The Project
Explore Gorge Towns to Trails
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Download Gorge Towns to Trails Brochure (PDF)

*Update, Jan. 24, 2024: Friends and the US Forest Service Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area have jointly announced an initiative to engage the community in the planning and development of a new link in Gorge Towns to Trails connecting Mosier to The Dalles, Oregon. Explore the details, visit the online open house, and let us know what you want to see in the future trail, at mosiertothedallestrail.org.

Gorge Towns to Trails is an initiative to create a world-class network of trails encircling the Columbia Gorge. The 200-mile loop trail network would connect communities with recreation, promote alternative transportation options, and create contiguous parcels of protected lands that benefit wildlife. It also would serve as an innovative tool to disperse congestion at popular trailheads and introduce people to spectacular, but less visited, areas of the Gorge.

More Than a Trail

From advising on highway congestion to helping secure funding for local park and trail connections, Gorge Towns to Trails is building future systems to better manage Gorge recreation areas and promote alternative transit use. This includes efforts led by Gorge Towns to Trails' staff to assist community partners in exploring the Bridge of the Gods Multimodal Bridge Project, developing the Columbia Gorge Express bus system, and engaging the public on key safety and traffic revision proposals for the Historic Columbia River Highway and Washington State Highway 14.

Gorge Towns to Trails also provides creative avenues to support Gorge communities. With Gorge towns typically five to fifteen miles apart and separated by largely undeveloped areas, the 200-mile loop trail network would offer a unique opportunity to create a regional trail model unachievable in most parts of the United States.

Through the 2022 Oregon Signature Trails Inventory process, Gorge Towns to Trails was identified as one of 15 trails with the existing infrastructure, support, and momentum to provide access to iconic landscapes and world-class trail experiences.

Facts

  • 45% -- The trail miles already in place for the entire loop trail system.
  • 80% -- The necessary land corridor miles that are already secured.
  • 100 -- The number of partners, including almost 50 businesses and six Gorge towns, that support Gorge Towns to Trails.

Connecting Trails & Community

Since its launch in 2011 by Friends of the Columbia Gorge, support for Gorge Towns to Trails has grown with local leaders across the region. Existing projects that will play a key role in the Gorge Towns to Trails network include:

  • Steigerwald Lake Restoration
  • Bridge of the Gods Multimodal Bridge Project
  • Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail
  • Hood River Multimodal Bridge Project
  • Lyle Cherry Orchard Trail Expansions & Reroute
  • The Dalles Riverfront Trail
  • Mosier Plateau Trail
  • Washougal Waterfront Trail
  • Trail of the Gods Trail from Stevenson to Bridge of the Gods
  • White Salmon Bluff Trail Planning
 

In 2016-2017, four properties totaling 242.7 acres were acquired through the Preserve the Wonder campaign, closing trail gaps in Washington. For these three sections, 93 percent of the land corridors are now secured and 35 percent of the trail miles are in place. These eight Gorge communities will benefit from increased economic activity when the segments are complete. The Washougal-to-Cascade Locks corridor is the closest to the goal; it is one mile from completion.

In 2017, Gorge Towns to Trails also was designated a statewide priority for Oregon as a signature trail in the state’s Outdoor Recreation Initiative. This 15-year vision focuses on providing visitors with world-class recreation experiences and infrastructure, among other goals.

And in December 2021, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), readying new legislation to introduce in Congress, released a four-page summary outlining concepts (download) for added protections and enhancements to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and the Mount Hood National Forest. Within the concepts is support for Friends’ Gorge Towns to Trails vision.

Now is the time to rethink how we manage the Gorge’s 100-year-old trail system and address challenges within existing systems, such as traffic congestion along the Historic Columbia River Highway and over-use of popular trails. Gorge Towns to Trails is an opportunity to build stronger connections between Gorge community leaders and engage state and federal agencies to explore new approaches to age-old problems.

To learn more about how you can join as a supporter or partner please contact Gorge Towns To Trails Project Manager Renee Tkach at renee@gorgefriends.org.

Project Segments

"The Gorge Towns to Trails has been a great influence and has provided supportive partnership with the Port of Camas-Washougal. Throughout our Washougal Waterfront Trail and Park project, they have helped guide us through the funding process as well as been an advocate in helping this project become a reality. The Port looks forward to continuing our partnership and seeing the Gorge Towns to Trails project reach its full potential from Washougal east into the Gorge." - David Ripp, Executive Director of Port of Camas-Washougal

Since the project’s launch, Gorge Towns to Trails has made significant progress with 45% of the trail miles already in place for the entire loop trail system and 80% of the necessary land corridor miles have already been secured. Below is a closer look at where the project is with a look ahead by geographic segments of the loop, east to west.

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Download segment brochure (PDF)
 

Washougal to Stevenson & Cascade Locks

This 34-mile segment will connect parks, refuges, and trails as well as the communities of Washougal, North Bonneville, Stevenson, and Cascade Locks.

A Look Ahead

When completed, the Washougal to Stevenson & Cascade Locks trail connection in the Gorge could look similar to the above illustration. Existing projects that will play a key role in the Gorge Towns to Trails network include:

Washougal Gap: Supporters and partners in Washougal are working together to find alternatives for mending the quarter-mile gap and needed railroad crossing east of Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge. North Bonneville Connection: Friends of the Columbia Gorge and Bonneville Trails Foundation are working to connect a trail from the North Bonneville city center to the existing trail systems to the north.

