Sand Dune — Climbed for the View, Run for the Fun
Fruit Loop Scenic Drive
On the Planet — Natural Gorge Wind Tunnel
From Portland via I-84
Brewery of the Year · Waterfront
New 2025 · 655-ft Historic Tunnel
Apple & Pear Harvest — Peak Fruit Loop
Cross to White Salmon, WA for More
Italian Varieties Thrive Here
Hood River shouldn’t work this well. It’s a town of 8,500 people on the Columbia River, an hour east of Portland, wedged between a rainforest gorge and a high desert, with a volcano rising to the south. And somehow it has a nationally recognized brewery scene, a walkable downtown with restaurants that rival cities ten times its size, a 35-mile scenic drive through orchards and vineyards, and the best wind sport conditions on the planet.
The town woke up decades ago when windsurfers discovered the Gorge’s natural wind tunnel, and everything that followed — the restaurants, the breweries, the wineries, the food culture — grew from that energy. Hood River is one of the essential stops in Oregon. Whether you’re driving through the Columbia River Gorge or building a trip around Mt. Hood, this is where you want to spend at least one night.
The downtown anchor and the locals’ brewery. Founded by two former Full Sail brewers, Double Mountain makes unfiltered, long-aged beers and some of the best wood-fired pizza in the Gorge. The downtown taproom is lively, with live music on weekends and sidewalk seating that defines summer evenings in Hood River. Their ciders — made with local apples and pears — are outstanding too.
A pioneer in sustainability: 25,000 square feet of solar panels and refillable bottles. A brewery with both great beer and genuine environmental commitment.
The town’s top dinner destination — upscale farm-to-table Pacific Northwest cuisine in a warm, candlelit space. Reserve ahead on weekends.
50+ vendors with fresh produce, artisan goods, and community energy. Worth building your Saturday morning around. Moves indoors to Ferment Brewing December–April.
The taco trucks and small Mexican taquerias scattered through the valley — particularly in Odell (a few minutes south) — are some of the best casual eating in the Gorge, fueled by the agricultural community. Skip the tourist restaurants and eat here at least once. See the What Visitors Miss section for more.
Sits right on the waterfront and is the brewery most visitors come specifically to see. Named Brewery of the Year by Beer Connoisseur, pFriem makes European-influenced artisanal beers with an extensive barrel-aging program producing some of the most sought-after limited releases in the Pacific Northwest. The food menu goes well beyond pub fare — seasonal, locally sourced dishes designed to pair with the beers.
The covered patio with its firepit and river views is one of the best places to sit in all of Oregon. Expect a wait on summer weekends. The Pilsner alone is worth the trip.
Occupies what might be the most beautiful brewery interior in the state — massive floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Gorge, natural wood paneling, and farmhouse-style ales made with foraged ingredients. Stunning architecture paired with genuinely interesting beer. Come for the view, stay for the saison.
Hood River’s brewery concentration is remarkable for its size. Six breweries within walking distance, several more in the valley, and quality that draws beer pilgrims from across the country. The Breweries in the Gorge (B.I.G.) trail connects 11 regional breweries across both sides of the river with a beer passport. See our Oregon Breweries Guide.
The flagship. European-influenced, barrel-aged, nationally acclaimed. The Pilsner is the best-known but the limited barrel releases are extraordinary. Waterfront location with firepit patio and river views.
Unfiltered beers, wood-fired pizza, live music. A pioneer in sustainability. The best combination of beer, food, and atmosphere for an evening out in Hood River.
Hood River’s first craft brewery, perched on a bluff with the best panoramic river views of any brewery in town. Free brewery tours. Still innovating nearly four decades later.
Farmhouse ales with foraged ingredients in a jaw-dropping Gorge-view space. The most beautiful brewery interior in the state. Worth a visit for the architecture alone.
South in the Fruit Loop corridor with arguably the best Mt. Hood view from any brewery in Oregon. The mountain fills the entire horizon from the backyard picnic tables. Worth the drive.
Cherry & apple blossoms light up the valley. The most photogenic season.
Strawberries, cherries, peaches, nectarines. Lavender blooms at Hood River Lavender Farms.
Our Oregon Hiking Guide covers the full Gorge trail system. Here are the Hood River highlights — and the headline 2025 opening.
A 655-foot tunnel with five arched windows overlooking the Columbia River, recreating the original 1915 tunnel that was the crown jewel of the Historic Columbia River Highway before being destroyed for I-84 expansion in 1966. The tunnel opened to the public in March 2025 and is accessible by hiking or biking only — no cars. The views through the arched windows are extraordinary. Trailhead parking is available on the west side. 1.5 miles, easy-moderate. One of the most significant new trail openings in Oregon in years.
A paved, car-free section of the Historic Highway State Trail connecting Hood River to the village of Mosier through two restored 1921 highway tunnels. 4.5 miles one way — excellent for biking. Rent an e-bike on the waterfront and ride to Mosier for wine tasting, then ride back. Stunning Gorge views the entire way. One of the most satisfying half-day rides in Oregon.
A century-old scenic train running from Hood River south through the valley to Parkdale, passing through orchards with Mt. Hood views the entire way. Seasonal special events include holiday trains. Book in advance — consistently one of the most popular attractions in the Gorge.
One of the largest collections of still-flying vintage aircraft and still-driving antique automobiles in the country. Over 3.5 acres of indoor exhibits with planes, cars, motorcycles, and military vehicles. Even people who don’t think they’re interested in old planes tend to spend hours here.
Hood River’s Fruit Loop in April, when the cherry and apple trees are in bloom, is one of the most beautiful spring experiences in Oregon — and almost entirely skipped by visitors who come in summer for the wind sports or fall for the harvest. The drive through blossoming orchards with Mt. Hood above is genuinely stunning. Mark your calendar a year out if you can.
Peak season. Warm (75–85°F), sunny, and windy — the prime window for wind sports, the Fruit Loop, and outdoor dining on every brewery patio. Hood River at its most vibrant. Book accommodations well ahead — the town fills up fast on summer weekends.
Apple and pear harvest. The Fruit Loop peaks with u-pick orchards and farm stands overflowing. Fall color appears in the valley and on the surrounding hillsides. The wind calms somewhat. Excellent with fewer crowds than summer.
Wildflowers at Rowena Plateau (April). Cherry and apple blossoms in the valley (April) — genuinely extraordinary. Waterfalls at peak flow. The wind picks up in May. One of the most underrated times to visit Hood River.
A legitimate ski-trip base — Mt. Hood Meadows is 35 minutes south and Timberline Lodge is 45 minutes. The downtown restaurants and breweries don’t slow down. The Fruit Loop is mostly closed, but the beer scene is year-round.
One full day covers the downtown, waterfront breweries, and either the Fruit Loop or a Gorge hike. Two days lets you do both plus wine tasting or the Mitchell Point Tunnel. Hood River also works beautifully as a one-night stop on a Portland → Gorge → Mt. Hood → Bend loop — one of the best 3-day itineraries in Oregon. See our Oregon Road Trips Guide for the complete route.
Columbia River Gorge Guide →
Mt. Hood Region Guide →
Timberline Lodge Guide →
Multnomah Falls Guide →
Oregon Hiking Guide →
Oregon Waterfalls Guide →
Oregon Breweries Guide →
Oregon Wineries Guide →
Oregon Food & Drink →
Oregon Road Trips Guide →
Bend Guide →
Portland Guide →
Oregon With Kids Guide →
Best Time to Visit Oregon →
Plan Your Trip to Oregon →
