Columbia Gorge: A good friend and I are considering flying out to Portland and photographing the Columbia Gorge. For anyone that has done that or lives in the area: How many days...

wrk1234 Loc: Russellville, Arkansas

A good friend and I are considering flying out to Portland and photographing the Columbia Gorge. For anyone that has done that or lives in the area:
How many days should we schedule to get the most out of the gorge?
What time of year would you recommend?
What areas of the Oregon coast would you also photograph in the immediate area?
Thanks in advance for any insights and recommendations.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I think you could easily spend at least three days along the Gorge. There are some very interesting places along the River, as well as off the river, like Mt. Hood. That alone is well worth a day trip to photograph. And Multnomah Falls is a must do. Don’t forget to check out the Washington side of the gorge, too. I’d plan at least a week if you really want to get into it.

You’ll be quite a ways from the Oregon coast, but that’s worth visiting as there are some very interesting places to see and photograph. If you’re interested in aviation history, you might consider a visit to the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinneville. It’s very intersting.

wiz302pa Loc: Henderson, NV

Go now for Fall color. Been driving thru the Gorge for 44 years. It always offers something new. Drive route 30 (not the interstate) highway in OR and route 14 on WA. Go both directions from Portland/Vancouver end to Biggs - not a lot to see east of Biggs.

Stay at the Columbia Gorge Hotel in Hood River; book a river view room. A 100+ year old hotel. Run by very nice people.

Plan for lots of rain :)

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I live near and driven the freeway on the Oregon side many times. I've flown the gorge in a variety of light airplanes (in a variety of weather). I've driven the Washington side less but did so recently.

That said, I don't know how to answer your question. There is too much to see, do and photograph.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Columbia Gorge? Windsurfing mecca... there is a pressure differential caused by the colder moist air over Portland, OR and the hot, dry air over the desert to the east of the Cascade mountains. The cold air is rushing towards the hot air to equalize that pressure and therefore creating massively strong winds... a horrific wind tunnel effect.

Lots and lots of water.... the Columbia is 4000 feet deep in the Gorge...
Enjoy!

wiz302pa Loc: Henderson, NV

Thomas902 wrote:

Columbia Gorge? Windsurfing mecca... there is a pressure differential caused by the colder moist air over Portland, OR and the hot, dry air over the desert to the east of the Cascade mountains. The cold air is rushing towards the hot air to equalize that pressure and therefore creating massively strong winds... a horrific wind tunnel effect.

Lots and lots of water.... the Columbia is 4000 feet deep in the Gorge...
Enjoy!

4000 feet ??

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Ummmm no. The terrain can rise 4 to 5k feet within a few miles of the river. However the river itself is not unusually deep.

Autumn is a bit hit or miss on color. I would suggest April for spring colors and high water flows.

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

In that area also consider around 1 day each:
Portland to Mt St Helens 75 miles
Portland to Silver Falls State Park 54 miles
Portland to Mt Hood (68 miles)
Portland to Tillamook (coast)(63 miles)
https://traveloregon.com/places-to-go/regions/

franbires

Just got back from the Gorge. Our daughter lives in it. Lots of places so you’ll need about a week. Nothing is close, so for every outing, you’ll be driving 1.5-2 hours. In no particular order, Cannon Beach and the haystacks for sunsets, Mt Hood and in particular Lost Lake within Mt Hood National Forest; Beacon Rock State Park; Panther Creek Falls in Gifford Pinchot National Forest; and it’s not in the gorge but Silver Falls State Park is high on the list. Oregon’s premier state parks.

Fayle Loc: Seward, Alaska and Rionegro, Colombia

wrk1234 wrote:

A good friend and I are considering flying out to Portland and photographing the Columbia Gorge. For anyone that has done that or lives in the area:
How many days should we schedule to get the most out of the gorge?
What time of year would you recommend?
What areas of the Oregon coast would you also photograph in the immediate area?
Thanks in advance for any insights and recommendations.

You could easily use up all the time you can afford to spend out there.
In addition to the Gorge
https://www.fayledvisionphotography.com/Oregon/Columbia-River-Gorge/

There are lots of other nearby places to photograph.
The Painted Hills in the John Day Fossil Beds are worth a visit.
https://www.fayledvisionphotography.com/Oregon/Painted-Hills-/

As is Silver Falls State Park, which is a bit to the East of Salem. https://www.fayledvisionphotography.com/Oregon/Silver-Falls-State-park/
https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=151
Silver Falls has a nice campground but it fills up on weekends so either make reservations in advance or plan on being there mid-week.

Oregon also has some covered bridges in the Silver Falls area.
https://www.fayledvisionphotography.com/Oregon/Oregon/

Then there is Crater Lake and the Oregon Coast.

I prefer Autumn for the colors and less crowds after school starts.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...The terrain can rise 4 to 5k feet within a few miles of the river..."
yes I miss typed that line... Too late at night... I was trying to share that the Gorge itself is up to 4000' in depth...

However Lake Tahoe's Max water depth is 1,644′ Before the wildfires this was likely the most breathtaking locale in America... I always wanted to visit... never had the chance... Albeit I've been through the Columbia Gorge and the terrain is impressive...

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

Hood River Oregon in the Gorge is a wind-surfing Mecca for highly skilled surfers. They do all sorts of tricks! If you get to the beach in Oregon you MUST go Cannon Beach! The hay stack rock formations are breathtaking and the tide pools are like nothing I’d ever seen here in New England. From Cannon beach, head south on the shore road. The beauty had me screaming in the car as I pulled over!

Lazy J Loc: Pacific Northwest

A bit more info on Silver Falls State Park. If you enjoy waterfalls, and still have a bit of hike left in you, you definitely want to put this on your "must see" list. It is a roughly an 8 mile loop encompassing 10 gorgeous waterfalls. Certainly made better with a normal preceding winter or the fall color in late Octoberish, but worth a looksee any time of the year.

ELNikkor

My family and I did the gorge, the coast, and my nephew's wedding in 3 days.

wiz302pa Loc: Henderson, NV

mizzee wrote:

Hood River Oregon in the Gorge is a wind-surfing Mecca for highly skilled surfers. They do all sorts of tricks! If you get to the beach in Oregon you MUST go Cannon Beach! The hay stack rock formations are breathtaking and the tide pools are like nothing I’d ever seen here in New England. From Cannon beach, head south on the shore road. The beauty had me screaming in the car as I pulled over!

Generally, the further south you go, the better the OR coast gets; all the way to CA.