Friends led the fight to create the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area over 40 years ago. We’ve been working ever since to safeguard the Gorge and ensure its natural wonders will be preserved for future generations.
Cape Horn panorama. Photo by Kenji Sugahara.
What We Do
Protect & Conserve
Protecting the Gorge from the Impacts of Climate Change
By working with local and state governments, organizing the public, and building climate resilience on lands across the Gorge, Friends is on the frontlines of protecting the Gorge from the impacts of climate change.
Journey Through Friends’ History
Since 1980, Friends of the Columbia Gorge has worked to protect, preserve, and steward the Columbia Gorge for future generations.
Activists deliver petitions against fossil-fuel terminals to the Washington State Capitol in Olympia, 2017. (photo courtesy of Stand Up to Oil coalition)
Advocacy Campaigns
Friends empowers community members to mobilize and advocate for the protection of the Gorge’s scenic beauty, natural habitats, cultural heritage, and recreational spaces.
Mosier Plateau. Photo by Cate Hotchkiss.
Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust
Based out of Hood River, Oregon, Friends’ Land Trust works to preserve scenic Gorge landscapes, safeguard and steward sensitive lands, and provide public hiking trails.
Hiking through Tom McCall Nature Preserve.
Gorge Towns to Trails
Gorge Towns to Trails aims to create a 200-mile trail loop encircling the Gorge, connecting communities, promoting recreation and sustainable transit, and protecting lands for wildlife conservation.
The Zimmerly mine (in the foreground) in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Photo by Brady Holden.
Enforcing Gorge Protection Laws
Friends is a citizen watchdog group ensuring enforcement of laws related to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
Latest News
Keep updated on Friends' work, news stories, and the work happening in the Columbia Gorge.
Heartleaf Bluffs. Photo by Paloma Ayala.
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Friends’ Land Trust
October 10, 2025
This fall marks the 20th anniversary of Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust—a bold idea that transformed advocacy into lasting stewardship. Since 2004, the land trust has protected over 1,700 acres across 19 preserves, from beloved hiking destinations to vital wildlife habitat, ensuring the Gorge’s landscapes endure for generations to come.
2025 Legislative Sessions: Wins and Challenges in Oregon and Washington
October 5, 2025
During Oregon and Washington’s 2025 legislative sessions, Friends of the Columbia Gorge secured key wins for recreation access, landowner liability protections, and the Columbia River Gorge Commission’s funding. While not every proposal advanced, the sessions brought significant progress toward stronger conservation, climate, and community policies protecting the Gorge.
Wildflowers at Mosier Plateau. Photo by Cate Hotchkiss.
Small Trail, Big Legacy: Povey Family Donates Easement at Mosier Plateau
September 30, 2025
A new permanent easement now secures the beloved trail linking Mosier’s Pocket Park to the Mosier Plateau Preserve, thanks to the generosity of the Povey family. Years in the making, this project highlights the power of community partnerships in preserving recreation access and protecting the Gorge’s natural beauty.
