Our Favorite Things to Do in Hood River: A Complete Guide

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Explore Downtown Hood River

We should start with the city of Hood River itself, which has a cute little downtown area surrounded by a few adjacent neighborhoods. 

Candidly, Downtown Hood River is a bit of a mixed bag for us. 

On the one hand, it’s certainly charming to walk around and window shop a little bit.

On the other hand, it’s clearly a place built to appeal to tourists, which is not always our vibe (as we’ll cover, we prefer White Salmon across the river in Washington, which feels more like people actually live there). 

That being said, there are some gems in Hood River, especially if you include the area a few blocks outside the immediate downtown area. 

For food, there are a few good options: 

Pine Street Bakery: The place to go for baked goods in Hood River, including pastries and sandwiches. Good place to stop by to pick up a to-go lunch before a day spent exploring.   

Grasslands BBQ: A food truck that’s usually in the riverfront area with some of the best barbecue in Oregon.

The lines get ridiculous, but everyone we’ve talked to has mentioned it when we mention Hood River (Matt has Celiac Disease and can’t eat gluten, so it’s not a great option for him, sadly). 

Lake Taco: A Hood River classic, this taco truck right downtown has quite a following, and they have a pretty classic taco truck menu with tacos, burritos, and tortas (which means it’s not great for gluten free people, otherwise we’d have been here multiple times by now). 

If you’re looking to relax over a drink, there are a bunch of good spots in downtown Hood River to grab a locally made beer or cider. 

We have an entire section on beer coming next, but go to pFriem, one of the original craft breweries in the state (they started in Hood River), Full Sail (another Hood River original), or Double Mountain (another Hood River institution).

They’re all within a few minutes of each other either downtown or on the riverfront walk. 

For a range of beers, wines, and ciders, both local and from further afield, there’s the Hood River Common House.

They also have a bunch of great cans and bottles of beer, cider, and wine that you can take to go. 

For coffee (and brunch) head to Kickstand Coffee (or 10 Speed Coffee). 

Go Brewery Hopping in Hood River

Listen, between Portland, Bend, Astoria (on the coast), and Hood River, it’s hard to argue against Oregon as one of the catalysts for the growth of craft beer across the country.

You should keep in mind that Matt has Celiac Disease (which means no gluten and therefore no beer for him), and Alysha’s not a beer person.

What we are interested in is small businesses whose owners are passionate about what they’re doing and engaged with their community, which is what you’ll find in Hood River’s brewery scene. 

If you want to go deeper than this section, we’d head over to Breweries in the Gorge, which has the breweries mapped for you. 

There are three breweries in Hood River’s downtown core that started in Hood River and have been there for decades, and all of them are worth a stop if you’re into beer. 

pFriem Family Brewers: Also located right on the riverfront walk, pFriem is one of the original craft breweries in Hood River (and the state of Oregon), and they still have a nice taproom in Hood River.

Of the three main breweries here, most people consider them the “best” (though that’s always going to be subjective).

Good place to try not only their beer, but grab some nice pub food like fish and chips and burgers.

Despite the fact that it’s a brewery, they actually have solid gluten free options if you need that. 

Double Mountain: Another Hood River classic, Double Mountain has been around for almost 20 years (at the time of writing) and they started when two friends who worked at Full Sail decided to try to make it on their own (a classic story in the food and beverage industries).

Since then, they’ve been nonstop innovators in both the beer sense (they make beer they want to drink) and the business sense (they designed their own keg washer to make it easier on operations folks).

They’re also known for pizza in their pub, and they make cider in addition to their beers. 

Full Sail: Widely considered the first brewery in the Pacific Northwest to bottle beer (rather than canning), they started making beer here in Hood River in the 1980’s.

I wouldn’t say that Full Sail is the most forward-thinking in terms of their beer offerings, but what I do think is special about their offerings is their commitment to sustainability (more here).

They started their journey by buying an abandoned cannery (a story that multiple breweries in Oregon share) and converting it into a brewery, and that spirit of innovation and adventurousness has carried through their entire story. 

