The Crooked River Gorge is one of Oregon's many amazing sites you can see from the comfort of the driver's seat of a car. It's better viewed from the passenger seat, and its even better if you turn into the Peter Skene Ogden Viewpoint on the west side of US Highway 97 just south of Madras.
The viewpoint itself is named after the leader of a Hudson's Bay Company trapping party which made its way to Central Oregon in 1825 while on an expedition of the Snake River. The viewpoint consists of a very nice set of restrooms and a trail around the perimeter of the area with access to the original Crooked River High Bridge (famous for not only its steel arch but for a more dubious reason expanded on below), views of the Crooked River Railroad Bridge. and the Rex T. Barber Verterans Memorial Bridge.
Walking on the Crooked River High Bridge is somewhat surreal, especially when you've driven over it in the past. From the bridge the vistas are excellent. The sound of the falls below are somewhat drowned out by the traffic passing by 100 yards to the east, but it's still a unique experience travelers should not miss.
The Crooked River High Bridge is also the site of one of Oregon's most shocking crimes which was first told to me while riding as a passenger in my Grandpa's motorhome on the way to a family camping trip at Cove Palisades State Park. Pro tip: parents, if you want your children to behave on a long car ride, just regale them with the story about the mom who threw her kids off the bridge as you're driving over it. Holy mackerel that will keep a kid on the straight and narrow for at least ten miles.
Enough about the dubious history of this spot. Do yourself a favor and take this site in when you have the chance. The views are amazing and this stop on Oregon's Beaten Path can't be recommended highly enough.
