The Best Things to Do in Hood River

The city of Hood River is the seat of Hood River County, Oregon, United States. It is a port on the Columbia River, and is named for the nearby Hood River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,167.HistoryHood River post office was established at the site of the present city on September 30, 1858, and the city itself was incorporated in 1895. Originally, the city was part of Wasco County, but it became the seat of Hood River County when the county was first established in 1908.GeographyHood River is at the confluence of the Hood River and the Columbia River in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge. The city is about 30mi north of Mount Hood, the tallest peak in the state. It is across the Columbia River from White Salmon, Washington. South of the city is the Hood River Valley, known for its production of apples, pears, and cherries.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.35sqmi, of which, 2.55sqmi is land and 0.80sqmi is water.ClimateLocated at the transition zone between wet temperate rainforest to the west, and dry shrub-steppe desert to the east, Hood River has a moderate climate with rainy winters and warm summers, although rainfall there is somewhat less than Portland and other nearby areas in the Willamette Valley. Hood River averages around 30in of precipitation a year, while Cascade Locks, 20mi west, receives over 75in, and The Dalles, 20mi east, less than 15in. The area is known for its consistently high winds channeling down the Columbia River Gorge. Use our United States travel route planner to plan your trip to Hood River and other destinations in United States.