Small, serene park. Perfect for a lunch after hiking the nearby Catherine Creek Trail or Arch Loop…read more Especially since they have clean restrooms with soap and water. 5 stars just for that! When it's windy, it is a great spot to watch the windsurfers and kites. There is launch area for small boats. I've seen people fishing, too. And people playing with their dogs, fetching their toys from the water. Lots of picnic tables, the kind where you can slide into from the side, another plus! Peaceful place to read, have a picnic or just chill. Plenty of parking. And just a minute from the downtown area of Bingen and just a few more minutes from the bridge over to Hood River. Lots of times when I'm exploring the trails and sights on the WA side of the Gorge, I stop here afterwards to use the restroom and have a snack or lunch that Ihave packed. Feels like a secret since there is hardly anyone here!

Behind a deceptively small storefront facade, is a fly fisherman's wonderland. This place has it…read moreall: friendly and knowledgeable staff, great selection across price points and fair prices.

I had ordered a Orvis combo from them a couple of years ago as well as flies/ leaders/tools at…read morevarious times. Prices were always great and shipping was fast. I recently ordered a 3wt Redington CT combo with the Big Y standard reel. The combo was delivered in a couple of days. I noticed a problem with the fly line the 1st time I cast it. I emailed them and got a quick response even though it was Labor Day. They emailed me a shipping label to send the reel back. I had the reel back in my hands respooled with new line in less than a week. Great customer service! I've also got to say I'm really impressed with their Big Y Standard reel for the money. The machining is great and it's a really smooth reel that seems to shoot way above its price point.

It is such a beautiful and scenic drive each and every time going through the Columbia River Gorge!…read moreIt's something I never tire of and there are so many things to go see both on the Oregon and Washington side of the Gorge. One of the most notable places to stop is Multnomah Falls. It's a highly popular place and it is certainly understandable as to why but it is best to go early. You may even need to look into getting a reservation in order to get a parking space as well... because yes... it is actually that popular all year round. There are so many cute little towns through the Gorge as well. Hood River is a favorite of ours and I believe it's a favorite for a lot of people but Cascade Locks is nice as well and the Washington side has cute towns as well. On the Oregon side is Interstate 84 but don't explore this Interstate or route as a quick, brisk route to get east to west (or vice versa) as you cannot go typical Interstate speed through the Gorge. The curvature of the road and through this long stretch simply doesn't allow you to do that so it would be worth looking into alternate routes as possible if quickness is the only thing in mind otherwise you kind of just have to endure the reduced speeds. The Columbia River itself one doesn't have to repeat how beautiful it is but it's understandable if you do. River activities never fail to mesmerize. Like the group of people we once saw sailing down the river with boogie boards ( perhaps there's another name for it I'm not in the know with that) and the almost other worldly appearance of numerous fisherman on boats once fishing season was in full swig in the early morning. It's something one can never get tired of, The Columbia Gorge and I enjoy it each and every time I drive through it. It's breathtaking and truly one of essential drives to partake if visiting Oregon.

This area is an absolute must see if you are in the Portland area. It is really gorgeous. We drove…read moreto the visitor center and from there hiked up toward Multnomah Falls. It is a great way to get your steps in while surrounded by nature at its finest. There a number of waterfalls in this area and if you don't have time to get out and hike, there are some that can be seen from your car while driving by. We spent most of a day driving and hiking to the waterfalls using a map we got from the visitor center. It was raining during our visit, but we still got to see some beautiful scenery. There's a restaurant at Multnomah Falls Lodge in case you are looking for a place for lunch while in the area.

Staff at Wet Planet answer phone and email inquiries promptly. They are courteous and…read moreknowledgeable, and excel at making sure the customer's questions are answered. As a further bonus, the people handling my reservation were flexible and reasonable about the changes we had to make with our reservation. Thank you Wet Planet!

On a family vacation, we stopped in Hood River for a couple of nights. We found Wet Planet just…read moreacross the Columbia River. We did the full day trip and it was amazing! Lauren was our guide and she was the source of a plethora of information about rafting and the history of the area. The WP team did a great job giving instructions and preparing us for navigating the waters and keeping us safe throughout the journey. Lauren helped us conquer the huge plunge right before lunch without any incident! Would come back if in the area again. Highly recommend!

