20 Things to Do in Hood River, Oregon

1. Explore Hood River Waterfront Park

Hood River Waterfront Park is the most beautiful and varied park along the shores of the Columbia River to satisfy active recreation with magnificent views. It is a popular place to practice kiteboarding and windsurfing due to the constant winds that turn the river into the perfect playground for those two sports.

There's a walking/biking path, scenic along the riverfront, that provokes views of Mount Hood and the surrounding landscape. The playground keeps many kids active and interested, and community events and festivals are commonly held within the park during the year.

2. Go For Windsurfing And Kiteboarding

Windsurfing and kiteboarding are ultra-adrenaline water sports that keep lovers thronging places like Hood River in Oregon. Windsurfing riders are termed to be people involved in a cross between surfing and sailing. One uses a board with an attached sail, harnessing the wind that can move him across the water face.

One of them is kiteboarding, some people also call it kite surfing. It involves riding a board while being pulled by a large and powerful kite. The kite provides lift and propulsion, thus enabling riders to make some impressive aerial maneuvers and many other cool tricks.

Both offer an adrenalin-pumping experience and are accessible to all levels of expertise.

3. Visit Mount Hood

Mount Hood is a striking, very iconic stratovolcano in Oregon's Cascade Range. In winter, it's a busy ski and snowboarding resort with numerous well-maintained slopes and trails, whereas, in the summertime, it has excellent conditions for hiking, climbing, and mountaineering, where the trails will take one through beautiful alpine meadows that command breathtaking views.

Other recreation opportunities are provided by the nearby Mount Hood National Forest: fishing, camping, and mountain biking. This mountain is a standout feature in and of itself, often covered by glaciers and snow.

4. Explore Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum

The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum introduces visitors to a great opportunity for discovery, the vast natural and cultural history. With interactive exhibitions and engaging displays throughout the museum, one can learn much about the special geology, indigenous cultures, and pioneer history of the region.

It contains highly detailed exhibits on how the Gorge evolved, the flora and fauna to be found locally, and how the Columbia River influenced the evolution of the region. Artifacts, historic photographs, and programs for children and adults contribute to a more complete understanding of the history of the area.

There are also outdoor exhibits and walking trails that lead people to enjoy the natural exquisiteness of the Gorge.

5. Tour The Full Sail Brewing Company

The best of the craft brewery is represented in Full Sail Brewing Company. From every beer, a sense of innovation and high quality seems to shine through, with sustainability touted on both energy and locally sourced ingredients. When visiting Full Sail Brewing Company, tour the brewery facilities to become acquainted with the brewing process.

This sustainable features brewery is recognized and celebrated for its manufacture of a beer portfolio ranging in variety, using renewable energy with raw materials sourced locally. Near the brewery is a tasting room with one of the most beautiful vistas overlooking the Columbia River, offering a perfect moment to relax and enjoy the sip of a pint.

6. Tour The Hood River Fruit Loop

The Hood River Fruit Loop is a 35-mile scenic drive through Hood River Valley on into Oregon. The traveler meanders in and out of more than 30 family-owned farms, orchards, wineries, and stands dotting the wayside to sample local farm produce.

The Fruit Loop provides an increasing number of types of homemade products from jams, ciders, and fresh baking to local wine. The adjoining road itself provides a perfect landscape view of Mount Hood and the farmland teeming with life and is a beautiful spot for a drive.

7. Take A Scenic Drive On The Historic Columbia River Highway

The Historic Columbia River Highway is a scenic wonder and monument to early 20th-century engineering that curves through the magnificent Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. With exquisitely crafted stonework, elegant viaducts, and flowing curves seemingly blended seamlessly into the natural environment, the road winds along the face of the cliff.

A drive up the Historic Columbia River Highway is a drive through natural beauty and American history, a vision of its builders who wanted to connect people with the stunning scenery of the Pacific Northwest. Today it remains a very popular route with travelers seeking to experience some of the timeless beauty of the Columbia River Gorge.

8. Discover The Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area

The Columbia River Gorge is a natural scenic wonder, stretching over 80 long miles along the very edge of Oregon and Washington, with one of the best breathtaking places in the Pacific Northwest.

The Gorge was carved by the Columbia River and is home to dramatic cliffs, the lush forest of numerous waterfalls, included in which is the iconic Multnomah Falls.

Multiple scenic drives, including the Historic Columbia River Highway, offer views up and down the river as well as across the Cascade Mountains and the lush valleys. The Gorge harbors its cultural and historical sites inherently in monuments and interpretative centers to account for the stories from Native Indian tribes to early pioneers, and growth.

9. Hike To Tamanawas Falls

Tamanawas Falls forms one of the beautiful waterfalls that provide visitors with a rewarding and picture-like hike. These falls are a real vista, dropping from a height of 110 feet in a basalt cliff, creating a dramatic and serene scene surrounded by lush green and towering trees.

This hike to the Tamanawas Falls follows a trail 3.5 miles in length round-trip, wading in on the Cold Spring Creek through a beautiful forest of Douglas firs, cedars, and maples. It is mostly a medium-trouble trail with some rocky areas but offers a rewarding experience when one gets to the falls.

The sound of rushing water becomes louder as you near the falls, and misty spray fills the air, refreshing the atmosphere.

10. Visit Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum

The Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum focused on vintage aviation and automotive history. Under its roof, it has some of the largest collections of antique aircraft and automobiles anywhere in flying and driving conditions in this country.

There's more to see than 130 aircraft including biplanes, gliders, and military planes on the main floor paired with an impressive display of classic cars, motorcycles, and military vehicles. But what sets it apart is preserving these machines in flying or driving order; most can be flown or driven under their power for various events and demonstrations.

