Hood River
Every afternoon in summer, the wind arrives. It starts as a ripple on the Columbia River, then builds to whitecaps, then to full-blown gale conditions that turn the water into a playground of waves and spray. The wind blows because it must - hot air rising over eastern Oregon's deserts creates a pressure differential that sucks Pacific air through the only sea-level passage in the Cascade Range, the Columbia River Gorge. And at the heart of this wind tunnel sits Hood River, a town of 8,000 that has become the windsurfing and kiteboarding capital of North America. Sails dot the river like migrating butterflies. Kites arc overhead. Mount Hood presides in the background. This is what happens when geography conspires to create perfect conditions - and people figure out how to ride them.
Wind City
Hood River didn't plan to become a wind sports mecca. The town was built on timber and orchards - the pear and apple trees still climb the slopes above the Columbia, and fruit packing remains an industry. But in the 1980s, early windsurfers discovered what meteorology made obvious: the gorge's thermal winds were among the most reliable in the world, blowing strong nearly every summer afternoon.
The sport transformed the town. Board shops opened where hardware stores had been. Rental companies sprouted near launch sites. Athletes arrived from around the world, drawn by conditions that other locations couldn't match. Today, Hood River hosts professional competitions and serves as training ground for champions. The waterfront has been redesigned around water access. And the afternoon ritual continues: locals check the wind readings, assess the flags atop the hotels, and decide whether conditions justify abandoning work for another session on the water.
The Columbia River Gorge
The gorge is the geographic marvel that makes everything else possible. Carved by catastrophic floods at the end of the last ice age, when a glacial lake repeatedly burst through its ice dam and roared to the sea, the Columbia River Gorge cuts an 80-mile gash through the Cascade Range. Waterfalls pour from its rim - Multnomah Falls, Latourell Falls, Horsetail Falls, and dozens more. Basalt cliffs rise thousands of feet. The river flows through it all, wide and powerful, the only sea-level route through the mountains from the Pacific to the interior.
Historic Highway 30, built in the 1910s, clings to the Oregon side, offering access to waterfalls and viewpoints that have drawn tourists for over a century. The Washington side of the gorge is wilder, less developed, home to some of the best climbing in the Pacific Northwest. Between the two, the river serves as highway, playground, and wind tunnel - the corridor that has shaped everything along its banks.
Mount Hood Backdrop
From Hood River, the mountain rises directly south - a near-perfect volcanic cone, snow-covered year-round, presiding over the valley with the kind of presence that stops conversation. Oregon's highest peak at 11,250 feet, Mount Hood offers skiing from November through June (and even summer sessions on Palmer Glacier), hiking trails that range from gentle to technical, and views that justify every worn cliché about Pacific Northwest scenery.
The mountain gives the town its name and much of its identity. Hood River serves as a gateway for climbers attempting the summit via the south-side route. Ski areas on the mountain's flanks draw winter visitors. And the agricultural bounty of the Hood River Valley - the orchards that have operated for over a century - exists because the mountain's slopes create perfect growing conditions: warm days, cool nights, volcanic soil, reliable water from snowmelt. The mountain isn't just backdrop; it's the engine that makes the valley productive.
Craft Beverage Culture
Hood River has embraced the Pacific Northwest craft beverage movement with enthusiasm. Full Sail Brewing, one of Oregon's pioneering craft breweries, still operates in its original location overlooking the river. Newer breweries have followed. Cider producers work with the valley's abundant apple harvest. Distilleries experiment with local fruits. The result is a drinking culture that takes its beverages as seriously as its wind sports.
The downtown has evolved to serve this identity. Restaurants occupy renovated historic buildings. Bars offer views of kiteboarders launching below. Coffee shops fuel morning sessions. The town maintains the vibe of a small Oregon community - independent retailers, local ownership, resistance to chains - while attracting visitors who appreciate authenticity. It's a balance that many towns aspire to and few achieve: tourism-dependent without feeling touristy, prosperous without losing character.
The Fruit Loop
Above town, orchards climb the slopes in neat rows - pears, apples, cherries, peaches - the Hood River Valley's agricultural heritage made visible. The Fruit Loop, a 35-mile scenic drive, connects farms, wineries, and fruit stands where you can buy direct from growers. In spring, the orchards bloom pink and white against the still-snowy mountain. In fall, harvest season brings apple cider pressing and pear tastings.
The agricultural economy predates the wind sports by a century, and it continues alongside the newer attractions. Many families have farmed these slopes for generations. The volcanic soil produces fruit of exceptional quality. And the terraced hillsides, irrigated by mountain snowmelt, create a landscape unlike anywhere else in Oregon - productive, beautiful, shaped by both geology and human effort. Driving the Fruit Loop, you see what Hood River was before the windsurfers arrived - and what it still is, beneath the sails and kites.
From the Air
Located at 45.71°N, 121.51°W in the Columbia River Gorge. The town sits on the Oregon side of the Columbia River where the gorge narrows. Mount Hood (11,250 ft) dominates the view to the south. Look for windsurfers and kiteboarders on the river - colorful sails and kites are visible from altitude in summer. The Hood River Valley extends south toward the mountain, covered with orchards in organized rows. The Columbia River Gorge is unmistakable - the only sea-level gap in the Cascades, with dramatic basalt cliffs on both sides. Historic Highway 30 traces the Oregon rim. I-84 runs along the south bank. Nearest airports: Portland International (KPDX) 60nm west, Hood River Ken Jernstedt Airfield (4S2). The gorge can generate significant winds and turbulence.