We were on an ACL cruise at the end of April with a stop in Hood River and we signed up for the…read morekayaking excursion. Fantastic experience! Justin was very thorough with explanations of the surrounding environs and it seemed everything around. He pointed out different wildlife in the area and our group even saw a white bunny (in the wild). We also went looking with him for morel mushrooms on land (sadly, none found). The company provides most everything you need for a comfortable kayaking experience, (outer wear, life jacket, dry bag, two types of single kayaks, or double, paddles) included (refresher) instructions for paddling, and helpful tips, assistance and corrections throughout if needed. Even though it was a bit chilly (50s) windy and slightly misting, we stayed warm enough throughout. Would recommend waterproof shoes or watershoes (bring a change of shoes and socks for afterward). Just enjoy the scenery. Such a great way to spend an afternoon! Thank you, Justin for the amazing experience and contributing to our memorable 30 year anniversary!

We had a terrific kayak tour with Hood River SUP and Kayak. Our two guides were super, very helpful…read moreand encouraging with our novice paddling skills. The scenery is spectacular and it was the perfect way to end our first visit to the Columbia River Area. We would recommend this tour company highly.

Keith was wonderful! He created an all day tour that fit our personal preferences. He was so…read morepatient as we reviewed our options and made changes. He was orompt. Kept us on schedule while allowing us the opportunity to take the interesting detours that he suggested. He has incredible knowledge of the area and shared it with us. All in all, a great experience..

Keith provided wonderful shuttle service for our wedding it was very smooth, everyone got there on…read moretime and everyone was able to get a ride back. We really appreciate the care and effort that went into making sure everyone was able to get a ride from the venue to our other destination. Really went above and beyond, highly recommend using this shuttle for a wedding.

Thoroughly enjoyed our kayak trip out! It was our first time with the Gorge Paddling Center (via…read moreTodd!), to celebrate a birthday. It was a great experience! Our guide was fun, friendly, knowledgeable, and made the overall sunset kayak outting a memorable experience. Book it and create some awesome memories. I know I'll be back with them here over the years to come!

Had a great time taking a tandem kayak out to Wells Island and back. A nice, easy paddle-- very…read morerelaxing. We were told it was a really calm day and we were the first kayakers of the season! Todd was very friendly and helpful. He suggested that we hit the Bonneville Locks on the way back to Portland and we got to see the chinook fish ladder, which was very cool!

We had an incredible week on the River with this a group! By coincidence, my. Issues and I (NOT…read moreexperienced) went with a larger group of VERY experienced kayak and rafting enthusiasts. I was initially worried that we'd be in dangerous waters, so to speak. But, this staff showed a level of professionalism above and beyond! Their skill, their devotion to safety, and their drive to make every day entertaining and fun, was amazing! Big thanks to Daniel, Claire, Michael, Joshua, and Austin! I feel like I have new family!! Simply the BEST!!!

Northwest Rafting Company is great for anyone interested in developing rowing skills and safety for…read morerivers. Their staff is very skilled and implement best practices in teaching. Additionally, all the instructors and support staff were very helpful in creating a safe, well held container for learning. I felt well prepared before arriving, received feedback often and was comfortable asking questions. Everyone on staff is kind, knowledgable and easy to connect with. I will continue to take the classes they offer.

First rafting experience....ABSOLUTELY THE ONE OF THE BEST FIRST TIME EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE!!!…read moreCountry was beautiful the rafting trip was absolutely cool it started off with a bang right off the bat Steve was so very professional, chill, relaxed and on point the entire time. William was Very cool professional collective educated knew his stuff Paul was cool as all get out, courteous, funny, and very good at his job. all three were so much fun to be around. It was like having my friend guide us down the river!!!! I am booking a trip soon as I can to take my family down with all star river rafting! I can't wait to see you guys again Sincerely appreciated, Beardo McBaggins

WE HAD THE BEST TIME. Mike was our guide. He made us all feel safe and we loved his stories, felt…read morelike we were hanging with a friend. Also his style was tight as hell. All around A+ experience.

max was great, highly recommend. super super funny, very knowledgeable. PM forever!!!!!!read more

I've never had such an amazing Mother's Day! I ended up going on this rafting trip alone because we…read morecouldn't find a babysitter so my husband could come too, and I was honestly a little nervous at first. But from the moment I arrived, everyone made me feel so comfortable and welcome that those nerves disappeared immediately. Our guide, Peter, was absolutely amazing. He was extremely thorough with safety instructions and made sure everyone felt safe and confident throughout the trip, while still keeping everything fun and exciting. He had such a great way with people and really helped make the experience memorable. The entire staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, and even the owner took the time to be kind and personable, which made the whole experience even better. You can tell they genuinely care about giving people a great experience. This trip made me want to come back before it was even over, and I'll definitely be returning this summer to hopefully try one of the more challenging rafting trips. Thank you all so much for giving me such a fun and unforgettable Mother's Day!