Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia River Gorge unwinds from the arid plateaus east of the Cascades to the towering temperate rainforests outside Portland, Oregon. The 85-mile wonderland features thousand-foot cliffs, thundering waterfalls, vibrant wildflowers, and epic views up and down the vast river—and it’s accessible by hundreds of miles of public trails.

Indigenous communities have lived along the gorge for thousands of years. Despite being unjustly forced to cede millions of acres of their land to the U.S. government, many tribes hold deep connections to the gorge today. The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, and the Nez Perce Tribe still hold rights to fish along the Columbia River. These rights have endured for thousands of years and were recognized by the federal government in 1855.

Residents and visitors from near and far find quiet adventure along the gorge. Hikes up Dog Mountain and sweeping views from the top of Beacon Rock define the Columbia River Gorge we know and love today. But 40 years ago, the future of the gorge was far from certain. In the 1960s and 1970s, rapid growth in the Portland-Vancouver Metropolitan Area threatened the gorge’s rolling hills and dramatic canyons. Signs promising lots for sale sprung up on land once visited by hikers in search of wildflowers.

The architect and conservationist John Yeon urged Nancy Russell, an avid hiker and recreational botanist, to take up the fight to save the gorge. Russell launched a historic campaign to protect the gorge. Like others before her, Russell believed that Congress needed to act to protect the gorge. She collaborated with congressional leaders and inspired a groundswell of public support for federal action. While Congress considered legislation, Trust for Public Land partnered with Russell to protect land at risk of development before it was too late.

In 1986, Congress designated the gorge a National Scenic Area. The designation helped make the gorge a destination for outdoor adventure, creating a new recreation-based economy.

Since 1979, TPL has conducted more than 65 land transactions to protect more than 17,000 acres in the gorge. Today, about a third of the 85-mile-long National Scenic Area is protected—the rest remains privately owned. TPL continues to partner with local organizations to conserve the iconic highlands, promote sustainable growth, and support a vibrant local economy.

The Columbia River Gorge Commission balances the pressures of a growing region with the resounding call to protect the gorge’s iconic landscape. The nonprofit organization that Russell founded, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, continues to protect and steward the gorge today.