Sunday in the Gorge and a visit to Crown Point.

For the past week we have had the honor of having a visitor from my husbands college days. They are good friends and we have enjoyed catching up on our lives and showing him a little of the area around Portland. Visiting the Columbia River Gorge is a must and Crown Point is one highlight that is not to be missed! We took our usual drive up to Skamania Lodge, had a hamburger, returned on the old road that lead us up to Crown Point and Vista House. Hwy 30 was built in 1916 and was the main passage through the Gorge until Hwy 84 was built. The road is overgrown with lush ferns, fir trees, waterfalls galore and many other living things that are all GREEN! The last stretch of the road climbs up to the most spectacular view there is to offer of the Gorge: Crown Point and Vista House. It is said that Lewis and Clark slept below this high point on their journey through the Northwest. View from the top of Crown Point and Vista House looking East. Vista House was built in 1916 at the same time as Highway 30 (what is now the Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway, and the only way to reach Crown Point). The building was designed to be a place of refreshment and enjoyment of the Columbia Gorge. The octagonal building with its copper dome now houses a museum, gift shop and interpretive display of historic and geologic points of interest in the Gorge (the building is open from March-October).
Good friends!
We arrived to this mountain top just in time to see the sun setting. Everyone clapped as the sun went down. It is a natural emotion when seeing such a wondrous site! The view is looking West towards the Pacific Ocean.