Guide To Visiting White Salmon Washington

If you head North of Portland Oregon, the town of White Salmon Washington is a great place to visit. Across the river from Hood River, White Salmon is a small town close to many incredible hikes. Not only that, historic hotels, wineries, and great places to eat with incredible views.

On this blog post we will cover where to stay, places to eat, and nearby trails to explore! Let’s get into it!

Just one hour north if Portland, White Salmon Washington is across the river from Hood River. You have to pay a toll to cross the toll bridge from Hood River into White Salmon. After you drive up the hillside, your greeted with a cute, historic downtown area.

White Salmon is home to roughly 2,500 people and growing. It is easy to see why. With the access to stunning hiking trails, homes overlooking the gorge, and access to Portland.

Depending on what kind of trip you are doing, I will provide a number of options to choose from. For us, we saved money by staying in White Salmon versus Hood River. We were able to visit both areas since they are so close!

We stayed here for our trip in the spring of 2024. It was only us in the hotel for the first night on a weekend which was nice! The Lyle Hotel isn’t a traditional hotel. It’s a historic home turned into a hotel with shared bathrooms. For two of us, this was perfect! One thing to note: it is right next to the train tracks, but they provide ear plugs!

If your looking for a clean and comfortable place to sleep, this penthouse has incredible views and is highly rated. Great for two couples or friends to share!

If your traveling with your dogs and a larger group, this rental listing is something that I would book. Plus, its tucked away in the trees and looks like a gorgeous place to stay! Even better, the price would be very reasonable when shared with a group.

Located just outside of White Salmon, The Society Hotel is on my list of the best luxury hotels to visit. With the amenities like a pool, stunning layout, and more! This hotel is popular and does book in advance. If you don’t stay here, you can rent the soaking pools and sauna as a visitor!

If your looking for one of the most unique places to stay in White Salmon, this treehouse should be added to your list. It’s only ten minutes from downtown White Salmon and close to many wineries. Plus, pets are allowed!

If you like hot springs and want a lower rate with a lot of charm, then Carson Hot Springs is for you! The newer edition rooms are equipped with hot tubs on the deck looking into the trees. Soak in the historic hotel has a bathhouse that was made in the 1930s that pumps mineral water into the tubs. There is also a large mineral pool if the bathtubs aren’t for you!

Things To Do In Hood River

White Salmon is home to a number of delicious restaurants! While you can travel across the river to Hood River, you will find it is much less busy here.

• Feast Market and Delicatessen: we had lunch here for the patio and views of Mount Hood! Great sandwiches, cocktails, and vibes. Open for dinner too!
• Henni’s Kitchen and Bar: farm to table dinner and delicious cocktails. No reservations so don’t come without expecting to wait on a weekend.
• Everybody’s Brewery: local White Salmon brewery open for dinner and lunch in downtown White Salmon.
• Pixan Taqueria and Cantina: tacos and margaritas with their own twist! Open for brunch and dinner.
• Gander and Goose: great place for small bites and cocktails!
• Nativ Cafe: great place for breakfast and delicious coffee. Breakfast burritos, smoothies, yogurt, and pastries!

White Salmon is a great basecamp for many hikes in the area. The Mount Saint Helens Wilderness buts up with the area, granting access to beautiful views and wildflower hikes in May and June.

• Lower Fall Creek Falls: easily one of the most stunning waterfalls I have ever seen! This hike is 3.2 miles round trip with 699 feet of elevation gain. Go early as it does get busy on a weekend!
• Panther Creek Falls: add this onto your day if hiking Lower Fall Creek Falls as it is nearby on your way back to White Salmon. .3 miles to the falls!
• Dog Mountain: very popular in May for the stunning basalmroot superbloom that blankets the entire hillside. This hike is 6.5 miles round trip with 2,988 feet of elevation gain. Permits required on weekends permit season April 27-June 16 and Memorial Day.
• The Labyrinth to Coyote Wall Loop: for those looking for a great workout with views of the Columbia River Gorge, this is for you! The hike is 6.3 miles with 1,450 feet of elevation gain.

One of my favorite things to do when I travel around the Pacific Northwest, is find all the local wineries and stop by! Especially in spring and summer months, they all tend to have gorgeous gardens to sit and enjoy wine. There are over 15 wineries in the area to choose from; these are some I visited or suggested by locals.

• Syncline Winery: we stopped by here for a glass of wine on a sunny day and loved it! Be mindful of their changing hours as the homeowners live on the property.
• Cor Cellars: this winery has fun tents that you can sit in and enjoy wine and charcuterie. Reserve a table in advance on the weekends!
• Domaine Pouillon: listed as one of the top five tasting rooms in the Columbia River Gorge. Great views and delicious snacks! Open Wednesday-Sunday 12-5:30PM.
• Klickitat Winery and Tasting Room: located in Lyle just north of White Salmon with beautiful views and delicious organic wine.

All in all, White Salmon Washington is full of great places to stay, explore, and eat! Enjoy your visit and leave a comment if I missed anything.