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Columbia River Gorge

Oregon

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Hiker overlooking the Columbia River from the Dog Mountain Trail in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

Alamy Stock Photo

Overview

Cleanly dividing Oregon and Washington is the spectacular Columbia River Gorge, which was carved some 15,000 years ago by cataclysmic glaciers and floods. Driving east from Portland on I-84 (or on the scenic Historic Columbia River Hwy) has you passing high waterfalls and nearly vertical mountain walls, that parallel the mighty Columbia.

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