For dayhikes, the Eagle Creek and Ruckel Ridge Trails are two of GORP's favorites. The justly popular 13 mile Eagle Creek Trail visits more waterfalls than any other trail in the Gorge. Ruckel Ridge is a heart-stopping thrill; at one point the ridge is only 4 feet wide.

Looking for a hiking circuit through Columbia River Gorge? A good hiking loop can help you avoid the difficulty of finding your way back to the trailhead at the end of a long hike. Check out this 30-mile trail loop which runs along the Eagle Creek and Pacific Crest Trails.

Want something the kids will enjoy—and Mom won't have a heart attack? Nothing could be finer on a hot day than donning a pair of sneakers and wading up the Oneonta Gorge off the Historic Columbia River Highway. You'll scramble over boulders, pass hanging gardens, and have a rollicking good time. Or if your taste runs to the bizarre, explore the curious formations, unique vegetation and broken terrain of the Big Lava Field on Forest Road 66 north of Willard, Washington.

But that's not all. GORP has assembled a selection of other worthy dayhikes, including the renowned Multnomah Falls, admittedly on every tourist itinerary, but we tell you how to get away from the crowds.

If you're still not satisfied, (and indeed, why should you be?) a kamikaze list of other great trails in the area might include the Tamanaws Trail, south of the town of Hood River on Highway 35, or the famous Pacific Crest Trail out of Cascade Locks. You can hike the Washington side of the Gorge on Sleeping Beauty Trail, 12 miles north of Trout Lake in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest; Dog Mountain Trail, off of State Route 14 or visit Falls Creek Falls, off of Wind River Highway and Forest Road 306. This waterfall drops over 400 feet and you'll see tier, fan and plunge falls all in one.

Move on to Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Index