Corbett Oregon is really the true gateway to the Columbia River Gorge…in fact it is in the Gorge.
Corbett Oregon is a little town east of Troutdale, between the Sandy River and Crown Point on the Columbia River Historic Highway. It is right at the mouth of the beautiful Columbia River Gorge, perched above the Gorge on the winding curves that give breathtaking views at every turn, or surprise you with waterfalls where you don’t expect them! It is about twenty miles east of Portland, on I 84, along the way to Hood River. Parts of it sit up on the ridge above the gorge, with
gorgeous views of the Columbia River, the gorge and the mountains across the river. It is in unincorporated Multnomah County, which seems weird, because it is really in the Gorge! I think the area is breathtakingly beautiful! A little hard to get to, some of the roads are steep and gravel, narrow and winding, but I have seen some spectacular views up on the ridge when I have showed houses! You really feel like you are way out in the mountains, or somewhere very special because the scenery is so spectacular!
Weather here can be very windy, even in summer, icy and cold in winter, with lots more snow than the other areas of Portland get. Crown Point is a well known lookout that you can see as you drive along the Columbia River Hywy of 84. It is perched up on a rock high above the river, with unbelievable 180 degree views of the gorge. Vista House is a museum at Crown Point that also serves as a memorial to the early pioneers and as a comfort station for travelers on the Historic Columbia River Highway. The site, situated on a rocky promontory, is 733 feet above the Columbia River on the south side of the Columbia. It was built in 1916 and is pretty famous with millions of visitors flocking to it each year. It is the crown jewel of the Columbia River Hwy, is on the National Register of Historic Places, and even has it’s own postage stamp!
Corbett itself, is a little family friendly town with alot of small farms that raise organic produce. There really isn’t too much of a town, most of it is spread out over the hills. There are probably more parks in Corbett, Oregon than any other town in Oregon, according to the Oregonian, because it is in the Gorge. It doesn’t really have much history. What I found was this: In 1885, Henry Corbett, bought a farm in Corbett. The railroad had come into the area in 1882, opening it up to both tourists, and people who wanted to live there, grow produce and transport it out. There was a station right at the base of the bluff, and slowly the area grew.
Learn more about the different little towns that are east of Portland. Gresham Troutdale
History of Corbett Oregon
In 1885, Henry Corbett, bought a farm in Corbett. The railroad had come into the area in 1882, opening it up to both tourists, and people who wanted to live there, grow produce and transport it out. There was a station right at the base of the bluff, around which the 
little downtown area grew. It took a long time to grow, as there really wasn’t much work besides farming or maybe some tourist jobs.
