Columbia River Gorge Part 3 the Hood River Oregon Fruit Loop
No!!! the Fruit Loop is not named after the cereal by Kellogg's. It's a 35-mile scenic trip through the fruit orchards, small towns, and back roads of the Hood River Valley. Located about 45 minutes east of Portland by way of the Columbia Gorge, and directly south of the town of Hood River, the area is Oregon's largest fruit growing region. Over thirty percent of the nation's winter pears are harvested here, along with a variety of apples, berries, peaches, cherries, and wineries.
The best way to plan a trip here is to do some research because of the various fruits and harvest times. I came here at various times just to get some in season fruit and take pictures for this post. These are some of the things to get along the Loop: strawberries, lavender, flowers, cherries, blueberries, peaches, summer pears, fall pears, apples, and pumpkins. Below is a map of the u-pick and harvest schedules. to help you decide when you would like to come.
This road trip is 35 miles and there is no right way or wrong way to do the tour. I would recommend making Panorama Point your first stop. Panorama Point is on the east side of the road a few miles south of Hood River. You get great views of Mt. Hood and the surrounding acres of orchards and farms. You won't be disappointed.
This is a map that I used to do the tour. It shows the locations of the different places and will also help depending on what time of the year you are coming here.
I'm not going to include Panorama Point as a stop on the loop so if you are using the map you won't be confused because this stop will take the numbers on the map out of order. So the first stop is Pearl's Place Fruit Stand. Pearl Wicklund was known in the valley at the "Cat Lady." In 2003 Pearl passed away, and the Wells family honored her name and tradition by opening Pearl's Place farm stand. Here you can find strawberries, apples, and pumpkins. U-Pick is available here also.
541-386-3888
Mid-June thru September: 9-6 daily
October: Reduced Hours, check the website
November thru December: 10-4 weekends
Stop number two is The George White House which has hard ciders, wines, farm fresh food, fruit, flowers, & more. A casual atmosphere that doesn't require a reservation or dress code, The Gorge White House provides artisanal farm fresh food from the Food Cart, along with award winning Hard Ciders & Wines. Stop here and enjoy your afternoon in the beautifully maintained fields of U-Pick Fruits and Flowers with photo opportunities at every turn.
Open March to December
Please check the website or
Google business listing for current hours
Stop number three is the Mt. Hood Winery.. The Bickford family has been growing tree fruit in the Hood River Valley for generations, but since 2000, they’ve enjoyed their rise in the wine business. Orchards continue to grow on the Bickford family’s 160 acres, but they sacrificed a number of 80-year-old pear trees in 2008 to make room for their new tasting room and their 30-foot-long antique wine bar. If you do decide to stop here I highly recommend the Estate Pinot Noir Rosé. It won a Gold Medal at the 2022 Cascadia International Wine Competition.
541-386-8333
March thru November: 11-5 daily
Stop number four is The Fruit Company and they have apples, pears, cherries, and blueberries. They are owned by the Webster family and the orchard has been in the family for four generations. The early version of The Fruit Company’s office was in the basement; the first production floor got its start in the garage. It was rustic and simple, but they believed enough in the superior quality of their fruit and their combined business know-how to persevere. They wanted to make their premium fruit accessible nationwide.
In 2001, a large opportunity came knocking when the old Diamond Fruit packing warehouse went up for sale. The building was perfect— 161,000 square feet of an original timber building from their grandfather’s era, nestled amongst the valley’s orchards and hills. Scott and Addison moved The Fruit Company to 2900 Van Horn Drive, and the rest is history
(541)-387-3000
Visit their website for current hours and event information.
Stop number five is the Hope Ranch Lavender Farm. Here you will find a lot of lavender along with flowers. The beautiful views and the sweet fragrance in the air will be a delight for your senses. On a clear day you get a double mountain view of Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams. Mike and Ivy Roulette started Hope Ranch in 2009 and have had their share of some unfortunate luck. They had no idea that shortly after this they would be facing numerous hardships—death of family members, cancer and Whitney Hope getting an autoimmune disease called P.A.N.D.A.S. Their world was turned upside down! So if you do the Fruit Loop trail please stop here and support the family and Whitney. U-Pick is available here also.
