Columbia River Gorge
The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. On the map, it sits 3 mi southeast of Carson. Further out, Mount Hood is 23 mi away.
A canyon & gorge, 3 mi southeast of Carson
Carson is the nearest base
Carson is 3 miles northwest, with 8 places to stay. Where to stay ↓
Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep and Oct
May, June, July, August, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 63–82°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures and Wikipedia.
Picking a season
The weather near Columbia River Gorge shifts through the year, as below.
Columbia River Gorge
The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Up to 4,000 feet (1,200 m) deep, the canyon stretches for over eighty miles (130 km) as the river winds westward through the Cascade Range, forming the boundary between the state of Washington to the north and Oregon to the south. Extending roughly from the confluence of the Columbia with the Deschutes River (and the towns of Roosevelt, Washington, and Arlington, Oregon) in the east down to the eastern reaches of the Portland metropolitan area, the water gap furnishes the only navigable route through the Cascades and the only water connection between the Columbia Plateau and the Pacific Ocean. It is thus that the routes of Interstate 84, U.S. Route 30, Washington State Route 14, and railroad tracks on both sides run through the gorge.
- Type
- Canyon & gorge
- Wikipedia readers
- 39K a year
Rooms near Columbia River Gorge
The first towns with rooms are Hood River (28) and Carson (8), and Portland has the most rooms in the area (257).
Hood River
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
8,315 people
13 mi east of Columbia River Gorge
Portland
The most places to stay in the area, and a base for a longer trip.
635,109 people
43 mi west of Columbia River Gorge
Compare 9 towns
| Town | From Columbia River Gorge | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hood River | 13 mi east | 20 min | 28 15 hotels · 2 motels · 7 inns & B&Bs · 3 lodges & cabins · 1 hostel | 8,315 | $684K | C |
| Carson | 3 mi northwest | 5 min | 8 2 hotels · 3 lodges & cabins · 3 campgrounds | 2,318 | $490K | — |
| Stevenson | 5 mi west | 10 min | 8 5 hotels · 3 lodges & cabins | 1,596 | $497K | — |
| Cascade Locks | 4 mi southwest | 5 min | 5 1 hotel · 2 motels · 2 campgrounds | 1,367 | $385K | — |
| Government Camp 81% vacation homes | 28 mi south | 40 min | 31 11 hotels · 16 lodges & cabins · 4 campgrounds | 147 | — | — |
| North Bonneville | 10 mi southwest | 15 min | 3 1 hotel · 2 campgrounds | 1,415 | $446K | — |
| Odell | 13 mi east | 20 min | 3 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins | 2,218 | $434K | — |
| White Salmon | 15 mi east | 20 min | 4 2 hotels · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 2,655 | $615K | — |
| Portland | 43 mi west | 1 hr | 257 182 hotels · 31 motels · 19 inns & B&Bs · 11 lodges & cabins · 3 hostels · 5 campgrounds · 6 RV parks | 635,109 | $582K | D− |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
While you are near Columbia River Gorge
These well-known sights sit within 46 miles.
Big draw39 mi MountainMount St. Helens
Big draw123 mi MountainMount Hood
218 mi WaterfallMultnomah Falls
38 mi DamBonneville Dam
37 mi MountainMount Adams
44 mi Stadium & arenaModa Center
43 mi LakeSpirit Lake
45 mi Stadium & arenaProvidence ParkPhoto credits
Mount St. Helens: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain · Mount Hood: Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory., Public domain · Multnomah Falls: John Fowler from Placitas, NM, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Bonneville Dam: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Public domain · Mount Adams: USGS Photo by R. Iverson, USGS/CVO, Public domain · Moda Center: Lugnuts, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Spirit Lake: Matt Logan, Public domain · Providence Park: Pdx.rollingthunder, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Asked about Columbia River Gorge
What town is Columbia River Gorge near?
Carson, WA, about 3 miles northwest.
When is the best time to visit Columbia River Gorge?
May, June, July, August, September and October, with highs of 63–82°.
What is the closest airport to Columbia River Gorge?
Portland (PDX), about 40 miles away.
Where should I stay near Columbia River Gorge?
Hood River (13 mi, 28 places to stay), Carson (3 mi, 8 places to stay) and Stevenson (5 mi, 8 places to stay).
What locals in Carson say
Nobody has posted a tip yet; ask or answer in Carson’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.