Location: Hood River
Top Things to do in Hood River
The 10 Best Things to Do in Hood River, United States
Hood River beckons travelers with the scent of orchard blooms and the promise of adventure on the rushing waters of the Columbia River. The winds through the Columbia River Gorge provide the perfect conditions for windsurfing and kite surfing, making the city a hotspot for those sports in recent years. The surrounding area is ripe with orchards growing cherries, apples, peaches and other sweets. Take the Mt. Hood Scenic Railroad through the orchard route and take in the views of Mt. Hood.
Restaurants in Hood River
1. Columbia River Gorge
Overall Ratings
5 based on 963 reviews
The Columbia River Gorge, a 75-mile canyon through the Cascades, is a broad, picturesque river with water-controlling dams.
Reviewed By DonCesar - Nuremberg, Germany
Nice area with very scenic waterfalls, hills and the river. There are yours or you can always just rent a car and drive there since it's pretty straight forward.
2. AniChe Cellars
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
We make wines with an eye to European tradition with a particularly Washington State sense of terroir and style. Our wines are almost entirely varietal blends, believing that wine varietals are very much like people and dogs, with an egalitarian mixing up of characteristics to create interesting nuances and surprising complexity and beauty (think Halle Berry, mutts and Bordeaux). Our fruit comes from Washington state’s plethora of renowned AVA’s, including our very own Columbia Gorge AVA. We are currently closed for the winter season and will reopen February 2016. Our Hood River location is open Thursday through Monday.
Reviewed By Amy Q - Eugene, Oregon
We had a delightful time capping off a Hood River area wine tour at Aniche this spring. Very rustic and sweet place, with wonderful wine and even more wonderful views. Loved getting a small bite to taste with the wine flight! Between the dogs and chickens, hula hoops and picnic tables, this was a very cool place to relax and unwind.
3. Dog Mountain Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By Jack B - San Diego, California
Relatively short hike, a little steep and rough in places with nice views from the top - you can see Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams. Recommend taking the 'easy' trail up - you get better views, and take the Augspurger Trail down - it is a little longer but much smoother and easier on your knees. You can enjoy looking around on Augspurger Trail as you don't have to focus so much on your footing.
Lots of wildflowers (April 8) along the trail.
While you are in the neighborhood, swing up to Dog Creek Falls - a mile or so north, and then consider hiking Wind Mountain - a mile or two south. The three make for a great day, 10 miles and 3820' of climbing.
There are restrooms at the start of Dog Mountain Trail.
Requires NW Forest Pass or $5 to park.
4. Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum
Overall Ratings
5 based on 316 reviews
The WAAAM Air & Auto Museum has one of the largest collections of still-flying antique aeroplanes and still-driving antique automobiles in the country. The items on display at this museum are not only full of history, they're full of LIFE! Enjoy over two acres of indoor exhibit space.
Reviewed By Clayton C
Wonderful tour and an excellent guide. Mack gave us a great deal of excellent information and sea stories! Highly recommended.Thank you for reviewing. We have often found truth can be stranger than fiction and our collection has lots of stories to tell. We usual have several guides circulating on our display floor to share these stories or answer any questions from our visitors.
5. Wet Planet Whitewater Rafting & Kayaking
Overall Ratings
5 based on 219 reviews
Wet Planet Rafting and Kayaking - is located 10 min. North of Hood River, Oregon. Get out on the river with us for river rafting in Oregon and Washington and whitewater kayak instruction. Classes and trips for all skill levels, and ages starting at 10. Daily, from April through September. Just 1 hour and 15 min. East of Portland, Oregon. Known for some of the best whitewater in the country, all summer long, get out on the river with Wet Planet right here in the Columbia River Gorge area. Enjoy our riverside facilities and outdoor Wet Planet Grill with delicious locally sourced Farm-to-Table food, cold local beer on tap and a selection of area's best wines.