Visit their website for current hours and event information
541-399-4634
Stop number six will be Packer Orchards and Farm place and here you can find cherries, peaches, plumbs, nectarines, apricots, apples, corn and pumpkins. This is a great place to stop if you have kids because they have a play area and also an area with a bunch of farm animals for the kids to interact with.
This is also a great place to come in the fall because they have large fields of u-pick pumpkins and also a corn maze. If you can't make it here they do have a booth at the Portland Oregon Farmers Market.
541-234-4006
For current hours and event information, please refer to their website
Stop number seven is Smiley's Red Barn and they have pears, apples, peaches, and cherries. Smiley's is one of the original orchards in Hood River and they have been around for over 130 years. I loved the Oregon Wild Huckleberry jam and also the Apple Jam.
541-386-5989
Mid-June thru October 31: 10-6 daily
Stop number eight is right next door to Smiley's Red Barn and it is Fox-Tail Cider & Distillery. Fox-Tail has ciders, beers, wines, and spirts and almost all of them are made using apples. Fox-Tail uses their own farm and local area fruits and herbs to create their beverages.
Fox-Tail Cider comes with a long history of family farming in Oregon. It all started in the late 1800’s with a German immigrant who planted apple trees to export apples back to Europe. August Paasch created the Paasch packing label for domestic and export. He continued farming with his sons into the 20th century. Every fall August would crush up a few barrels of raw squeezed apple cider and let it naturally ferment. He was always a big hit when he’d bring the barrels back out for the New Years Eve party that following winter. Five generations later, his Great Great Grandsons still work the land. Growing not only apples, but pears, cherries, peaches and more. If you come here try the hard apple cider and it is awesome!!
541-716-0093
Early Spring and November: Fri to Sun 11-5
June thru October: 11-6 daily
Stop number nine is Wy'East Vineyards. Christie and Dick Reed live amongst the vines and handle all aspects of the business from choosing new grape varieties, site selection, production, tasting room, wholesale marketing and special events at both the tasting room and the vineyard. They met in Chicago in 1977 while both were independent floor traders at the Chicago Board Options Exchange and moved to Hood River in 1992.
The tasting room includes indoor seating with comfortable couches or you can even cozy up to the bar. They also have two beautiful Bocce courts which is free to enjoy. The patio is an ideal setting for a glass of wine and a picnic lunch with friends and family while overlooking the east hills, waterfall and pond. They are pet friendly! It's nice to sit here and watch the grazing lamas and not looking at a parking lot. U-Pick is available here also.
541-386-1277
Mid-Feb to Mid-Mar: Fri, Sat, & Sun 12-5 or so.
Mid-Mar through Oct: Daily 11-5
Nov/Dec, early Spring: Fri, Sat, Sun 12-5 or so
Check their social media pages for the most up-to-date info
Stop number ten is Pearl Bloom Farm and they have pears, cherries, veggies, and flowers here. Check out the flower bar and create your own bouquet and I had fun doing this. If you check out their website you can see upcoming events and workshops including the Pear Bloom Fun Run, Flower Workshops, Day of the Dead, and more.
541-705-0207
Peak Season April through November
Please visit their website for hours, updates, and upcoming events
Stop eleven is Hood River Lavender Farm. Hood River Lavender Farms was established in 2003 by a cosmetologist and esthetician of 30 years who worked to create products that were healthy and beneficial for the skin using the healing properties of lavender. Stop and explore the lavender farm and every July they host the annual Lavender Daze Festival. This event brings thousands to celebrate the peak lavender bloom of the season. Live music, food, art, and activities vendors also join in on the fun. This is a great place to take a bunch of pictures when the lavender is in bloom. U-Pick is also available here.
