: Tasting cider at Runcible Cider by Michael Hanson

The East Gorge Food Trail offers a self-guided journey through historic orchards, vineyards and restaurants. Sourcing ingredients within 150 miles, businesses along this trail are rooted in their communities and the legacy of this unique landscape. Find your themed itinerary below and find more to explore at EastGorgeFoodTrail.com.

three people seated at picnic table tasting wine and appetizers with view of mountains in background
Wine tasting with a view at Analemma Wines by Michael Hanson

Geologic Wonders

Mosier to The Dalles

Explore a bountiful landscape filled with geologic marvels.

Rise and shine with a community celebration at the Mosier Farmers Market, held Sundays from late June to mid-October. Small town charm and local musicians set the scene as you peruse the local bounty. Enjoy lunch with a view at Mosier Company, where the rotating menu really shines during berry harvest.

No matter the season, it’s always a good time for wine here. The region’s unique geology shapes how grapes are grown, resulting in unparalleled wines. Sip at the biodynamic vineyard of Analemma Wines in a tasting room made from reclaimed wood. Hidden behind orchards on the 1910 Mayerdale Estate is Garnier Vineyards with panoramic views. Across the road, Idiot’s Grace offers tours of its organic vineyard, surrounded by 75-year-old cherry trees.

Both Mayerdale, home to Columbia View Orchards, and Idiot’s Grace offer U-pick opportunities. Call ahead for pick-up from nearby Annie’s Apricots. Take Huskey Road to Lopez Farm, perched high above Mosier, for cherry picking. Next door Runcible Cider’s farm stand sells cider made of local fruits; sip with a view of the syncline.

Continue east, observing the terrain’s sheared basalt curves and stop at Rowena Crest for a bird’s-eye view. End your day in The Dalles at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center to learn more about this special landscape.

person in sun hat holding branch of apple tree in an orchard
Lopez Farms, neighbor of Runcible Cider, produces a multitude of cherry varieties for u-pick and for cider. (Courtesy of Michael Hanson)

Fruit of the Valley

Mosier to The Dalles

Meander through historic orchards on a sweet countryside journey.

Start the morning in the sunshine with cherry picking at the orchards of Mosier, many in operation for generations. Bring buckets and take State Road for first picks at Keylock Orchard and neighboring Evans Fruit Company, where you can also harvest peaches. Continue to Root Road for 15 varieties of cherries at Root Orchards, and another nine at Rosedale Fruit Farm.

Return to Mosier, where on First Avenue you’ll notice the Mosier Fruit Growers Association, first established in 1907. Continue east on Highway 30, winding along farmland. At The Dalles City Park, discover the local bounty — fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and honey — at The Dalles Farmers Market on Saturdays, from June through mid-October.

Next, go behind the scenes at Muirhead Canning, a Pacific Northwest institution since 1946. Watch the canning of pears, apple sauce and more under the Hood-Crest Fruit brand. Call ahead to arrange a tour.

Continue to Sandoz Farm, where the stand sells fresh produce, as well as jams, pickled veggies and local meats. Relics of the farm’s century-plus history abound, including an antique schoolhouse. Drive back with a stockpile of crops and admire the valley’s orchard-covered hillsides.

Produce availability varies by season. Consult the Travel Tips provided in this brochure to plan your trip accordingly.

two people holding baskets in front of shed with colorful sunburst painted on exterior
Enjoy a day of picking cherries or peaches at Evans Fruit Company by Michael Hanson

Craft Culture

The Dalles to Dufur

Quench your thirst for quality craft drinks at the source.

Begin the day in sunny downtown The Dalles, the largest city in the Gorge. Head west to Union Street for access to the Riverfront Trail, perfect for a scenic morning stroll.

Enjoy lunch at The Riv in a 1900s stone church. The restaurant serves farm-to-table meals, as well as monthly pop-up events hosted by Rooted Event Co. Ramble through downtown to Oregon’s oldest bookstore, Klindt’s Booksellers & Stationers. Sips await at 15 Mile Winery, featuring grapes grown on a homestead estate.

Beer lovers flock to Freebridge Brewing, located in the 1869 The Dalles Mint, where you can learn local folklore with a tasty pint. To the east, Sunshine Mill Winery beckons. The century-old flour mill was converted into an elegant tasting room for Copa Di Vino and Quenett, with original machinery still visible.

Leave downtown for Tierra de Lobos Winery. The tasting room has stunning views of the Columbia River and the dam that reshaped it. Get a dose of history at the Dufur Historical Society Museum, and try to time your visit with Vintage Dufur Days.

At the Historic Balch Hotel, taste local wine or tea from the pretty patio, or better yet, stay the night to enjoy Mt. Hood’s sunrise glow.

people dining outside in grassy area with river view in background
Dine on the banks of the Columbia River at Bargeway Pub by Michael Hanson

More tasty stops

Make sure to pack your appetite as you travel along the East Gorge Food Trail’s fruit farms, orchards, wineries, cideries, restaurants and more. Along the way you’ll discover charming communities that keep the region’s rich history alive. Make your basecamp here and you’ll always be near a delicious farm-to-table meal. Here are some of the locales to explore.

Mosier

Tucked into the cliff line of the Columbia River Gorge and surrounding by blooming orchards, the town of Mosier is a picturesque small town ripe for exploring. From here bike or walk along a car-free section of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail that includes the iconic Mosier Twin Tunnels. Also in town, the Mosier Plateau Trail features a historic pioneer cemetery and cascading waterfall, as well as springtime wildflowers and beautiful views of the Gorge. And in between all your outdoors exploration, satisfying food and drinks are always soon to follow.

The Dalles, Dufur

Follow the Historic Columbia River Highway to the lookout at Rowena Crest and down the famous Rowena Curves into The Dalles, the largest city in the Gorge. Here your days will be quickly filled — from a fun downtown core and 10-mile waterfront trail, to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum and fishing for steelhead on the Deschutes River. Local orchards burst with fruit, offering the perfect U-pick outing, and the annual Northwest Cherry Festival in April highlights the region’s deep agricultural heritage. Watch the scenery transform as you travel south from The Dalles to Dufur, where the Gorge meets the high desert. Agriculture has remained central to the tiny town since its inception in the 1870s.

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Travel Tips

The East Gorge Food Trail is open throughout the year and is designed to be explored at your own pace — you are welcome to start and finish wherever you like. To ensure a positive experience, please review the seasonality and hours of operation for the listed working farms and orchards and note when it is best to call before arriving.

High season varies per business but is typically June – September. Seasonality of key products is listed below:

  • Cherries: End of June – mid-July
  • Apricots: July
  • Peaches: July – August
  • Apples: late August – October
  • Pears: mid-August – mid-September
  • Wheat harvest: July – August

The working farms along this trail provide some of the most unique and engaging experiences. We ask that you respect the invitation to enter each property and be cautious around farm animals and equipment. Children must be supervised at all times and you should be prepared to follow all site-specific rules. For your safety and comfort, be prepared with appropriate footwear, sun protection and water.

If you want to make your experience of the East Gorge Food Trail a car-free adventure, visit columbiagorgecarfree.com.

Interested in a guided farm, orchard and beverage tour? The following operators offer tours to select trail stops and can build custom itineraries:

Your experience along the East Gorge Food Trail should not end when you leave the area. We encourage you to bring a taste of your journey back home to share with friends and family as a reminder of the bounty available in the eastern reach of the Columbia River Gorge.

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