Learn the geology and history of one of America’s great gorges, from the rugged basalt cliffs to the great floods that helped shape it.

The beautiful Hood River Valley is world famous for its apple, pear, and cherry orchards. For the last 30 years, pioneering winemakers also realized that the soils and weather were ideal for growing wine grapes.

Visiting Cascade Locks and The Dalles, we will learn about the great western migration of the early pioneer of the 1840s, the hardships they encountered, and the impact it had on the native population who had inhabited these lands for over 10,000 years.

The Rowena Plateau is truly a sight to see in the springtime. The normally dry scrub oak savanna bursts forth with color between late March to early May. Thousands of blooming wildflowers carpet the hillsides as far as the eye can see.