Top 10 Gorge Hikes Within 1 Hour of Hood River

I came to Hood River for the wind. I stay for the mornings before it picks up.

My summers here follow a pretty consistent rhythm: mornings are for hiking, afternoons are for wind. The thermal winds in the Gorge don't really start blowing until late morning or early afternoon, which leaves a perfect window to get out on the trails with my wife and kids.

We have three kids—7, 5, and 5—so our hiking needs are split. Sometimes my wife and I want something with elevation and views while the kids are occupied. Sometimes we all go together and stick to easy trails where the kids can throw rocks in creeks and nobody's complaining about distance. And some mornings, we'll do a quick family hike before I head out to wing foil once the wind fills in.

The Gorge delivers all of it.

This guide covers the hikes we've done, the ones we keep coming back to, and the ones I've scouted for when the kids are a little older. Some are perfect for families. Others are better for mornings when my wife and I can get out on our own. All of them fit perfectly into the pre-wind window.

Why the Gorge is Great for Hiking

Within an hour of Hood River, you have waterfalls, ridge climbs, wildflower meadows, forest walks, and massive cliff views over the Columbia. Some trails feel like classic Pacific Northwest—mossy, green, and shaded. Others feel more like high desert with basalt formations and wide-open sky.

The variety is what makes it work. On hot July days, we stick to waterfall hikes where the kids can cool off. On cooler mornings, we'll do ridge hikes for the views. And when we just need to get out of the house before the wind starts, there are plenty of easy loops close to town.

Season and Timing

Spring (April to June) is wildflower season. Dog Mountain and Tom McCall Point are unreal in May. Waterfalls are full and the temperatures are perfect.

Summer (July to August) gets hot, but shaded hikes like Tamanawas Falls stay cool. This is when we do most of our hiking because we're here for the wind and mornings are the only time that works.

Fall (September to October) has the best colors and clear views. The crowds thin out and it's easier to find parking.

Winter—some trails are accessible, but higher-elevation ones get snowed in.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY HIKES (EASY WITH KIDS)

Tamanawas Falls 22 minutes from Windhouse | Easy to moderate | 3.8 miles round trip

This is our go-to family hike. The trail winds through the forest and ends at a massive basalt amphitheater with a waterfall pouring down the middle. The kids love it because they can get close to the water and feel the mist.

It's shaded the whole way, which makes it perfect for hot summer days. The distance is manageable for our 7-year-old, and we've done it with the 5-year-olds too—they just need more snack breaks.

Parking fills up early on weekends, so we usually go in the morning before I head out to wing foil.

Lost Lake Loop 35 minutes from Windhouse | Easy | 3.2 miles flat

This is the easiest hike on the list. Flat, shaded, and you're walking around a lake with Mt. Hood in the background. The kids can skip rocks, we can stop for snacks, and nobody's complaining about elevation.

We did this after a morning session once and it was perfect—low effort, high reward. It's only open late spring through mid-fall, so check before you go.

Mosier Plateau 10 minutes from Windhouse | Easy | Short loop

This is our quick-hit hike when we just need to get outside for an hour. It's close, it's easy, and the wildflowers in spring are incredible. The kids can run around without us worrying about cliffs or steep drop-offs.

Great for sunset too if the wind dies early.

Rowena Plateau 15 minutes from Windhouse | Easy | 2 miles

The plateau loop is mellow enough for the kids and has great views of the Gorge. In spring, the wildflowers are ridiculous—everything turns bright yellow and purple.

We usually do this one in the evening when it's cooler. The exposed sections get hot in the middle of summer, so mornings or late afternoons work better.

Elowah Falls 45 minutes from Windhouse | Easy | 1.5 miles to the lower falls

Elowah is short, shaded, and ends at a tall, dramatic waterfall. The kids love it because it's cinematic—the kind of waterfall that looks impressive even to a 5-year-old.

If you want to extend it, you can hike up to Upper McCord Creek for Gorge views, but we usually just do the lower falls with the kids and call it good.

Falls Creek Falls 45-50 minutes from Windhouse (Washington side) | Easy to moderate | 3.4 miles

This is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the Gorge—a multi-tiered drop that looks like something out of a fantasy movie. The trail is wide and manageable, and the kids can handle it as long as you bring snacks and take breaks.

The upper viewpoint is worth the climb. It's a wall of water pouring through a narrow canyon.

