The Columbia Gorge International Film Festival

This week is the opening of The Columbia Gorge International Film Festival, from August 1st through August 17th. Screenings will occur in Vancouver WA, Camas WA, and Portland OR. Read more below on why The Columbia Gorge is such an amazing place for this International Film Festival.

“It is such a beautiful environment up here”, says Breven Warren, CGIFF Founder/Executive Director. “We consider the fest an exchange, of sorts. One where fantastic filmmakers can share their work with our audiences, and in return our audiences essentially share the sights and gifts of their gorgeous backyard.”

We LOVE that! Some of the activities are rafting in White Salmon, hiking at Eagle Creek and paddle boarding in Hood River. The activities are open to everyone after advance registration and a donation.

SRC: More more details on The Columbia Gorge International Film Festival visit: komonews.

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here

Vipers in The Columbia River Gorge

Viper Club | Alex Mills

If you were on the road last weekend along the Columbia River Gorge you might have seen the local Viper Club driving, most likely, past you. What a beautiful way to view a beautiful gorge. Read what Alex Mills had to say about his drive below.

I went for a drive yesterday with some other cars from the local Viper club. We headed east from Portland out the Columbia River Gorge and then up and over Mount Hood. Around 250 miles in total.

SRC: Read more about the Viper Club and view more photos of them along the Columbia River Gorge at: http://www.viper007bond.com/tag/columbia-river-gorge/

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here

Cruise The Gorge

Cruise The Gorge 2014

This year's Cruise The Gorge will occur August 8th - 10th. The "Neon Cruise" will be downtown The Dalles Friday evening after early registration. Cruise the Gorge "Show in the Shade" will be Saturday at Sorosis Park. Read about the "Parade of Champions" below.

Registration at the park occurs from 9 AM until noon. The “Parade of Champions”awards ceremony starts at 3 PM. Goodie bags and dash plaques will be awarded to the first 250 entries.

SRC: Download the Cruise the Gorge 2014 registration form and learn more about this event at: http://midcolumbiacarclub.org/

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here

Van Gogh Days

This year's Van Gogh Days are August 2nd & 3rd from Noon to 4 pm. Visit Rasmussen Farms in Oregon's Hood River Valley for this special event celebrating 70 kinds of sunflowers. Read more below for additional activities that will be going on at this event.

Live music, free wine tasting from Hood River Vineyards, Food Cart, Quilt Show, vegetable games and treasure hunt.

SRC: For more information on Van Gogh Days at Rasmussen Farms visit: RasmussenFarms

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here

Cascade Locks Beach & Sail Park

Current projects for the Port of Cascade Locks include improvements to the beach and surrounding area. The improvements would provide the Columbia Gorge Racing Association and the surrounding community better access and viewing accommodations. Read more on the current project for this Beach & Sail Park below.

Another exciting project the Port has in development is improvements to the beach and surrounding areas to better accommodate the community and the Columbia Gorge Racing Association. The Columbia River at Cascade Locks has become one of the most desirable destinations for sailboat competition in North America. The location has the right wind speeds, warm temperatures, fresh water body and scenic beauty superior to other sites. By making some minor developments to the Marine Park, sailboat racing in Cascade Locks will be able to expand the community’s tourism-based economy.

SRC: Find the Sail Park Feasibility Study and other Port of Cascade Locks Projects at: http://portofcascadelocks.org/current-projects/beach-sail-park/

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here

Cascade Locks History

 

The beautiful riverside town of Cascade Locks is an amazing place to visit for exploring, hiking, water sports and much more. Learning about this towns fascinating history will bring so much more appreciation to your time spent here. Read about Cascade Locks historic beginnings below.

This hamlet of 1,120 people initially was a Native American fishing village. In 1843, Captain John Freemont named the 2-mile-long rapids, formed from giant boulders of the natural basalt bridge that collapsed eons before, “the Great Cascades.” This spot was the penultimate crux for Oregon Trail travelers who navigated the rapids by lashing wagons to rafts. In 1862, the state’s first steam engine, dubbed the “Oregon Pony,” pulled boats through these rapids. In 1896, with the coming of giant sternwheelers, the Army Corp of Engineers carved a channel 460 feet through the volcanic basalt and installed the locks. When Bonneville Dam fired up in 1938, the channel was flooded and decommissioned, but remnants of the locks and the Oregon Pony remain visible at the Cascade Locks Marine Park.