Reviewed By StevenC75
We booked the 3 day basic white water kayaking course which stressed small groups (max 4:1 customers to guides) and a flexible approach based on the speed that the group acquires the skills. We already had flat water kayaking experience but planned our holiday around this course to give us some white water kayaking skills.
However after a knock on an activity before the course started, I had to take my partner (also on the course) to have an X-Ray (to get an all clear) and although we'd only be a little late into the first day (which was planned to cover skills we already had), we were excluded from the entire 3 days and, of course, no refund. While Wet Planet can presumably justify this extreme behaviour in their T&C's, I found the removal from a 3 day course for less than 90 minute's absence, a completely unnecessary over reaction and thus warn other customers to be wary of dealing with them in case the unexpected happens to them.
6. Mount Hood
Overall Ratings
5 based on 485 reviews
The tallest mountain in Oregon.
Reviewed By Traveler O - Tampa
Drove from Portland through Columbia Gorge - lots of great waterfalls and vistas. Stayed in Hood River Best western then drove through fruit and lavender valleys to Timberline Lodge. Got a last minute reservation at the Lodge - don't be afraid to ask to change to a better room if get stuck near dining smells. Great short and long walks from the lodge. food is a bit pricey.
Next day went to Zig Zag Falls - really nice and fairly easy walk for a moderate distance. watch for the kiwanis camp sign as easy to miss. on north side of US Hwy 26. Trillium lake was ok; i prefered zig zag falls.
7. Marchesi Vineyards
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 196 reviews
Franco Marchesi's passion for wine began in his hometown of Borgosesia, Peimonte, Italy. As a child he always wondered what it would be like to be a winemaker like his grandfather Achille. After running his own import company specializing in Italian wines for over 20 years, Franco began planting his favorite Northern Italian grapes in Hood River, where the climate and soil are just like Northern Italy. Please come visit, and taste our wines. Salute!
Reviewed By A TripAdvisor Member
Perfect venue for wine tasting located just outside Hood River. Excellent wines provided by knowledgeable, helpful staff in a patio setting surrounded by active vines.
8. Horsetail Falls- Columbia River Gorge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 323 reviews
Reviewed By tcasta72 - Markham, Canada
Beautiful waterfall, right off the parking lot, so you don't have to walk far. Could take a dip if weather is hot. beautiful place to contemplate nature, busy though.
9. Mirror Lake Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 113 reviews
Located on the Mount Hood's north side.
Reviewed By Jade M - Camas, Washington
The hike to Mirror lake is only 1.5 miles each way, that's including doing the entire loop around the lake.
It is pretty much uphill the whole way, mostly it's switchbacks through the Forest.
We went on a cool cloudy morning, the weather was beautiful.
Mount Hood has been getting a decent amount of snow recently. The day we went there was a lot of clouds that were covering the mountain and it was only partly showing, but I was still able to see a little bit reflected in the lake, it was also windy so the reflection in the lake wasn't as clear as it can be.
No matter wether you can see the mountain or not this is still a gorgeous hike worth doing.
There was already some fall colors around the lake and lots of wildlife too.
We will be back again to do this.
10. The Gorge White House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 86 reviews
Our own wines and hard ciders, regional wines, NW craft beers, u-pick and we-pick fruit, u-cut flowers, fresh food cart, stellar double mountain views on a historic homesite on a century old working farm.
Reviewed By JulieBandSteveB - Coon Rapids, Minnesota
Not just a vineyard! You pick fruit and flowers depending on the season. A great food truck with wonderful food, pricing 10 to 13 for most items, quick and hot and you can eat anywhere indoors or a great patio area. Wine, ciders and a few local beers 1.00 per taste bad 5 to 6 for a glass/pint. Staff was friendly and very Nice! Growlers, bottles (wine) to go! We enjoyed the pear lemon cider and took some to go!! We would recommend and go back! A great way to spend a few hours kids and adults !
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