Looking for things to do in Hood River? Don’t worry, you’ll have no problem finding plenty to keep you busy. But first, a little bit about this tiny city/medium-sized town located on the border of Washington and Oregon states (though Hood River is in Oregon). Hood River is named for the nearby Hood River, but don’t let this fool you into thinking that the huge river you drive across into the city, is Hood River.
The main river is actually the Columbia River. The city of Hood River is a port on the Columbia River, and if you’re driving from Portland (which is about an hour’s drive) you’ll cross the Columbia River on your way into Hood River.
Hood River is not only a beautiful place, it also offers endless endless opportunities for outdoor sports and activities as well as some fantastic wineries, cideries, restaurants, and festivals.
Hood River is great for family trips, group getaways, or a romantic weekend away. In short? You won’t struggle to find things to do in Hood River.
Thing to Do in Hood River: Downtown Hood River and Hood River Restaurants
Downtown Hood River offers a number of excellent restaurants, cafes, shops, and places to taste wine, cider, or enjoy a craft cocktail. A few of the best places to visit in downtown Hood River include Upside Down Wines (a dog-friendly tasting room), Celilo Restaurant (fine dining focused on locally sourced ingredients), Solstice Wood Fire Pizza, Crush Cider Cafe, and Camp 1805 (craft cocktail bar & distillery).
Just a few minutes from downtown, you also have the excellent and incredibly popular White Salmon Baking Co. (don’t expect to go without finding a line out the door if it’s lunchtime), The Society Hotel Cafe (for excellent espresso beverages), and the Columbia Gorge Bakery (a 100% gluten-free bakery!!!!!).
Things to Do in Hood River: Windsurfing
Hood River is considered one of the best windsurfing destinations in the world. Windsurfers from all over the state and country come to Hood River to windsurf on the Columbia River. What makes Hood River such a great spot for windsurfing?
Hood River is located in the Columbia Gorge, a river canyon that is flanked by the Cascade Mountains. The steep rocky walls of the mountains form a sort of channel through which wind runs into Hood River. Due to these unique conditions, Hood River is an area that sees more wind than sun, meaning that windsurfing season is much longer here than in many others areas. This makes it a dream come true for avid windsurfers.
Hikes Near Hood River
If you’re a hiker, you’ll love this gorgeous corner of the Columbia Gorge where a fantastic view waits around every corner.
Hood River is home to many popular hikes including some urban hikes within the town itself in parks or following trails and stairs. A few favorites in Hood River (for a morning workout before breakfast) include: Indian Creek Trail, the 2nd Street stairs, and Westside Trail.
Read this post for some suggestions of popular and scenic but short hikes near Hood River.
For longer/more substantial hikes in the Gorge try Mount Defiance Trail located in the Starvation Creek Park (12.4 miles round trip), Herman Creek Trail, or Augspurger Mountain.
*The closest ski mountain to Hood River is Timberline Lodge Ski Area in Government Camp.
Hood River Wineries
If you’re looking for a scenic place to enjoy unique wine-tasting experiences and discover some great new wines, Hood River and the surrounding area have a lot to offer. There are at least a dozen wineries within less than 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Hood River, many as close as 5-10 minutes.
Here’s a list of some of my favorite wineries and wine-tasting experiences in Hood River.
Hood River Cideries
One of the best things to do in Hood River is taste local ciders. The city has a handful of excellent craft cideries. Right in Hood River, you have Slopeswell cider’s taproom (now called Working Hands Fermentation taproom), while just a few minutes from downtown you’ll find Foxtail Cider and Distillery. Or, you can also sip ciders from all over the PNW and world at Crush Cider Cafe in downtown Hood River.
Hood River Hotels
There are a good number of hotels in Hood River to choose from. One of my favorite places is The Society Hotel (just across the river) which has an awesome library-like cafe that serves food all day long as well as upscale dorm-style rooms for groups (which can make your stay much more affordable as well as social!) or cabins.
There are also some great vacation rentals/little houses or apartments situated very conveniently near some of the best breakfast spots and cafes in Hood River, White Salmon, and Bingen (all within a very short stone’s throw of each other).
And, if you like a river view, The Best Western Plus in Hood River is a good option. They also happen to have the best riverfront restaurant view in town, and very good food (and I say this as a food snob who does NOT normally eat at Best Western’s!).
For more hotel suggestions in Hood River read this post.
Annual Events and Festivals in Hood River
Hood River hosts several annual events including its annual Hood River Harvest Fest and Winter Music Festival.
*Note: Some of my posts may include affiliate links, though most do not. If you click on one of my links it costs you nothing extra, but may make me a few cents if your purchase something through that link.