Searching for a location that offers small town charm, skiing, and windsurfing?
Only one Oregon town, Hood River, made the Matador Network’s list of the Top 11 Small Mountain Towns in the US to Visit in 2025.
Hood River is located along the Columbia River and is approximately an hour’s drive east of Portland on Interstate 84. On clear days, the majestic Mount Hood may be seen in the distance.
Travel, culture, and the outdoors are all covered by the San Francisco-based digital media organization. The list’s editors from Matador Network concentrated on communities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants and a wealth of outdoor leisure options.
With a population of roughly 8,300, Hood River was recognized as the Columbia River Gorge’s heart of adventure.
In addition to water sport lovers, Hood River, Oregon, has developed into a beer lover’s paradise.The file from Oregonian/OregonLive
Alex Bresler, a writer for the Matador Network, said the following about the town:
From its location on the Columbia River, Hood River subtly satisfies every requirement for a typical mountain town, situated at the foot of Mount Hood, Oregon’s highest peak. One of Oregon’s biggest ski resorts, Mount Hood Meadows, experiences a spike in the number of local skiers and snowboarders throughout the winter months.
While windsurfers and kiteboarders fill the Columbia River Gorge during the warmer months, hikers and cyclists converge on the trails of the Cascade Mountains. Because of its steady and powerful winds, some people even refer to Hood River as the windsurfing capital of the world.
The Hood River Farmers Market, which offers artisan makers and fresh farm products, is open all year round. A 35-mile loop of picturesque driving and farm stand stops through the region’s most productive agricultural territory, the Fruit Loop, and Hood River’s abundance of artisan brewers and wineries were hailed.
For those who enjoy beer as much as water sports, Hood River, Oregon, has emerged as a haven. This is Hood River’s Double Mountain Brewery. Staff/Andre MeunierStaff/Andre Meunier
Are you looking for additional reasons to go to Hood River? Think about these:
Hood River will host the nation’s first nonalcoholic distillery and tasting room.
Savor the Hood River Fruit Loop’s fall bounty, which includes pear pizza and fresh apples.
The top 6 comfortable places to stay in Hood River in the fall
The following other mountain towns were included on the list:
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Mount Shasta, California
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Bisbee, Arizona
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Gardiner, Montana
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Graeagle, California
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Silverton, Colorado
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Huntsville, Utah
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Bellaire, Michigan
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Hamilton, Montana
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Girdwood, Alaska
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Alpine, Texas
Here is Oregon and The Oregonian/OregonLive are covered by Samantha Swindler. You may reach her at oregonian.com/sswindler.
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