It’s also worth noting that Solera Brewery out in Parkdale (at the base of Mount Hood) is worth seeking out, as it’s the place that has been recommended to us the most when we ask non-gluten free people around town where to go for beer. More on them in the Mount Hood section below. 

Get Out on the Water

The Columbia River is one of the most important rivers in the story of the Pacific Northwest and its settlement by European settlers (which is a whole thing that we’re not going to get into here). 

Hundreds of years ago, Lewis and Clark led their expedition up the Columbia River Gorge to the mouth, where it meets the Pacific Ocean, setting into motion a series of events that culminates in where we are today. 

Today, that same river plays a role in the region, albeit a slightly less important one thanks to the invention of bigger oceanfaring steam ships. 

Easy access to some of the best water in the west is part of what draws so many to Hood River. Over the last three decades the area has become known as the windsurfing and kiteboarding capital of the US. 

The Gorge’s steep cliffs create a perfect wind tunnel for windsurfing and other water sports, and as you drive into Hood River – especially from the Washington side – you’re likely to see windsurfers out on the river taking advantage of the sometimes intense winds that whip right down the Gorge. 

Experienced windsurfers have the entire river to explore. Beginners can practice on more mellow water at “The Hook,” a protected cove along the river just outside of town. Stand up paddle boarders will love the Columbia, too. 

Kite the Gorge and Cascade Kiteboarding are both located right on the water and offer customized lessons and gear-rental for any skill level. 

They’re not cheap, but if you’re looking to experience Hood River from the water and try windsurfing, they’re the best option. 

If you’re not up for something so extreme, a more tame option to get out on the water is standup paddleboarding, which is exponentially easier to get the hang of than kiteboarding. 

Hood River SUP and Kayak offers cheap rentals by the hour and they’re located right on The Hook, a protected cove that’s perfect for beginners and those just looking for a relaxing day on the water.

There are all kinds of nooks, beaches, and rocky outcroppings along the river to paddle to. 

If you just want to walk along the water, Hood River Waterfront Park (here on Google Maps) has the best river access.

There’s a family-friendly beach with several points for river access as well as a few restaurants, breweries, and shops lining the waterfront path. 

Go Chasing Waterfalls on the Oregon side of the Gorge

If there’s one thing you know about the Columbia River Gorge, it’s almost certainly that there is probably no higher concentration of beautiful waterfalls found anywhere.

The crown jewel – the one that people always ask to go see when they visit us – is Multnomah Falls, and while Multnomah Falls is pretty incredible, it’s also true that there are several other waterfalls that we prefer. 

We’ll start with Multnomah Falls, and then move on to a handful of other waterfalls in the Gorge that are also worth visiting.

Worth noting that if you’re into hiking (like we very much are), we have two entire guides dedicated to hiking in this area. 

First, our guide to hiking in the Columbia River Gorge, which features all of the waterfall hikes in this section (and more). 

Second, our guide to hikes near Hood River, which has a few more hikes up towards Mount Hood. 

Both of those are good resources for more details on the many, many hikes to do in the Gorge and beyond. 

Multnomah Falls

First, let’s talk about making the most of your time at Multnomah Falls.

We like to make Multnomah Falls the first stop of the day for a couple of reasons. 

First, to make parking a little bit easier. 

While there are a couple of small lots along the Historic Columbia River Highway (the two lane road that runs through the waterfall corridor), we ABSOLUTELY WOULD NOT park in the lots along that road. 

The reason? Everyone is trying to park there, and traffic backs up onto that road, which makes it impossible to get by and you’ll be stuck in that lineup. 

Instead, we highly recommend parking in the big lot along I-84, which has plenty of room and lots of turnover.

Second, because Multnomah Falls really is at its best before the tour buses start to show up (which happens sometime between 9am and 10am).

After that, it turns into a bit of a zoo, and it’s not our preferred way of seeing the falls .

