This diverse community stretches out along the Columbia River where the Cascade Mountain Range pierces the clouds coming in from the Oregon Coast, blocking the coastal rains from crossing over into eastern Oregon.  When the weather shifts in The Gorge, Cascade Locks knows about it first. 

 

Cascade Locks is also the closest Oregon community to the Bridge of the Gods, the Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery, Multnomah, and many of the lesser Falls, and many of the hiking trails heading south into the mountains.  Most obviously, Cascade Locks is home to the first navigation locks to be built on the Columbia River and is home to the Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge. 

The official Cascade Locks website is excellent and Tripcheck, the Oregon Department of Transportation site for road conditions is a good tool to have here during iffy winter weather.