Crown Point Vista House Oregon

Vista House at Crown Point Oregon

Crown Point also known historically as Thor's Heights or Thor's Crown is a basalt promontory on the Columbia River Gorge and an associated state park in the U.S. state of Oregon.

Crown Point is one of the scenic lookouts along the Historic Columbia River Highway, providing a panoramic view of part of the Columbia River. It stands 733 feet (223 m) above the river and is the remains of a lava flow that filled the ancestral channel of the Columbia River 14 to 17 million years ago. The Point was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1971.

The basalts here are from the Wanapum flow of 14.5 million years ago: this lava river essentially filled an old channel of the Columbia River. The pinnacle of Rooster Rock far below is the remains of a landslide that peeled off Crown Point's cliff face. Palisade Falls, visible from the bottomland below, waxes and wanes with rain volume: it can roar spectacularly in the wet season and yet be a wind-blown wisp in the summer. Views extend over 12 miles east one way and the other way to the western portal of the Gorge.

Best view point to see

·         360° Panoramic view of the Columbia Gorge

·         Scenic lookouts of Oregon Cascades

·         Best sunset view of Columbia Gorge

Vista House is an observatory at Crown Point that also serves as a memorial to Oregon pioneers and as a comfort station for travelers on the Historic Columbia River Highway. The site, on a rocky promontory, is 733 feet (223 m) above the Columbia River on the south side of the Columbia River Gorge. The building shows great sensitivity to its site in the Columbia River Gorge near Corbett, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Vista House History

The Vista House was built as a rest stop observatory for travelers on the old Columbia River Gorge Highway and as a fitting memorial honoring Oregon’s pioneers—particularly those who made their way down the Columbia River. Described by its architect, Edgar M. Lazarus, as “a temple to the natural beauty of the Gorge,” Vista House has long been recognized for its historic significance and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. 

The octagonal building with its green ceramic tile roof houses a museum, gift shop and interpretive display of historic and geologic points of interest in the Gorge. The Vista House was built in 1916 at the same time as Highway 30 (what is now the Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway, and the only way to reach Crown Point).

How To Reach: Vista House is located in eastern Multnomah County, approximately 15 miles (24 km) east of Portland.