Best 12 Things to Do in The Dalles, OR
The quiet town of the Dalles, Oregon keeps a low profile compared to nearby Hood River but offers just as much day-tripping potential. Here are my suggestions for the best things to do in The Dalles, including food, drink, and activities.
1. Visit Sunshine Mill Winery
About: Sunshine Mill is home to one of the most unique tasting rooms you will ever visit. It occupies the bottom floor of a former wheat mill and still retains traces of its past life like the mill’s old machinery and workbenches. In its current incarnation as a tasting room, the space has been transformed into a cheerful and cozy lounge. One of the most iconic buildings in the Dalles, you can’t miss spotting Sunshine Mill’s towering grain silos and enormous painted sun on your drive into town.
What to do there:
Having a tasting flight of local wine or a glass of cider is one of the best things to do in The Dalles. The Sunshine Mill is home to Quenett and Copa di Vino wineries.
Snack on cheeses or other small plate offerings to pair with your drink.
Shop for souvenirs.
Check out the anatomy of the old mill in a funky and refurbished space.
Play some bocce ball on the back patio.
See a drive-in movie! Check out the schedule of rotating movie offerings on their website.
Cost: Tasting flights are $10/person. Snacks are around $10-15.
Address: 901 East Second Street, The Dalles, Oregon 97058
2. Have brunch at Le Riv Café
About: The building that now houses Le Riv Café is over 100 years old and was once an old church. The beautiful stone exterior remains, as do some pews and wonderful stained-glass windows in its current life as an event space and coffee bar. Le Riv also has a picturesque and plant-filled patio space for outdoor dining. Having brunch there is one of the best things to do in The Dalles. It’s the sort of spot that would have a prohibitively long wait in Portland, but I went there with my friends on a Sunday morning and we got to sit down right away.
What to do there: Check out the coffee drinks, as well as brunch and smoothie options.
Cost: <$5-20
Address: 401 E 10th St, The Dalles, OR 97058
3. Explore the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum
About: The Discovery Center showcases the history of the Columbia Gorge over thousands of years from the Ice Age to current endeavors in renewable energy. There is a little bit of everything including artifacts, video presentations, and live demonstrations. If you have Columbia Gorge-related questions, the Discovery Center has answers. Touring the museum is one of the best things to do in The Dalles with kids, who I suspect will be impressed by the full-scale mammoth display.
What to do there:
Wander through the exhibit halls to learn about the history, geology, culture, and wildlife of the Columbia Gorge.
Attend a live raptor presentation and see the birds.
Stroll through the trails outside the museum with great views of the Columbia River Gorge. Dogs are welcome on these trails.
Cost: $10/adult, $8/senior, $5/child, free under 5. The trails around the museum are free, as is parking.
Address: 5000 Discovery Drive, The Dalles, Oregon 97058
4. Take a stroll along the Dalles Riverwalk Trail
About: This easy, paved walking/biking trail starts at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and heads towards the Dalles Dam. Seeing it on foot or bike is one of the best things to do in The Dalles. The whole length of the trail is about 6 miles one way, but there are points of interest along the way, so do as much or as little as you want. Spring is the best time to try out the trail when wildflowers are blooming and the weather is the most comfortable for walking.
The trail has multiple access points. I’d avoid starting at the marina from November 1-Memorial Day. The Riverfront Park is closed to protect wildlife and the portion of the Riverfront Trail starting from the marina is right next to the highway with lots of road noise and less attractive scenery than other portions.
What to do there:
Check out the interpretive trail outside the Discovery Center.
Take in views of the Columbia River and bluffs in southern Washington.
Look for wildflowers.
Go for a long bike ride.
Bring the dog! They are allowed on the trail.
Cost: Free, no pass required
Address: 5000 Discovery Drive, The Dalles, Oregon 97058 (the trail begins at Discovery Center)
5. Admire Old St. Peter’s Landmark
About: This Gothic-style church was built in 1897 based on plans from a German architect. It boasts a 176-foot steeple that is easily visible from many parts of the Dalles. The red brick exterior is striking, as is the statue of St. Peter above large wooden doors. The interior is a tranquil retreat that is surrounded by some truly impressive stained-glass windows.
What to do there: Taking in the splendor of the Landmark’s architecture and enjoying its quiet calm is one of the best things to do in The Dalles. There is some literature near the entrance about the history of this important community site.
Cost: Free, donations welcome
Address: 405 Lincoln St., The Dalles, OR 97058
6. Shop for books at Klindt’s, Oregon’s oldest bookstore
About: Portland may have the largest bookstore, but The Dalles has Oregon’s oldest. Open since 1870, visiting this downtown bookseller remains one the best things to do in The Dalles to this day. Their shop offers a variety of fiction and non-fiction as well as a children’s area in the back.
What to do there: Shop for books, journals, cards, and other related sundries.
Cost: Free to browse, although there are lots of tempting items for purchase
Address: 315 E 2nd St, The Dalles, OR 97058
7. Hunt for murals downtown
About: The Dalles has over a dozen murals in its downtown related to the history of the town and the area. Make sure to look out for them when you visit!
