Camping

Hood River County runs three parks with campgrounds in the Hood River Valley [1].

Tucker Park (2440 Dee Hwy., 541/386-4477) is only four miles from town, in a lovely spot along the banks of the gurgling boulder-strewn Hood River. It’s the most developed of the three parks, with a store, a restaurant, laundry, and an ice machine just four miles away in town. It has 14 RV sites with water and electricity ($19) and 80 tent sites ($18).

Tollbridge Park (Rte. 35, 541/387-6888) is also set along the Hood River in the upper valley. It’s 17 miles south of Hood River [2] and offers showers and two grocery stores a short distance away. Rates are $20 for full-hookup sites, $19 for water and electric, and $18 for tent sites.

Routson Park (off Rte. 35, 541/387-6888, $10) sits along a roaring stretch of the Hood River’s East Fork, at the gateway to the Mount Hood National Forest. It provides a more rustic setting higher in the mountains but only 25 minutes from town. Amenities for the 20 campsites are more sparse (flush toilets and drinking water are available), and trailers are not recommended.

Oregon State Parks offers two full-service campgrounds right on the Columbia River. Viento State Park (800/551-6949 or 800/452-5687, mid-Apr.–late Oct.) is 8 miles west of Hood River on the river side of I-84. You’ll pay $14–16 for one of the 57 sites with water and electric, or $14 to pitch your tent at the other 18 sites. Viento offers direct recreational access to the mighty Columbia.

Memaloose State Park (800/452-5687, $16–20) is 11 miles east of Hood River on I-84, accessible from the highway’s westbound lanes only. On the Columbia with limited river access, the park offers 43 full-hookup sites and 67 tent spaces, showers, and an RV dump station. It’s only fair to mention that both of these campgrounds are not far from a main freight-train line; in other words, expect to hear the trains go by, even at night.

There are several nice semiprimitive forest service campgrounds in the Mount Hood National Forest, which surrounds the valley on three sides. All are in pleasant settings. Call the Hood River Ranger Station (6780 Rte. 35, 541/352-6002) for information. Some of the Forest Service campgrounds south of town are Sherwood and Robin Hood, both on Route 35, Laurence Lake (off Forest Rd. 2840), and Lost Lake [3].