Launched in 2021, the Gorge Accessibility Project (GAP) is aimed at improving accessibility at public recreation sites in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The project engages diverse community stakeholders to ensure that outdoor spaces are more inclusive and accessible to all.
The Columbia Gorge is renowned worldwide for its outdoor recreation opportunities, but it lacks reliable nature access for people of varying abilities and diverse backgrounds. Existing accessible sites often present additional barriers—whether physical, cultural, or economic. GAP addresses these challenges by designing and creating recreation sites with input from community listening sessions and guidance from a dedicated GAP steering committee.
Participants in the community sessions and the GAP steering committee have included people with disabilities, families with young children, Indigenous and Latinx Gorge communities, BIPOC recreationists, and nonprofit representatives.
Currently, GAP is focused on developing accessible recreation opportunities at Friends’ Cape Horn and Catherine Creek preserves. These preserves, which are adjacent to popular accessible trails, were purchased by Friends’ Land Trust in 2020 with the intent of transferring them to the USFS. Since then, Friends has collaborated with the GAP steering committee, landscape design firm Mayer/Reed, and DAO Architecture to design these sites with accessibility at the forefront.
As of early 2025, the Cape Horn site is nearly ready for construction and will feature an accessible trail system, pavilion, viewpoint structure, and more. Meanwhile, the design process for Catherine Creek is still underway, with continued community input shaping the final plans.
For more information, contact Friends’ Preserves Manager Frances Fischer or Senior Planner Nick Kraemer.
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