Bridge of the Gods Multimodal Bridge Project: An effort by Port of Cascade Locks, City of Stevenson, Pacific Crest Trail Association, and Friends of the Columbia Gorge to expand the existing bridge to create a path for pedestrian, equestrian, and non-motorized bike traffic.

Segment Project Highlight: Bridge of the Gods Multimodal Bridge Project

Friends of the Columbia Gorge has partnered with the Port of Cascade Locks, Pacific Crest Trail Association, and the City of Stevenson to build a pedestrian, equestrian, and bicycle path on the Bridge of the Gods. This critical infrastructure improvement would not only provide safe access for future pedestrians and bicyclists, but could create a key link with other Gorge trails, such as the recently completed Trail of the Gods in Skamania County. Partners continue to work together to secure necessary funding for this project.

Community Partnerships Include:
  • Beacon Rock State Park
  • Bonneville Trails Foundation
  • Cape Horn Conservancy
  • Chinook Trail Association
  • City of North Bonneville
  • City of Stevenson
  • City of Washougal
  • Columbia Gorge National Wildlife Refug
  • Pacific Crest Trail Association
  • Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
  • Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
  • Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
  • Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)
  • Skamania County Chamber of Commerce
  • Stevenson Business Association
  • The Port of Camas-Washougal
  • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
  • U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
  • Washington Trails Association

View full image of above map

Download segment brochure (PDF)
 

Hood River to The Dalles

This 22-mile segment will connect parks, preserves, and established trails, as well as the Oregon communities of Hood River, Mosier, and The Dalles.

A Look Ahead

When completed, the Hood River to The Dalles trail connection in the Gorge could look similar to the above illustration. Existing projects that will play a key role in the Gorge Towns to Trails network include:

Hood River Multimodal Bridge Project: A vision to create a path for pedestrians and non-motorized bike traffic crossing between Hood River, Oregon, and Bingen and White Salmon, Washington.

The “Mosier Mile”: Local landowners and businesses are working to establish a trail connection through a one-mile gap between the Mosier Plateau and the city of The Dalles.

Mount Ulka Overlook & Trail: A project to connect a trail from the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum to a Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust preserve on Seven Mile Hill.

The Dalles Riverfront Trail: Ten miles of paved, multiuse trail leading from The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum to The Dalles city center.

Segment Project Highlight: Mount Ulka Trail & Overlook

In 2013, Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust purchased 167 acres of land plus two-thirds mile of trail easement on Seven Mile Hill, just west of the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum. In 2015, the U.S. Forest Service purchased 119 acres from Friends, leaving 48 acres that remain in the ownership of Friends’ land trust. Friends is working with the City of The Dalles, Wasco County, and other local stakeholders to create a new trail connection on the Mount Ulka property that will connect to the Discovery Center and The Dalles Riverfront Trail.

Community Partnerships Include:

  • Analemma Wines
  • Cathedral Ridge Winery
  • Chinook Trail Association
  • City of Hood River, Oregon
  • City of Mosier, Oregon
  • City of The Dalles, Oregon
  • Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum
  • Columbia Gorge Tourism Alliance
  • Columbia Gorge Winegrowers Association
  • Confluence
  • Gorge Owned
  • Historic Columbia River Highway Advisory Committee
  • Hood River Area Trail Stewards
  • Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District
  • Mazamas
  • National Park Service
  • Northwest Youth Corps
  • Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
  • Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)
  • The Dalles Kiwanis Club
  • The Dalles Lions Club
  • Trailkeepers of Oregon
  • Travel Oregon
  • U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
  • Wasco County, OR

View full image of above map

Download segment brochure (PDF)
 

Underwood to Lyle

This 13-mile trail segment will connect parks and established trails, as well as the communities of Underwood, White Salmon, Bingen, and Lyle.

A Look Ahead

When completed, the Underwood to Lyle trail connection in the Gorge could look similar to the above illustration. Existing projects that will play a key role in the Gorge Towns to Trails network include:

Hood River Multimodal Bridge Project: A vision to create a path for pedestrians and non-motorized bike traffic crossing between Hood River, Oregon, and Bingen and White Salmon, Washington.

Lyle Cherry Orchard Trail Expansions & Reroute: The existing trail system is being expanded to add four new miles of trail. Work will continue to find a direct connection into the township of Lyle.

Segment Project Highlight: Friends' Lyle Cherry Orchard Preserve

Perched above and east of the community of Lyle, Washington, this former cherry orchard has been a place of trailblazing innovation for over a century. The 540-acre preserve owned by Friends of the Columbia Gorge Land Trust, has undergone a dramatic transformation in the recent years.

Friends and Washington Trails Association (WTA) partnered between 2019 and 2021 to build an additional three miles of trail, with two new loops: one to highlight the site of the long-abandoned namesake cherry orchard and another that wraps around the iconic “Lyle” sign.

Friends’ long-term goal is to connect the trail into Lyle as a key component of Gorge Towns to Trails, an effort to create a loop trail around the entire Gorge, connecting Gorge communities. The Lyle Cherry Orchard trail expansion project is the second Gorge Towns to Trails accomplishment, following the Mosier Plateau trail completed in 2013.

Community Partnerships Include:

  • City of White Salmon
  • Columbia Gorge Tourism Alliance
  • Columbia Gorge Winegrowers Association
  • Gorge Owned
  • National Park Service
  • Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
  • Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
  • Washington Trails Association

 

Status of the Larger Vision for Gorge Towns to Trails