We’d start at the lodge – there’s a bathroom on the ground floor – and walk towards the falls, where you’ll find a good viewpoint at the base of the falls looking up at the stone bridge that sits between the two tiers. This is a great photo opportunity. 

Then, we’d walk up the path to the right, which takes you to that stone bridge.

While you are a lot closer to the falls, it’s generally not the best photo opportunity because the spray from the falls can be intense, especially in the winter and spring. 

We don’t think it’s worth going further up the trail, which quickly turns into a brutal set of switchbacks that take you up to the top of the falls, unless you’re planning on doing the entirety of the Multnomah – Wahkeena Falls Trail, which is a nice longer hike option. 

On its own, the view from the top of the falls is not worth the effort to get up there, and we’d recommend that you spend your time and energy elsewhere. 

Important note for Multnomah Falls: You’ll need a timed entry permit for visits at peak times this year.

Here’s the relevant information: “Timed Use Permits will be required between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily from May 22, 2026 through September 7, 2026 and are able to be reserved on Recreation.gov on an hourly basis.”

More information and reservations here. 

Other Great Waterfalls in the Gorge

As we mentioned, the concentration of waterfalls in the Gorge is astounding, and there are far too many to fit into one trip (though you can try!). 

Here are some other waterfalls that we think are worth your time. 

Latourell Falls: Latourell Falls is a two-tiered waterfall, but unlike Multnomah Falls, you can’t see them both at the same time. 

There is a viewpoint of the Lower Falls, which is far and away the most impressive of the two, a short walk from the parking area.

The best view is from the wooden footbridge over the creek at the base of the falls. 

To get to the Upper Falls, you need to do a two mile loop hike that we’d categorize as optional.

It’s a nice, forested hike that will get your blood pumping a little bit, and if you want to stretch your legs, this is a good option.

Horsetail and Ponytail Falls: This is another underrated stop in the Gorge, and is one we always include on our forays with friends and family into the Gorge because of the unique perspective of walking behind the upper falls. 

Right across from the parking lot along the Historic Columbia River Highway you’ll find yourself at the base of the first waterfall at this stop, Horsetail Falls, which drops 175 feet into the pool below. 

To get to the second waterfall, you’ll need to do some climbing to get up onto the ridge, which you’ll do with a set of switchbacks right off the bat.

Once you’re on the ridge, it’s a mostly flat walk to Ponytail Falls, which is cool because you can walk fully behind the falls. 

It’s a relatively accessible hike because it’s just 0.8 miles, but it’s not the easiest 0.8 miles in the world because it does climb 300 feet over that short distance. More trail information here. 

Bridal Veil Falls: Continuing east on the Historic Columbia River Highway, your next stop is going to be Bridal Veil Falls, which we think is a bit of an underrated gem in the Gorge that offers a really great bang-for-your-buck in terms of the effort it takes to get there. 

It’s a very short, mostly easy hike down to the falls, though you do have to descend a bit to get to the falls (which means you’ll have to climb back up on the way back to the car).

There are some steep sections, but overall it’s in the “easy” category. 

The good news is that it’s very short, and the juice is worth the squeeze here. 

Wahclella Falls: This is our favorite waterfall in the Gorge in terms of bang-for-your-buck hiking.

It’s a nice hike up a gully to Wahclella Falls, and the only downside of this hike is the parking situation, which is a little tough because the trailhead has room for ~10 cars.

We have an entire Wahclella Falls Trail guide for more. 

Wahkeena Falls: We actually mentioned this hike already in the Multnomah Falls section – it’s the nice hike that heads up the switchbacks at Multnomah Falls, follows a gorge up to the ridge, and then comes down past another nice waterfall, Wahkeena Falls. 

We also have a separate guide to the Multnomah – Wahkeena Falls Loop that covers all the logistics you should know, like where to park and what direction to hike. 

Triple Falls: A less-trafficked trail than most of the ones we’ve covered that ends at a really nice waterfall. Low effort, nice reward. 

Marvel at the Wildflowers in the Spring

While the Oregon side of the Gorge is known for its waterfalls, the more open, exposed, south-facing hillsides of the Washington side of the Gorge are better known for a completely different element of natural beauty. 

