Historic Columbia River Highway

A small island rests on the border of Washington and Oregon in the middle of the Columbia River near Memaloose State Park, as seen from the Historic Columbia River Highway.

Chicken Charlie's Island, also known as Eighteen Mile Island, is the only privately owned island in the Gorge. It is home to a private summer home.

The Columbia River flows peacefully past Memaloose Island on a sunny day. A local pioneer named Victor Trevitt is buried on Memaloose Island. When you are there, you can see his grave marker. Native bones were removed during the construction of Bonneville Dam and are (slowly) being repatriated back to the tribes for reburial.

The restored section of the Historic Columbia River Highway winds under the Mosier Twin Tunnels.

Sign design for this Trailhead's visitor center is consistent, though this particular one is set into and on top of a stone fence around the building.

New landscaping and stone fence highlights this fine visitor center on the Historic Columbia River Highway's eastern part.

The inside of the visitor center has literature and displays, but visitors may also enjoy its large pane-glass windows.

The viewing bridge across the lower falls with the lovely long fall against the cliffs behind make a perfect photo.

Elegant design went into many bridges on the Historic Columbia River Highway.

Even though the sign for Latourell Falls is posted on a lampost, it is still consistent in style with the rest of the signs for attractions that are shown along the Historic Columbia River Highway.

A Bridal Veil Falls stands on a low base, but still matches the same style as the other attraction signs along the Byway.

Consistency in signage along this Byway extends even to State Recreation areas.

The sunlight streaming through the trees creates a glare on this view of the tall post sign for Shepperd's Dell

Evergreen and dry-region vegetation stand behind this overlook sign on the Historic Columbia River Highway.

A plaque on a stone stands next to this entrance sign.

People explore the Rowena Loops Overlook on the Historic Columbia River Highway near an interpretive sign.

A crowd of hikers walk on the Historic Columbia River Highway

This shows a free-standing interpretive sign on Historic Columbia River Highway

A crowd of hikers walk on the Historic Columbia River Highway.

Hikers walk past a beautifully restored stone railing on a pedestrian-only section of the Byway.

The old wooden roadside railings conjoin the restored and original stone roadside railings on this section of the Historic Columbia River Highway

A crowd of people enter one of the tunnels on a pedestrian-only section of the Highway.

People look out from a circular stone walled overlook on the Byway.

Strong shadows cross the trail on the non-motor-travel section of the Byway.

Hikers walk past a beautifully restored stone railing on a pedestrian-only section of the Byway.

A tour group wander outside the Mark O. Hatfield West Trailhead and Visitor Center.

A tour group wanders outside the Mark O. Hatfield West Trailhead and Visitor Center.

A vaulted ceiling surrounded by tall stained glass windows lines the dome inside the Vista House at Crown Point on the Historic Columbia River Highway.

A tour group wanders outside the Mark O. Hatfield West Trailhead and Visitor Center.

The panel design at this kiosk outside the Visitor Center at the West Trailhead is consistent with signage all along the Byway.

This interpretive sign at the Women's Forum Park overlook is overshadowed by the stunning view of the Gorge and Crown Point House beyond.

Two visitors are absorbed in this interpretive sign at Women's Forum Park on the Historic Columbia River Highway.

This is an example of an interpretive sign mounted on two posts.

Two hikers stroll past a sign to Memaloose Overlook.

One person reads an interpretive sign set amidst a summer forest.

Cars park at the side of the Byway at Crown Point, where there is an interpretive sign outside. Vista House is in the background.

Tourists read interpretive sign on the Historic Columbia River Highway.

Restored or original stonework lines the highway on the Rowena Loops.

Stone or cement work railings line this sharp curve on the Rowena Loops section of the Historic Columbia River Highway.

White-painted wooden road railings line this sharp curve on the Historic Columbia River Highway.

The Vista House, one of Historic Columbia River Highway's most prominent features, stands out against a hazy, green landscape.

From this elevated point of view, the Vista House can be seen amongst rocky cliffs and dark evergreens.

Colorful lichens abound in the misty conditions at the base of the falls.

Lush green growth surrounds the base of Latourell Falls.

The Bonneville Dam can be seen from the Historic Columbia River Highway in Oregon. The dam provides the region with electrical power and is operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers

The Hood River Bridge spans the Columbia River, stretching from Oregon to Washington.

Bridal Veil Falls, a short hike off of the Historic Columbia River Highway, cascades over two rocky cliffs. A small lookout provides visitors with a view from the bottom of the falls.

The Dalles Dam serves as a landmark for the east terminus of the Historic Columbia River Highway.

Windsurfers take advantage of a beautiful windy day in Hood River, Oregon, the windsurfing capital of the world.

Portland greets visitors to the the west terminus of the Historic Columbia River Highway.

A steady, thin stream of water cascades at Horsetail Falls in Oregon's Columbia River Gorge.

Latourell Falls spills into a calm creek surrounded by lush greenery as two onlookers enjoy the scenery.

Lush greenery overflows near this historic bridge on the Historic Columbia River Highway.

This delicate-looking but strong bridge provides an opportunity for photographing the falls.

Sunlight glints through the forest above Multnomah Falls, August 2001

Multnomah Falls Lodge with Multnomah Falls behind.

Horsetail Falls cascades into a small pool at Columbia River Gorge in Oregon.

A blue sky arcs over Vista House at Crown Point on a sunny day.

This shot, taken in October, shows Multnomah Falls and Benson Bridge looking up from below.

An artist paints the view from Women's Forum State Park or Chanticleer Point on a cloudy day.

This monument can be seen at Portland Women's Forum State Park Entrance or Chanticleer Point.

This is a shot looking east along the Columbia River and gorge from the beginning of the Rowena Loops.

Water rushes rapidly over stones covered with moss. Starvation Creek winds through the Oregon landscape, trees, and bushes rising next to the flow.

This pedestrian bridge spans Eagle Creek at Eagle Creek Recreation Area on the Historic Columbia River Highway.

This "wow" view from Chanticleer Point at Portland Women's Forum State Park, was taken in the morning. August 2001

This Byway Conference tour group is having lunch at Eagle Creek Recreation Area on the Historic Columbia River Highway

Windsurfing is very popular on the Columbia River--Historic Columbia River Highway.

The Vista House, crafted from stone and stained glass, is one of Historic Columbia River Highway's most popular sites.

The interior of the Vista House features beautiful craftsmanship and detail, as shown by a stair banister and the window frames.

Visitors stand over one falls and before another on the foot bridge spanning Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge area of Oregon.

Visitors stand together on a bridge to view the waters of Multnomah Falls cascade over mossy cliffs.

The white waters of Multnomah Falls crash into a plunge pool surrounded by greenery.

Bright yellow lichens color the gray volcanic rock at Latourell Falls.

Visitors stand on a bridge and watch Multnomah Falls, a two-tiered waterfall located in the Columbia River Gorge.

A paved trail leads the short distance from the parking lot to a bridge which crosses the creek at the base of Latourell Falls.

The Historic Columbia River Highway loops around beneath the Rowena Crest Viewpoint. Byway travelers descend from the viewpoint to the loops below.

A small group of hikers approach the base of Latourell Falls.

Visitors at Multnomah Falls look up at the water hurtling down the sheer cliff.