SRC: Read more on what Cascade Locks has to offer at: http://traveloregon.com/trip-ideas/itineraries/cascade-locks-weekend/

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here

Bicycle Tourism in Cascade Locks

(Photos J. Maus/BikePortland)

Business owners of the Gorge got together at this months Gorge Green Drinks Networking event with the topic of "Bikes Mean Business". With so many cyclists riding through town, water bottle filling and window seats for bike watching are thing business will want to accommodate for their large numbered customers. Read more about this biking trend below.

To further capitalize on the bike boom, Cascade Locks is also actively building out its trail offerings. Not only are they at the (current) end of a newly completed section of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, they’re also working on a new, 25-mile network of off-road trails that will turn this town into a mountain biking destination and serve as perfect complement to the existing family-friendly easyCLIMB Trail.

SRC: Read more about this Bicycle Tourism in Cascade Locks at: http://bikeportland.org/2014/07/09/cascade-locks-hands-deck-bicycle-tourism-108493#more-108493

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here

Columbia Gorge Racing Association

Multi-class dinghy champ Jay Renehan let the Columbia Gorge Racing Association know that Cascade Locks, Oregon is "The best place in the world to sail!" The Columbia Gorge Racing Association is working to see if this is true for everyone through a Sailor Satisfaction Survey. Read more about this survey below.

Our goal is to make CGRA “the best place in the world to sail.” Help us do it by taking five minutes to complete our Sailor Satisfaction Survey (click here to take the survey). There’s no obligation and all responses are anonymous unless you wish to volunteer your contact information. If you’re curious, you’ll have an option to view the results after you complete the survey.

SRC: Read the Full article reflecting on last years Sailing in the gorge at: www.cgra.org

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here

Cascase Locks KOA

Enjoy camping at a great KOA this summer in Cascade Locks, Oregon. This is an amazing location for hiking, sight seeing, and so much more. This KOA includes a pool, hot tub/ sauna, bike rentals and even Wi-Fi. If your looking for a great place for some camping check out this KOA. Read more about this location below.

Located in the heart of the breathtaking Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, this KOA will have you rollin' along the river in no time - whether you're cruising aboard the stern-wheeler Columbia Gorge, exploring waterfalls along the historic Columbia River Highway or hiking on Larch Mountain's trails at an elevation of 4,000 feet. Displays in the riverfront Marine Park explain the 19th century locks that made the turbulent Columbia passable (and gave Cascade Locks its name). In nearby Hood River, the Mount Hood Railroad links the Columbia Gorge with the foothills of snowcapped Mount Hood. Camp among forested tent sites, full-hookup RV sites with 110-foot pull thrus, one- and two-room Camping Cabins and Deluxe Cabins.

SRC: View more photos, maps, and local attractions for this KOA at: http://koa.com/campgrounds/cascade-locks/

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here

Lewis and Clark State Park

The Lewis and Clark State Recreation Site provide hiking trails, picnicking, exhibitor information, a boat ramp, fishing, flushing restrooms, and swimming. This free access area is located at 1819 Historic Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale, OR 97060. It is easy to find, a beautiful drive, plenty of parking and tons of summer fun. Read about the history of this State Park below.

Located at the western gateway of the Columbia River Gorge, Lewis & Clark State Park sappropriately honors its legendary namesakes who camped and explored here in November, 1805. The park is situated near the mouth of the Sandy River where it spills into the mighty Columbia River and at one of the entrances to the Historic Columbia River Highway. A flat, grassy, tree-dotted park invites blankets and sun-lovers to come spend a leisurely day.

SRC: For more information on Lewis and Clark State Park visit: Oregon State Parks.

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here

Columbia River Gorge Pikas

A Pika is a rock-dwelling critter in the rabbit and hare family. The U.S. Geological Survey researchers along with the Oregon Zoo Foundation are conducting a census of these little critters through September. Normally these Pikas are found in hight-altitude habitats, but the Columbia Gorge is home to the lowest-elevation-dwelling pikas in the US. Read more about the study of the gorge pikas below.

The aim of the USGS study is to gain more information about gorge pikas' distribution to help in any future conservation and management efforts and to learn something about climate change resistance.

When the three-year study concludes in September, researchers and about 175 volunteers (aka citizen scientists) will have surveyed more than 50 miles of the gorge on both sides of the Columbia River, from Troutdale to Hood River and Camas, Wash., to White Salmon, Wash.

For full article on the Columbia Gorge Pika visit: OregonLive.

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Vista House on the Columbia River Gorge

 

If you have not seen the view from the Vista House at Crown Point State Scenic Corridor then now is the time. Looking over the Columbia River Gorge this spot provides a breath taking view that is indescribable. Enjoy the breeze while taking in the view.  Read about the Vista House below.

