Shepperd's Dell facts for kids
Shepperd's Dell is a beautiful small canyon in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. It is located at 45°32′54″N 122°11′42″W / 45.54833°N 122.195°W, which is about 500 meters (less than one-third mile) southeast of Rooster Rock State Park. This dell is a special natural area known for its stunning scenery.
Contents
What is Shepperd's Dell?
Shepperd's Dell is a deep, narrow valley carved by a creek. This creek features two lovely waterfalls that tumble down the rocks. Because of the way the land is shaped, it can be tricky to get a good photo of the waterfalls.
The Famous Bridge at Shepperd's Dell
The historic Historic Columbia River Highway crosses over Shepperd's Dell on a special bridge. Building this bridge was a big challenge for the engineers who designed the highway. The bridge is often photographed and is perhaps even more famous than the dell itself! It's a great example of early 20th-century engineering.
How to Spell Shepperd's Dell
You might see the name of this place spelled in different ways. The official Oregon State Park website uses "Shepperd's Dell" with an apostrophe. However, the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), which is a database of place names, leaves out the apostrophe.
Why the Name is Spelled Differently
The book Oregon Geographic Names talks about both "Shepperds Dell" and "Shepperd's Dell State Park." The United States Board on Geographic Names usually prefers to leave out apostrophes in geographic names. This is why you might see "Shepperds Dell" without the apostrophe when talking about the natural feature itself.
