Why Colombia?
I’d venture to guess that at some point over the last few years, you (or a distant relative) have questioned your decision to live in Portland.
I guarantee you, you made a great choice.
Living along the Columbia River means living at the confluence of Oregon and Washington, ancient cliffs and massive dams, huckleberry fields and biodynamic rosé, lush forests and arid desert, arts and politics.
The Columbia River flows 1,200 miles through four mountain ranges, providing transportation, power and water to vast areas of British Columbia, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. Along the way, it collects water from other great rivers, including the Snake, Deschutes, White Salmon and Willamette, before emptying into the Pacific Ocean.
For thousands of years, the Columbia River Basin has been home to five major Native American tribes: the Nez Perce Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. These cultures have been shaped by their relationship with the river and the salmon that live there. Today, their members lead the fight to protect, conserve and restore our waterways and aquatic resources, and we owe them an immeasurable debt.
To create this guide, our trusty co-conspirators traveled from Ilwaco to Kennewick and from Astoria to Boardman, paddled to islands, scaled cliffs, biked trails, and balanced fruit cocktails at bobbing restaurants (someone had to do it).
We ate the freshest crab at Linda’s Seafood Market in Chinook, gloated over a seat at Fedde Restaurant in Astoria, flushed toxins in steamy mineral baths in Carson, marveled at Vancouver’s sparkling waterfront, and planned an outdoor concert under the beautiful trees at Topaz Farm on Sauvie Island. And, incredibly, there was so much more to cover that none of it would make a complete article.
Pick up a magazine to find out what we’ve written about.
Whether you choose to canoe, boat, bike, bar stool or walk, you’ll have a great adventure along the Columbia River.
What are you waiting for?
Funds, time, and weather don’t always cooperate with outdoor exploration, so our guides are packed with inspiration for films, TV shows, books, music, podcasts, and more to inspire your armchair adventure.
check out:
The Confluence Project podcast is part of a nonprofit organization established to recognize and elevate the indigenous dimensions of American history. At confluenceproject.org, you can find information about tribal perspectives and a helpful guide to five completed art experiences designed by Maya Lin and installed along the Washington coast and east coast. The podcast regularly features voices connected to the river. Recommended starter episodes: “History and Art at the Mouth of the Columbia River” (February 27, 2024) and “Stories and Celilos Told by Roberta Connor” (August 22, 2023).
Oregon Summer Magazine is Willamette Week’s annual summer guide, this year focusing on the Columbia River. It’s free and available throughout Portland starting Monday, July 1, 2024. Pick up your copy at one of the locations listed on this map before they run out. Learn more about Oregon Summer Magazine below.
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