The Best Western Plus Columbia River Inn is in Cascade Locks, a small Gorge town roughly twenty miles west of Hood River, and it makes sense when your plans centre on the western Gorge. The town is home to the Bridge of the Gods, the sternwheeler dock, the Pacific Crest Trail crossing and trailheads such as Dry Creek Falls, and a hotel here puts you close to all of them. Hood River is a short drive east for dinner or a train ride, and the Historic Columbia River Highway and its waterfalls lie to the west. The hotel offers the brand's usual comforts, including a breakfast, comfortable beds and easy parking, with river or mountain views from some rooms. The small-town setting is quiet, and the property is a handy base for hikers, cyclists and boat-cruise passengers. It is also a practical overflow option when Hood River hotels are full on summer weekends or during festivals.
Cascade Locks has a few cafes, a brewery and a waterfront park, but fewer restaurants than Hood River, so plan to drive east for a bigger dinner scene. The town is also a stop for long-distance hikers, so you may meet trail walkers at breakfast. Check the room orientation if you want a river view, and ask about the noise of nearby rail and road traffic.
Book early in summer and for sternwheeler weekends. Consider pairing a stay with a brunch or sightseeing cruise, a walk across the Bridge of the Gods and a morning hike. If your main goal is the Mount Hood Railroad and the Fruit Loop, staying in Hood River is more convenient, but the price here can be lower.
This hotel suits travellers who want a quiet Gorge base, hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail, cruise passengers and anyone seeking a lower-cost alternative to Hood River. It is not a substitute for a downtown stay, but with a car it makes a sensible choice, and the twenty-minute drive is an easy trade for the scenery.
If you are building a western Gorge trip, a night here lets you ride the sternwheeler in the morning, hike to Dry Creek Falls, cross the Bridge of the Gods on foot and still reach Hood River for a late dinner. The following day you can take the Historic Highway to its waterfalls or drive east for the Mount Hood Railroad, which makes this a flexible base for a two-night Gorge itinerary. Travellers who dislike driving at night will appreciate being able to walk to the waterfront and a few simple restaurants in town instead of returning along the interstate after dark.
Why stay here
- ✓Near the Bridge of the Gods
- ✓Close to the sternwheeler dock
- ✓Pacific Crest Trail access
- ✓Breakfast typical of the brand
- ✓Easy parking
- ✓Quiet small-town setting
- ✓About twenty minutes to Hood River
- ✓Gateway to Historic Highway waterfalls
Good questions
Where is Cascade Locks?+
About twenty miles west of Hood River, roughly twenty minutes by car on the interstate.
What is nearby?+
The Bridge of the Gods, the sternwheeler dock, Pacific Crest Trail access and the Dry Creek Falls trailhead.
Who is it best for?+
Hikers, cruise passengers and travellers who want a quiet Gorge base.