HIKES FOR ADULTS (MORNINGS BEFORE THE WIND PICKS UP)

Dog Mountain 35-40 minutes from Windhouse | Hard | 6.5 miles | 2,700+ feet elevation gain

If you hike one peak in the Gorge, do Dog Mountain in May or early June. The entire mountainside turns bright yellow with wildflowers, and the views from the top are unreal—Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, the Columbia River winding through the canyon.

It's steep. Brutally steep. But it's worth it.

You need a permit on spring weekends, so plan ahead. And bring trekking poles—your knees will thank you on the way down.

My wife and I did this on a calm morning before the wind started. We were back by noon and I still had time to get on the water in the afternoon.

Tom McCall Point 15 minutes from Windhouse | Moderate | 3-4 miles

Tom McCall Point is the steeper, more rewarding version of the Rowena Plateau hike. You climb up to a ridgeline with massive views of the Gorge and wildflowers everywhere in spring.

It's hot and exposed in summer, so we do this one early in the morning or late in the evening. The sunset from the top is incredible.

Hamilton Mountain 45 minutes from Windhouse (Beacon Rock area) | Moderate to hard | 7.5 miles

Hamilton Mountain is like Dog Mountain's slightly friendlier cousin. Still a serious climb, but more forested and less brutal. You get waterfalls on the way up and big summit views at the top.

Go counter-clockwise for the best flow. We did this one on a Sunday morning and it was perfect—good workout, great views, back in time for lunch.

Eagle Creek to Punchbowl Falls 50 minutes from Windhouse | Moderate | 3.8 miles to Punchbowl

Eagle Creek is one of the most iconic trails in Oregon. The canyon walls are dramatic, the cliffs are carved and mossy, and the trail has narrow ledges that make it feel a little adventurous.

Punchbowl Falls is the main destination—a perfect bowl-shaped waterfall that's great for photos. If you keep going past Punchbowl, the trail gets even more scenic, but we usually turn around there.

Not a kid hike because of the exposure, but perfect for mornings when my wife and I want something memorable.

Mount Defiance (Starvation Ridge) 20 minutes from Windhouse | Expert only | 11 miles | 5,000+ feet elevation gain

This is one of the hardest day hikes in Oregon. I'm including it because people ask about it, but I haven't done it yet. It's a leg-breaker—5,000 feet of climbing over rocky, exposed terrain.

If you want to say you did the hardest hike in the Gorge, this is it. But it's not casual. It's not scenic in a relaxing way. It's just hard.

The views from the top are supposed to be unreal, though.

Multnomah Falls to Wahkeena Loop 55 minutes from Windhouse | Moderate | 4.9 miles

Multnomah Falls is the most famous waterfall in Oregon, and the crowds reflect that. But if you hike the loop above it, you escape most of the tourists and get to see Wahkeena Falls, Fairy Falls, and Ecola Falls all in one trip.

Start early to avoid the parking nightmare. The loop itself is great—shaded, well-maintained, and packed with waterfalls.

HIKES CURRENTLY CLOSED OR LIMITED

Oneonta Gorge – Closed due to landslide damage. No timeline for reopening.

Wahclella Falls – Often closed for trail repairs. Check before you go.

Angel's Rest – Reopened after fires but may close temporarily for maintenance.

Horsetail Falls (upper sections) – Lower falls are open, but upper trails are unstable.

When these reopen, they're worth doing—especially Wahclella.

Quick Hikes Near Town (Under 20 Minutes)

These are perfect for when we're winded out, the kids need to burn energy, or we just want something easy.

Mosier Plateau (10 minutes) – Wildflowers, easy, great sunset

Seneca Fouts Memorial Loop (10 minutes) – Peaceful, forested, less traffic

Hood River Mountain (12 minutes) – Rolling hills, good views, mellow

Koberg Beach (8 minutes) – Short walk, cool spot near the river

Why Windhouse Works as a Hiking Basecamp

Windhouse is 15 minutes from Rowena, 20 minutes from Tamanawas, 35 minutes from Dog Mountain and Lost Lake, and less than an hour from almost every major trail in the Gorge.

We can wake up, hike before the wind picks up, come back for lunch, and still have time for a wind session in the afternoon. Or we can do an easy family hike in the morning, grab food in town, and let the kids relax while I'm on the water.

The access makes it easy to build your whole summer around wind, hiking, and actually enjoying the place instead of just driving around constantly.