Samuel Lancaster, Assistant Highway Engineer for Multnomah County in 1913, supervised the Columbia River Highway project. Lancaster’s proposal to construct a building on the summit of Crown Point was another reflection of his desire to inspire the traveler along the highway and to make the wonders of the gorge accessible.

Read more about the hidden treasures along the Columbia River Gorge from: Shelley Beatty

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here

Kite Fest at the Columbia River Gorge

Don't miss the 14th Annual Bridge of the Gods Kite Fest this July 25th-27th. Watch these kiteboarders try to impress the judges with their freestyle maneuvers. Read more on this event below.

The longest running amateur kiteboarding contest in the USA has historically been a launching pad for amateur kiteboarders attempting to become professionals.
The Bridge of the Gods Kite Fest will feature five categories of amateur riders: Men, Women, Grom, Lady Groms and Masters. Pro Men and Women will have their own contest.
The steep riverbanks make the Port of Skamania's East Point Kite Beach a natural grandstand for watching the event.

SRC: Learn more about this event at: SuferToday

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here

Reese Witherspoon in the Gorge

Reese Witherspoon shot in more Oregon locations than any other feature file to date, for a movie called "Wild". This story is about a woman's 1,000 mile hike up the Pacific Crest Trail, and is currently set for limited release on December 5th, 2014. Read more about this movie below.

Witherspoon and the movie's crew traveled all over Oregon, from Southern Oregon to the Gorge and Portland metro area.
The movie is based on Cheryl Strayed's best-selling novel "Wild," in which Strayed deals with her mother's death and a ruined marriage by setting out on the hike through the western U.S.
Witherspoon stars in the movie and is also a producer, and it's directed by Jean-Marc Vallee of Dallas Buyers Club.

SRC: Check out the full article from the Fox 12 Staff here.


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Mt. Hood Meadows Open for Summer!

Forty-six years ago Mt. Hood Meadows opened and has been Portland's busiest winter ski resort. During the summer the Timberline Ski Area and Mt. Hood Skibowl were the mountains only options for fun. Due to changes in Congress, lots of applications and planning Mt. Hood Meadows is in the summer recreation game starting this year. Read about the summer activities that will be taking place at Mt. Hood Meadows below.

The inaugural "Mt. Hood Meadows Uphill Challenge" is a 1.2-mile running (or walking) event, to be presented Saturday, Aug. 16. A Kids Day Camp featuring outdoor activities and education will be presented Saturday, Aug. 23.
In addition to the two events, Meadows will operate the Stadium chair for scenic chairlift rides, and offer a BBQ on the Sun Deck on those two days.

SRC: Read more about summer recreation activities for Mt. Hood Meadows at: http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2014/07/mt_hood_meadows_gets_approval.html#incart_river

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here

Beginner-Friendly Trails near Mt. Hood

Beginner-friendly trails located between the city of Sandy and the base of Mount Hood were debut over the 4th of July weekend. These entry-level trails were implemented in order to provide a wider variety of mountain biking opportunities. Read more about the development of these new trails below.

The International Mountain Bicycling Association and BLM were able to upgrade the system's beginner and introductory trails, thanks to a development grant from Clackamas County Tourism & Cultural Affairs.  Riders can now start with a rebuilt Homestead Loop, with rollers, small rock gardens and banked turns that are designed to be fun for all ages and abilities.

SRC: Read more about the development of these new trails at: http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2014/07/sandy_ridge_mountain_bike_syst.html

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here

Everything about Lupines

Driving around Oregon it does not take long to notice these beautiful purple flowers we call Lupines. They are every where, if you haven't noticed take a walk in an Oregon State Park and you will most likely find a field of them standing tall. One blogger decided to do some investigating on these gorgeous plants and below is some of what was discovered. 

The leaf of a flower is an important part of identification! Unfortunately, it is this leaf that is throwing off my ID. This flower is the size of a “broadleaf lupine” (few other lupines are as tall!) – but the leaves do not seem particularly broad or as round as described. A mystery.

From my observations, the bees tend to start low on the plant and then spiral their way up making frequent stops. Check out the keel petals still poking out from the wing petals!

