Columbia River Gorge, Mount St. Helens

Experience the breathtaking natural beauty of the United States' only National Scenic Area, the Columbia River Gorge. Visit historic stops like Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and explore the awesome landscapes of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

  • 1

    Day 1: Vancouver (WA)

    Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Pearson Air Museum, Officers Row and the General George C. Marshall House

  • 2

    Day 2: Columbia River Gorge

    Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Washougal and Pendleton Woolen Mill, Beacon Rock, Columbia River Gorge Interpretative Center, Cascade Locks & Scenic Cruise on the Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge, Bonneville Dam (Oregon), Fish Hatchery, Multnomah Falls (Oregon)

  • 3

    Day 3: Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

    Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Mount St. Helens Silver Lake Visitor Center, Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center

  • 4

    Day 4: Lewis & Clark Trail and the Pacific Ocean

    Pacific Ocean, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and Cathlapotle Plankhouse, Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment, Long Beach

Day 1: Vancouver (WA)

Apple blossoms in full bloom at Fort Vancouver Historic Preserve.

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

Established in 1825 as the Britain-based Hudson Bay Company's extensive fur trading network in the Pacific Northwest. Take a guided tour of the fort's reconstructed buildings as they come alive with interpreters in period clothing who re-enact daily fort life.

Pearson Air Museum

Learn about aviation history and view airplanes from pre-WWII on location at one of the oldest continually operating airfields in the United States. Open Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and students ages 6-17, free for children under 6.

Officers Row and the General George C. Marshall House

Built in 1886 for the commander of the Vancouver Barracks and named for this famous resident, the George C. Marshall House is a shining example of Victorian-style architecture. Enjoy a fabulous meal at The Restaurant at the Historic Reserve in the historic Grant House, seating Monday 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. The Marshall House is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Day 2: Columbia River Gorge (100 miles roundtrip)

The historic Fort Vancouver restaurant, at the Fort Vancouver Historic Preserve.

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

Take a loop drive along the Columbia River Gorge for a full day of breathtaking views and Native American History.

Washougal & Pendleton Woolen Mill

View the spinning, weaving and finishing of distinctive Native American blankets. Public tours for individuals and small groups (fewer than 10 persons) are held Monday through Friday, at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Beacon Rock

Venture to Beacon Rock to see the core of an extinct volcano. More adventurous visitors can trek the mile-long trail up to the peak, where the magnificent view of the Columbia River Gorge makes the climb worth the effort.

Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center

The Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center includes more 11,000 square feet of exhibits on the area's cultural and natural history. Some of the exhibits feature Native American life, heritage quilts, Lewis & Clark and the world's largest rosary collection. Open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

A view of Beacon Rock along the Columbia River Gorge.

Cascade Locks & Scenic Cruise on the Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge

This paddle wheeler affords 360° views of the Columbia River Gorge, the only National Scenic Area in the United States.

Bonneville Dam (Oregon)

Tour the newest and oldest hydropower houses on the Columbia River. Explore historical exhibits and an underwater fish viewing station to see large salmon and sturgeon swim by.

Fish Hatchery

View salmon in rearing ponds and 15-20 foot sturgeon in a viewing tank. Here you can also feed trout in the trout ponds, set in a beautiful park-like setting. A gift shop is available.

Multnomah Falls (Oregon)

The falls are the second-highest, year-round waterfall in the United States. A restaurant and gift shop is available. Enjoy dinner at one of Vancouver's waterfront restaurants to complete this Columbia Gorge loop tour.

Day 3: Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument (200 miles roundtrip)

A visitor catches a close-up view of the wildlife at North Head Lighthouse in Long Beach.

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Visitors will be introduced to area history and the powerful events that took place during the 1980 eruption.

Mount St. Helens Silver Lake Visitor Center

Visit the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument to learn about the May 18, 1980 eruption that forever changed the landscape of Mount St. Helens. This world-class natural attraction offers year-round educational visitor centers and an abundance of scenic and wildlife viewing. Take in outstanding views as you walk the Silver Lake Wetlands Trail. In the winter, the center is open Monday and Thursday through Sunday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; open daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. the rest of the year. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for children 7-17 and free for seniors and children under 6.

Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center

Great views of Mount St. Helens and the mudflow at the Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center. Around the center, you can watch ash glassblowing demonstrations or walk through Memorial Grove, commemorating those who lost their lives at Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980. For the more adventurous traveler, get a bird's-eye view of Mount St. Helens with a helicopter ride to the edge of the safety zone. A restaurant is available for group reservations.

Day 4: Lewis & Clark Trail and the Pacific Ocean (250 miles roundtrip)

Two deer along the brush in Long Beach.

Pacific Ocean

The ocean is only a 90-mile drive from Vancouver. Visitors will find pristine beaches and spectacular scenery on the Pacific Coast. History buffs will appreciate the Lewis & Clark attractions and the stories told along this drive.

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge & Cathlapotle Plankhouse

Cathlapotle Plankhouse is a full-scale replica of a Chinookan-style cedar plankhouse at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, home to many species of spring and fall migrating birds. The Lewis & Clark Expedition stopped here in November 1805 and again in March 1806 to trade with the Native Americans. Open Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment

Exhibits at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment focus on the history of Lewis & Clark's experience at the mouth of the Columbia River and include an award-winning film, "Dreams and Discovery: Lewis & Clark's Arrival to the Pacific." Take a leisurely walk along Discovery Trail which includes a boardwalk along the Pacific Ocean. This spectacular trail traces the path William Clark and a party of his men carved across Cape Disappointment and along the Pacific Coast in November 1805. Interpretive displays along the way include a 20-foot bronze tree, recreating the tree William Clark marked his name in four miles up the beach from Beard's Hollow, and a full skeleton of a gray whale, commemorating William Clark's observation of March 19, 1805, of which he noted, "I saw…several joints of a backbone of a whale which must have foundered on this part of the coast." Open daily year round from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and seniors, $2.50 for children 7-17, free for children 6 and under.

Long Beach

Spend a few hours exploring the boutique shops and museums in downtown Long Beach. With the variety of restaurants available, this would make a good location for lunch. Recommended must sees in this area include: International Kite Museum, Marsh's Free Museum, the Cranberry Museum and the historic town of Oysterville.