Cascade Locks Marine Park

Cascade Locks Marine Park is a Port-owned waterfront park on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge. Its unusual combination is the reason to stop: picnic lawns and a swimming beach sit beside the remains of the old canal, and a footbridge crosses the locks to Thunder Island. It is an easy way to spend time by the river and see the transportation history that helped make this a town, without committing to a hike.

The Cascade Locks were carved by hand in the 1890s so steamboats could get around the rapids. Part of the 19th-century lock and canal remains visible in the park, along with three original locktender homes and the Oregon Pony, the first steam locomotive of the Oregon Territory. The flat, paved footbridge crosses the canal to an island loop with interpretive signs. On the island, the Bridge of the Gods, Cascade Locks and the Columbia fill the view. For a photo, frame the bridge over the water from the island; it shows why this small walk is worth crossing for.

The vehicle entrance passes beneath a railroad trestle and is restricted to vehicles under 12 feet tall. Check your vehicle height before turning in, especially if you are driving a tall van or recreational vehicle.