Scenery, shopping, family fun, and lots of delectable treats are what make the Hood River Fruit Loop so sweet. This summer, spend a weekend touring the 35-mile scenic route that passes through the Hood River Valley’s fruit growing and farming region. The route, cleverly named the Fruit Loop, takes visitors past orchards, wineries, and farms, while traveling from the city of Hood River out through small surrounding communities.

Hood River County is the nation’s largest pear-growing region, but you’ll also find an abundance of other fruits and berries grown throughout the year in the area. The region is one of the few and best places where visitors can learn about the entire process of fruit and wine production from seed to table, and of course, there are plenty of places to sample the final products.

Along the Fruit Loop there are destinations for fruit and berry picking, lavender picking, wine tasting, picnicking, dining, and shopping. At local farms, visitors and children can also see alpacas and other farm animals. Because the loop is only 35 miles, you can see the entire route in just an afternoon, but this road trip is best enjoyed over a leisurely two-day weekend with time left over for enjoying all that the city of Hood River has to offer.

Route: Hood River, Pine Grove, Odell, Parkdale, Dee, and Oak Grove

The Drive: To reach the beginning of the Fruit Loop in Hood River, you’ll drive a little more than 1 hour (60 miles) on Interstate 84 through the scenic Columbia River Gorge, if leaving from the Portland metro area. Hood River is nestled on the shore of the Columbia River across from the city of White Salmon, Washington and at the end of Highway 35, which leads south to Mt. Hood. From Hood River, the route for the Fruit Loop travels south to the city of Parkdale, passing through several small communities including Pine Grove, Odell, Dee, and Oak Grove. You can complete the loop in either direction, stopping for an overnight stay in a bed & breakfast, a campground in one of the cities along the way, or returning to Hood River for the night.

Destinations:

Hood River:

Your main base or starting point for this road trip will be the bustling city of Hood River. For a little city, Hood River has earned a big reputation, gaining national recognition for its thriving outdoor recreation, brewing, wine-making, and art industries. When you’re not visiting the destinations on the Fruit Loop, plan to fit in some of these attractions and activities:

• Wine and Beer: Full Sail Brewing is the most popular of a growing list of taprooms, breweries, tasting rooms, and wineries
• Art: At least 10 galleries and museums with more popping up everyday
• History Museum of Hood River County
• Mt. Hood Railroad: Rides and special events on the historic railroad
• Outdoor Recreation: Water sports, hiking, bike riding, and camping
• Shopping: Artisan crafts, art, food and wine, books, and jewelry shopping in downtown

The Hood River Fruit Loop:

The 35-mile route follows Highway 35 toward Mt. Hood, through the city of Parkdale, before returning along Dee Highway 281 and a series of short connecting roads. Along the route you can stop at any of 30 destinations including wineries, orchards, and farms. In the summer months, the Fruit Loop is bustling with activity as the fruit and berries ripen, so it’ll be easy to find your way from farm to farm, but if you want to pick and choose just a few stops, maps are available through the route’s official website. The growers along the Fruit Loop are always busy growing and harvesting fruit which can be picked, sampled, and bought throughout most of the year, but to experience the region at its best, visit during one of these special summer events:

• July 20-21 Hood River County Fruit Loop Cherry Celebration: Many of the farms host special events and you can pick your own fruit at some of the 12 cherry-growing farms. This time of year also happens to be when some of the farms new baby alpacas are out and about; a sight animal-lovers and children won’t want to miss.
• July 20-21 Oregon Lavender Daze Festival at Hood River Lavender Farms: Enjoy a chance to pick your own lavender as well or participate in a few other farm-themed activities.
• August 17-18 Summer Fruit Celebration: Visit the Fruit Loop in the peak of summer fruit season to savor ripe berries, peaches, Gravenstein apples, and vegetables. During the two day event, individual farms host barbecues, fruit picking, and opportunities to see and pet farm animals. Throughout the month of August, several farms host their own ongoing events as well.
• September 21-22 Pear Celebration: This early fall weekend is the perfect time to experience the best fruit of America’s largest pear growing region. At the local farms’ special events, you can sample more than 18 varieties of pear, pear wine, and pear desserts. Some farms also feature live music, corn mazes, hay wagon rides, and other attractions.

Extend Your Trip:

Don’t want to settle for just a few days visiting Oregon’s beautiful Gorge and Mt. Hood regions? Spend a day, two, or ten, in any one of these great nearby locations to turn a weekend getaway into a real Oregon vacation.

• Lost Lake: You can camp or stay in a cabin at this lake beneath Mt. Hood, about 20 miles southwest of Hood River.
• The Dalles: Follow 84 from Hood River 30 minutes further east into the Gorge to visit this vibrant riverfront city where you’ll find more outdoor recreation opportunities, the Columbia River Discovery Center, and Oregon’s oldest history museum.
• Mt. Hood: Drive about 45 minutes south from Hood River to reach Oregon’s winter and summertime playground: Mt Hood. During the summer, the family will love visiting one of many lakes, touring historic Timberline Lodge, or going on the adrenaline-pumping rides at Skibowl’s Adventure Park.
• Washington: Cross the river into Washington to visit White Salmon, just across the bridge, and Stevenson about 30 minutes westward, or other Gorge communities for more recreation and wine tasting opportunities.