ROAD SORTIES Scenic Roads

Historic Columbia River Highway

Historic Columbia River Highway is a State Scenic Byway in Oregon. Within Oregon it covers roughly 40 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Historic Columbia River Highway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.

Completed in 1916, the Historic Columbia River Highway was the first planned scenic highway in the United States, engineered to showcase the Columbia River Gorge while treading lightly on it. It passes the art-deco Vista House at Crown Point and a remarkable concentration of waterfalls, including 620-foot Multnomah Falls, Oregon's most visited natural attraction. The road is a National Historic Landmark, with several segments now restored for walking and cycling.

Plan a drive on Historic Columbia River Highway →

What is a State Scenic Byway?

State Scenic Byways are roads a state has formally recognized for their scenic, natural, historic or cultural value — each state's own curated collection of drives worth taking slowly.

Where to Stay along Historic Columbia River Highway

2 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of Historic Columbia River Highway.

Campsite and lodging links are affiliate links — booking through them may earn Road Sorties a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Recreation.gov links are not affiliate links.

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