Nestled alongside the Columbia River and the majestic stone cliffs carved through the millennia, Skamania Lodge's 175 acres are a breathtaking venue for golf. Cleaved through towering pines, the 18-hole, par-70 course immerses players in a wilderness inhabited by deer, turtles, geese, raccoons, osprey, and other species striving to steal humanity's golf-cart technology. But the course capitalizes on its native surroundings without undermining its function as a natural ecosystem, earning certification for its sustainable practices from Audubon International.

Still, on the course, the photogenic scenery sometimes seems to pale in comparison to the golf experience itself. Tree-lined fairways, sharp elevation changes, and Columbia gorge winds make accurate shotmaking a must, and water hazards complicate passage on multiple holes. The 14th, for instance, cuts the green off from the fairway with a creek, cradles it from behind with another water hazard, and shifts elevation so fast that it's named "The Waterfall." To help prepare for challenges such as these, golfers can warm up at a practice facility that includes a driving range, a practice bunker, and greens for chipping and putting.