Friends of the Columbia Gorge

Friends of the Columbia Gorge Friends of the Columbia Gorge protects, preserves, and stewards the Columbia Gorge for future generations.

Learn more about our work and how you can get involved at gorgefriends.org and instagram.com/gorgefriends. Ensuring the Gorge remains a vibrant, living place—wondrous, wild, and open to all—is at the core of what we do. Friends of the Columbia Gorge works to protect, preserve, and steward the Columbia Gorge for future generations. We are the only conservation organization entirely dedicated to pro

tecting and enhancing the scenic, natural, cultural, and recreational resources of the Columbia Gorge. For over four decades, we have successfully advocated to protect the Gorge from irresponsible development, purchased scenic and sensitive lands for long-term preservation, and worked with community partners to foster a larger culture of Gorge stewardship by connecting thousands of students and volunteers to the Gorge’s wonders.

09/04/2026

Mark your calendars: fall guided outings are almost here. As the Gorge shifts into autumn, we're bringing fresh opportunities to explore and care for this place together.

Whatever draws you outside, there's an outing for you. This season, look forward to an educational fungi walk, nature journaling, photography at Rooster Rock, and classic hikes at Angel's Rest and Steigerwald Lake.🍁🍂

Registration and the full schedule arrive on Friday, September 11. Sign up for our Hike eNews newsletter at gorgefriends.org/subscribe so you can grab your spot when registration opens. You won't want to miss it.

Gorge

We celebrated 40 years of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area with an incredible group of federal, state, regi...
08/25/2026

We celebrated 40 years of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area with an incredible group of federal, state, regional, and local elected officials, legislative staff, Tribal representatives, and partners who help bring the Gorge to life every day.

The tour highlighted what four decades of collaboration can accomplish. We visited Friends' Turtle Haven Preserve to learn about land conservation, habitat restoration, and the recovery of the Northwestern pond turtle and then gathered for a celebratory lunch where partners shared updates on the projects and partnerships that continue to strengthen the Gorge—from recreation and conservation to economic vitality and community resilience.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and to the many organizations, agencies, Tribes, businesses, and community leaders whose dedication has made the Gorge one of the nation's greatest conservation success stories. Here's to the next 40 years of partnership and stewardship!

Lost in the mist at Elowah Falls 💧. Our annual photo contest is all about shots like this, capturing what the National S...
08/23/2026

Lost in the mist at Elowah Falls 💧. Our annual photo contest is all about shots like this, capturing what the National Scenic Area protects 📸.

Submissions are open now through October 1 at gorgefriends.org/photocontest

Say no to the Cascade Renewable Transmission Project. Tell EFSEC this 100-mile power cable doesn’t belong under the Colu...
08/21/2026

Say no to the Cascade Renewable Transmission Project. Tell EFSEC this 100-mile power cable doesn’t belong under the Columbia River. Public comments are due August 26 at 5 p.m.

Submit your comments at act.gorgefriends.org/a/crt_efsec_permit

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and we're celebrating with our 11...
08/12/2026

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and we're celebrating with our 11th annual photo contest📸. Forty years ago, Friends led the fight to protect this landscape. Now we want you to capture it.

Submit the photos that represent the protection, stewardship, and preservation of the Gorge, from roaring waterfalls and wildflower meadows to wildlife, adventure, and community. For the 10th consecutive year, this competition is sponsored by Pro Photo Supply, Oregon's source for all things photography and video for over 40 years.

Submissions are open now through October 1 at gorgefriends.org/photocontest. Grab your camera and help us celebrate four decades of this national treasure.

Categories
🚴Action/Adventure
🏘️Culture and Community
📸Photojournalism
☀️Scenic Eastern Gorge
🌲Scenic Western Gorge
⛈️Storms and Clouds
💧Waterfalls
🐻Wildlife


Photo: Sunrise at Crown Point, Oregon by Stephan Ilie - 2025 Storms & Clouds Category Winner

As much as we'd love to be outside soaking up summer in the Gorge, it's too smoky to be out there right now. With unheal...
08/05/2026

As much as we'd love to be outside soaking up summer in the Gorge, it's too smoky to be out there right now. With unhealthy air quality this week, we want to help you stay smoke-ready with some tips from Smoke Ready Gorge.

Smoke Ready Gorge is a campaign built to help the Gorge community stay safe and prepared for wildfire smoke. Here are a few tips from their site for everyone affected by the persistent smoke:

Check the Air Quality Index (AQI)

Monitor local wildfires and turn on alerts in the Watch Duty app

Keep windows and doors closed

Use high-efficiency (HEPA) air cleaning filters in your home

If you must be outside in heavy smoke, wear a
properly fitted N95-grade mask

Learn more at SmokeReadyGorge.org


08/02/2026

For July's Curious Gorge Explorers, Friends' youth and community education specialist Kenzie Hammond led a nature journaling program at Oxbow Regional Park, where kids, parents, and caregivers explored new ways to connect with nature.

We'll be back at it this month with a geology walk for Curious Gorge Explorers!🪨

Sign up for our email newsletter to stay tuned for details on the upcoming outing: gorgefriends.org/subscribe

We look forward to spending more time with you and discovering even more ways kids and their families can deepen their connection with the Gorge.


The Bench Fire and Beachcomb Fire have deeply impacted individuals and families of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Sprin...
07/31/2026

The Bench Fire and Beachcomb Fire have deeply impacted individuals and families of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon

To support recovery, CTWS has created the Wildfire Recovery Fund to meet immediate needs and help rebuild what was lost. A donation page is now open for community members, organizations, and partners who wish to support response efforts on the Reservation.

The Tribes are also welcoming volunteer assistance, coordinated through designated Tribal contacts. Every contribution helps families begin to recover.

To support the CTWS Wildfire Recovery Fund click this link https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/the-confederated-tribes-of-the-warm-springs-reservation-of-oregon-ctws-wildfire-recovery-fund

🚨Oregon residents, today is the last day to submit comments on HR 655 to the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forest...
07/29/2026

🚨Oregon residents, today is the last day to submit comments on HR 655 to the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. HR 655 would transfer approximately 150 acres of land from the Mt. Hood National Forest to the City of The Dalles.

This would allow the city to nearly triple the capacity of a reservoir and divert more water from the Dog River, creating negative impacts on the fish that rely on this river system. Thank you for standing with us to protect the Columbia Gorge and the rivers that sustain it.

🗣️Use your voice and submit a comment at

https://act.gorgefriends.org/a/hr-655 ‼️🔗

Address

123 NE 3rd Avenue Suite 108
Portland, OR
97232

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Friends of the Columbia Gorge posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share