The Columbia River Gorge is one of the most beautiful places in the Pacific Northwest. The people are friendly and welcoming, offering a unique community that is difficult to recreate. It truly is an engaging lifestyle; everything is suited to accommodate an adventurous spirit and those looking to enjoy the great outdoors.

Residents of the Columbia Gorge have prime access to one of the world’s most celebrated water sports rivers. The warmer months bring endless possibilities to all realms of water recreation: windsurfing, kiteboarding, kayaking, canoeing, sailing and jet-skiing. For many of these sports, the Columbia River Gorge is considered a flat-out mecca. As the weather warms each spring, the world’s top windsurfers and kiteboarders migrate from the Hawaiian tropics to the Gorge area to ride the renowned, exceptional winds of the Columbia River beneath warm sunny skies.

In addition to a wide array of water sports, the Columbia River Gorge has much to offer along its shores including some of the best hiking trails and mountain biking trails in Oregon and Washington. Residents can also easily fit in a full day of skiing or snowboarding on Mount Hood, and still get back in time to enjoy a clear-skies sunset from their home on the Columbia River. The possibilities for playing in the snow don’t end with the ski resorts; numerous snow-parks along highway 35 and highway 141 give quick access to a vast network of cross-country skiing and snowmobiling trails.

The landscape is also covered with rolling hills and vineyards before rising into old growth and lush greenery with plenty of trails throughout. Many of the people that call The Gorge their home love the active lifestyle, supportive community, and beautiful scenery. Check out the following pages to learn more about what The Gorge Lifestyle has to offer.

Mt. Adams Chamber of Commerce

Hood River County Chamber of Commerce

Skamania County Chamber of Commerce

Columbia Gorge Visitors Association

Photo courtesy of Mike Godsey and Windnotes Design