Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A.M.-6 P.M. Mon.-Sat., 10 A.M.-5 P.M. Sun.) to be mandatory. This toy store sells a wide range of games, stuffed animals, books, educational
items, and other quality playthings that only the best elves on Santa's production line are put in charge of.
Sports and Recreation
WINDSURFING AND KITEBOARDING
The undisputed hub of wind-borne water-sports in the Gorge, Hood River draws self-proclaimed boardheads from around the world, who flock
here to ply the windy and scenic waters of the Columbia. Also known as sailboarding, windsurfing is powered by a mount that looks like a cross
between a surfboard and a sailboat. An extreme sport around these parts for decades, sailboarding will always remain in vogue to some degree,
but of late it has been supplanted in the hearts of many of the Gorge's adrenaline junkies by kiteboarding. Also referred to as kitesurfing, this
high-octane sport sends enthusiasts careening over the water on a wakeboardlike mount powered by a line attached to a large C-shaped sail.
Both are technical sports that'll take some degree of education and training to get started. Fortunately Hood River has the highest concentration
of schools for both in the entire country. If you take a lesson in town, more likely than not you'll be meeting at either the Hood River Sailpark
(300 E. Port Marina Dr.) or the Hood River Event Site (north end of 2nd St. off of I-84 exit 63) each on either side of the Hood River outlet
into the Columbia and both popular launch sites for boardheads of all experience levels. Try Hood River WaterPlay for a range of windsurfing
lessons that run the gamut from a Quick Start two-hour ($69) lesson to a full two-day, six-hour U.S. Sailing sanctioned windsurf class ($199) that
affords you free time on the company's equipment at its beginner beach throughout the sailing season after graduation. Meanwhile, for kiteboard-
ing, the Port of Hood River has sanctioned six different outfits to teach classes from local launch spots. Located at a stand over at the Event Site,
New Wind Kite School (541/387-2440) runs an individualized full-day Introduction to Kiteboarding for 1-2 people ($254-320 pp), as well as a
two-day Fast Track Camp ($414 pp) for two that will really get you jump-started by getting you out on the water quickly through Jet Ski-assisted
lessons.
See SURFING THE WIND
VIENTO STATE PARK
One of the premier plots of state park land along the Gorge lies about eight miles west of Hood River. The aptly named Viento—in Spanish it
means “wind”—brings together some beautiful riverfront property that sprawls south past the freeway into the waterfall-laden scenery the Oregon
side of the Gorge is known for. On the river, windsurfers and kiteboarders take advantage of convenient access to launch their rigs. And for tum-
bling water, take the one-mile, fully accessible paved trail to the Starvation Creek waterfall along a now-defunct section of the Historic Columbia
River Highway.
KOBERG BEACH STATE RECREATION SITE
Just a couple miles east of Hood River, Koberg Beach was the town's go-to riverfront site when it was a tony little resort for most of the first
half of the 20th century. The resort is gone but the beach along the Columbia remains a favorite place to recreate, with wind-sport enthusiasts
and anglers taking full advantage of easy river access. The beach is conveniently right off of I-84, but the towering basaltic Stanley Rock keeps
freeway noise down to a minimum.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
Mountain bikers will find a little something for every riding style and ability among the spa-ghettilike collection of trails curving through Post
Canyon just south of town. Twisting and turning through land owned by the Hood River County Forestry Department, these shared use trails
extend out to 89 miles of exploration from multiple staging areas, but Post Canyon is the most popular with the mountain biker set. To get there,
take Country Club road for 1.4 miles from Oak Street and turn right onto Post Canyon Road for about half a mile until it turns to gravel. You can
park there and ride another 1.2 miles up the road to the first trailhead, or chance it with your car along the bumpy road to see if the limited parking
at the end of the road isn't full.
The quintessential ride in the Hood River region lies on the 11.7-mile Surveyor's Ridge trail, a demanding and serpentine line of singletrack
that's most frequently ridden as a shuttle-ride. With more than 2,000-feet in elevation gain, much of it in very steep sections leading up and along
the ridgeline that offers incredible views of Mount Hood and the Hood River Valley. To reach the trailhead from the south end, take State Route
35 26 miles from Hood River to Forest Service Road 44. Take a left and follow that for 3.5 miles to Road 620. The trail crosses it just a few yards
away. From the north end, take Highway 35 south for 14 miles and turn left on Pine Mont Drive. Follow it five miles to Road 630, where you'll
take a right and follow it to the parking area.
To get info on these and other local trails, pick up spare tubes and parts or rent a bike, check out Discover Bicycle (210 State St., 541/386-4820,
http://discoverbicycles.com , 10 A.M.-6 P.M. Mon.-Sat., 10 A.M.-5 P.M. Sun.).
WHITEWATER RAFTING
Take a tumbling and scenic ride on the town's namesake waterway with Northwest Rafting Company (116 Oak St., Ste. 4, 541/450-9855,
www.nwrafting.com , $135) on its full-day Hood River whitewater rafting tour. Starting in the exciting Class II and Class IV rapids of the river's
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