Portland Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint

The Portland Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint is the first viewpoint on the Historic Columbia River Highway (HCRH) heading east from Portland. This project aimed to revitalize the site to address the needs outlined in the Columbia River Gorge Management Units Plan while incorporating standards from the Columbia River Gorge (CRG) Scenic Resources Implementation Handbook, the (HCRH) Trail Design Guidelines, and the CRG National Scenic Area Management Plan. Because of the high volume of local daytime traffic, the project focused on improving visitor experience by removing vehicular traffic from pedestrian viewing areas. To mitigate access challenges due to the site’s steep slopes, the project team created an ADA-compliant route. Other enhancements included increasing parking capacity while screening it from the historic highway and adjacent viewpoints, adding restroom facilities, increasing seating options, and providing potable water, bike amenities, and recreation information for visitors entering the Gorge area. This project also provided the opportunity to implement invasive species control, native plant restoration, and preservation of historic public monuments on the site. Our team facilitated public engagement efforts, led by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, by providing opportunities and constraints analyses, schematic design concepts, and concept refinement.