Vacation rentals in Skamania

Skamania is located in the Columbia River Gorge, one of the glories of the Pacific Northwest. This 90-mile-long canyon, carved out of the Cascade Mountains, cradles the wide Columbia River as it flows toward the Pacific Ocean. Steep cliffs and forests frame both the Washington and Oregon sides. Many visitors come to Skamania to visit the lodge in nearby Stevenson, but the gorge also offers a host of public hiking trails. If you’re seeking adventure, you can go wind-surfing or kiteboarding on the river, or if you’re more of a contemplative traveler, you can spend an afternoon on the Bridge of the Gods watching cargo ships pass through the Cascade Locks.

The Columbia Gorge is the east-west gateway between rainy, temperate Western Oregon and drier, more extreme Eastern Oregon, so you will encounter four distinct seasons in Skamania, none of them overly harsh. A mild spring gives way to glorious summer heat, with averages in the 80s Fahrenheit in July and August and little humidity. Evening winds cool off the gorge by nightfall, so you’ll still sleep comfortably. After a crisp and pleasant fall, the clouds and precipitation arrive in November and remain through March. Rain usually gives way to snow in December through February, when temperatures drop below freezing.

Multnomah Falls

Cross the Columbia River into Oregon, drive west on I-84 for 20 minutes, and you’ll hit the most popular natural wonder in the Pacific Northwest. Multnomah Falls is a 620-foot tall legend, particularly in the winter and spring when its cascades are particularly powerful. Viewing of the second largest waterfall in the United States is easy for both a quick photo op and a longer hike up 600 feet to the top of the falls, where stunning views of the Columbia Gorge await.

Dog Mountain

Twenty miles east of Skamania is 3,000-foot-high Dog Mountain, and one of the most scenic six-mile hikes in the gorge. The most-traveled loop includes some steep climbs as well as more level sections. (On weekends in spring and summer, you can take a shuttle from the Skamania County Fairgrounds to the trailhead.) From the highest point, you’ll be able to see Mount Hood and other Cascades peaks, as well as dramatic views of the Columbia River Gorge. Many people come here in spring specifically for the wildflowers.

Hood River

If you’re craving a touch of urbanity during your stay, Hood River is one of Oregon’s most charming towns and the windsurfing capital of the world. Nineteenth-century storefronts line its downtown, housing a variety of boutiques, and some of the state’s best breweries have tasting rooms on the river. In spring and summer, many Portlanders drive up the ridge to gather cherries, peaches, and apples at the region's many U-Pick farms.