SRC: For many more photos of Lupines at different stages visit: http://columbiarivergorgeparks.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/for-the-love-of-lupine-a-naturalist-study/

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here

Kite Fest on the Columbia River Gorge

photo by Jim Stringfellow

Check out the 14th Annual Bridge of the Gods Kite Fest on the Columbia River Gorge. The Bridge of the Gods is the launch pad for the event, but Hood River will have a event site as well. There will be a food court and beer garden as well as lots of kite borders to fill your weekend with entertainment, on July 25th, 26th and 27th. Read more details about the competition below.

Five categories of riders are encouraged to consider registration in the BOTG Kite Fest: Men, Women, Groms, Lady Groms, and Masters.  The Pro competition features team riders, pro and semi-pro riders, along with previous winners competing against each other for cash prizes. Other categories are as their names would indicate. All riders in every event are expected to impress the judges with freestyle maneuvers, rated on difficulty, style, height, variety, sportsmanship and overall impression.

SRC: View more photos and read more about the Kite Fest at: http://www.thekiteboarder.com/2014/07/14th-annual-botg-kite-fest/

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here

Bonneville Fish Hatchery

Built in 1909, the Bonneville Fish Hatchery located along the Columbia River Gorge is great place for family fun. A short drive to the hatchery can fill up an entire hot summers day with nature, fun and family bonding. Read about one families take from their trip to the Bonneville Fish Hatchery below.

This is a large fish hatchery that raises chinook salmon, but they have pools with large rainbow trout and really big white sturgeon where you can get a real close look at these large fish.
The Bonneville Hatchery is a great place to visit while you are in the Columbia River Gorge. There is lots to see and the admission and parking are free. It was a great place to wind up our little vacation in the Gorge and are looking forward to the next visit.

SRC: View more photos and see what else other adventures await in the Columbia Gorge at: http://watermanatwork.com/blog/summer-fun-columbia-river-gorge/

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here

Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler Cruise

Independence Day Fireworks Cruises 

The Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler Cruise will be boarding at 8:30 pm at the Visitors Center in Marine Park of Cascade Locks. View fireworks from the river and more, the cruise ends at 11:00 pm. Read the details of this cruise below.

The Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler is the best place to see the Fireworks show in the Gorge off Thunder Island in the Port of Cascade Locks. The ticket price of $46 per person covers the cost of the two-hour cruise. Snacks and beverages are available for additional purchase.

SRC: If your interested in joining this cruise, see if a spot is still available for you at: PortlandSpirit

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here

Cascade Locks for Independence Day

Cascade Locks Fourth of July

Cascade Locks will be a great place to spend the 4th of July holiday. Food Vendors will be available or just bring your own picnic to enjoy on the lawn at Thunder Island. Also don't miss out on the Beer Garden! The Fireworks start at dark, get your directions from the map below.



SRC: Find more information for this event at: CascadeLocks

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here

Blues for the 4th

If your feeling like indulging in the blues with a nice glass of wine for the 4th of July, your in luck. This Independence Day Troutdale's McMenamins Edgefield Winery will have Billy D performing from 7 pm to 9 pm, with free entry. Read more about this "Best New Act" winner below.

A recent "Best New Act" winner, Billy Desmond (Billy D) melds blues, rock, and at times nuances of country to create an "Original Backbeat Roots" style of music that has fueled timeless rock icons like ZZ Top and The Rolling Stones. Billy was born on the south side of Chicago where he grew up surrounded by the Blues, and being a child of the early Rock 'n' Roll era, the two influences blended into a powerful potion. He started playing professionally at teen dances and parties at the age of fourteen. By the age of eighteen, he was sneaking into the blues clubs of Chicago to hear such greats as Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, and James Cotton. Over the next ten years, he would work as a guitarist for Junior Wells, Big Time Sarah, and Detroit Junior.

SRC: Learn about this event and Read more about Billy D at: McMenamins

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here

Hood River's 4th of July

Photo by Ben Mitchell

This Independence Day Hood River offers a parade, the Kollas-Cranmer Run, an Odell parade and of coarse a firework show. The Kollas-Cranmer fun will start at 8 am for walkers and 9 am for runners. The Odell Community parade will start at 4 pm. The firework show will begin at 10 pm. Read more about the Hood River Parade below.

World War II veteran Ed Bartlien and Lila May , 3, will be co-grand marshals of the Hood River parade. The parade has a $10 entry fee, and the Hood River Jackson Park post-parade events require a $25 vendor fee. It is possible to win your parade entry fee back; three of the best entries will receive monetary awards of $50, $35 and $20. Application forms and parade rules are posted at gorgelions.org.

SRC: For more details on Hood River's Independence Day Celebration visit: HoodRiverNews.

Looking for lodging near the Columbia River Gorge? Check out Lodging Here