In the spring and early summer, the sun-drenched hillsides on the Washington side of the Gorge become one of the premier destinations for wildflowers in the Pacific Northwest. 

Now, it goes without saying that wildflower timing and prolificness depends on all sorts of factors, and the best way to see what the situation looks like is to read trail reports on AllTrails. 

Here are some great places to see wildflowers near Hood River. 

Dog Mountain: We would only ever do this hike during the peak wildflower season, because this hike is HARD.

There are certainly better options in terms of bang-for-your-buck in the Gorge (we’re about to cover three of them), but there are perhaps no higher highs than the top of Dog Mountain when it’s blanketed in yellow balsamroot.

It’s so popular that they instituted a permit system during peak wildflower season (on weekends and holidays).

We have an entire Dog Mountain Trail guide for more information on this hike, including navigating the permit situation. 

Coyote Wall: This is our favorite hike on the Washington side of the Gorge because the effort is more moderate than Dog Mountain with a lot of the same payoff and a fraction of the hikers on the trail with you.

Great wildflowers in the spring, and nice views out over the Gorge in all seasons.

Read our Coyote Wall Trail guide for more information. 

Memaloose Hills Loop: A nice little lollipop trail on the Oregon side of the Gorge (east of Hood River) with great wildflower displays.  

Lyle Cherry Orchard: Even further east into the Gorge means even fewer people on the trail with you. Great Gorge views and decent wildflowers (though not as good as the other three hikes above, we think). 

Tom McCall Preserve: A short, relatively steep climb up a hillside where the views of the Gorge get better and better as you climb higher, and the wildflowers pop in the springtime.

It leaves from right across the road from Rowena Crest, about 20 minutes east of town. No dogs allowed in the preserve. 

Lyle Cherry Orchard: Even further east into the Gorge means even fewer people on the trail with you. Great Gorge views and decent wildflowers (though not as good as the other three hikes above, we think). 

Drive the Hood River Fruit Loop

The Hood River Valley is one of the most fertile slices of paradise in Oregon, and we regularly get cherries, apples, and pears grown in the valley at home here in Portland. 

Driving through the valley in the spring brings blooming fruit trees, and once summer comes around, it’s a nonstop barrage of fruit. 

In the late summer and fall, the apple and pear trees are full of fruit and it’s quite a scene with the fruit trees in the valley backed by Mount Hood in one direction, and Mount Adams in the other. 

It’s a beautiful place, and there’s a bunch of stops to make where you can find great farm fresh produce (seasonally) and other products grown right here. 

There’s a nice route through the valley called the Hood River Fruit Loop with a series of stops that show the bounty of farm-fresh ingredients coming out of the valley. 

We’d start your explorations by driving to the far end of the valley, which we’ll call Draper Girls Country Farm, and then making your way back towards Hood River with plenty of stops to oooh and ahhh at the views along the way. 

Draper Girls Country Farm: The bounty of produce and products from the Hood River Valley on full display!

We like stopping here whenever we can, but especially in the summer and fall when they have fresh fruit for sale (and u-pick fruit, sometimes).

Packer Orchards Farm Place is another good spot to stop for farm-fresh produce between June and October. 

Stave & Stone Winery: While we generally prefer the wineries on the other side of the River in Underwood, Washington, there’s no denying that this is a pretty nice place to enjoy a glass of wine, with vineyards backed by views of Mount Hood. 

Hood River Lavender Farm: A nice lavender farm right next to Stave & Stone. Worth a visit when the lavender is blooming (late summer and fall), or to pick up locally made lavender products (we get culinary lavender to make lavender syrups for coffee and tea drinks).

There’s also Hope Ranch Lavender, which is a little further north closer to Hood River. 

The Gorge White House: We like stopping here for the atmosphere because it’s essentially a big mansion with sprawling grounds that they’ve turned into a destination with food trucks, farm fresh fruit, wine, and hard cider, and a beautiful outdoor seating area that is at its peak in the summer afternoons and evenings. Lovely place to stop for a drink and a snack. 

