Why you'd want to live in Washougal

Washougal is where the suburbs fade and the Columbia River Gorge begins. A riverside trail links Steigerwald Lake Wildlife Refuge—freshly reopened after a major habitat project—to the downtown boardwalk, so bald-eagle sightings are almost routine. Local life clusters around Reflection Plaza for summer movies, winter tree-lightings, and weekly food-truck evenings, while 54-40 Brewing and Pendleton Woolen Mills keep the craft-beer and shopping boxes checked. Add in quick SR-14 access, mountain views from most streets, and you get small-town ease with front-row seats to Gorge adventures.