By spring, snow in the Hood River Valley melts away and its 14,000 acres of fruit trees burst with pink and white blossoms. During the month of April, also known as Blossom Time in Hood River, plan a multi-day stay in this beautiful agricultural town in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and immerse yourself in one of the states most beautiful springtime wonderlands!
Here is what we suggest at the perfect springtime activity...
Day 1 Hood River County Fruit Loop
Drive or bike the Hood River County Fruit Loop, a gorgeous 35-mile self-guided tour route. You'll pass through pear, cherry and apple orchards bursting with pink and white flowers. Recommended stops include The Gorge White House, where you can sample hard ciders made with local fruit, Foothills Yarn and Fiber, where you can pet baby alpacas, and Mt. Hood Winery, which was named Oregon Winery of the Year in 2016. Visit Packer Orchards Farm Place on Easter Sunday for an Easter egg hunt.
Day 2 Hood River
Take a day to tour the town of Hood River, which offers an eclectic mix of locally owned specialty stores, museums and galleries, walking and biking trails, restaurants, craft breweries and more. Catch a live concert at Springhouse Cellar (Tuesday nights), visit the Hood River History Museum , or spend an afternoon at the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum.
Day 3 Go Wiking
Back by popular demand, Friends of the Columbia Gorge this spring is offering wiking (wine combined with hiking) guided hikes. These multi-level hikes explore the Gorges plentiful trails, followed by a stop at a local winery. Pre-registration, available online at GorgeFriends.org, is required.
Bonus Day (plan accordingly)
If you're a cider fan, you wont want to miss the Hood River Hard-Pressed Cider Fest. Set in scenic Hood River Valley among blossoming apple, pear and cherry orchards, the festival gives people the chance to see and experience first-hand where so many of these ciders get their start.
