Gateway to the Gorge in Troutdale
Troutdale calls itself the Gateway to the Gorge, and the facts back that up.
The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
The U.S. Forest Service describes the Gorge as a river canyon about 80 miles long and up to 4,000 feet deep, spanning six counties in Oregon and Washington. The Columbia is the only sea-level route through the Cascade Range. The west end has conifer forests and the east end has grasslands. Wikipedia says Congress designated the National Scenic Area in November 1986.
The Historic Columbia River Highway
The city's history page says construction began in 1912 and 1913 and the road was dedicated in 1916, with Troutdale's Sandy River bridge built as part of the project. Wikipedia lists Troutdale as the western end of the highway and The Dalles as the eastern end, and says the road was built between 1913 and 1922 and is a National Historic Landmark. After Interstate 84 was completed in the 1950s, traffic shifted away from the old highway and the town.
Troutdale's own role
The Gateway to the Gorge Visitor Center runs Explore Troutdale, which presents the town as a base for trips into the Gorge and toward Mount Hood. The City of Troutdale keeps the official history, parks and calendar pages. Check the Forest Service and the visitor center for current closures and conditions.