eye view of the Columbia River Gorge? The Crown Point Vista House offers just that and more. In 1913, Samuel Lancaster, supervisor of the Columbia River Highway Project, proposed the construction of a building on the summit of Crown Point, aiming to bring travelers to the area and create an accessible view of the gorge. The vantage point sits 733 feet above the Columbia River, overlooking I-84, offering a breathtaking view to the millions of visitors since the building's creation in 1918.
The house itself within the comfort station was designed by architect Edgar Lazarus in the style of German Art Nouveau. The octagonal building, built from Tokeen Alaskan Marble and pink limestone, rises 55 ft. tall and offers a 360-degree view of the gorge. The comfort station, or rest stop, offers many things aside from the views. A museum, gift shop, and interactive display of key geologic points of the gorge can be found inside. In 2000, the point became a recognized National Natural Landmark.
Multnomah Falls
Multnomah Falls
Multnomah Falls, the tallest waterfall in Oregon, drops 620 feet between two tiers down basalt cliffs, creating stunning views. These popular falls attract about 2 million visitors from all over the globe each year, making them one of the most significant tourist spots in the state. The falls were created around 15,000 years ago due to the Missoula Floods and aided by underground springs. It is a very popular site to study how land is affected by floods. Over 400,000 years of geologic history is present within the Grande Ronde Basalt rock, which originated from six volcanic flows.
Visitors can hike Larch Mountain Trail #441, a 6.8-mile trail connecting Multnomah Falls Recreation Area to the Larch Mountain Day Use Area, can view the gorgeous while walking across Benson Bridge, which was built in 1914. Anyone looking for more of a challenge can continue to hike to the top of the cliff to a small viewing area. The total distance from the top of the falls and back is 2.4 miles with about 600' elevation. Make sure to bring sturdy shoes and necessary supplies!
It is important to note that reservations are required to visit the falls from late May through early September from 9:00 am to 6 pm. For any Twilight fans, it is exciting to note that Multnomah Falls appears in the first movie.
Bridal Veil
Bridal Veil
Bridal Veil Falls can be found just off the Columbia River Highway. The scenic state park contains two short hikes as well as the falls. Bridal Veil Falls is located at the site of an old lumber mill. The falls form two tiers that altogether are 120 feet in length. These two tiers that make up the Falls formation are the reasoning behind the name of the site.
The lower of the two trails takes course to the base of the significant falls, spanning 0.3 miles of steep trails. The water flow falls under the Old Columbia River Gorge Highway's bridge. Even though the Bridal Veil Falls can be seen well from this point it is heavily warned against. The Old Columbia River Gorge Bridge is a narrow two-lane structure that does not contain any sidewalks. The bridge was built in 1914 and is not meant for tourists to view off of.
The second of the trails, known as the Overlook Trail is located around the paved loop that contains many great views of the Columbia River, with a length of about 0.4 miles. From this trail you will be able to see many large impressive rock formations including Archer Mountain, Beacon Rock, and Hamilton Mountain, but most famously the remaining two grand basalt rock formations known as the Pillars of Hercules, or The Needles. From the trail you will also be able to see the results of the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire.
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