Oregon · Rock climbing · Cascade Locks · Near Mount Hood Villages

Portland & The Gorge

3 routes
5.4 – 5.6
Bouldering · Trad · Sport
Apr–Oct
best months

Is Portland & The Gorge open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

As of · Source: USFS · Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Portland & The Gorge is a climbing area in Oregon's Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, managed by the Forest Service. It sits within the scenic corridor that straddles the river between Oregon and Washington, and its climbing draws from a mix of styles, including bouldering, sport and trad routes. The area's most notable route is the Classic Route, a trad climb rated 5.4 with a first ascent by Raymond Conway in 1915. Another sport route, Unknown [Just Shy Of The Tip], is rated 5.6. A bouldering area, the Bridge of the Gods Boulders, lies about 2.4 miles away across the river in Washington. Summer is the warmest stretch for a visit. Typical averages from the nearby Cascade Locks weather station run from highs around 80°F in July to about 82°F in August, with lows in the mid-50s. Winter is much colder, with January highs near 42°F and lows around 33°F. The Gorge Trail and the PCT Washington Section H are both within a mile, and Eagle Creek Campground is about 2.6 miles away. Paddlers can find Spring Creek roughly 5 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Marine Park RV and Tent Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 0.5 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Gorges Beer Company

    Brewery

    On your way back · 1 mi
  • If it rainsJmasterson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 17 mi from Mount Hood Villages

    Aviation and automobile museum in Oregon, United States

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Jmasterson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Mount Hood Villages
  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Portland & The Gorge

    Best months: April–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      42° / 33°

    2. Feb

      48° / 34°

    3. Mar

      54° / 36°

    4. Apr

      61° / 41°

    5. May

      68° / 47°

    6. Jun

      73° / 52°

    7. Jul

      80° / 56°

    8. Aug

      82° / 57°

    9. Sep

      76° / 51°

    10. Oct

      63° / 45°

    11. Nov

      50° / 39°

    12. Dec

      43° / 33°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cascade Locks, OR, 0.9 mi away at 142 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (3)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Beacon Rock BoulderingPhoto: Kingofthedead, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Beacon Rock Bouldering

~12 min drive

Solid bouldering in Oregon's Columbia River Gorge with scenic river views.

North Forest BouldersPhoto: Kingofthedead, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

North Forest Boulders

~12 min drive

North Forest Boulders in Oregon has 12 bouldering routes across 7 grades.

CLIMB

Bridge of the Gods Boulders

~4 min drive

Bridge of the Gods Boulders is a bouldering area in Washington with 1 route.

CLIMB

The Dome

~5 min drive

Dome, The in Washington has 10 climbing routes with 7 difficulty grades.

CLIMB

Windy Slab

~11 min drive

Windy Slab in Oregon has 10 climbing routes across 8 grades, offering sport, top-rope, and trad options.

CLIMB

South Face

~12 min drive

South Face in Oregon has 62 climbing routes with 26 difficulty grades, offering sport and trad climbing.

CLIMB

Columbia Pearl

~12 min drive

Columbia Pearl is a 5-route bouldering crag in Oregon with routes ranging across 3 difficulty grades.

CLIMB

Northwest Face

~12 min drive

Northwest Face in Oregon has 19 climbing routes with mixed and traditional styles.

CLIMB

West Face

~12 min drive

West Face in Oregon has 26 climbing routes across 14 grades, offering sport and trad styles.

CLIMB

Upper Bowl

~13 min drive

Upper Bowl is a Washington climbing area with 7 bouldering routes on rock with 3 difficulty grades.