Art and cocktails in downtown Hood River. Photo: Andrew Douglas

This Pacific Northwest Downtown Is Made For Strolling

Where the Columbia River Gorge playfully divides Washington and Oregon, and the Cascade Range unveils one of its most iconic peaks, the community of Hood River eagerly sets up shop.

This secondary Oregonian city sits just outside Portland's orbit, making it both accessible and refreshingly isolated. Here, Hood River continues the artisanal coffee and craft beer culture of its Beaver State peers, while expanding its purview into the realms of windsurfing, food trucks, and small-scale artistry. For those interested in peripheral adventures, Hood River also boasts a fertile valley full of farm-fresh fruit stands and wineries that can be connected by bike, casual country drive, or (to a degree) via scenic passenger trains. But before casting too wide a net, Hood River should first be seen on foot. Let's start in the heart of downtown and then wade out to the waterfront to see how this Pacific Northwest community is made for strolling.

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Main Streets and Little Nooks

A quiet pedestrian intersection in downtown Hood River, with the mountains of the Columbia Gorge seen in the background. — Looking up Oak St. toward the mountains of the Columbia River. Photo: Andrew Douglas

Hood River's commercial core sprawls predominantly along Oak Street, Cascade Avenue, and Columbia Street, between about 1st and 6th Street. These blocks are all lined with generous sidewalks, making it a breeze to negotiate with the town's already relaxed traffic. In this vicinity, you can't take more than a few steps without the next gallery, specialty shop, street mural, or culinary outlet catching your attention.

Historical buildings in Downtown Hood River along the Columbia River.

In terms of shoppable pit-stops, you may wish to pass beneath Ruddy Duck's blue facade and into a treasure trove of boutique clothes. Or, if you've come to town for recreational reasons, then give yourself over to Shortt Supply and Pure Stoke for all your sporting goods needs. Alternatively, you might add a bit of spice to your life with the help of Arome. Or maybe you'd prefer to sift around for your next great read at Artifacts, Ampersand, or Waucoma Bookstore.

Edgy street art on the wall below a raised parking lot. — A bit of Hood River's street art. Photo: Andrew Douglas

Downtown Hood River also does a fine job of encouraging each pedestrian's artistic side. Tokki Art Supply, Columbia Center for the Arts, Art on Oak, and 301 Gallery are some of the formal focal points. But be on the lookout for the mix of historic murals and edgier (though sanctioned) graffiti works that punctuate the gaps in between.

Of course, we must cover Hood River's high-caliber coffee and libations scene, but given the density of offerings and the fact that a few key players reside along the waterfront, let's leave this subject for a section of its own. In the meantime, let's go see the other essential and walkable side of town.

The Waterfront

A couple and their dog sit in camping chairs on the grass by a river, watching kite boarders — Surfers and spectators unite at Waterfront Park. Port Marina Park see in the distance. Photo: Andrew Douglas

Whichever of the three non-numerical thoroughfares you find yourself on, work your way over to 2nd Street and follow the gentle downhill grade toward the Columbia River. In the process, we'll need to cross the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, but given the traffic lights and designated crosswalk, this is but a minor inconvenience. Before long, you'll see the clusters of colorful kites and sails, and begin to realize why Hood River is called the "Windsurfing Capital of the World."

The Columbia River Gorge is not only a marvel to behold, but consistently funnels favorable winds. As such, at any given time during the fair-weather seasons, scores of windsurfers and kitesurfers congregate on the shores of Hood River Waterfront Park. Curious pedestrians might pause here for a moment to watch the athletes intermittently launch forth/return to dock, and then continue along the paved Waterfront Trail to see even more of the action (while also ticking up that pedometer).

A paved waterfront path moves toward distant mountains. A group of windsurfers are faintly seen as well. — Heading west on the Waterfront Trail. Lots of (tiny) windsurfers out there today. Photo: Andrew Douglas

Heading east on the Waterfront Trail will bring you across Hood River (i.e., the namesake waterway), past the small but diverse History Museum of Hood River County, and into Port Marina Park - where you'll find a large sandy beach on which to extend the stroll. Veering west from Waterfront Park will introduce you to the riverside breweries and eateries before concluding at the Hood River Standup Paddleboard and Kayak tour agency (in case you'd like to indulge your amphibious side by more manageable means). As you retrace your steps toward downtown (or perhaps uptown would be more accurate), take a peek behind Ferment Brewing Company, as scores of delectable food trucks park around the edges of its spacious lawn (replete with picnic tables).

