First stop is the Vista House at Crown Point State Park. Apparently it closed for the winter right after we were there.
The Columbia River Highway was completed in 1916. That same year, construction started on the Vista House to encourage travelers to use the highway to enjoy the scenery. It also served as a comfort stop for travelers.
Some of the scenery from atop Crown Point, overlooking the Columbia River.
Moving on to the east we come into the area of the waterfalls. This is one of the first of many -- Latourelle Falls. You walk down a path to the falls. This was our first glimpse:
I thought that was pretty neat all by itself. And then I started admiring a hemlock tree. Suddenly I took one more step and past the tree I saw this:
J.T. at the cataract of the falls:
Me on a bridge crossing the stream flowing out of the cataract:
Ah, but down the road a little further is THE waterfalls you must see in this area: The Multnomah Falls. The double waterfall falls 620 feet.
After seeing Multnomah Falls, we traveled east another short distance to have lunch at Skamania Lodge. Wonderful view of the mountains from the dining room, and we happened to be there on the anniversary of the day Lewis and Clark arrived in their trek. I got two pencils honoring Smokey Bear and saw a historic interpreter demonstrate some of the tools L&C would have had with them. He singed the hotel tablecloth demonstrating how to start a fire with a flint. Hee hee.
7 comments:
Great. I just came in from taking pictures of Autumn foilage and you blow away anything I have taken so far with those breathtaking images.
Seriously tho, one word. Awesome.
Thanks, Mark. I have to say, when you have this subject matter, it's easy to get the good photos.
I'd still like to see your autumn foliage photos!
Your pictures make me extremely restless. I've got to get to that part of the country and see those things! Great job.
At that very place you visited, I saw the most gorgeous sunsets over the Columbia River Gorge. It is nice to see that they have finished renovation on Vista House. Last time I was there, it was still covered with scaffolding. That old Columbia River Hwy you were traveling on has a host of waterfalls. You can spend an entire day exploring each one. The drive alone is just awesome with all the lush vegitation.
I am sorry to go on so much. It is so exciting to see someone enjoying what I, personally, find so incredible about this State.
Michelle, there's still some work going on inside Vista House, but it sure is a grand place. I love the highway with the little arches in the railings along the edges of the road. The curves, the trees -- it's all glorious. I think I just read something about there being 70 or more waterfalls in the gorge, on both the Oregon and Washington sides. Multnomah Falls, of course, is the most spectacular. It's my dream to be able to take the walk all the way to the top (without dying) instead of being content with making it to the bridge!
Multanomah is beautiful. The hike isn't so bad, but I have not made it to the top yet, just the second bridge. :P
The pictures are fantastic, Trixie. Absolutely!
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