11. Go For Wine Tasting

Wine tastings are the best way to discover various wines that please your taste buds through a sensory journey across vineyards and their winemaking traditions. The adventure often takes one from vineyards to tasting rooms or wine bars, featuring one with normal experiences of tasting wines that range from crisp whites to bold reds.

Wine tasting tends to focus on the wine's aroma, taste, and finish, so the participants learn how to recognize subtle notes and establish a palate. Wine tastings in places like Oregon's Willamette Valley or Hood River Valley include vineyard and cellar tours.

12. Visit The Gorge White House

The Gorge White House is family-owned and in the panoramic Hood River Valley of Hood River, Oregon. It is set in tapestries with glimpses of Mount Hood found within a well-preserved historic property dating to 1908.

Visitors are welcome to wine and cider tastings of the Gorge White House's handcrafted beverages produced from locally grown fruits. 

Picturesque gardens provide a colorful setting with bright flowers, while an on-site food cart serves up tasty, locally inspired cuisine. Located in the middle of the state's fruit country, this mixing bowl of history, agricultural heritage, and some of the best views in the state make the Gorge White House a respite of rest one won't soon forget.

13. Enjoy At Hood River Valley Parks & Recreation

Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation offers a diversified outdoor recreation and community space area that puts upfront the beauty of the Hood River area. The district operates many parks, trails, and recreational facilities that provide hiking, biking, picnicking, and many other types of outdoor activities.

Some of these notable spots include Jackson Park, a family-friendly area with playgrounds and fields to play sports in, and the Indian Creek Trail, which runs through beautiful scenery while giving one vistas of Mount Hood.

14. Ride The Hood River Skyway

The Hood River Skyway is a specific elating experience with an aerial tramway with breathtaking views of the Columbia River Gorge and surrounding landscapes. On a calm tram ride, the view offered at this attraction is unique, the riders glide over lush forests, rolling hills, and sparkling waters of the Columbia River.

The Skyway is most famous for its panoramic views of Mount Hood and Mount Adams, visible from within the tram. This provides the perfect means to take in the natural beauty of the region in this particular way, for those looking for a leisurely yet thrilling experience.

The Hood River Skyway is suitable for families, couples, or anyone who wants to see the beauty the Northwest has to offer from up high.

15. Explore The Cascade Locks

Cascade Locks is a beautiful little town in the heart of Oregon's Columbia River Gorge, known for its fascinating natural beauty and rich history. The town, lying on the bank of the Columbia River, was named after the old locks that served to get around the treacherous Cascade Rapids before the Bonneville Dam's construction. 

Today, Cascade Locks is a favorite haunt accommodating so many different types of activities one may find there: hiking, boating, and fishing. It is a pathway to the Pacific Crest Trail and the famous Bridge of the Gods spanning the river.

The Cascade Locks Historical Museum and several good local dining options, including breweries, make this a worthwhile stop in the Gorge.

16. Visit The Hood River Distillers

Hood River Distillers was founded in 1934 and is the oldest and among the most acclaimed distilleries. Based in the scenic Hood River, this distillery has a tradition of making world-class spirits from the finest quality, representing the natural plenty of the landscape.

Hood River Distillers is the best and most recognized for its plethora of premium vodka, whiskey, gin, and brandy; all of them have been prepared with regional agricultural inputs and pure water from the Cascade Mountains.

Popular labels include Pendleton Whiskey, Clear Creek Pear Brandy, and Timberline Vodka. The experience includes tastings in their warm, cozy room, witnessing firsthand the distillation process and the fine spirit-making craft of the Pacific Northwest.

17. Check Out Local Art Galleries

Local art galleries are very much a pageant of creativity and culture, offering views of regional talent and insight into the artistic character of a community. Typical representations include varied styles of works, including paintings, sculptures, photography, and mixed media, that illustrate local subjects or themes of style.

Many galleries present new shows, changed regularly, which include many different new and established artists' works. Many local art galleries also host workshops, artist talks, and other activities within the community that foster involvement and learning.

18. Go For Mountain Biking

Mountain biking combines the cycling factor with adventure across rugged and varied terrains. Here, riders ride their bikes on trails that can comprise everything from smooth singletracks to challenging rocky paths and steep descents.

Mountain biking provides great exercise, engaging the full body, and requires balancing, controlling, and enduring skills. This is because most places in great demand for mountain biking have trail systems designed to suit different riding expertise, from the beginner to the advanced.

Other than the health benefits involved, mountain biking allows one to get closer to nature and venture into beautiful scenery while experiencing the adrenaline rush of surpassing nature's obstacles.

19. Enjoy Local Dining

Local dining provides a unique and authentic way to experience a community's culinary culture. Be it a small, quiet cafe, a more casual restaurant or food truck, or even a fine dining locale, local eateries are often known for focusing on regional resources, recipe traditions, and cuisine creation.

Try what local restaurants have to offer to get an idea of the flavors and culinary specialties defining a place, fresh seafood, farm-to-table, or ethnic cuisine. 

Many local eateries further ensure that the atmosphere and the service match the food to make the occasion memorable. By supporting dining at a local level, new tastes are found and the economy and community around you are served. 

20. Visit The Hood River County Historical Museum

The Hood River County Historical Museum is an interesting institution located in Hood River, Oregon, aiming to show the natural wealth in history and cultural heritage of this region. The museum hosts various exhibits on area development from Native American settlements through pioneer times to the present and is accommodated in one of the historical buildings.

Beginning with information about the geological formations in the Columbia River Gorge, early means of transportation, and even the fruit-growing industry, further educational programs, workshops, and events outline hands-on activities and historical enactments.

Hence, the Hood River County Historical Museum is very useful for understanding the past and appreciating the community's heritage.