Panorama Point: One of the best views of the Hood River Valley because it’s a little higher up and gives you some elevation so you can see out over the valley all the way to Mount Hood. You can find it here on Google Maps (it’s just outside of Hood River).

Head East to Rowena Crest for Jaw-Dropping Views

East of Hood River, the landscape continues to get drier and flatter, and once you’re past the city the protection that comes from the walls of the Gorge melts away and the landscape is more exposed. 

While there are some really great views of the Gorge, mostly from the Washington side (and most involve some level of hiking to get up on top of the ridge), one of the best views of the Gorge is from the Rowena Crest viewpoint.

You’ll drive out of Hood River and hop on the Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway in Mosier, which climbs up through the hills and brings you to a plateau that looks north out over the Gorge.

The best views are found here on Google Maps.  

The best view, though, is probably the view over the bend in the highway as it heads east from the parking area (pictured above). 

Also worth noting that the trailhead for the Tom McCall Preserve is here (no dogs!), which is also an excellent place to see wildflowers in the spring AND get some nice views of the Gorge. 

Take a Day Trip up to Mount Hood

We love living in Portland partially because it means that we know we’re always 90 minutes away from being in the mountains (or the ocean). 

In our case, the “mountains” is Mount Hood, which is a great place to get outside both in the winter, where the skiing is great (we like Meadows for the skiing, but Timberline is also a special place), and the summer and fall, when it’s all about the hiking, mountain biking, and spending time at one of the many lakes. 

The main base of operations at Mount Hood is Government Camp, which you’ll find on the southern side of the mountain (while Hood River is northeast of Hood). 

From Hood River, it’s about an hour up to Government Camp, though a few of the trailheads for our favorite hikes require a bit of extra driving to reach. 

However, there are some spots on the eastern flank of Hood, which is much closer to Hood River, that make for a nice day trip from Hood River. 

Tamanawas Falls: This is a beautiful hike, and is equally as impressive as some of the waterfalls in the Gorge for a very reasonable effort.

We’ve done it four or five times now, and we enjoy it every single time.

It’s about 30 minutes south of Hood River, and the trailhead is right off of Highway 35 on the way towards Mount Hood.

We have an entire guide dedicated to giving you all the information you need to hike the Tamanawas Falls trail, which you should read for far more information than we’ve fit into this summary.

Umbrella and Sahale Falls: The surprise favorite hike of a recent trip with friends, this trail starts at the parking lot for Mount Hood Meadows and does a loop where the lower section passes a nice waterfall, and the upper section climbs through the ski resort with some good views looking east. 

For more, you should go read our guide to the best hikes at Mount Hood, which has all of our thoughts and opinions about the trails around the mountain. 

Most of the other hikes we like are an extra 20-30 minutes away from Hood River, which may make them a bit more driving than you’re willing to do on this trip.

Obviously, the hikes are really only an option in the summer and fall. 

In the winter and spring, it’s all about winter spots (like skiing). Mount Hood Meadows (our favorite) is along Highway 35 on the eastern flank of Hood, which makes it super accessible from Hood River (there’s also a shuttle from Hood River if you don’t want to drive). 

On your way there or back (or both), stop by the town of Parkdale, which is at the southern end of the Fruit Loop in the foothills. 

You’ll find a nice little collection of businesses that work either as a stop on your way up (coffee at Moby, biscuits at Baseline (though it’s more of a greasy brunch, so maybe not great for a pre-hike meal) or on your way back down to Hood River (Solera Brewery, widely recommended to us, and Apple Valley BBQ). 

Cross the River to White Salmon

Truthfully, while we like Hood River, when we come out to the Gorge, we like to stay across the river in White Salmon, a small town tucked up on a ridge above the river. 

It has a cute little downtown area, and the reason we gravitate here is the fact that it feels like people actually live here, unlike Hood River which feels more geared towards tourists.

Which is fine, but we almost always prefer a place that has businesses catering to residents. 

