72 Hours in the Columbia River Gorge
The Columbia River Gorge is one of the great places in America—80 miles of volcanic cliffs, thundering waterfalls, outstanding wine, and outdoor adventure at every turn.
If you have three days—especially three weekdays—you can experience all of it and more with White Salmon, Washington as your home base. Tucked 550 feet above the Columbia River on the north side of the Gorge, White Salmon is 10 minutes from Hood River, quieter than you’d expect, and full of genuinely wonderful places to eat, drink, and explore.
The Inn of the White Salmon puts you right in the heart of town, steps from coffee shops and farm-to-table dinners, with easy access to everything on both sides of the river.
Here’s how to make the most of 72 hours—with three different itineraries designed around who’s coming with you. Always check websites for business hours and to confirm that trails and parks are open.
A Tip Before You Start: Come Mid-Week
The Gorge is spectacular any day of the week. But there’s a real difference between a Tuesday afternoon at Catherine Creek and a Saturday morning at Multnomah Falls. On weekdays, the trails are quieter, winemakers have time to chat with you, and you’ll almost certainly get a table at Everybody’s Brewing without a wait. Mid-week rates at the Inn are often better, too.
The Gorge’s best adventures—rafting on the White Salmon River, hiking the wildflower meadows, browsing the tasting rooms—are all available Monday through Friday. If your schedule allows even one weeknight in White Salmon, you’ll feel the difference.
For Couples: A Romantic Three Days in the Gorge
Day 1 — Settle In, Slow Down
Morning: Start at White Salmon Baking Co. (open Wednesday-Monday) for coffee and something freshly baked—cardamom buns, pastries, thick slices of bread. Walk the main drag, wander in and out of shops, and let the town find its rhythm around you.
Afternoon: Head east for a winery afternoon. Jacob Williams Winery (open daily) and COR Cellars (open Wednesday-Monday) are within 20 minutes of each other — both with beautiful outdoor seating, both family-owned, and both genuinely excellent. COR even has hammocks between the vines. On weekdays, you may have the tasting room mostly to yourselves.
Evening: Head to Pixán Taqueria & Cantina (open Tuesday-Sunday)—for a vibrant and delicious welcome dinner. Think fusion tacos, loaded nachos, and margaritas.
Day 2 — Waterfalls on the Oregon Side
Morning: Cross the Hood River bridge and drive the Historic Columbia River Highway. Multnomah Falls is the iconic stop—620 feet of cascading water—and on a weekday, the crowds are dramatically smaller. (A timed-entry parking permit is required May–September; they’re $2 and easy to grab online in advance.) Latourell Falls and Wahkeena Falls are equally beautiful and often much quieter.
Afternoon: Return to Washington and hike Catherine Creek, just east of Bingen. From spring through early summer, the meadows here are blanketed in wildflowers—balsamroot, lupine, paintbrush—with sweeping views of the Gorge below. The trails range from easy loops to longer rambles. Pack a picnic from Feast Market & Delicatessen (open Monday-Saturday) before you go.
Evening: After a day of hiking, a casual dinner is in order. Pick up a pie from Pizza Leona (open Wednesday-Sunday), and enjoy a quiet evening in the Inn’s garden. Stop into our tasting room (open Thursday-Saturday) for a bottle of wine from Ridge of Wonders. Any day of the week, you can get a bottle of something local from the front desk to enjoy around the fire pit.
Day 3 — Your Pace
Morning: Sleep in. Then walk to Nativ Café (open daily) for an açaí bowl or an orange blossom cappuccino that will ruin you for other cappuccinos.
Afternoon: Take the drive north to Trout Lake—a 30-minute scenic route toward Mount Adams country—or explore the Klickitat Trail, a converted rail trail along the Klickitat River that’s flat, forested, and genuinely peaceful. If it’s a Tuesday in season (June–September), the White Salmon Farmers Market at Rheingarten Park is a lovely last stop.
Evening: Everybody’s Brewing (open daily) for a lively, satisfying evening, and the kind of meal that makes you want to stay one more night.
For Families: Adventure for All Ages
Day 1 — Get the Lay of the Land
Morning: Walk over to White Salmon Baking Co., where you’ll all feel like kids in a candy store picking out baked treats. As you walk through downtown, find the big White Salmon mural, and let the kids leave something on the community chalkboard across from town hall.
Afternoon: Drive 25 minutes northwest to Cedar Creek Alpacas (open Wednesday-Sunday) for a farm tour. Get up close with these sweet, fluffy creatures and have all your alpaca-related questions answered. Shop the farm store for alpaca products.
Evening: Everybody’s Brewing is the perfect family dinner spot: picnic tables, a patio with Columbia River views, good burgers, and a no-fuss atmosphere. Cold beer for adults, great food for everyone.
Day 2 — River Day
Morning: Book a whitewater rafting trip on the White Salmon River with Wet Planet or Zoller’s Outdoor Odyssey—two local outfitters who run trips most weekdays. The White Salmon includes the nation’s tallest commercially raftable waterfall and sections suited to various ability levels. Check ages and weight minimums when booking, and reserve ahead even for weekday trips.
Afternoon: Back at the Inn, dry off and head out back to our beautiful garden. Parents can enjoy a glass of wine while everyone regales stories of the day’s adventure.
Evening: Pizza Leona for artisan-style pizza, then Cool Beans Espresso & Ice Cream (check for seasonal hours) for dessert—same family as Feast, and a beloved downtown stop.