Cafe and Brewery Hopping

A couple drinks their morning coffee at a pedestrian alleyway table — Alleyway connecting Doppio Coffee and Hood River Distery (tasting room). Photo: Andrew Douglas

Shopping and windsurfing are appealing ways to punctuate a stroll, but an entire Hood River itinerary could be concocted around cafe and brewery hopping. If you're in the mood for the former, check out Doppio Coffee, River Daze Cafe, Kickstand Coffee + Kitchen, Dog River Coffee, Ground Espresso Bar & Cafe, and Egg River Cafe. And if you're still down by the river, Stoked Roasters + Coffeehouse will warm that wind-beaten belly and put a little pep back in your step.

The full and cozy interior of Hood River's Double Mountain Brewery — Good times at Double Mountain Brewery. Photo: Andrew Douglas

If, however, your spirit is primed for a few craft libations, then make the guilt-and D.D.-free rounds past Double Mountain Brewery, Full Sail Brewing Co, Hood River Brewing Co, and/or Spinning Wheels Brewing Project. Or, again, if you find yourself with a propensity for the waterfront, then pop into Ferment Brewing Co., pFriem Family Brewers, or Hood River Distillers (the main location is on the river, but they also have a downtown tasting room that shares a pedestrian alley with Doppio Coffee).

Alternate Explorations

Hood River in Oregon with Mount Hood forming the backdrop. — Hood River in Oregon, with Mount Hood forming the backdrop.

Satisfied with your step count and mindful exploration of Hood River's communal core, you may wish to switch up the modes of transportation in order to see more of Oregon's peripheral landscape. Mount Hood Railway can be accessed directly from downtown and offers passenger trains, trolleys, and even railbike tours that highlight the valley's spring blossoms, summer fruits, fall foliage, and year-round mountainscape. There's even an interactive Polar Express experience from late November through to early January.

If you brought your own wheels (two or four), then Hood River's 35-mile "Fruit Loop" is a must. In the shadow of the conical, snow-capped Mount Hood, there are 32 direct-to-consumer fruit stands, wineries, breweries, and cideries (and lavender fields to boot) dotting the gentle countryside. Visit Hood River's tourist page for a comprehensive map.

Similar Spots for Strolling

Cascade Locks

A cargo boat passes beneath a massive steel bridge that spans the lush Columbia River Gorge — The walkable Bridge of the Gods. Photo: Andrew Douglas

If you're looking to expand on your Columbia Gorge experience, then look no further than Cascade Locks, just a few minutes west of Hood River. This small community welcomes us into the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, introduces the state-spanning and camera-captivating Bridge of the Gods (a toll bridge that is open to pedestrians), and offers enthusiastic strollers a choice between the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail (a manageable day-hike) and the nation-spanning Pacific Crest Trail. The latter takes anywhere from three to six months to complete, but for our purposes, simply following it inland for a handful of miles will reveal some of the gorge's epic waterfalls (you can also spot a few of these from the highway en route to/from Hood River). Otherwise, simple poke along Wa Na Pa Street, enjoying the verdant, misty vibes, and watching for old-fashioned sternwheelers puttering along the river below.

Florence

An elderly couple walks along a boardwalk past a small river marina. — Boardwalking by the Siuslaw River. Photo: Andrew Douglas

Shifting our focus to Oregon's Coast, we find another charming river town in the form of Florence. Hugging the northern bank of the Siuslaw River, as it strives toward the towering Pacific Ocean, this anachronistic village trades in the Bridge of the Gods for its own impressive drawbridge, and the steep hills of the Columbia River Gorge for the towering sand dunes of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. But at its core, Florence - more specifically, the Port of Siuslaw Old Town - is a serene place to wander, thanks to its wooden boardwalk, little riverside parks, and seafood chowder lunch spots (served piping hot in a big bread bowl).

What's Good in the Hood

Hood River is a quintessential Pacific Northwest town. Flanked by monumental, four-season naturescapes, lovers of the outdoors are never left wanting in these parts. But you don't have to be a windsurfer or alpinist to appreciate the fresh breeze, scenery, and cold brews of this little Oregonian enclave. As we've seen, downtown Hood River, paired with its vibrant waterfront, is best explored on foot anyway.

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