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As spring reaches full bloom, Oregonians are eager to hit a hiking trail. Fortunately in the Columbia River Gorge there's a new way to discover the nooks and crannies of the region, one that encourages visitors to try local flavors too. I consider the Mosier Plateau Trail a “back-pocket hike” because it’s handy and easy to reach.… More

In winter and spring, the Gorge’s full-to-bursting waterfalls and Mt. Hood’s snowy vistas are wild and wonderful counterpoints to its cozy brewpubs, shops, museums and galleries. More

Once a rustic trading post stopover, modern-day Sandy boasts a vibrant community well worth a visit. More

Farm-to-table freshness is all well and good, but here in Oregon you’ll find growers and makers who can help you stock the pantry with culinary delights that keep. This is especially true in the fertile lands of the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood. From fermented organic foods to fresh apple cider, a cornucopia of… More

Cider has been a growing presence in restaurants and on grocery shelves, a potion sitting at the nexus where artisanal beverages meet the farm-to-table movement. Curiously, Portland and the Willamette Valley have been the center of the cider world over the past decade — not the gentle valleys and slopes around Hood River synonymous with… More

Editor's note: This is part two of a wine country itinerary that stretches from the Willamette Valley to Walla Walla. See part one here. As we glide into downward facing dog, mountain peaks and wild flowers pop into view. It’s the third time we’ve arched into the yoga pose that resembles an upside down letter… More

Terrie Brigham and her sister, Kim Brigham-Campbell, 41, members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, are sharing their generations-old family tradition with the public. In February they opened the Brigham Fish Market in Cascade Locks, their riverfront hometown in the Columbia River Gorge, 40 miles east of Portland. More

When Molli and James Martin started making wine in 2004, they figured it would be an engaging hobby to go along with their real careers as cherry farmers. Born and raised into cherry-growing families in The Dalles, they’d moved away for college and jobs. Following 15 years in Portland, they returned to take over the family farm. But when James really threw himself into the new pastime, their lives took a very different course. More

Signs of fall: your tomatoes finally ripened and there’s a zucchini the size of a VW Beetle hiding in your yard. But Oregon squeezes in another grand season of fresh fruits, vegetables and fungi in the fall. We talked with John Helleberg, chef at Brian’s Pourhouse in Hood River, to find out what autumn treasures… More

What is it about Haystack Rock that inspires endless gazing from a beachfront balcony? Or the glittering sight of snowy Mt. Hood, from the window of a rustic lodge? They’re Oregon icons that are made for romance, to be sure. Whether it’s glorious trails for trekking, cozy nooks for relaxing or charming downtowns for dining,… More

Though the wine industry has traditionally been dominated by men, it's becoming more and more common to see women winemakers and assistant winemakers in Oregon’s wineries. Here are a few of Cellar 503's favorite women winemakers. More

Is there anything more delightful than exploring the Columbia River Gorge? How about if you add tasting wine, jams, fresh orchard fruit and artisan treats from farm stands and purveyors along the famous Hood River County Fruit Loop? The famed 35-mile route — with 17 farm stands, 10 wineries, three cideries, six berry farms and two lavender farms (with lavender spice blends, pancake mixes, honeys infused sugars and more) — celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2018, and luckily, there are plenty of places to get... More

Though the business is primarily focused on the wines and restaurant, Hiyu is also known for making some excellent barrel-aged hard ciders. I was determined to taste them. More

Chef Jason Stoller Smith cooks a mean steak. His secret? He doesn’t do anything fancy. “It’s simple salt and pepper on the grill and charred,” says Smith, who oversees the seven restaurants at Timberline Lodge, the iconic visitor lodge perched 6,000 feet atop the slope of Mt. Hood. “After eating the first bite, there’s a… More

Cowboy Chuck Schmidt wows the crowd in the Saddle Bronc competition at the Round-Up Rodeo. The Pendleton Round-Up has been running since 1910 and is America's largest 4-day rodeo, happening annually during the second full week in September. The event attracts some 50,000 people to the area and includes a large Native American component. More

First stop on our foodie road trip through Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge: one of the many waterfalls that line the Columbia River Gorge. Everyone stops for the photo-op at Multnomah Falls, but we decided to skip the crowds and take a quiet walk at the stunning Latourell Falls, just a bit up the road. More

