Fine Art Photography Blog

Last week, for Thanksgiving, I went down to The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, a roughly 75 mile stretch of water and land reaching up toward the heavens. The river begins in Montana’s Rockies, at Triple Divide Peak, along the Backbone of the World, or, in less poetic terms, the Continental Divide. The Snake River heads south, through Idaho, while the Columbia traverses Washington State, a desert river for most of its path, until it finally crosses the Cascade Mountain Range.

The mountains quite literally form islands in the sky, creating an oasis in the desert pulling moisture out of the clouds. Multnomah Falls is America’s second tallest year-round waterfall; half an hour to the east, The Dalles stands with one foot in the desert. Micro-climates are readily apparent here - driving west you’ll see sagebrush slowly give way to ferns and peat moss.

While superlatives like the second tallest sound impressive, The Gorge is known for the countless tributaries rushing down cliffs and the sides of mountains to join the Columbia on its way to the sea.

Benson Bridge, above and to the right, lets visitors see the plumage up close. Trails lead for miles in both directions, guiding hikers between parks, waterfalls, and camp grounds, forming a network much like Big Sur.

Wahkeena Falls, shown above and to the left, is a short hike from Multnomah along the trail system, and an even shorter hike from the road.

Altogether there are seven deservedly famous waterfalls within hiking distance of each other along the Oregon side of the river: Latourell, Sheppard’s Dell ( visible from the historic highway ), Bridal Veil, Wahkeena, Multnomah, Oneonta, and Horsetail Falls, which sprays so much water in every direction it’s nearly impossible to photograph; even the road is wet on windy days.

Portland, to the west, sits in a lush valley on the edge of the river. Plant life is abundant compared to Yakima or Walla Walla because these mountains trap moist clouds overhead, releasing vital water. The Gorge, from around Hood River to Corbett, is the epicenter of all of this.

Of course, the other side of this luxurious coin is that visitors should be prepared to stay dry above all else. Between spray from the falls and the fierce winds channeled through the lowlands along the river, winter is a beautiful but merciless time to see the Gorge.

Camping Near Multnoma Falls

Most of the state parks in the area have camp grounds, backpacking is permitted within the national forest, and there are ample hotels. Travelers can easily show up without reservation, and stay indefinitely.

That said, Ainsworth State Park is easily the best bet for car camping. Three and a half miles from Multnomah Falls, but only half a mile along a trail through the woods that avoids even Historic Route 30, the park affords visitors a way to see the temperate rainforest and waterfalls without using a car. Moreover, the park has free hot showers, and power in the camp ground … invaluable in an age of digital photography, where instead of film we burn battery power.

Unfortunately, most convenience park campgrounds are closed for the season. The only options are backpacking or hotels.