Friends of the Columbia Gorge

06/12/2026

Stay cool this weekend! With the heat climbing, it's tempting to jump in, but our rivers and lakes are still very cold.

Cold water can be deadly, even on hot days. According to Washington State Parks, anything below 70 degrees is considered cold, and many of our waterways stay under 60 most of the year. Check water temperatures before you swim, wear a life jacket, and never swim alone. Stay safe out there.

Photos featuring Wylde Wind and Water

05/30/2026

In this artist spotlight, we're celebrating the incredible work of Zebith Thalden, one of twenty-two regional artists featured in INSPIRED! III – Trailblazers, the third annual exhibition from Hood River's 301 Gallery and Friends of the Columbia Gorge.

In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, this year's show honors the trails, the scenic views, and the conservation work that shape our connection to this landscape and help protect it for generations to come. See the full INSPIRED! III collection at 301 Gallery in downtown Hood River, on display through June and July 2026. Don't miss it!

05/25/2026

Three years ago, the Share the Wonder campaign invested in protecting special places in the Columbia Gorge. Today, the restoration work continues across these oak woodlands, streams, wetlands, and wildlife habitat.

With just $48,000 remaining in the campaign, the final phase of Share the Wonder will help continue the work already taking root across these protected lands.

Make your gift today at gorgefriends.org/stwgive

05/12/2026

Join us at the iconic Skamania Lodge on the banks of the Columbia River for a luncheon unlike any we've held before. We'll celebrate executive director Kevin Gorman's 27 years of leadership as he steps into his role as emeritus director, and welcome Gabe Sheoships as Friends' new executive director.

We'll also share the latest progress from the Share the Wonder campaign and what lies ahead for Gorge protection, restoration, and trails. Don't miss it.

Click the link to register: https://gorgefriends.org/annualmeeting

05/10/2026

Help study and protect one of the
Gorge’s squeakiest residents: the pika!

Volunteer with the Oregon Zoo, Saturday, May 16th, at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
As a Pika Watch volunteer, you will:

 Learn to identify pikas by attending a free
in-person or virtual training.

 Access beautiful sites via public hiking
trails to look and listen for pikas (no special
skills are required)

 Track and log your data, providing
information to help protect pikas and their
habitat.

 Meet pika experts and join a pika-tastic
conservation community!

Tap the link to sign up now: https://www.oregonzoo.org/pika-watch-training-signup-may-16-2026

05/01/2026

The Columbia River Round Dance for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) is happening TODAY, Friday, May 1st, from 4:30pm to midnight at Wahtonka School (3601 W 10th St, The Dalles).

Hosted by 's Victim Assistance Program, this annual gathering includes food, drumming, dancing, and a raffle to honor, remember, and uplift MMIP relatives. Everyone in the community is invited, please come out and support.

04/26/2026

Our final film is here🌻

Shared Wild: Friends for the Future follows Friends of the Columbia Gorge into the field with Acting Public Engagement and Communications Director Melissa Gonzalez and Stewardship Volunteer Coordinator Sarah Skelly, where guided outings and stewardship work parties bring people together to protect, preserve, and steward the Gorge for generations to come. Because the more people who experience the Gorge firsthand, the more people who will fight to protect it.

We hope these films stay with you for a long time. Pass them along to someone in your life who loves the outdoors, because every person who watches is one more voice for the Gorge. If this series has inspired you to do more, join us. Become a member, volunteer, attend a guided outing, or raise your voice as an advocate. However you choose to show up, Friends is glad you are here.

Watch Friends for the Future here: youtube.com/watch?v=bTS65C3i9ik&feature=youtu.be

04/25/2026

04/23/2026

TRAIL CLOSURE🚨: Friends’ Lyle Cherry Orchard Preserve Trail is closed Friday, April 24, due to helicopter work occurring overhead of the trail system. This work is a part of trail restoration that is funded by 🥳

04/11/2026

Our newest film, Shared Wild: Salmon and Swells, follows the White Salmon River through the voices of those who know it best: Elaine Harvey, a fish biologist and Watershed Department Manager for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and a citizen of the Yakama Nation; Ian Jezorek, a fish biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey; and Rose Triolo, a whitewater kayaker and river guide.

View now: https://youtu.be/8bcJ_7Wsy4k