Columbia River Gorge Views are Heavenly

The Columbia River Gorge is one of the most beautiful scenic areas in the world. We are quite fortunate to be nestled right up to the western entrance from our locale here in the Metro Portland-Vancouver area. Since the area is part of a National Scenic Recreation Area, there is a strict commission that oversees any development that can impact the area. There are a few grandfathered exceptions in places like Stevenson, WA, White Salmon, WA, and Hood River, OR.

Homes and lots within these exempt areas do come at a premium, but the views can often take the price pain away.

A friend and colleague of mine has a gorgeous 9 acre site with 8 engineered lots in White Salmon exempt from the Gorge Commission some of which offer breathtaking views of Mount Hood, OR, and the Columbia River Gorge.

White Salmon is in the transition point from the lush and wet Western Gorge to the drier, sunnier Eastern Gorge. I have written about White Salmon in the past you can check here. The warmer in the summer and drier conditions are often desired by retirees looking for a beautiful retreat. This area is close enough in and low enough in elevation to avoid a really cold and bitter winter but it will be notably chillier than the Western flank of the Cascades here in Vancouver.

Whether you want to look at real estate or just getaway form the city the Gorge is a place to enjoy the view!

Columbia Gorge-ous!

The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is quite spectacular. The area is governed by a commission that makes building homes in the region challenging. The commission must approve all buildings and has a very strict set of guidelines for new construction. This is all intended to protect the integrity of America's second largest gorge behind the Grand Canyon.

All of that gorge commission red tape aside, the views from some of the homes are stunning. This 1.39 acre lot in White Salmon, Washington is listed at $500,000. It is in one of the few urban exemption zones and thus requires no gorge commission review to build. The views are quite amazing both urban and natural. This lot looks across the Columbia into Hood River, Oregon.

Prices are steep for these exempt parcels but the home will have an obstruction free view of one of the worlds most spectacular natural features and the glimmering lights of Hood River on the other shore.

The gorge-ous home shown here is listed at 1.1 million and is on the same bluff as the land listing. This is a spacious three bedroom home with 2600 squares and a three acre lot. The home has equally dramatic vistas. Looking West peers into the temperate rain forest portion of the Gorge. Looking East shows the dramatic transition to arid grass lands.

The Columbia River Gorge is a truly remarkable scenic area and to live up on a bluff overlooking this magnificent natural wonder is absolutely heavenly.

White Salmon is a city of roughly 2,300 people in Klickitat County. It is connected to Hood River, OR by the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge across the Columbia River. This long cantilever bridge spans nearly a mile across the river and features a lift section to accommodate commercial river traffic. White Salmon is 68 miles East of Downtown Vancouver via Washington State Hwy 14.

Hood River, Oregon has roughly 7,900 people and a nice historic downtown area. The city is 65 miles East of Portland, OR via Interstate 84.

This is a great area to retire and soak up the bounty of nature. The Washington side offers some advantages to retirees which you can read about on my Retire to Washington Blog.

I highly recommend you take a lovely drive into the Gorge and please, enjoy the view.