We hope you’ve packed your appetite for a foodie foray into the Hood River Fruit Loop, a 35-mile scenic drive featuring dozens of on-the-farm fruit stands, wineries, breweries and cideries in the Hood River Valley.
Whether you’re interested in taking a tour of Kiyokawa Family Orchards, picking seasonal fruit at Draper Girls Country Farm, or trying the fresh cherry pizza at Grateful Vineyard, this driving-distance destination is every foodie’s dream.
Before you start packing your bags, here’s everything you need to know about the area and our insider recommendations.
Drive time: ~1.5 hours from downtown
🚲 Things to do
Hood River Railbikes
Mount Hood Railroad is offering a new way to take the scenic route — via a custom-built, two-person “railbike.” You’ll gently pedal along a train track that follows the Hood River to Parkdale with a stop at The Fruit Company. The guided experience takes about two and a half hours.
The Old Trunk
This family-run antique store, fruit stand, soda fountain, and u-pick organic flower + berry “farmette” was originally built in the early 1900s as a general store. Enjoy Tillamook soft serve with fresh fruit, or kick it old school with a housemade soda or shake. Take your treat out back to enjoy in the shady, edible fruit garden.
Mt. View Orchards & Brewery
No Hood River Fruit Loop adventure is complete without live music, artisanal pizza + mountain vistas. This third-generation farm provides all three at its tasting room, along with craft beer, cider, and wine. Don’t forget to pick some flowers and produce to take home.
The Hood-Columbia Loop: Timberline, Orchards, and Waterfalls
Spend a full day exploring the Gorge and Mount Hood on this group tour from Portland, with stops at must-see landmarks like Multnomah Falls and Rowena Crest, as well as multiple Fruit Loop locations, including Draper Girls Country Farm and Apple Valley Country Store.
Kiyokawa Family Orchards also hosts special events, like Fiesta Days taking place Saturday, Oct. 5 + Sunday, Oct. 6.
Photo by Cambrie Juarez, PDXtoday
🍎 U-pick produce
After strawberries, blueberries, and peaches have had their time in the spotlight — but before pumpkin patches start drawing big crowds — is when fresh apples shine. These are our favorite spots to find u-pick (and pre-picked) apples on the Hood River Fruit Loop.
Kiyokawa Family Orchards
Over 120 apple varieties grow at this farm, with those available for u-pick updated online daily. Start your adventure by getting an orchard map + a box from a cashier inside the farm stand, then enjoy wandering through rows of perfectly espaliered trees loaded with apples the color of gems. Pro tip: Grab a few varieties you’re curious to try from the fruit stand (and a jar of pluerry jam) on your way out.
Draper Girls Country Farm
A popular stop on the Fruit Loop, this farm stand and u-pick orchard offering apples and pears can get crowded, but the view of Mount Hood from the tree swing in the garden is worth it. Specialty treats are available from the indoor market, including hard cider slushies, which are a must-try. Don’t forget to say hi to the goats and Miss Kitty.
The Gorge White House offers tastings of its eight hard fruit ciders. | Photo by @sawseesam
🍔 Eat + drink
The Gorge White House Cafe
Chef Jack Kennedy, a student of Le Cordon Bleu in France + Australia, uses produce harvested on site and sources other ingredients locally, like burgers made with Mt. Shadow beef. Pro tip: Try the blueberry sausage flatbread or seasonal veggie burger.
Apple Valley BBQ
You’ll find cherry wood-smoked pulled pork sandwiches + quesadillas, jalapeno corn fritters, wings with housemade sauce, fully loaded salads, ribs, and plenty of meatless options. Pro tip: If you stop by on a Friday or Saturday night, get the smoked prime rib.
China Gorge
Satisfy cravings for something a bit more exotic than PNW fare with authentic Hunan and Szechuan style Chinese cuisine. From one region cut by a mighty river to another, this kitchen shares recipes handed down through generations.
Saw Tooth Roadhouse
If the numerous online reviews are true, you may get the pizza of your life here. Everything is made from scratch, from the soft-yet-sturdy pizza crust to the peanut butter cheesecake.
The Crooked Tree Tavern & Grill at Cooper Spur Mountain Resort has a charcuterie board featuring locally cured meats + cheeses. | Photo by @cooperspurmountainresort
🏨 Stay
Cooper Spur Mountain Resort | 10755 Cooper Spur Rd., Parkdale
You’ll fall in love with the rustic mountain lodge, log cabins + scratch-made farm-to-table restaurant serving dishes like peach glazed chicken and curried chickpea with summer squash, all surrounded by Mount Hood National Forest.
Hood River Inn | 1108 E. Marina Way, Hood River
Located along the Columbia River, this Best Western Plus has a full restaurant which a Sunset Magazine writer hailed as serving one of the top five meals of their life. The dishes are driven by local ingredients, like organic tomatoes + spring Chinook salmon.
Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast | 4932 Baseline Dr., Mt. Hood
Built in 1910, this historic B+B pampers its guests with a seasonal breakfast prepared with fruits and vegetables grown in the Hood River Valley. Staying multiple nights? You can look forward to a different breakfast menu each morning.
Columbia Cliff Villas Hotel | 3880 Westcliff Dr., Hood River
Perched on a cliff overlooking the Columbia River, this boutique hotel with European-style rooms + suites has its own nearby waterfall. While it doesn’t have dining options, it’s within a four-minute walk of White Buffalo Wine Bar & Bistro and Celilo Restaurant & Bar. Pro tip: The latter offers popular cooking classes.
🚗 Cruise
No matter where the highway takes you, our road trip must-haves will ease your journey as you make your way to your destination.
- With more than 23,000 location-based audio stories, Autio’s Unlimited Plan: Lifetime Subscription is your perfect companion offering mini podcasts about the history, culture, and geology of areas you drive through.
- You’ll stay fully charged up and connected with this 4-in-1 retractable car charger that has iPhone compatibility and secure plug-in capability.
- Rock a comfortable sweatshirt and pants set for the road featuring a cozy elastic waistband and side-seamed pockets to store your valuables.
- Keep your tailbone supported during lengthy drives with a thick memory foam cushion that is machine washable and gives complete postural support.
- Avoid getting stranded with a dead battery by packing this portable car jump starter that gives up to 50 jumps in a single charge — no flagging down a stranger needed.
- Easy to clean and leak-proof, this collapsible car trash can gives you 2 gallons of storage capacity to keep your vehicle free from clutter.