The quaint downtown stretch in White Salmon has a couple of places that are worth your time, and has basically one of everything you need for a nice home base. 

White Salmon Baking Co.: While bakeries that are not gluten free are not necessarily our thing (Matt has Celiac Disease and needs to eat gluten free), Alysha had some of their baked goods when we stayed at the RubyJune Inn for a couple of nights, and nearly everyone you talk to who knows the area recommends you come here because it’s the best bakery in the area (including Hood River). 

Everybody’s Brewing: Nice little brewpub on the main strip in White Salmon with a wide range of beers and a pub food menu. The real star is the back patio with the view of Mount Hood. 

Pixán Taqueria & Cantina: Not the most authentic tacos around (the $$$ price point is a good indicator) but we’ve eaten here before and it’s a nice atmosphere with good margaritas.  

Le Doubblé Troubblé Wine: We enjoyed a lovely sunny afternoon in this little alpine-themed tasting room with a lift chair in the seating area. Nice wines, nice people (who moved to the Gorge so that they could be closer to skiing at Hood). 

Soča Wine Shop & Bar: Cute little wine bar that was still building out the last time we were in town, but this is a place to go for international wines rather than local wines.  

Get Out on the White Salmon River (Whitewater Rafting)

The other thing to consider in White Salmon is whitewater rafting. I – Matt here! – used to work for a whitewater rafting company (in the office doing marketing stuff, not as a guide), and one of the rivers we ran was the White Salmon, which is in southern Washington just across the Columbia River from Hood River. 

The White Salmon River is a trip that’s good for beginners and intermediate rafters, and includes one of the only (maybe the only?) commercially run waterfalls in the entire country, Husum Falls (you can only run it seasonally, though, depending on water levels). 

If you’ve never been whitewater rafting, or you have been before and love being out on the river, I’d consider rafting the White Salmon as a fun half day activity while you’re in and around Hood River.

There are a couple of companies running the river, and the two we’d look at are Wet Planet, who have been doing it since I worked at a different company, and PDX Rafting, who get stellar reviews. 

Go Wine Tasting (on the Washington Side)

Let’s talk about wine tasting in and around Hood River (mostly around), because the Columbia Valley is one of the main wine regions in the Pacific Northwest (though the Willamette Valley is clearly #1) and there are several wineries in the area doing some fun stuff. 

We already mentioned a winery or two in the main section that are in the Hood River Valley, but our favorite place to go wine tasting is actually across the Gorge in Underwood Washington, which is up on a bit of a plateau with more elevation (which generally results in the style of wines that we prefer – more acidity, less tannin). 

There are a bunch of wineries up on that plateau, and we’ve been to a few of them (and gotten recommendations from those that we’ve been to or other locals for a couple of other ones). 

Loop de Loop: We fell in love with Loop de Loop because of their adorable pup, originally, but now we’ve been back several times and have always had a really nice interaction with the owners, and their tasting room and vineyard have a great view of Mount Hood from the back patio.

We’re white wine people, and they have some great, zippy whites that we really enjoy. 

Savage Grace: Right across the road from Loop de Loop, they make some fun wines in terms of process (carbonic maceration, skin contact, etc) along with more traditional methods. 

AniChe: Further up the road from the other two, this is a small operation making some really fun wines with a mix of different techniques and styles (think both zippy, high acid white wines and deep, spicy, reds).

Advance reservations are required for tastings. Outside food is welcome here, so you could put together a nice picnic in Hood River and bring it up for your tasting. 

Two additional winery shout outs here that we haven’t been to but have had multiple people recommend. 

First, Analemma Wines east of Hood River in the hills above Mosier, which has been recommended to us several times. Very focused on the farming side of wine, and their tasting room looks beautiful. 

Second is Hiyu Wine Farm, which is a similar idea in that they’re very focused on the journey from soil to wine, and is a well known name in Portland foodie circles.

They make wine, but they also do a bunch of wine pairing dinners and other fun events on their beautiful farm just south of Hood River. 

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