It’s hard not to love Columbia River Gorge – from epic waterfalls, to beautiful mountains, and an abundance of hiking trails, Columbia River Gorge has it all! What’s even better? Many of the hikes and trails in the area are dog-friendly!! We have explored the area with Chloe and it remains one of our favorite trips we’ve taken. In this guide we will outline our favorite hikes, restaurants, and where we stayed – then it’s your turn to plan your own trip!

WHEN TO VISIT COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE

While we don’t think there’s a wrong time to visit Columbia River Gorge, some seasons may be more appealing than others based on personal preference. We visited most recently in fall and had an amazing time – though crowds were definitely a factor.

• Spring: waterfalls will be strong and fully flowing
• Summer: trails should be in optimal condition, will be warmer
• Autumn: trees will start to change colors and temps cool down
• Winter: snowfall will make for more beautiful scenery, hiking may not be as accessible

If you want to avoid crowds, winter might be the best option, but trails may be more difficult to hike at that time. If visiting in the spring or fall, weekdays will be best to avoid busy weekend crowds. Summer is most likely always crowded, but can be remedied by picking a lesser-known trail, and we might just have some good recommendations for you!

INSTAGRAMMABLE VIEWS IN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE

The most easily recognized view in Columbia River Gorge is Multnomah Falls, which towers above historic Highway 30. This is the place you don’t want to mess around with crowds because it gets busy. We recommend visiting as early as possible, but be sure to check oregon.gov beforehand, as permits may be required depending on the time of year. You can hike to the top to view the falls from above, but we would recommend considering an alternative hike if you have the time. More on that later – we’ve included some details about Multnomah below, as well as a photo taken at 7am vs a photo taken around 4pm.

Hiking Information

• 2.2 miles roundtrip to the top of the falls
• 700 feet elevation gain in just 1 mile to the top
• Permit required from roughly May to September
• Check oregon.gov for the latest updates
• Dogs are permitted to hike up to the top of the falls, but they must be leashed

HIKING IN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE

WAHKEENA FALLS LOOP

Hiking Information

• 5.1 miles round trip
• 1640ft elevation gain
• Permit required from roughly May to September
• Check oregon.gov for the latest updates
• Dogs are permitted, but must be leashed

If time allows for a longer hike, this is the one we recommend! There are five stunning waterfalls along this route, and one of them is the famous Multnomah Falls. We wouldn’t consider this an easy hike due to the elevation, but it’s not necessarily hard either. After the first couple of miles it flattens out, and then starts the descent.

We recommend hiking this loop counterclockwise, as hiking in that direction means you will descend by Multnomah, which we found easier. The elevation gain seems more gradual in the counterclockwise direction. We noticed many people struggling to hike up the trail by Multnomah Falls while we were on our way down, and it’s quite a steep incline on that side. Of course, if you only have one day to hike and visit (and you’re an experienced hiker), starting by Multnomah and hiking clockwise, might mean fewer crowds for photos by the famous waterfall. Either way, it’s a trail we highly recommend for your visit!

BEACON ROCK

This felt like such an underrated hike! The length makes it seem easy, but it truly climbs straight up the side of a rock and the views are incredible. Believed to be the remaining core of an ancient volcano, Beacon Rock stands tall within the Columbia River Gorge. However, the US Army Corps of Engineers almost destroyed this natural phenomenon. The rock is composed of basalt, and the army planned to destroy the rock and use the material for the jetty at the mouth of the Columbia River.

Thankfully, a man named Henry Biddle purchased the rock for $1 in 1915. Over the next three years, he constructed the trail leading to the top of the rock, which consists of approximately 50 switchbacks, along with railings and bridges along the sides of the rock. After his death, his family gifted Beacon Rock to the state to become a state park for all to enjoy. Fascinating history aside, Beacon Rock is a must-visit as the views of the gorge and the river along this trail are unmatched. 

BREWERIES IN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE

pFriem Family Brewers

The beer at pFriem was excellent – Zach is quite the connoisseur of craft beer, and he loved it! However, we have to preface this review with the fact that it’s not quite dog-friendly. We sat outside on the patio, where food is also served, and our server asked that Chloe remain on the other side of a small half-wall outside of the patio. To be honest, she hated that and kept trying to find a way to get to us. Unfortunately, we ordered food as soon as we sat down, so we ate quickly and ordered some beers to go.

Ultimately, we wouldn’t recommend this as a dog-friendly stop, but we would say it’s worth stopping by and grabbing some beer to-go if you’d like to give it a try. It’s also in a cute location along the Hood River with other shops and restaurants nearby. We enjoyed exploring the area nearby before continuing on our way.

Double Mountain Brewery

We visited Double Mountain for the pizza and the beer! They have a wide selection of beer, cider, and pizzas, and they are truly a dog-friendly location. Our server absolutely loved checking on Chloe, bringing her water, and giving her pets whenever she came by our table. The menu had so many options it was almost overwhelming, but we had no issue finding something we each wanted to try! The beer was great and so were the pizzas. We would highly recommend stopping by with your pup if you’re in the area. 

WHERE TO STAY WITH YOUR FURRY FRIEND

Our top recommendation for cozy cabin vibes would have to be Artbliss Hotel in Stevenson, Washington. It’s a small town, just outside of Columbia River Gorge, and despite the name, it’s not really a hotel. There are four small boutique cottages, two have river views with decks off the back, and two have private patios with outdoor tubs. They do have a pet fee of $35/night if you’re traveling with a pup. However, it was such a nice stay, we felt it was well worth the fee. We had a short drive to our morning hikes and it’s a nice, central location for exploring the gorge.

We promise this isn’t sponsored, we just really loved our visit there!

DOG-FRIENDLY LOCATIONS NEARBY

We hope this guide has inspired you to plan your own visit to Columbia River Gorge. Of course, if you need an extra little push, there are many other dog-friendly outdoorsy places to visit nearby, which could make your trip even more exciting! 

• Portland: highlights include Voodoo Doughnut, Great Notion Brewing
• Willamette Valley: think of this as the Napa Valley of Oregon
• Bend: one of the most dog-friendly towns we’ve ever visited, definitely check out the Ale Trail

PIN TO READ LATER