One of my favorite things to do is to take a drive out the Historic Columbia River Highway up the Columbia River Gorge. As a scenic drive, the Historic Columbia River Highway cannot be beat. It is beautiful any time of year. I have probably driven it a thousand times and each time I see something new. It may be historic, but it never gets old.

It's Winter in the Columbia River Gorge!

Winter is an interesting time to drive the Historic Columbia River Highway in the western part of the Columbia River Gorge. The leaves are off the trees and many views hidden by summer foliage come to light. This lush vegitation was not always there. Prior to the construction of the Historic Columbia River Highway several fires had swept through the western part of the Columbia River Gorge. If you look at some of my Postcards you can see that the views from the highway were much better then than now. The Highway Department even trimmed the undergrowth to preserve the views until it was deemed "unnatural."

If we are lucky enough to get a really good ice storm (sometimes referred to as a "silver thaw") in the Columbia River gorge the waterfalls can be spectacular. These pictures don't do them justice. If you do head out on the Historic Columbia River Highway after an ice storm do it in a four wheel drive vehicle with studded snow tires. Anything else is suicide. I've seen many wrecks and stranded cars because some fool thought his/her subaru with summer tires could make the trip.

The Good Stuff:

Plan a drive along the Historic Columbia River Highway this weekend with this map of the Highway from Corbett to Dodson.

Historic Columbia River Highway Map (Corbett to Dodson)
(requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Cool off with a Columbia River Gorge hike through the rainforest this weekend with this map of hiking trails around Multnomah Falls.

Multnomah Falls Areas Hiking Map
(requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

For a longer drive, try the Mount Hood Scenic Loop.

Mount Hood Scenic Loop Map
(requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Check out the new additions to the History section under the About menu:

Highway Bridges
Shepperd's Dell Bridge
Benson (Multnomah Falls) Footbridge
Multnomah Falls Lodge
Oneonta Tunnel

Recreational opportunities abound along the Historic Columbia River Highway. Hiking, biking, sailing, windsurfing, fishing, photography...the list is virtually endless.

There are also many fine museums, shops, restaurants and lodgings along the Historic Columbia River Highway.

Slowly but surely (well, slowly anyway) I'll be adding information on the Historic Columbia River Highway, the Columbia River Gorge and activities associated with them to this site.

A few years ago I bought a set of 1920's vintage Columbia River Highway (it wasn't yet historic) Postcards on eBay. Little did I know the enormous piles of Postcards, books, maps, brochures, ephemera and artwork that one set of Postcards would grow into. You can see some of this stuff in the Historic Columbia River Highway Postcards and Historic Columbia River Highway Ephemera areas. I'll be adding more from my collection as time and initiative permit.

If you have a suggestion to improve the site you can email me here.

About the Historic Columbia River Highway

History

History of the Columbia River Highway
Geologic History of the Columbia River Gorge

Historic Columbia River Highway Photos

Historic Columbia River Highway Postcards

Historic Columbia River Highway Ephemera

Historic Columbia River Highway Links