Recreation is an important part of Hood River’s lifestyle and culture, and the Hood River Waterfront shoreline is a vibrant, multi-use area for active and passive enjoyment of the Columbia River for local residents and visitors alike.
Much of Hood River’s Waterfront shoreline is owned and managed by the Port of Hood River for the public’s pursuit of recreation. As the popularity of water sports has increased and evolved over the past several decades, the Port of Hood River has responded with projects and enhancements as permissible.
The Port of Hood River’s vision for the Hood River Waterfront is to accommodate a multitude of uses and interests — recreation, river access, industry, transportation, events and scenic values among others. A major endeavor and purpose of the Port District is economic development and job creation, and significant Hood River Waterfront acreage is dedicated to light industrial and commercial businesses. Managing and nurturing the coexistence of uses continues to be an important objective for the Port.
Successfully mixing recreation and economic development on the Waterfront is aided by the important relationships between quality of life, recreation, tourism and commerce. Tourism, recognized as an important piece of the local economic pie, and recreational opportunities have attracted businesses and residents to the area for over a century.
The Waterfront incorporates close to two miles of pedestrian trails with some gaps along the shoreline, as well as parks and open space for public enjoyment. Currently, pedestrians, bicyclists, kiteboarders, windsurfers, fishermen, paddlers, boaters, and events attendees are some main users who compete for time and space on Hood River’s Waterfront.
The Port regularly analyzes, plans projects, and adopts policies to ensure safety and improve this valued part of town while managing congestion, parking, and a variety of interests.
Waterfront Sites, west to east:
The Hook – Serves the area as a recreation site for watersports, with a protected cove for beginning windsurfing lessons and other uses.
Waterfront Park – Close to six acres of land donated by the Port to the City of Hood River is now a multi-use, family-friendly park.
Event Site – Water access in a world-class site for windsurfing, limited kiteboarding, and events.
Nichols Basin – Protected cove, beach and launch site for small non-motorized watercraft with a landscaped trail to buffer recreation and future upland development.
The Spit / Sandbar – A popular spot for kiteboarding, walking, and relaxing, the size of the Sandbar changes with river levels, and strong currents and unpredictable changes in water depth require extreme caution by users.
Hood River Confluence – A popular spot for fishing and some paddle sports. Extreme caution required.
Marina Park – Lawn areas, open space, beaches and trails create a popular, family-friendly park that includes Marina Park, Boat Marina, Marina Beach, Marina Green, Picnic Shelter, Yacht Club, and the History Museum.
Marina – Hood River Marina offers year-round and transient moorage as well as a public boat launch and services.
The vibrant community of Hood River is a short walk from the Hood River Waterfront. The city and Hood River Valley offer an abundance of cultural experiences, restaurants, shopping, wineries, breweries, and other recreational opportunities.