The Historic Columbia River Highway Scenic Byway was created to highlight Oregon’s stunning natural beauty.

The beauty of the drive is iconicthink moss-draped cliffs and cascading waterfalls.

On the other side of the highway, the Columbia River flows.

Multnomah Falls with bridge in a lush green forest setting

Multnomah Falls surrounded by lush foliage.Credit:wayfarerlife photography/Getty Images

They wanted the road to lay lightly on the land and enhance the scenery instead of diminishing it.

Below is our guide to this National Historic Landmark thats aptly nicknamed the King of Roads and Waterfall Alley.

Lingley called the site the quintessential gorge photo and a tease of whats to come.

A scenic road surrounded by trees and vegetation

A long stretch of road along the Columbia River Scenic Byway in the lush forest.paulacobleigh/Getty Images

The octagonal stone structure was designed to offer travelers a moment of pause and perspective.

Latourell plunges 224 feet over a basalt cliff and is considered one of the routes more hidden gems.

Horsetail Falls

Further up the gorge,Horsetail Fallsspills 176 feet down a sheer rock face.

A scenic roadway lined with trees, leading towards snowcapped mountains in the background

A road in Hood River, Oregon.MarryAnne Nelson/Getty Images

The tunnel can only currently be reached on foot or bike.

The windswept viewpoint is a stark contrast to the mossy canyons found at the beginning of the drive.

Here, golden grasslands replace waterfalls and the horizon seems to stretch forever.

Forest landscape with trees and mist, mountains in the background

A mist-covered forest at dusk.Irjaliina Paavonpera/Travel + Leisure

All four sections are connected by the Historic Highway State Trail, which is not open to motorized vehicles.

We foundthis maphelpful in understanding the route.

Before you journey down the Historic Columbia River Highway, checkTripCheck.comfor the latest conditions.

Blossoming orchard rows with a snow-covered mountain in the background, scenic landscape

Spring blossoms along the Columbia River Gorge.Bhushan Thakurdwarkar/Getty Images

The route is listed as Highway 100.

Autumn brings colorful foliage and pleasant temperatures.

If youd like to avoid the crowds, Kadlub recommends visiting on a weekday or during the early morning.

City skyline with distant mountain and surrounding greenery

Aerial view of the Portland, Oregon skyline.Ivey Redding/Travel + Leisure

On weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the byway is particularly busy.

For this reason, Portland acts as an easy basecamp for the journey.

For cones, visitEastwind Drive-In, which is right off the byway.

The highway is definitely the bustling heart of the city here.

I enjoy parking and strolling the main drag to break up the drive, said Kadlub.