
Wonders of the Columbia Gorge
Nowhere else on earth exists such a wonder of desert and forest, cliffs and waterfalls, sun and rain. It’s the only place in the world where a mighty river crashes through an entire mountain range.

From 1912-30, at what is today the Portland Women’s Forum Park and viewpoint, the windows of the Chanticleer Inn gazed out over the Gorge. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service.
Early Threats & Protections
The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area was signed into law in 1986 thanks in large part to Friends work. But threats to the Gorge and efforts to protect it far predate our founding.

Sunrise from the Portland Women’s Forum Scenic Viewpoint. Photo by Chris Elkinton.
The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act
From 1980 to 1986, Friends led the fight to build building political and public support that would ultimately lead to the creation of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
Latest News
Keep updated on Friends' work, news stories, and the work happening in the Columbia Gorge.

Looking west from White Salmon down the Columbia River. Photo by Paloma Ayala.
Holding the Line: How the Gorge Commission was Saved
May 8, 2025
The Columbia River Gorge Commission is the frontline defense against unregulated development, environmental degradation, and climate change threats across the 292,500-acre Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. It ensures that […]

Alashík Preserve. Photo by Monique Trevett.
Shell by Shell: Protecting the Gorge’s Turtle Sanctuaries
May 8, 2025
In April 2024, Friends acquired Alashík Preserve, an ecologically critical property nestled in the wooded valleys of Skamania County. The acquisition marks a major conservation win, permanently protecting habitat for […]

Friends Defeats Illegal Zimmerly Mining Again, and Again, and Again
May 8, 2025
Since 2017, Friends has zealously opposed illegal gravel mining on the Zimmerly property in southeast Clark County, just inside the gateway to the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge […]