Exploring the gorge
Hood River is nestled between the Columbia River and Mount Hood in the breathtaking Columbia River Gorge. The region’s northernmost point sits near sea level along the Columbia River and the Oregon-Washington border. The elevation quickly rises to the south, peaking at 11,235-foot Mount Hood, Oregon’s highest point. The region includes Hood River, Cascade Locks, Mosier, Odell, Parkdale, Pine Grove, and Mount Hood.
Hood River is wildly gorgeous, offering outdoor recreation, dramatic vistas, historic landmarks, bountiful fruit, and fantastic food, wine, beer, and cider. Here are some of our favorites to consider when creating your itinerary.
dining
Hood River and its surrounding areas boast delicous options for seafood, Japanese, American, and farm to table cuisine in the Gorge. Whether you’re looking for a casual night out or a more refined experience, you’ll find something that fits your mood.
FINE DINING
Celilo Restaurant & Bar, Hood River, OR Tuesday - Saturday, dinner only Modern American, farm to table with a full bar.
Hiyu Wine Farm, Hood River, OR Thursday - Sunday, lunch and dinner A variety of experiences, reservations are required for meals.
Riverside Restaurant, Hood River, OR Daily for lunch and dinner Italian, Steakhouse, on the Columbia River.
Votum Restaurant, Hood River, OR Thursday - Monday, dinner only High end seafood in downtown Hood River.
CASUAL DINING
Boda's Kitchen, Hood River, OR Tuesday - Saturday, 11am - 7pm American deli, counter service.
Broder Øst, Hood River, OR Open daily for breakfast and lunch Scandinavian fare with aquavit selection.
Henni's Kitchen & Bar, White Salmon, WA Wednesday - Saturday, dinner only Bistro with global fare and seasonal small plates.
pFriem Family Brewers, Hood River, OR Open daily for lunch and dinner Local brewery with fresh pub fare.
Pine St. Kitchen & Bakery, Hood River, OR Monday - Saturday, breakfast and lunch Bakery with pastries, seasonal offerings and sandwiches.
Solstice Wood Fire Pizza - Cafe & Bar, Hood River, OR Wednesday - Sunday, lunch and dinner Wood fired pizza with farm to table emphasis.
Sushi Okalani, Hood River, OR Monday - Saturday, dinner only Sushi and sashimi with pan-asian menu.
White Salmon Bakery, White Salmon, WA Wed. - Sun., breakfast and lunch, Monday night pizza party Pastries, wood fired bread and prepared food.
Wineries
The Columbia River Gorge is a 40-mile stretch of canyon separating Washington and Oregon. The canyon was carved millions of years ago by lava flows and Ice Age melts, resulting in varied elevations and soil sediments. Featuring scenic touring, relaxed tasting rooms and wild beauty of the Columbia Gorge, your visit to Hood River will introduce you to a lesser known but amazing wine region of Oregon. More than 30 wineries and 45 vineyards of the Columbia Gorge wine-growing region take full advantage of the amazingly diverse growing conditions which allow for a wide variety of grapes to be grown and produced into world-class wine.
wineries - oregon
Analemma Wines, Moiser, OR Open Friday-Monday from 12pm-6pm
Hiyu Wine Farm, Hood River, OR Open Saturdays-Sundays from 1pm-4pm
Idiot's Grace, Moiser, OR Open Thursday-Monday from 11am-5pm
Marchesi Vineyards, Hood River, OR Open Thursday-Sunday from 11am-6pm
Phelps Creek Tasting Room, Hood River, OR Open Thursday through Monday from 11am-5pm
Wy’East Vineyard, Hood River, OR Open daily 11am-5pm
wineries - washington
AnChe Cellars, Underwood, WA Open Wed., Sat., Sun. 12pm - 6pm with reservation
COR Cellars, Lyle, WA Open Wednesday-Monday with reservation
Domaine Pouillon, Lyle, WA Open Saturday-Sunday, 11am-5pm with reservation
Loop de Loop, Underwood, WA Open Friday-Sunday 1pm-5pm
Maryhill Winery, Goldendale, WA Open daily 11am-6pm
Syncline Winery, Lyle, WA Open Friday-Monday, 12pm-5pm with reservation
Find more details at Columbia Gorge Winegrowers Association.
breweries
The vibrant beer scene in Hood River has a growing history and has received many accolades. In fact, the Valley is a renowned hop growing region, making Hood River the perfect host for the Hood River Hops Fest each September. But no matter the time of year, our local breweries offer delicious and creative beers to try, and take home!
Dwinell Country Ales, Goldendale, WA Open Saturday and Sunday from 12pm-6pm
Ferment Brewing Company, Hood River, OR Open daily from 11am-9pm
pFriem Brewing, Hood River, OR Open daily from 11am-9pm
Solera Brewery, Parkdale, OR Mon./Tues., 4pm-9pm, Thurs. 12pm-9pm, Fri./Sat. 12pm-10pm, Sun. 12pm-7pm
For additional listings and a tour map, visit Breweries in the Gorge.
Shopping
Browsing eclectic treats and finding treasures to take home is a winning part of any trip! Hood River offers a wonderful array of shopping options, from walking our farmer’s market to strolling the shops in downtown Hood River to driving the Fruit Loop. When planning your trip, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to sample local wares.
The Hood River Farmer’s Market is open every Saturday, although it moves to a different location during winter months. Featuring locally grown produce, meat and fish as well as prepared food and art, it’s a lovely way to spend a morning. Open from 9am until 1pm (check for shorter hours during the winter), you can enjoy the bounty and lunch in one spot. For more details, visit their very informative website.
Downtown Hood River is full of wonderful places to browse, from high end to casual boutiques, outdoor and sporting gear or inspiring art galleries. Additionally, the downtown area has short blocks and ample cafes for an easy break while you’re out. While everything deserves a peek, we have a couple favorites…
We can’t stop overselves from stopping in at Twiggs and Arome when we want kitchen and dining items. And Sustain Home is the retail arm to the interior design group who completed many of our more specialized renovations, and they feature striking home products made both locally and abroad. For some new clothes, we favor Plenty and Laurel & Eddie with their knowledgeable staff and charming selections. And 301 Gallery is a collective art gallery made up of like minded local artists - you may find a few pieces from their shows here at Sakura Ridge! You don’t need to limit yourself to our favorites though - the best way to experience town is by leisurely wandering until something catches your eye.
Lastly, when visiting the Hood River Valley a trip around the Fruit Loop is a must see. The Fruit Loop is a rural extravaganza, taking you through the valley on Highway 35, visiting a variety of farmstands, U Pick farms and even a couple wineries. While harvesting usually lasts June through October, seeing the valley in April and May when the fruit trees are in full bloom is it’s own magical experience. If you’ve come to us by car, consider visiting the farms for delicious, locally grown fruit to take home with you. Even if you can’t bring a bushel home for canning, visiting the Loop is a fun and tasty outing. Check out their website for the driving map, current hours and fruit availability.
Outdoor Adventures
Whether you’re looking for breathtaking hikes, mountain biking, stand up paddle boarding, rafting, kayaking, windsurfing or kiteboarding; Hood River has it. Known as the Windsurfing Capitol of the World, Hood River is a great place whether you want to partake in the fun or watch it all happen on the glittering Columbia River.
The area is full of waterfall hikes; the most famous and easily accessed being Multnomah Falls. This waterfall is one of the most popular landmarks in the Pacific Northwest—more than 2 million people come to visit each year. In fact, during the summer reservations are required! In addition to its beauty, the waterfall is easily accessible and can be seen with minimal hiking. If you’re in the mood for even more sights, there are additional hikes to follow further up and into the forest. Travel Oregon is a great resource for more ideas on trails to explore.
If you want to follow in the great Hood River tradition of indulging in water sports, there are a variety of resources to help you explore. Doug's Water Sports offers kiteboarding, windsurfing and E-foil, as well as stand up paddle boarding lessons. Big Winds also offers kiteboarding, windsurfing, and E-foil lessons. Make sure to make an appointment for any lessons or equipment ahead of time, as these activities become very popular during season.
For a more laidback river experience, taking a sunrise or sunset sailboat trip for two (or more) can be a wonderful way to see the incredible landscape from a new point of view. Join Gorge Sail Ventures for a memorable tour but be sure to book ahead of time to get the timing you want.
Biking of all kinds is a huge past time in Hood River, from trail riding to street riding. The Mosier Twin Tunnels, accessed from the east side of Hood River, is a 4.5 mile long trail that leads through tunnels that were originally part of the historic Columbia River Highway. Or consider one of the many other trails - some steeper than others - or bike along the Fruit Loop for a road-based excursion. For another option, book a guided eBike tour through the Columbia River Gorge and Hood River Valley with Sol Rides. If you don’t have the luxury of bringing your own bike, Hood River Mountain Biking Adventures offer full-service mountain bike guiding and rental service, catering to both intermediate and expert riders. They also offer shuttle services by appointment to create your own adventure.