columbia river gorge

Missing Woman’s Car Buried Under 15 Feet of Mud in Gorge Landslide, Oregon Officials Say

The Eagle Creek Trail Is Closed Again Just Two Weeks After Reopening to Hikers

After waiting three long years for the Eagle Creek Trail to reopen, hikers got to enjoy it for all of two weeks before heavy rains closed the route again. The U.S. Forest Service is warning the public to stay off of the popular path until further notice since many sections of it are blocked by landslides triggered by a storm that moved across the state on Tuesday. Cleanup efforts to remove fallen trees and other debris will begin as soon as the agency deems it is safe to do so.

Landslides Close Highways Outside Portland, and an Oregon Woman Is Swept Away by Debris

In a small town about an hour east of Portland, Multnomah County sheriff deputies are evacuating residents and one person is missing.

Three Years After the Devastating Gorge Fire, Eagle Creek Trail Is Back Open. Here’s What It Looks Like Now.

On Jan. 1, the Eagle Creek Trail―the epicenter of the devastating 2017 wildfire that burned 49,000 acres of the Columbia River Gorge—welcomed back hikers for the first time in three years. Photographer Wesley Lapointe revisited on a stormy reopening weekend. Below, he tells us what it looked like. Then, he shows us.

Eagle Creek Trail, Epicenter of the Wildfire That Engulfed the Columbia Gorge in 2017, Has Finally Reopened

Several of the most popular hiking trails in the Columbia River Gorge are back open—some of them for the first time since the devastating Eagle Creek Fire three years ago.

Multnomah Falls Will Be Closed to the Public This Thanksgiving

If your typical Thanksgiving plans include a trip to Multnomah Falls to appreciate the beauty of our state before dinner, consider one more holiday tradition scrapped this year due to the pandemic. The Columbia River Gorge Forest Service announced on its social media platforms that due to COVID-19 safety considerations and reduced staffing, the entire recreation site will be closed on Nov. 26. That includes the historic lodge, the viewing plaza and the trails.

People Are Trashing Oregon’s National Forests This Summer and Rangers Want It to Stop

After months of living in lockdown, it’s no surprise that quarantine-weary Oregonians have been eager to hike, camp and swim this summer. But it is something of a shock that so many people have gotten back to nature and decided to trash it. The Malheur National Forest is the latest agency to report increased vandalism and theft throughout the 1.7 million acre site, located in Eastern Oregon’s Blue Mountains.

Some Campgrounds in the Columbia River Gorge Will Reopen This Week

If you were hoping for more options to sleep under the stars as we get closer to summer, there’s good news: A handful of campgrounds are about to reopen and they’re all in or near the Columbia River Gorge. As early as tomorrow, three sites on the Washington side of the river—Maryhill, Columbia Hills and Brooks Memorial—will welcome back overnight visitors. You can make reservations on the Washington State Parks website.

A Limited Number of Trails and Parks in the Gorge Have Reopened

A network of state and federal agencies is cracking open the door to the Gorge. Starting today, you can now access some trails and day-use areas throughout the scenic strips of land straddling the Columbia River, but do not expect to visit the major attractions anytime soon.

Here’s How Oregon Forests and Waterfalls Could Reopen in the Coming Weeks

Temperatures are warming; we’re closing in on the unofficial kickoff to summer, Memorial Day weekend; and after weeks cooped up at home, everyone is going a little stir crazy. Fortunately, Gov. Kate Brown does have a path to get you outdoors for some recreation, and those details were released this morning. As part of Oregon’s phase one to reopening in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, all agencies overseeing parks and outdoor facilities will need to enact multiple safety measures to keep people physically separated and ensure conditions remain as sanitary as possible.

Willamette Week

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