The Columbia River in Washington state holds one of America's greatest unsolved mysteries - the legendary D.B. Cooper hijacking case that captivated the nation in 1971. Josh Gates followed the trail of this infamous skyjacker who parachuted into the wilderness with $200,000, becoming the only person to successfully hijack a plane and never be caught. This dramatic landscape along the Columbia River Gorge offers visitors a chance to walk in the footsteps of history's most enigmatic criminal.
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America, flowing 1,243 miles from the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to the Pacific Ocean. As the fourth-largest river in the United States by flow, it has the greatest discharge of any river into the eastern Pacific. Its drainage basin extends across seven U.S. states and one Canadian province, covering an area roughly the size of France. Josh Gates investigated the river's role in America's most famous unsolved hijacking case, when D.B. Cooper parachuted from Northwest Orient Flight 305 into the wilderness near the Columbia River in 1971. The river's vast, remote terrain made it an ideal disappearance zone for the mysterious hijacker.
Spanish explorer Bruno de Heceta becomes the first documented European to sight the Columbia River's mouth
Captain Robert Gray aboard Columbia Rediviva becomes the first non-indigenous vessel to enter the river, giving it its modern name
D.B. Cooper parachutes from Northwest Orient Flight 305 somewhere over the Columbia River area with $200,000 ransom
A young boy finds $5,800 in deteriorating twenty-dollar bills along the Columbia River's banks, the only physical evidence ever recovered from the Cooper case
Gates investigates the D.B. Cooper case for Expedition Unknown, exploring evidence and theories along the Columbia River region
The Columbia River has been central to the Pacific Northwest for thousands of years, serving as a transportation corridor and subsistence source for native peoples who relied on its salmon runs. The river system's cultural importance is reflected in its multiple indigenous names, including Wimahl in Upper Chinook, Nch'i-Wàna in Sahaptin, and swah'netk'qhu in Sinixt dialect. European exploration began in 1775, but the river became a crucial transportation route during the fur-trading era and westward expansion, with steamships and later railroads following its course through the challenging Columbia River Gorge.
The D.B. Cooper case transformed a remote section of the Columbia River region into one of America's most enduring criminal mysteries. On November 24, 1971, a man using the alias Dan Cooper hijacked Northwest Orient Flight 305, extorted $200,000, and parachuted into the night somewhere over southwestern Washington. The only confirmed physical evidence emerged in 1980 when a boy found $5,800 in deteriorating twenty-dollar bills along the river's banks near Vancouver, Washington. FBI investigators and amateur sleuths have debated for decades whether Cooper survived the jump, where he might have landed, and how the money ended up in the river.
Gates' investigation explored the leading theories about Cooper's fate, examining the challenging terrain, weather conditions on the night of the jump, and the significance of the money discovery. The episode consulted with Cooper researchers and examined evidence including the flight path, parachute capabilities, and river hydrology. While the case remains officially unsolved, Gates' exploration highlighted the enormous challenges Cooper faced — jumping at night in a business suit into heavily forested wilderness during a rainstorm — and the ongoing debate about whether he could have survived.
The Columbia River's modern role includes 14 major hydroelectric dams on its main stem that produce more than 44 percent of total U.S. hydroelectric generation. This extensive development has dramatically altered the river's character since Cooper's era, though vast stretches of the surrounding wilderness remain as remote and unforgiving as they were in 1971, helping explain why the hijacker was never found despite one of the most extensive manhunts in FBI history.
The Columbia River is 1,243 miles long and has the greatest flow of any North American river entering the Pacific Ocean
The river's drainage basin is roughly the size of France, extending into seven U.S. states and one Canadian province
Fourteen hydroelectric dams on the Columbia's main stem produce more than 44 percent of total U.S. hydroelectric generation
The Hanford Site along the Columbia River produced plutonium for nuclear weapons for decades and is now the most contaminated nuclear site in the United States
The Columbia River is highly accessible, with numerous parks, viewing areas, and recreational sites along its length through Washington and Oregon. The Historic Columbia River Highway offers scenic access to the Columbia River Gorge, though the specific area related to the D.B. Cooper investigation remains rugged wilderness. Visitors interested in the Cooper case can explore the general region, though the exact drop zone has never been definitively identified.
Portland, Oregon, approximately 15-30 miles from the suspected Cooper drop zone area
Late spring through early fall (May through September) offers the best weather for exploring the Columbia River region, with milder temperatures and less rain than the winter months when Cooper made his infamous jump.
Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary
Another American mystery investigation where Gates explored a famous unsolved disappearance case with limited physical evidence
Roanoke Island
An iconic American vanishing mystery that Gates investigated, similar to the D.B. Cooper case in its enduring unanswered questions
Donner Pass
A historic survival mystery in the American wilderness that Gates examined, sharing themes of harsh terrain and uncertain fates
Best time to visit: Visit during late spring through early fall (May-September) for the best weather conditions and accessible hiking trails through the gorge.
Travel tip: Stop by the Ariel Store and Tavern, a local landmark frequented by D.B. Cooper investigators and enthusiasts who gather to discuss theories and share findings.
Historical data sourced from Wikipedia