Day 3 — Slow Down and Explore
Morning: Head north to Panther Creek Falls or Falls Creek Falls—two sensational Washington-side waterfalls that are far less visited than the Oregon corridor and absolutely worth the short hike. Pack a picnic and plan to linger.
Afternoon: Back in White Salmon, if you brought bikes, SPOKES Bike Park is a must-do for adventuresome kids and grownups. For a more subdued afternoon, but equally awesome option, check out Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum (open daily) in Hood River. Travel through history as you wander through their incredible collections of antique airplanes, cars, and more.
Evening: Pixán Taqueria (open Tuesday-Sunday) for a colorful, festive farewell dinner with good margaritas for the adults and bold, creative food for everyone.
For Friend Groups: Eat, Drink, and Get Outside
Day 1 — Head into White Salmon
Morning: Strong coffee at Nativ Café (open daily) or White Salmon Baking Co. (open Wednesday-Monday), then a stroll through downtown. Challenge each other to find the best score at Marcel vintage shop.
Afternoon: Wine crawl. Start your crawl downstairs at the Inn’s tasting room (open Thursday-Saturday) for some delicious wines from Ridge of Wonders Wine. Le Doubble Troubble (open Thursday-Monday), Clyzm Wines (open Thursday-Sunday), and Soça Wine Shop (open Thursday-Sunday) are all walkable in downtown White Salmon.
If you want to venture out of town, head to Domaine Pouillon’s Bistro (open Thursday-Sunday) for a bite to eat and COR Cellars (open Wednesday-Monday) for pours, both spots featuring beautiful views. The Columbia Gorge AVA has more than 15 wineries within easy reach—plenty of ground to cover over three days.
Evening: Dinner at Henni’s Kitchen & Bar (open Wednesday-Monday) go early on a weekday for the easiest seating), then Gander & Goose (open Wednesday-Sunday) for cocktails—it’s the kind of bar that makes you feel like you’ve discovered something special.
Day 2 — Waterfalls + Gorge History
Morning: Cross to Oregon and drive the Historic Columbia River Highway. Hit Latourell Falls, Wahkeena Falls, and Multnomah Falls—three distinct personalities, all within a short stretch of road. A weekday makes parking and crowds much more manageable.
Afternoon: Cross the Bridge of the Gods into Stevenson, WA. Stop at the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum (open daily)—genuinely interesting, and a great way to understand the geology and history of the place you’ve been hiking through. Then climb Beacon Rock for 360-degree views, or tackle Hamilton Mountain in the same state park for a longer adventure.
Evening: Pints on the patio at Everybody’s Brewing, then a late night around the Inn’s fire pit with whatever you picked up at the wineries.
Day 3 — Into the National Forest
Morning: Drive north to Trout Lake and the edge of Gifford Pinchot National Forest—1.3 million acres of wilderness with ice caves, natural bridges, and trails on the slopes of Mount Adams. Sleeping Beauty and Bird Creek Meadow are standout options. On the way back, stop for a huckleberry milkshake at The Station Cafe in Trout Lake. If it’s before 11am, make it an order of pancakes topped with huckleberries.
Afternoon: If the group has energy for one more hike, the Labyrinth to Coyote Wall Loop (6.3 miles, 1,450 feet of gain) offers some of the most dramatic river views in the entire Gorge—especially spectacular when the wildflowers are out in spring.
Evening: Pixán Taqueria & Cantina for a final dinner— featuring bold flavors, mezcal cocktails, and a lively atmosphere to close out three great days.
Make the Inn of the White Salmon Your Home Base
The Inn of the White Salmon has welcomed travelers to this corner of the Gorge since 1937—originally built as the Hood View Hotel, and lovingly restored today by owners Flo and Nicole Nimesch into a 22-room boutique hotel with genuine character. Rooms range from cozy studios to garden suites, all with custom memory foam beds, blackout curtains, and little details that make a long day outside feel worth coming home to.
The Inn’s terraced garden—with its fire pit, variety of seating options, and relaxed vibe—has become one of White Salmon’s favorite gathering spots. On-site Ridge of Wonders wine tasting lets you explore the Columbia Gorge AVA without leaving the property.
Staying mid-week often means better availability, a quieter garden, and the kind of unhurried check-in that reminds you why you chose a boutique hotel in the first place.
The Inn has been recognized by Sunset Magazine, The New York Times, The Seattle Times, The Oregonian, and Portland Monthly.
Quick Reference: White Salmon Businesses to Know
| Coffee & Breakfast | White Salmon Baking Co. · Nativ Café · Bubba’s Brew Espresso · Cool Beans Espresso & Ice Cream |
| Lunch & Casual | Feast Market & Delicatessen · Pizza Leona’s |
| Dinner | Henni’s Kitchen & Bar · Pixan Taqueria & Cantina · Everybody’s Brewing · Pizza Leona |
| Wine & Drinks | Le Doubble Troubble · Soça Wine Shop · Clyzm Wines · Syncline Winery · COR Cellars · AniChe Cellars · Everybody’s Brewing · Gander & Goose |
| Outdoor Adventures | Wet Planet (rafting) · River Drifters (rafting) · Zoller’s Pedal & Paddle · Yoga Samadhi |
| Shopping & Galleries | Marcel (vintage) · Arrowleaf Workshop · Blackbird + Ivory · Dylan Martinez Glass Studio |
White Salmon, Washington is located on the historic lands of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, among others. We encourage visitors to learn about the region’s Indigenous history during their stay.