Friends Announces Winners of 2025 Photo Contest
May 25, 2025
Friends of the Columbia Gorge is proud to announce the winners of our 2025 photo contest, "Lenscape: Through Nature's Eyes," including grand prize winner Paloma Ayala.
Dog Mountain, by Michael Orwick.
301 Gallery and Friends of the Columbia Gorge Collaborate to Present INSPIRED! II Art Exhibition
May 20, 2025
Following the success of last year’s inaugural show, 301 Gallery and Friends of the Columbia Gorge are excited to announce INSPIRED! II, an art exhibition opening this summer in downtown Hood River. On display throughout August and September 2025, the exhibit will showcase the work of regional and local artists inspired by the stunning landscapes […]
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 land-use planning, conservation efforts, climate resilience strategies, and rural community vitality initiatives remain at the heart of Gorge policy and consistent across all six counties. […]
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 the endangered northwestern pond turtle and shielding the landscape from the threats of logging and mining. Deep in the valley between Dog and Wind Mountains […]
Friends Defeats Illegal Zimmerly Mining Again, and Again, and Again
May 8, 2025
By Nathan Baker, Senior Staff Attorney 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 National Scenic Area. In 2020, Friends successfully got the mining activities stopped. Since then, Friends has had an unprecedented […]
Wildflowers at Mosier Plateau. Photo by Cate Hotchkiss.
Connecting Communities: Progress on the Mosier-to-The Dalles Trail Plan
May 7, 2025
Big things are on the horizon for Gorge trail lovers! A bold new vision is taking shape to connect the towns of Mosier and The Dalles with a trail network that weaves through some of the most beautiful landscapes that the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area has to offer.
Beacon Rock. Photo by Jeremiah Leipold.
Columbia River Gorge Commission Avoids Defunding, Faces 27 Percent Budget Cut
April 28, 2025
The press release below was sent to media outlets across the Pacific Northwest on Thursday, April 28, 2025. COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, Wash., April 28, 2025 – The Columbia River Gorge Commission, the bi-state agency tasked with protecting the landscapes, wildlife, small towns, working farms, and cultural heritage of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, will […]
Washington House Votes to Defund the Columbia River Gorge Commission
April 3, 2025
The press release below was sent to media outlets across the Pacific Northwest on Thursday, April 3, 2025. COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, Wash., April 3, 2025 – The Columbia River Gorge Commission, the agency responsible for managing and protecting the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (National Scenic Area), faces an existential threat after the Washington State […]
What if the National Scenic Area Never Existed?
December 23, 2024
The Columbia Gorge would be a very different place without the protections of the National Scenic Area. Unchecked residential, commercial, and industrial development would have consumed parts of it, transforming cliffs, forests, meadows, and desertlands into crowded commercial and residential expanses stripped of scenic beauty and ecological integrity. Thanks to AI image generation, here’s our crystal […]
Behind the Scenes of “The Wildflower Woman” Short Film
December 21, 2024
From Friends of the Columbia Gorge and filmmaker Monique Trevett, “The Wildflower Woman” short film profiles renowned Columbia Gorge conservation icon and Lyle, Washington, resident Barbara Robinson. The film follows Robinson as she reflects on her life’s work preserving and restoring fragile and ecologically important lands in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, including […]
Alashík Preserve. Photo by Monique Trevett.
Slow & Steady: Turtles Win Out Over Logging, Mining at Friends’ New Alashík Preserve
December 19, 2024
Alashík Preserve is Friends’ latest acquisition through our Share the Wonder campaign. Watch the video below for a 4K aerial tour of the preserve, and browse a photo gallery here. Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust’s most recent acquisition is a nod to the little guy. While our scrappy land trust could be considered the […]
Looking west down the Columbia River. Photo by P
A New Era of Conservation for Friends of the Columbia Gorge
December 17, 2024
The Columbia Gorge represents history, resilience, and awe-inspiring natural beauty, holding a special place in the hearts of those who cherish it. Over the years, many have dedicated themselves to protecting this unique landscape. Now, with a renewed focus on inclusivity, the organization is embracing a forward-looking path to safeguard and celebrate this remarkable place […]