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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 2017)
8 community january5 2017 Worth the Trip: Historic Columbia River Highway A winter drive on old Highway 30 in the Columbia Gorge can be a unique experience By Scott Laird Recently I had an opportunity to drive east of Portland and spend some time in the Columbia River Gorge Na- tional Scenic Area, specifi cally driving along old Highway 30, known as the Historic Columbia River Highway. While Teddy Roosevelt called this “the most remarkable road engineer- ing in the United States, which for scenic grandeur is not equaled anywhere,” back when it fi rst opened (and he was right), the road remains a remarkable feat and has lost none of its scenic charm and un- equaled beauty. While heading into the Colum- bia Gorge in the winter, with its icy and hard blowing winds and treacherous driving conditions, may sound like a nightmare to some (and you should defi - nitely plan your trip when the conditions are safe), there are several advantages to heading into the Gorge during the win- ter and spring. For starters, the crowds will be reduced signifi cantly. 2016 was the 100 th anniversary of the opening of the Columbia River Highway, and as ex- pected there were centennial celebra- tions throughout the past summer. 2017 is now a perfect time to head there if avoiding crowds is part of your goal. In addition, the rainy winter season and the spring runoff make this a fantastic time of year to fully enjoy all the waterfalls along the route, which is one of the main reasons to take this jour- ney. The Columbia River Gorge was named a National Scenic Area in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan and encom- passes 292,500 acres in both Oregon and Washington managed by the U.S. Department of Forestry. The Columbia River Gorge is considered one of Or- egon’s Seven Wonders, along with Mt. Hood, the Oregon Coast, the Painted Hills, Smith Rock, the Wallowa’s and of course, Crater Lake. The Columbia River Highway is a 75 mile long route beginning in The view of the Columbia River Gorge from Vista House. Marie Krahn Massage Therapy Auto injury recovery/medical billing • Accepting: Medical Benefits Cards • Medical Massage Cupping • Swedish Massage • Reiki • Deep Tissue • Reflexology • doTerra Aroma Touch • Trigger Point Therapy • Myofacial Release 503-429-5180 lic#5495 mariekrahn@frontier.com Troutdale and stretching east as far as The Dalles. It was built between 1913 and 1922, and was designated U.S. Route 30 in 1926 when the U.S. highway system was established. It was bypassed by Interstate 84 in the 1950s but stretches of it remain open and are maintained by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Incidentally, U.S. Highway 30, well known to Columbia County drivers, is the third longest highway in the U.S. and, despite long stretches of shared road with interstates, today has not been decommissioned and still runs coast- to-coast from Astoria to Atlantic City. Large portions of Highway 30 were originally included in the Lincoln High- way, the fi rst road to cross America, run- ning from New York to San Francisco. Grey Dawn Gallery We saddle shoe. Do you? 879 Bridge St. (503) 429-2787 Muffy’s Photography - Bronze 950 Bridge Street Vernonia, O8 97064 503.429.5050 or 866.524.5050 www.muffys.com Jewelry - Glasswork Pottery - Custom Framing www.greydawngallery.com Featuring the finest in northwest art Visit US today for all your financial needs! Juli, Teresa, Margy & Joy Josh, Josh, Teresa, Nola, Stepheny 905 Bridge Street (503) 429-6271 Khbdmrdc Anmcdc Hmrtqdc BBL#90548 the top of the Gorge on a winding road, joining the historic highway before stop- ping at the Portland Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint for an amazing view of Vista House with the Gorge in the background. If the view looks famil- iar, it probably is; this is likely the most photographed spot in the Gorge, but well worth the stop and a great place to begin your trip. If the weather is clear you might consider taking a small side excursion, turning off the historic highway just past the viewpoint onto Larch Mountain Road and driving 15 miles to the Sher- rard Viewpoint, where you can see glori- ous views of all fi ve of our big moun- tains: Hood, Adams, Jefferson, Rainier and St. Helens. Next you will want to stop at continued on page 9 reach thousands of potential customers advertise here! email us: ads@vernoniasvoice.com call us: 503.367.0098 World Headquarters Vernonia, Oregon O noohmn O `hmshmf 503-429-7101 Shl Onoohmn 19025 Vnncr Qn`c Udqmnmh`, NQ 97064 While there are many scenic and recreational opportunities to enjoy in the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area that can be reached much easier and quicker by taking Interstate 84, the drive along the Historic Columbia River Highway really shouldn’t be missed. The slow and winding road through forests, ferns, and farms provides a much more intimate experience, offering unique and breath- taking views of the cliffs and walls that create the gorge, along with an up-close and personal waterfall experience where you can actually feel the cool spray of the water on your face. 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