Published April 21, 2021
We took our first trip down to the Columbia River Gorge and Hood River back in August 2020 and absolutely loved it, so we decided to head back this spring (April17-18) to experience the peak wildflower bloom. Just like the first trip, we packed a ton in, made the most of our limited time, and had a total blast. Both times we opted to just do a Saturday – Sunday trip, but if you like to go at a more leisurely pace or want to better space out the driving, consider taking off a Friday or Monday (or both!) to allow more time. That said, even though it does seem like a pretty long drive, we’ve had so much fun we thought it was totally worth the time in the car! We’re sharing all our favorite spots and tips below to help you plan your own getaway to the Columbia River Gorge and Hood River.
The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon of the Columbia River, forming the boundary between Washington and Oregon. Hood River is a small town located at the confluence of the Hood River and the Columbia River in the heart of the Gorge, on the Oregon side. The city is about 30 miles north of Mount Hood, the tallest peak in the state, an hour east of Portland, and roughly four hours southeast of Seattle. Multnomah Falls is an iconic spot in this area that perhaps you’ve heard of before!
While we’re confident you could have a fun trip to this area any time of year, spring and fall will be the most comfortable times of year to visit due to the mild weather. Summer is beautiful but can get quite hot. If you want to see the spring wildflower bloom of Balsamroot and Lupine (which is absolutely incredible!), you should aim to visit in April. Exact bloom times can vary from year to year of course, so you’ll want to keep an eye on trip reports.
Camping: There are several state parks with campgrounds along the Gorge. We were able to reserve a last-minute site at Memaloose State Park, and even got lucky with a water view from our tent! The campground was busy, but folks were generally quiet. Bathroom facilities were nice and we were able to buy some firewood on site, which was handy. One thing to note is that there is a train track that runs just below the campground along the river, and also on the other side of the river. For us personally, the noise wasn’t bad enough that we wouldn’t stay here again, but if you’re a light sleeper, you’ll want to keep this in mind when deciding where to stay.
Airbnb/Hotel: When we visited last summer, we stayed in this Airbnb. It was clean, cute, and quirky, and we were able to walk around Hood River from there which was definitely convenient. We have also had our eye on The Society Hotel in Bingen — maybe next time we’ll stay there!
DAY ONE:
Leave home bright and early.
It’s always nice to beat traffic and get to your destination early, especially if that destination is a potentially busy hike! We left the Seattle area at 6 a.m. last time and 5 a.m. this time. You’ll likely see a few different route options when you pull up Google Maps. We opted to take the I-90 route as it’s more scenic and has less chance of major traffic issues compared to I-5 through Portland.
Start your weekend adventure off right with a gorgeous hike.
Since we were visiting in mid-April, our main goal this visit was to see all of the gorgeous Balsamroot and Lupine blooming! We first went to the Crawford Oakes trailhead, but found the lot totally full around 9 a.m. (it was a gorgeous sunny Saturday). Luckily, there were several other options close by, so we proceeded on to Dalles Mountain Ranch trailhead. Both of these trailheads plus Horsethief Lake are within Columbia Hills State Park on the Washington side of the Gorge, and require a Washington State Discover Pass.
Dalles Mountain Ranch is a popular spot, but we found there to be plenty of space for parking and it was sprawling enough that it didn’t feel too crowded. You can hike the gravel road up to Stacker Butte, or you could even drive part of the way up as there are several pull off parking areas. We grabbed a spot on Dalles Mountain Rd. because we thought it would be full further up, but later realized we could have driven further. We opted to do only part of this hike and enjoyed the flowers and views of Mt. Hood. Then we went back down to our car, refilled our water and had a few snacks, and took the trail off to the right of the road which led us down to the old rusty car that is often photographed. The fields down this way were so lush and packed with flowers! If we were to do this again, we would skip the road walk up to Stacker Butte and instead just explore around the car, potentially adding on another hike in the area on a more traditional style trail vs. the gravel road.
Tip: Stay alert! Ticks are common in this area, as are rattlesnakes. We didn’t see either luckily, but it’s best to watch your step and check your partners for any unwanted passengers (Brad Paisley, anyone?).
There are many other great wildflower hikes in the area too. A few that are on our list for the future include:
Other non-wildflower hikes to consider:
Tip: Start your day as early as you can manage! It’s never easy rolling out of bed, but trust us when we say that you won’t regret the more peaceful hiking experience and avoiding parking hassles. Plus then you can be heading out to enjoy the rest of your day as others are just getting started! You should also always head out with a back-up plan (or two!). Both times we’ve visited this area, our first-choice hike had a totally full parking lot, and we had to move on to our plan B.
Depending whether you’re more of a night owl or an early bird, we recommend trying to enjoy either sunset or sunrise from Rowena Crest Viewpoint, especially if you’re visiting during wildflower season! While you can easily drive to the viewpoint and take in the views over the Gorge, we recommend doing the Tom McCall Point hike if you’re feeling up to it for awesome views of both Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams. When we arrived for sunrise, there were lots of photographers there, but they quickly cleared out once the sun was up, making way for a really peaceful (and much cooler temperature-wise) hike up to the point.
