15 Fun Things to Do in Hood River, Oregon

Backyard at Solara Brewing with view of Mount Hood

Hood River is a charming town surrounded by incredible natural beauty. It’s the kind of place that seems designed for outdoor recreation, whether it’s a laidback day of fruit picking and wine tasting or an intense day on a mountain biking trail. The town sits on the Columbia River, where people from all over come to enjoy time on the water. With easy access to the Columbia Gorge and the Cascade Mountains, it’s close to some of the most captivating scenery in the Pacific Northwest. Only an hour from my home in Portland, Hood River is one of my favorite day trips. It has an extra draw in the summer when the fruit starts ripening in the orchards. Here are the best things to do in Hood River, Oregon.

1. Hood River Waterfront Park

Sidewalk next to Columbia River in Hood River Waterfront Park — *Trail along the Columbia River*

Hood River has two main hubs. One is the historic downtown district south of I-84. The other is the waterfront across the highway. Hood River Waterfront Park is all about enjoying time by the Columbia River. A walking path with benches, picnic tables, and play equipment runs next to it. The small beach along the trail is a safe place to swim in the summer, away from strong river currents. Across the road from the park are cafes and restaurants. You can grab a quick coffee, ice cream, or pizza slice to enjoy at one of the picnic tables by the water or take in the views from the second-story windows at Ferment Brewing Company. If you don’t mind a wait, Solstice has excellent cocktails and wood-fired pizzas.

2. Get out on the water

Wing foiling on Columbia River — *Wing foiling on the Columbia River*

Recreation on the Columbia River draws visitors from far and wide to Hood River, especially during the summer. You’ll see people gliding over the water on all sorts of equipment, from the predictable paddleboards to more specialized sports like kiteboarding and wind foiling. Hood River is one of several places called the windsurfing capital of the world, along with destinations as far-flung as Maui and the Red Sea. If you don’t have equipment, local rental companies will get you set up. For a quick and easy way to get on the water without lessons, try a kayak or paddleboard. I felt pretty comfortable with windsurfing after taking a couple of lessons. Kiteboarding is more involved. Expect to invest a good chunk of time and money to get proficient at it.

3. Drive the Hood River Fruit Loop

Grapevines in front of Mt Hood — *Mt View Orchards*

The Hood River Fruit Loop is a magical place where mountain peaks surround a valley of orchards, farms, and vineyards. Driving down this 35-mile scenic byway is one of the best things to do in Hood River, especially during summer and fall when the flowers and produce are in season. Farms in the Fruit Loop grow a wide variety of fruit, beginning with strawberries in June and ending with apples and pears in September and October. Stop at one of the farm stands for pre-picked fruit, or head into the orchards to pick your own. After loading up on produce, check out one of the Fruit Loop’s many wineries for a tasting flight on a patio next to the vines.

Learn more about the best things to do in the Hood River Fruit Loop.

4. See the views at Panorama Point

Panorama Point overlooking Hood River — *Panorama Point*

Panorama Point County Park is the coolest attraction in Hood River that everyone drives past. If you head south of downtown toward the Fruit Loop, you’ll see a sign from Highway 35 pointing the way. Follow the sign and drive up the hill until the road ends at Panorama Point. This park is a quick stop that’s all about the views. The Cascade Mountains provide a backdrop for the rolling hills of farms and vineyards in the Hood River Valley. To the southwest, you’ll see the imposing peak of Mt Hood. Mt Adams and Mt St Helens are to the north.

Parking at Panorama Point is free. The viewpoint is wheelchair accessible. Restrooms and picnic tables are next to the parking lot.

5. Stroll around downtown Hood River

People sit outside on the lawn in front of Hood River Common House — *Hood River Common House in downtown Hood River*

Hood River’s downtown is a charming and walkable town center with blocks of boutique shops, cafes, bars, and restaurants. It’s one of the older parts of town, where the brick buildings retain plenty of their original Victorian flourishes. The stores offer a good variety for browsing, like vintage clothing, books, art, furniture, and, naturally, equipment for outdoor sports. It’s a great place to wander, especially on days when the weather isn’t cooperating. One of my favorite recent finds in downtown Hood River is The Pines 1852. This tasting room serves one of the most unique local wines, a Zinfandel made from vines planted in the 1800s.

6. Hike the Hood River Pipeline Trail

Catwalk on Hood River Pipeline Trail — *Hood River Pipeline Trail*

Hood River has a strange and wonderful hiking trail right in town. The scenery is good, but the real draw is the oddness of the hike. It begins at an abandoned and thoroughly graffitied power station. From here, you’ll start walking on active railroad tracks (yep, watch for trains) and end on a catwalk above a large decommissioned pipeline. The hike follows the Hood River, with lovely views of water along the way. In summer, the trail has wildflowers and several great spots to get down to the river for wading. In the fall, admiring the changing leaves is one of the best things to do in Hood River. The hike is flat, easy, family-friendly, and about 3 miles in total.

