Welcome to the Columbia River Gorge Commission. We are a team of staff and commissioners responsible for managing the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in both Oregon and Washington—a special place known for its amazing views, rich history, natural landscapes, outdoor recreation, and vibrant communities.

Our job is to protect the Gorge’s scenery, habitats, working agricultural and forest lands, cultural sites, and recreation opportunities while supporting economic vitality. Our goal is to ensure that this unique region, and the people here, thrive for generations to come. We are guided by the two purposes of the National Scenic Area Act:

(1) To establish a national scenic area to protect and provide for the enhancement of the scenic, cultural, recreation, and natural resources of the Columbia River Gorge; and

(2) To protect and support the economy of the Columbia River Gorge area by encouraging growth to occur in existing urban areas and by allowing future economic development in a manner that is consistent with paragraph (1).

The Columbia River Gorge is the largest and most ecologically diverse national scenic area in the United States. Managing this landscape requires collaboration with the USDA Forest Service, counties, treaty tribes, and many other partners. We appreciate the dedication and expertise of all those we work with to steward this special place.