Crown Point State Scenic Corridor

The octagonal Vista House is the main attraction at Crown Point, owing both to its elegant art nouveau architecture, which looks particularly striking against the backdrop of the verdant Gorge region, and because of its convenience. It’s the first major attraction in the Columbia River Gorge if you’re visiting from Portland, and most tours of the area stop here so that guests can take photos and use the restrooms before continuing on to Multnomah Falls and other nearby waterfalls.

If you happen to visit when the Vista House is closed, you can still drive up to the parking lot at Crown Point and get great photos.

• The Crown Point State Scenic Corridor is a must-visit for photographers interested in taking landscape or architectural photos.

• Admission to the Vista House is free, but donations are welcome.

• Facilities inside the Vista House include restrooms, two gift shops, and a small coffee shop.

• Parking at Crown Point (and elsewhere in the Gorge) is limited and permits are sometimes required. If you don’t want to deal with sorting out logistics, leave your car at home and book a tour instead.

• Vista House is wheelchair accessible, with a special trap door–style elevator that descends from the lobby to the lower level.

Crown Point is located in the western part of the Columbia River Gorge, about a 35-minute drive from Portland. It's not accessible by public transportation, meaning you'll need to either rent a car or head out as part of a tour. Another option, which can help prevent parking problems, is to leave your car in the nearby town of Corbett and take a hop-on, hop-off trolley bus through the Gorge.

The best time to visit the Crown Point State Scenic Corridor is on a weekday in the spring or fall, when the weather is generally pleasant (though rain is always a possibility) and there aren't usually too many crowds. The Vista House is usually open Friday through Monday, and it's worth timing your trip so that you can go inside.

While Crown Point is generally the first stop on a Columbia River Gorge tour, there’s a lot more to visit in this region. The best-known attraction is Multnomah Falls, Oregon’s tallest waterfall, and getting there doesn’t require hiking. If you do feel like hiking, don’t miss Fairy Falls, a mystical cascade accessible via a 3.4-mile (5.5-km) lollipop loop trail.