The Hood River Pipeline Trail is free to visit. You don’t need a pass to park. No restrooms at the trailhead. Dogs are allowed, but I wouldn’t bring a dog because the pipeline grating is hard on their paws.

Learn more about the Hood River Pipeline Trail.

7. Visit a winery

Mt Adams view behind vineyard — *Mt Adams from the Stave & Stone patio*

Hood River’s wine country is a more laidback version of Oregon’s famous Willamette Valley. Even on a beautiful summer weekend, it’s usually not hard to find a seat on a patio next to the vines without a reservation. It also doesn’t hurt that the tasting fees are about half of those in Dundee. Expect variety in the wines. Hood River’s wineries source grapes from the Willamette Valley and the Columbia Valley, taking advantage of the many microclimates nearby. Besides great wine, you can find some phenomenal views from the tasting rooms around Hood River, including sightings of Mt Hood and Mt Adams. Here are a few of my favorite spots:

Marchesi Vineyards is one of the closest tasting rooms in Hood River if you’re coming from Portland. The wines are lovely Italian varietals. The patio is paradise on a nice day.
The back patio at Wy’East Vineyards looks onto a field where you can watch the alpacas graze.
Stave & Stone’s tasting room has some of the best views in the area, looking onto Mt Adams. Make a reservation if you visit on the weekend. In the summer, a separate garden space has comfy patio furniture next to the lavender fields.
Mt Hood Winery serves a wide variety of wines. They make Pinot Noir with grapes from the Willamette Valley, white wines, and big reds from the Columbia Valley. The patio has fantastic views of Mt Hood.

Local tip: Some tasting rooms are only open seasonally. Check the winery website before heading there in the winter.

8. See the Columbia Gorge waterfalls

Wahclella Falls in the Columbia Gorge — *Wahclella Falls*

Hood River is an easy drive to some of Oregon’s best waterfalls. Frequent rainfalls and abundant cliffs in the Columbia Gorge create an unusually high density of waterfalls. Some are tall and majestic, like the 611-foot Multnomah Falls, Oregon’s most famous waterfall. Others, like Fairy Falls, are small and ethereal. No two are alike. You can see a handful of impressive waterfalls in the Columbia Gorge from roadside viewpoints. If you’re up for some hiking, the payoffs are huge. Here are the best waterfall hikes near Hood River:

Eagle Creek Trail (25 minutes from Hood River)
Wahclella Falls (25 minutes from Hood River)
Waterfall hikes near Multnomah Falls (30-40 minutes from Hood River)

9. Visit a lavender farm

Hood River Lavender Farm fields — *Hood River Lavender Farm*

Starting in June, fragrant fields of lavender begin blooming around Hood River. The best displays last until early August. Most lavender farms are free to visit. You can stroll among the rows of flowers, take pictures, and cut a bunch of stems from a U-pick field to take home. Farm stands offer all things lavender-related, from soaps to seasoning. Here are my favorite lavender farms near Hood River:

Hood River Lavender Farm has the largest lavender field in the area, plus views of Mt Hood and Mt Adams. After seeing the fields, try a lavender-flavored ice cream or have a glass of wine from Stave & Stone Winery.
Hope Ranch Lavender is a less-traveled lavender farm with excellent mountain views from the fields.
Mt View Orchards has a small lavender field near its U-pick orchard. Stop by Grateful Vineyards for wine and wood-fired pizza after smelling the flowers.

Check out all the best lavender farms near Portland.

10. See the Twin Tunnels

Pass required: Oregon State Park Pass, $10/day. You can buy a pass with a credit card at the Hood River trailhead.

One of the most unique excursions in Hood River is the Twin Tunnels Trail, a paved trail that runs between Hood River and the town of Mosier. Before the construction of Highway 84, it was the main route of car travel through the Columbia Gorge. Today, it’s only for hikers and bikers. The highlight of the trail is seeing the tunnels. Workers created these two underground passages in 1921 by dynamiting through walls of basalt. For a shorter excursion, you can start at the trailhead in Mosier and hike or bike a mile to reach the tunnels. To do the whole trail, it’s 9 miles out and back. The views along the way are spectacular, overlooking the Columbia River and the distinctive diagonally oriented basalt cliffs of Washington.

