COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, Oregon (CNN) -- It is the second longest river in the Western Hemisphere (only the Yukon is longer), and features some of the country's most spectacular scenery.

But the Columbia River is more than a scenic playground. It's a waterway of history -- the last leg of the journeys of explorers Lewis and Clark and of pioneers traversing the Oregon Trail toward new homes in the West.

Coursing out of Canada and across Washington, the Columbia tumbles toward the Pacific Ocean along Washington's border with Oregon, forming the Columbia River Gorge, the only sea-level route through the Cascade Mountains. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark took their canoes through the tricky waters in 1805, followed some 36 years later by goods-laden settlers riding the river through the mountains.

These days the gorge is sprinkled with waterfalls, rapids, dams and even a Bridge of the Gods -- a man-made replacement for a natural bridge that legend says was destroyed by the warring gods of Mts. Hood and Adams, on either side of the gorge. Outdoor activities abound in the gorge, from kayaking and canoeing to hiking and camping to boardsailing and hang gliding.

It's the perfect spot to celebrate the country's 222nd birthday with some good old fashioned outdoor activity.

Running roughly 70 miles (113 kilometers) between The Dalles and Portland, the gorge cuts a magnificent swath through the Cascades. The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area rests between the Sandy River in the west (18 miles -- 29 kms -- east of Portland) and the Deschutes River in the east. The Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center is an excellent introduction to the gorge and the people who have lived there for centuries -- it's located in Stevenson, Washington, not far from the Bridge of the Gods.

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Slideshow of the Columbia River Gorge

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Stevenson also isn't far from the Cascade Locks, built in 1896 to allow river traffic past the white water of the river's cascades, and the home of the sternwheeler Columbia Gorge. The building of the Bonneville Dam in 1927 made the locks unnecessary. The dam includes a fish ladder, which allows salmon to swim up river for their annual spawning. Underwater windows give visitors an unprecedented view of this ancient migration.

Don't miss the Historic Columbia River Highway, which opened in 1915 making the gorge accessible to casual visits. Along the route: Vista House, built in 1916 733 feet (223 meters) above the river on Crown Point. Many waterfalls punctuate the scenery -- including the famed Multnomah Falls, fourth highest in the United States at 620 feet (189 meters) -- and Oneonta Falls.

The Columbia Gorge is essentially a natural wind tunnel, making Hood River, Oregon, the self-proclaimed sailboarding capital of the Northwest. The winds are kicked up every summer as hot air rising out of the eastern deserts sucks the cool air through the gorge from the Pacific Ocean.The result: white caps to rival the great ocean itself for sailboarders.

The Columbia Gorge Sailpark sits at Hood River Marina, along with other sailboarding venues. Be forewarned though: on the best days, it gets crowded.

If sailboarding isn't your cup of tea, try fly fishing, horseback riding, golf, rafting, mountain biking or just plain hiking. Or, just pull off the side of the road and gaze at some of America's finest views.