There’s an outdoor party underway and you are invited! The gorgeous Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area turns 25 this year so let the celebration begin!

The Columbia River Gorge is a place where views are never twice the same and moments of beauty found along easy trails to walk, bike and leisurely drive. It is a timeless place that’s easy on the eyes and easy to explore and provides each visitor enough memories to last a lifetime.

The milestone anniversary officially arrives in November and dates back 25 years ago when President Ronald Reagan signed the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area Act into law.

It remains the country’s only National Scenic Area! There are nearly 300,000 acres within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. It is not a wilderness but you can escape into wilderness. It isn’t a park, but you can enjoy camping and hiking. It is protected for its scenery yet allows growth and development inside existing communities.

Nearby, The Dalles boasts that it is a community “Gateway to the Gorge.”

In fact, since 1997 the Columbia Gorge National Discovery Center has been the official interpretive setting for the National Scenic Area.

The Discovery Center is home to important stories that link us to Oregon’s rich natural and cultural histories. Through summer and into fall, the center will also link you to the many celebrations centered on the National Scenic Area’s 25th Anniversary.

Find Oregon State Parks in the Columbia Gorge area