11. Mt Hood

Mt Hood summit covered with snow — *Mt Hood in winter*

An easy scenic drive will bring you from Hood River to Mt Hood, Oregon’s tallest peak. In about 30 minutes, you’ll reach some of Mt Hood’s best hiking and snowshoeing trails, like stunning Tamanawas Falls. In less than an hour, you can be at Timberline Lodge for hiking in the summer or skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing in the winter. To reach the ski slopes without a car, Columbia Area Transit has a seasonal bus between Hood River and Mt Hood Meadows for $5.

A visit to the Mt National Forest is one of the best things to do near Hood River in any season. Look for high-elevation wildflowers around Timberline Lodge from late July through August. Lower-elevation hiking trails are usually snow-free year-round. Skiing and snowboarding are also doable all year but are usually best from around December through March.

Learn more about activities on Mt Hood:

Try the best short hikes near Mt Hood.
Go snowshoeing at Timberline Lodge or Trillium Lake.

12. Go for a wildflower hike

Balsamroot along the Mosier Plateau Trail — *Balsamroot on the Mosier Plateau Trail*

Hood River sits in a unique place in the Columbia Gorge, where conifer forests begin transitioning to grasslands. As the trees thin, the open fields are perfect places to see incredible displays of spring wildflowers like lupines, balsamroot, and paintbrush. From around late April until early June, wildflower hikes are one of the best things to do in Hood River. You can find wildflower trails in town, like Hood River Mountain. Heading east to Mosier and Rowena will bring you to more options within about 20 minutes of Hood River, like the Mosier Plateau Trail. Beyond the flowers, you can find impressive views of the Columbia Gorge and Cascade peaks like Mt Hood, Mt Adams, and Mt St Helens.

Learn more about the best wildflower hikes in the Columbia Gorge.

13. Visit a brewery

Double Mountain Brewery in downtown Hood River — *Double Mountain Brewery makes a great beer*

Whether you spend the day hiking, windsurfing, kiteboarding, wind foiling, or some new-fangled activity I haven’t even heard of yet, few things are more satisfying than a beer at one of Hood River’s breweries afterward. I have trouble picking favorites among them since the quality is consistently high. Expect a relaxed atmosphere, good food, and generous tap lists with a focus on IPAs, pale ales, pilsners, and lagers. The Pacific Northwest beer palette. pFriem Brewery is on the Hood River waterfront with a great patio if you can manage to get a table. Double Mountain Brewery has delicious pizzas to accompany the beer and cider. To skip the alcohol, check out the kombuchas and fermented foods at Ferment Brewing Company. As a bonus, the river views are some of the best in Hood River. For more great views and a seasonal patio, check out Full Sail Brewing. If you’re out in the Fruit Loop, Solera Brewery has picnic tables on the back lawn that look onto Mt Hood. It’s the cover photo for this article.

14. Biking

Two bikers on the Twin Tunnels Trail — *Bikers on the Twin Tunnels Trail*

Hood River has fantastic biking trails. One of the most beginner-friendly is the flat and paved Twin Tunnels Trail (#10 on the list). Although approachable, this trail is anything but boring. Expect incredible Columbia Gorge views along the way. Another great family-friendly option is the 2.8-mile paved path along Hood River Waterfront Park. The Indian Creek Trail is an easy, mostly unpaved route that feels like the woods despite being in town. For more of a challenge, Hood River is known for mountain biking trails, like the 9-mile Post Canyon Loop. One of the popular and adventurous trails is the 23-mile out-and-back shared-use Surveyor’s Ridge Trail.

15. Visit the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum

Plane hangs over gift shop — *Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum gift shop*

This one is going to be my most polarizing suggestion. For lovers of vintage planes, cars, and motorcycles, the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum (WAAAM) is hands down the best attraction in Hood River. The museum reflects the passion and dedication of the volunteers involved in maintaining its hundreds of antique aircraft and vehicles. The exhibits fill a 3.5-acre hangar. Volunteers take the planes and cars out for flights and drives to keep them operational. On the second Saturday of the month, WAAAM has special activities like flight demonstrations.

The museum is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. Adult admission is $23. Address: 1600 Air Museum Rd, Hood River, OR 97031.

Best things to do in Hood River, the summary:

Hood River Waterfront Park
Get out on the water
Drive the Hood River Fruit Loop
See the views at Panorama Point
Stroll around downtown Hood River
Hike the Hood River Pipeline Trail
Visit a winery
See the Columbia Gorge waterfalls
Visit a lavender farm
See the Twin Tunnels
Mt Hood
Go for a wildflower hike
Visit a brewery
Biking
Visit the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum

Enjoy your trip to Hood River!

With love,

Emma

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