EXHIBIT 5.1



                                  June 10, 1999



Board of Directors
Columbia Sportswear Company
6600 North Baltimore
Portland, OR 97203


     We have acted as counsel for Columbia Sportswear Company (the "Company") in
connection with the filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering
500,000 shares of common stock (the "Shares") of the Company issuable in
connection with the Company's 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan"). We
have reviewed the corporate action of the Company in connection with this matter
and have examined those documents, corporate records, and other instruments we
deemed necessary for the purposes of this opinion.

     Based on the foregoing, it is our opinion that:

     1. The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under
the laws of the state of Oregon; and

     2. The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued pursuant to the
Plan and in accordance with resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the
Company, will be legally issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                                       Very truly yours,


                                       STOEL RIVES LLP