It’s a lazy weekday afternoon in Hood River, long past lunch and hours before dinner, but Solstice Woodfire Café & Bar is hopping. Young families cluster around the kids’ play area on one side of the room, and a group of young kiteboarders fresh off the water fills the patio. Out the window, the Columbia… More

Sweet, easy and fun — that’s why they call it cherry picking. In 2012, Oregon had 12,500 acres of cherries producing more than 54,000 tons. That means there’s likely plenty of Bings, Royal Anns, Rainers and Chelans for your picking basket. Head out the eastern side of the Columbia River Gorge this summer to get… More

After two days of riding alongside cars, the start of the Cascading Rivers Scenic Bikeway felt almost eerily quiet. The tall pines cast long shadows across the road, blocking the sun from beating down on us for most of the day. Bright pink foxgloves and purple lupine lined the roads, escorting us along the gradual uphill. More

The cider is made in a meticulously tidy and oversized garage on the couple’s picturesque, 10-acre property. Their cider is not bottled, nor does it often make the 50-mile trek to Portland — at least not yet. Instead it’s patiently fermented, mindfully blended and sent straight to keg, to be served at Rack & Cloth’s tasting room and restaurant down the hill in what you might call downtown Mosier. More

At first glance, Estacada is your stereotypical Oregon oasis: tree-covered parks, a gushing scenic river, a local craft brewery, a weekly farmers market and strangers who quickly become friends. But this woodsy city, just 30 miles southeast of Portland, is anything but ordinary. Known as the "gateway to the Clackamas River," Estacada is a one-stop shop for wilderness, culture and community. It's a historic city ready to be re-discovered. More

If Lewis and Clark had just waited 209 years for their glorious expedition through the West, they could have wet their whistles in Hood River when Camp 1805 Distillery opened this past July. Co-owned by Chris Taylor and Roy Slayton, Camp 1805 is named to honor the legendary explorers and their route through the Pacific… More

It’s a sunny day in Oregon when Portland Chef Gabriel Rucker makes his way 60 miles down the Columbia River Gorge to visit Full Sail Brewing Company in Hood River. Tall, tattooed and affable, Rucker is the owner of Portland restaurants LePigeon and Little Bird. He’s known for his experimental French cuisine (some might say… More

Lewis and Clark explored it by 19th-century canoe, and Sam Hill created the Historic Columbia River Highway for curious 20th-century day-trippers. These days, the Columbia River Gorge is increasingly becoming a destination for hoppy adventure. With a growing collection of breweries on the Oregon side, the Gorge offers plenty of tastes for brew fans. Get to… More

Spring is here, and that means an explosion of pink and white blossoms in the orchards of the Hood River Valley. But there’s something else blooming out there too — a burgeoning craft cider scene. In the past two years, the Hood River region has seen the birth of nine local cideries and reportedly has three… More

There's a big mountain calling your name, and it's covered in snow. Whether you're on skis, snowboard, snow tube or snowmobile, Mt. Hood's ski areas will give you the snow fun you're seeking. And when you're ready to warm up, take a stroll through history in The Dalles, wine and dine in Hood River County and soothe your senses in the West Columbia Gorge. Here are four ideas to start your planning your wintercation in the Mt. Hood/Columbia River Gorge region of Oregon. More

The Columbia Gorge Winegrowers Association advertises “a world of wine in 40 miles,” and it’s a fitting slogan. The unique geography of the Gorge creates a surprising array of microclimates and soils in a relatively compact corridor. More

When Randy Kiyokawa was a kid, he dreamed of growing up to be a policeman or a disk jockey. His parents had other ideas. Nice thing is they happened to own orchards in one of the most stunning places on earth. After college and three years working in Portland, Randy returned home to join the… More

I love to ramble across Oregon at this time of year when the state is shaking off winter's long, lonesome run. This week, I traveled across the Hood River Valley where the famous fruit orchards offer visitors a stunning carpet of snow from the valley's spring blossoms. The Hood River flows from the foot of… More

If you’ve heard rumblings about a new brewery in the Columbia River Gorge, we’re here to tell you they're true. Thunder Island Brewing opened its doors in October in Cascade Locks Marine Park with tremendous views of the Columbia River and the island for which is it named. “It’s a beautiful piece of land where… More