Another alternative would be Memaloose Overlook, which is an easy option for sunset/sunrise views over the Gorge that you can drive to. Note that there are no wildflowers here though. You will also see information online about hiking up to the overlook, however it is an unofficial trail and there is no legal parking for hikers, so you’re best off to just drive to the overlook (you can find directions here).
Refuel with a drink and bite to eat.
Pit stop at Everybody’s Brewing.in the town of White Salmon or head into Hood River where you’ll find lots of options. Some recommendations in town include:
At some point during your visit, we recommend you definitely make a visit to Mike’s Ice Cream. It was such a cute little spot and absolutely delicious. Note that they only accept cash!
Tip: The restaurants and breweries in town can get super busy, and most don’t seem to accept advance reservations. Instead, you’ll have to check in at the host stand and come back later. From our experience, it can take up to 2-3 hours for you to get in! So keep this in mind and approach your day with a flexible schedule. If you want dinner at 7:00, you should probably go check in around 4:30 or 5:00. You could bring a picnic blanket to hang out by the river, go for a walk around town, or grab some of that ice cream we mentioned while you wait!
DAY TWO:
Grab Brunch
If you’re into brunch (who isn’t??), we’d suggest checking out Riverside for an awesome outdoor experience. Yes, the restaurant is part of a Best Western Plus which might sound a little strange – but I promise that the food was good and the views were even better!
Head Out On the Fruit Loop!
The majority of day 2 will be spent exploring a magical area called the Fruit Loop. This 35-mile loop will take you through the Hood River Valley at the base of Mt. Hood, which will feel like it’s right in your face as you wind down the roads from one stop to the next. And if you visit during April like we did this time, you’ll get the bonus of all the fruit trees blossoming!
Along the route there are 29 stops offering a variety of wines, fruits, vegetables, flowers, ciders, and food. Not all of the stops are open at the same times and days, so you’ll want to check out this page to confirm your plans, and you can reference a handy map as well.
Below are the stops we’ve made along the Fruit Loop so far, in order of their location along the route. I would honestly recommend every one of them! Pick and choose what sounds most appealing to you, and you’re sure to have an amazing day exploring the area.
The Gorge White House
We are obsessed with this place! The grounds are beautiful with tons of flowers, orchards, and views of Mt. Hood. It’s a very relaxed atmosphere … bring some snacks, grab a cider flight (every single one is delicious!), and post up on a picnic blanket or at one of their many outdoor tables. They also serve a small selection of beer, wine, and food.
Tip: try to get there shortly after they open for the most relaxing experience. They can get pretty busy as the day goes on!
Mt. Hood Winery
Beautiful winery with expansive views of Mt. Hood from both inside and outside, located less than a mile from The Gorge White House!
Did you notice the difference in snow cover on Mt. Hood in this photo vs. the previous one? The later is from April and this one is from August!
Stave and Stone Winery
Another beautiful setting with views of Mt. Adams and a covered patio if you need a little break from the sun.
Mountain View Orchards and Brewery
An incredible spot with a rural setting and views of Mt. Hood. You can make a reservation for a more formal, seated experience, but we opted to just show up and sit in the beer garden. There was plenty of space and a relaxed vibe, and you could order pizza by the slice and some drinks from an outdoor stand.
Solera Brewing
Not technically part of the Fruit Loop since it’s a brewery, but still worth a stop! Located in the tiny town of Parkdale, it’s very unassuming from the street, but the back yard opens up with incredible views of Mt. Hood. They serve some food and have a handful of beers on tap.
Lavender Valley
We haven’t made it here yet, but it’s high on the list for next time! They are generally open from 10-5, Memorial Day to Labor Day, but be sure to confirm before you go. The fields should be a beautiful sea of purple in mid-June. There is a $3 entrance fee. You’ll be able to hand cut your own lavender, wander the fields, do some shopping for lavender products, and don’t forget to bring a blanket and a picnic to enjoy on the grounds!
Apple Valley Country Store and Bakery
To cap off the day, we stopped at this cute little store, which sells tons of kinds of jam and a few giftshop type items. What we really stopped for though, was ice cream! It really hit the spot after a day in the sun, and they also offer Marionberry and Huckleberry milkshakes, which I would try next time.
Final stop on your way back home: Stonehenge
This last stop was a surprise to us! If you’re traveling back home via 97 to 82 to 90, you may notice a fairly random large stone structure and a sign for Stonehenge (it’s only about 1 mile out of the way). We were curious, so decided to visit — and it was actually pretty neat! This site is a full-scale replica of the original Stonehenge and was the nation’s first WW1 memorial. You can read more about it here.
Even with so many recommendations, there’s still so much more to explore in the Columbia River Gorge and Hood River area! Do you have any other favorite spots? Feeling inspired to add this destination to your future travel plans? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!
