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Oregon
26

Oregon State Parks

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USA Parks
Oregon
Mt. Hood and the Gorge Region
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor
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Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © Rick Stasel
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © Rick Stasel
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © Rick Stasel
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © Rick Stasel
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © Rick Stasel
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © Rick Stasel
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © Rick Stasel
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © Rick Stasel
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © Rick Stasel
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor Vista House Interior © Joy Chaussee-Sippel
The interior of The Vista House is made of marble, even the restroom stalls
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © Rick Stasel
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © Rick Stasel
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor Vista House © Joy Chaussee-Sippel
Located at Crown Point State Park. Open every day until 400 PM, except holidays. Free admission.
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor Crown Point State Park © Joy Chaussee-Sippel
Vista House was constructed as a rest area restroomsfor travelers along the old highway.
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © Rick Stasel
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © Rick Stasel
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © Rick Stasel
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © Rick Stasel
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © Rick Stasel
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © Rick Stasel
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © Rick Stasel
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © Rick Stasel
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © dbking / CC BY 2.0
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor © Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region / Public Domain
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CROWN POINT STATE SCENIC CORRIDOR
CROWN POINT STATE SCENIC CORRIDOR
40700 Crown Point Highway
Corbett, Oregon   97019
(lat:45.5396 lon:-122.2444) map location

Phone: 800-551-6949
Millions of visitors driving from Portland through the Columbia River Gorge don't realize the full impact of its beauty until they come around the bend near Corbett at exit 22 and see the famous building on the top of the cliff to the right. This is Crown Point and the building is the Vista House.

Just as the Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom, the Vista House serves as the symbol of the Columbia River Gorge. In fact, the architect of the Vista House -- Edgar Lazarus -- and Emma Lazarus (who wrote the poem of the Statue of Liberty), were brother and sister.

The Vista House was built in 1916 at the same time as Highway 30 (what is now the Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway, and the only way to reach Crown Point). The building was designed to be a place of refreshment and enjoyment of the Columbia Gorge. The popular clifftop viewpoint recently has undergone a $3.2 million restoration to repair and rejuvenate the building's key historic features.

The octagonal building with its copper dome houses a museum, gift shop and interpretive display of historic and geologic points of interest in the Gorge (the building is open from March-October).
History of the Area
Located in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, this iconic landmark of Oregon was established as a state park in 1938. The area is renowned for its panoramic views and historical significance.

The history of the site dates back to early exploration by Lewis and Clark during their expedition across America between 1804-06. They named it "Thor's Heights" due to its commanding view over the river gorge below.

In later years, Samuel Hill - an entrepreneur with interests in transportation infrastructure - saw potential for tourism development at Thor's Heights. He commissioned architect Edgar M Lazarus to design Vista House; an observatory that would also serve as a memorial honoring pioneers who traveled along Oregon Trail.

Construction began on Vista House in 1916 but faced numerous challenges including harsh weather conditions which delayed completion until May 5th,1922 when it officially opened up public access offering breathtaking vistas from atop what had been renamed Crown Point by then.

During Great Depression era (late '30s), Works Progress Administration worked extensively throughout region improving roads & facilities making them more accessible thus increasing popularity among tourists visiting these scenic spots like our subject here too!



Picnicking
Crown Point State Scenic Corridor offers picnic areas with stunning views, tables and grills. No reservations are required for picnicking.
Bicycling
Biking in this scenic area of Oregon can be a thrilling experience, but caution is advised. The terrain varies significantly and includes steep inclines that may challenge even experienced cyclists.

The park's roads are shared with motor vehicles, so bikers should always stay alert to traffic around them. Visibility can sometimes be limited due to weather conditions or the winding nature of some routes.

There aren't any dedicated bike paths within the park itself; all cycling must take place on established roadways. Cyclists need helmets for safety as well as bright clothing for visibility purposes.

While biking here offers stunning views and diverse landscapes, it requires physical fitness due to hilly terrains. It's recommended only for those comfortable riding alongside vehicular traffic.

Remember: Safety first! Always adhere strictly to posted speed limits and rules while enjoying your ride through these beautiful surroundings.
Trails
1. Upper Viewpoint Trail: A short, paved trail leading to a panoramic view of the Columbia River Gorge.

2. Lower Viewpoint Trail: This is an easy walk that takes you down from the Vista House to another viewpoint overlooking the river and gorge below.

3. Crown Point Pathway: An ADA-accessible pathway circling around Vista House offering stunning views of both eastward and westward directions along with interpretive signs about local history and geology.

4. Historic Highway State Trail - John B Yeon To Cascade Locks Section: It's part of Oregon's historic highway system which offers hikers scenic vistas over 6 miles stretch between these two points within Crown Point Scenic Corridor area.

5. Guy W Talbot Loop Hike: Starting at Latourell Falls parking lot in this corridor, it provides access to upper falls via steep switchbacks through lush forested areas before looping back towards starting point covering approximately 2 mile distance.

6. Vista house loop hike: Short but rewarding half:mile round trip providing close-up experience with iconic vista house structure while enjoying sweeping views across Columbia River Gorge region.

7. Crown:Point-to-Latourelle-Falls Bike Route: Approximately four-miles long bike route connecting crown point vista house location & lower latorelle fall site passing by several viewpoints on way for bikers who prefer exploring trails on wheels rather than foot.

8. Historic:Columbia-River-Highway-State-Trail (Mitchell-point-section): Another section under state-trail network running parallelly alongside I84 freeway giving opportunity for longer hikes or biking trips spanning multiple sections together.

9. Coopey Falls Side Trip: Offshoot from main Angel's Rest hiking path allowing visitors chance witnessing beautiful Coopey waterfall up:close during their journey.

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Area Campgrounds
Portland Fairview RV Park
21401 NE Sandy Boulevard
Fairview, OR
Nearby Hotels
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Directions
1. Start by heading east on Interstate 84 from Portland.
2. Take Exit 22 toward Corbett and Bridal Veil.
3. Merge onto NE Frontage Road and continue for about half a mile.
4. Turn left onto E Historic Columbia River Hwy (signs for Multnomah Falls).
5. Continue driving on the historic highway for approximately 6 miles until you reach your destination at Crown Point.

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Oregon
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Oregon State Parks

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