The Astoria Column

Beautiful 360 degree view of the area and Port Townsend from this vantage point. You can climb the "Column" for even a more unobstructed view, its 164 steps to the top, fairly narrow, but rest landings every 32 steps up the column. Nice diversion from downtown. There's a $5 admission charge, but I think its well worth it. There's a gift shop for souvenirs and refreshments. Go and enjoy.

I found out about this while planning a trip to the area and it sounded like it might be somewhat like a lighthouse so I added it to our itinerary. We visited on a Monday late afternoon in August. There is a $5 parking fee but no cost to climb the stairs up to the top. The parking attendant was cheerful and friendly and there was plenty of parking. It’s 164 steps up to the circular stair case to the top and it really is like a lighthouse just minus the light. There was no attendant here to monitor how many are going in and coming out so just just go at your own discretion. There are a couple landings on the way to make space for traffic in both directions but I will say not everyone does that so you could be passing someone coming down as you are going up and there is no inside railing just trust in your own balance to go up the inside of the staircase while yielding to people coming down with the railing on their outside. I wish I had a picture to show this but I wasn’t even thinking of that. Once up to the top, the view is beautiful and you are fenced in. There is a gift shop in the parking lot area that sells little model airplanes that you can launch from the top. That’s a cool idea but we don’t know it until we saw someone do it from the top because we didn’t go in the gift shop until we came back down. The walk up and down is not strenuous in my opinion but if you’re not used to walking that many stairs or if you’re afraid of heights just give yourself some time. People likely will be kind enough to be patient if they are behind you. There is a walking trail on the ground level but we didn’t do that so I don’t know how long it is. We enjoyed this.

The Astoria Column is a pretty remarkable spot! Perched high above Astoria, Oregon, it gives sweeping views of the Columbia River, Youngs Bay, the Coast Range, and even out to the Pacific on clear days. The location is famously windy (many visitors bring or buy the small wooden gliders sold on site just to launch them from the top), which adds to the fun. The 125-foot column itself is decorated with a spiral mural illustrating major events in Pacific Northwest history, from Native cultures to the arrival of explorers and settlers. Climbing the spiral staircase to the top is a bit of a workout, but the payoff is the 360° panoramic vista—definitely one of the best in Oregon. It’s a spot that blends history, art, and natural beauty. Perfect for photos, picnics, or just watching the clouds roll across the river.

Beautiful view. They charge $5 per vehicle which is reasonable. The column itself is work of art. I did not climb up the steps to go to the top. The gift shop had a variety of items for sale. Very panoramic views on the sunny day I visited. Definitely worth doing once.

Very nice! I went about a month ago and the views were very nice. The stairs really freaked me out, they seemed a bit rickety, but the view at the top was worth it. You can see the whole city ! The column was very pretty in itself, wonderful graphics on the exterior that reminded me a bit of the Coit Tower in San Francisco.

The view exceeded my expectations for sure. The payoff for climbing the 164 step spiral staircase is a fantastic panoramic view in every direction. This was on a clear summer day with visibility to the horizon. Highly recommend if you're in the area and can handle the narrow stairs. The column is bigger than you think and the detailed mural on the sides is impressive.

I hadn’t planned to visit the Astoria Column, but it’s clearly a local favorite — and for good reason. The $5 parking fee is a minor downside, but the panoramic view from the top more than makes up for it: you can spot four bridges spanning the river and surrounding landscape. I loved lounging on the sun-warmed slope below the tower; the gentle breeze was so relaxing I almost fell asleep. A peaceful, picture-perfect stop — well worth it.

September 2025 - A ride up the mountain streets will eventually bring you to the entry gate and a $5.00 parking fee. The column is massive and very well painted with the history of the Astoria area. If you have been to Coit Tower in San Francisco you have seen a similar tower, but with the paintings inside, not around the outside as this is. From the top of the hillside or the column you can see for miles in three directions. There is a small gift shop and there are restrooms. Plan on spending about 30 minutes and if not climbing the tower's internal spiral staircase, at least stick your head in and give a shout (the echo is neat).