Our Story

The Columbia River Gorge is an area of stunning natural beauty and a bounty of recreational opportunities. There are many stakeholders with a deep love for the Gorge and a desire to see it enjoyed and beloved by everyone. The aftermath of the Eagle Creek Fire in 2017 underscored how many people want to experience the Gorge, and also magnified the need to connect many of the Gorge’s passionate advocates into a collective that could build connections, trust and synergy to accomplish more by working together. This was the genesis of the Columbia River Gorge Stewardship Network: a way to discover opportunities that would multiply our individual efforts to accomplish more for the Gorge and those who  treasure it. The network is a diverse, action-oriented coalition.

We center our efforts on improving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in outdoor recreation, as well as coordinating stewardship activities in the Gorge in order to maintain its grandeur, beauty and accessibility. This evolving network brings together key land management agencies, conservation nonprofits, trails advocates and outdoor enthusiasts, joining forces with Indigenous groups and other historically underrepresented populations to improve the overall accessibility of the outdoor experience and empower everyone to enjoy, protect and enhance our natural, recreational and cultural resources in regenerative ways.

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Our goals are to:

• be a strong, inclusive network

• support a safe and welcoming environment in the Gorge

• steward our natural and cultural resources

• improve the outdoor recreation experience