Historic Columbia River Highway
Historic Route · The Dalles, Oregon
The first planned scenic roadway in the United States, built through the Columbia River Gorge between 1913 and 1922 and engineered by Samuel Lancaster on the explicit instruction that it should not spoil what it was built to show. It climbs on stone-faced viaducts and loops, never exceeds a five per cent grade, and threads past Latourell, Shepperd's Dell, Bridal Veil, Wahkeena and Multnomah Falls in a few miles. It is a National Historic Landmark, and surviving sections are now driven, walked and cycled as a state trail.
Historic Columbia River Highway, The Dalles, Oregon, 97058, United States
FREE and open year round, though ⚠ IT IS NOT ONE CONTINUOUS ROAD - Interstate 84 destroyed the middle sections in the 1950s, and what remains is two drivable stretches plus about 13 miles of car-free state trail on the old alignment. ⚠ THE ROAD CLOSES FOR ICE, SNOW AND ROCKFALL IN WINTER, sometimes for long periods, and sections have closed for landslide and post-fire repair since 2017 - check ODOT conditions before setting out. A timed-entry permit applies to the Multnomah Falls area in the peak summer season. Length restrictions make it unsuitable for large RVs and trailers.
Historic Columbia River Highway on Spottos · Explore more places on Spottos