Cost: Free
Location: Downtown area of The Dalles
8. Hike along the Riverview Trail at Deschutes River State Recreation Area
About: Although slightly outside The Dalles, stopping at the Riverview Trail is worth the extra distance if you like to hike. Head about 12 miles east of The Dalles to reach the Deschutes River State Recreation Area. Enter the park and drive past the campgrounds to the end of the road to reach the trailhead. There are restrooms available near the parking area.
What to do there:
Follow the Riverview hiking trail along the Deschutes River. Connect with the Upper hiking trail to make a 3-mile loop.
Bring a mountain bike and hit the trails.
Have a picnic! There are tables near the river.
Bring the dog! Dogs are welcome on the trails but watch out for ticks.
Cost: free - no recreation passes are needed. There are fees for camping in the park.
Other tips: Watch out for rattlesnakes! I met a biker who had seen one when I visited. There is tick spray available near the trailhead.
Address: 89601 Biggs Rufus Hwy, Wasco, OR 97065
9. Grab pizza and beer at Freebridge Brewing
About: Freebridge Brewing occupies a building from the 1800s that was intended to be a US Mint during the height of the gold rush happening in the region. It has since been restored and converted into a brewery and pizza joint, the first of its kind in The Dalles. Locally owned and run, stopping at Freebridge is one of the best things to do in The Dalles after a day spent hiking and exploring.
What to do here: Get pizza and beer for lunch or dinner. There is also wine available, as well as a tempting appetizer menu. There is indoor and covered outdoor seating available. Dogs are welcome on the patio.
Cost: $5-30
Address: 710 E 2nd St, The Dalles, OR 97058
10. Learn about local history at the Fort Dalles Museum
About: A visit to the Fort Dalles Museum is one of the best things to do in The Dalles for history buffs, who will appreciate its collection of buildings, vehicles, and artifacts from the mid-1800s. The museum was once the site of a military fort and gives glimpses into what life was like in the region over 100 years ago.
Parking is free and there are restrooms available.
What to do here:
Learn about local history while exploring buildings and artifacts from the past.
See the atmospheric Gothic-revival-style surgeon’s quarters, the last surviving structure of Fort Dalles.
Check out the collection of wagons and antique vehicles.
Tour the Anderson homestead, a Swedish immigrant’s home and farm circa 1895.
Cost: $8/adult, $5/senior, $1/children 7-17, free under 7
Address: 500 West 15th & Garrison St., The Dalles, Oregon 97058
11. Treat yourself at Shannon’s Ice Cream
About: You will likely be able to smell the enchanting aroma of freshly made waffle cones before you enter Shannon’s Ice Cream. The shop makes over a dozen ice creams and sorbets in-house and you can taste the love and care that go into them. The owners live above the shop and are passionate about bringing joy to people through ice cream. Grabbing a cup or cone is one of the best things to do in The Dalles. You may want to arrive early on a nice day. Popular flavors can sell out!
What to do here: Enjoy freshly made ice cream and sit out on the porch. The environment is relaxed and family-friendly. Dogs are welcome to sit with you outside.
Cost: About $5
Address: 318 E 4th St, The Dalles, OR 97058
12. Drink wine by the Columbia River at Tierra de Lobos Winery
About: Tierra de Lobos is a small-scale enterprise that focuses on making great wines with minimal additives from grapes grown locally. The tasting room is laid-back and comfortable with spectacular views of the Columbia River. You’ll want to linger on the patio on sunny evenings when soft light hits the Dalles Bridge and the hills of the Washington Gorge beyond. Having a wine tasting there around sunset is one of the best things to do in The Dalles.
What to do there:
Enjoy a glass, bottle, tasting flight, or (my personal favorite) the enhanced tasting, which offers appetizer pairings with a wine tasting. Standouts from the tasting were the 2020 Chardonnay, which is light and fruit-forward without the butteriness often associated with this type of wine, as well as the 2017 Sauv Franc, which has an intriguing hint of clove that gives it a pleasant pepperiness.
Try out the generous snack menu.
Take in the view of the Columbia River, Dalles Bridge, and Dalles Dam from the covered patio or through the large windows in the cozy indoor space of the tasting room.
Feel free to drop in! No reservations are needed.
Children and pets are welcome at the winery.
Cost: Tastings are $15. Enhanced tastings are $25. Bottles range from around $25-50.
Address: 201 Osprey Ln W, The Dalles, OR 97058
In summary, the best things to do in The Dalles are:
Visit Sunshine Mill Winery
Have brunch at Le Riv Café
Explore the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum
The Dalles Riverwalk Trail
Old St. Peter’s Landmark
Shop for books at Klindt’s, Oregon’s oldest bookstore
Hunt for murals downtown
Hike along the Riverview Trail at Deschutes River State Recreation Area
Have pizza and beer at Freebridge Brewing
Learn about local history at the Fort Dalles Museum
Shannon’s Ice Cream
Drink wine by the Columbia River at Tierra de Lobos Winery
Enjoy your trip to The Dalles and cheers to your next adventure!
With love,
Emma
Looking for more to go in the area?
The Dalles is close to some fantastic hikes. Consider checking out Mosier Plateau or Rowena Crest. You can also cross the Dalles Bridge (free) into Washington to reach Maryhill, WA.