541-490-5657
10-6 every day, and Sunday 11-6
Stop twelve is right next door to Hood River Lavender Farm and is Stave and Stone Wine Estates. The area was once an apple and pear orchard and has been converted into the winery. In 2004 the orchard’s age required replacing the trees or trying something new. so they grew hay for several years to add nitrogen back to the soil. The the dream of owning a vineyard and winery began to take shape and now they have this wine estate with a tasting room in downtown Hood River. also The view here of Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams in Washington State is spectacular.
The winery here has a Artur Pinot Noir and it is awesome. Give it try if you're here. The prices here are a little steep just to give you a heads up.
541-946-3750Open daily 12-6
Please check their website for updated hours
Stop number thirteen will be Packer Orchards and Bakery. and here you can find cherries, peaches, plumbs, nectarines, apricots, apples, corn and pumpkins. Yes you are reading this right because there are two different Packer Orchards on the Fruit Loop. The earlier one has a Farm place and this one has a bakery. In the bakery you can enjoy baked goods to ice cream, jams, pickled vegetables, and honey. I highly recommend getting the Marionberry Lavender Jam or even a jar of the Pumpkin Butter. The sales barn is overflowing with all of the goodies from the Pear-Fect Kitchen with accompanying cider, wine, and beer on draft. If it's a hot day I would also recommend trying one of the milkshakes or even the Marionberry Cinnamon Rolls.
541-234-4481
For current hours and event information, please refer to their website
Stop fourteen is Draper Girls Country Farm and you can wander through a sixty plus year old trees and u-pick your favorite fruit from strawberries, cherries, peaches, and nectarines, In the summer. They also have over fifty varieties of apples and pears in the fall? Now doesn't that sound fun!!
Draper Girls Country Farm is a family-owned business run by Theresa Draper and her family., They are the third generation of their family that has worked on the orchard. They have over 100 year old apple trees and it is awesome to look at them. You can also check out the area that has goats for the kids to pet and feed. Pets are not allowed here.
541-490-8113 or 541-352-6625
Open year-round
U-pick hours 10-5, Market hours 10-6
(no after-hours U-pick)
Extra parking in back
Stop fifteen is right next door and is Draper Girls Cider Company. Draper Girls Cider is available in many flavors with alcohol or non alcoholic apple cider. Their cider is hard pressed and non-pasteurized onsite from apples and pears grown on the farm. Their cider flavors are always rotating and changing depending on the season. Since their cider is made fresh on site, they sell each flavor until they are sold out. Call them to see what flavors are available on any given day.
Draper Girls Cider has won many awards in the cider community including 2018 Best New Cidery of the Year (Portland International Cider Cup). I loved the Blueberry Lemon Cider.
541-490-8113 or 541-352-6625
Open year-round
May-Oct 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Nov-April 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Stop sixteen is Kiyokawa Family Orchards and they specialize in growing over 150 varieties of apples, pears, Asian pears, cherries, and stone fruit. Pick your own apples, cherries, and blueberries, They also have a play area for the kids with a fort built out of apple bins.
Randy Kiyokawa is a third-generation orchardist from Parkdale, Oregon, whose grandfather emigrated from Japan in 1905, and through hard work started farming in Hood River in 1911. Randy’s father, Mamoru, and mother, Michiko, met in an internment camp where their families were placed during World War II. After serving in the U.S. Military Intelligence Service, Mamoru returned to Hood River Valley in 1951 with Michiko and purchased a 25-acre orchard in Parkdale that has been the nucleus of the current 207-acre farm. You have to try the Sekai Ichi Apple which is a Japanese apple.
In 2018 the Kiyokawa Orchard was voted the number one orchard in the United States by the Readers Choice Awards. This is an honor that very few places receive and you defiantly need to make this place a stop on the Fruit Loop Road Trip. They have been in the media a lot and if you want to check out their awards here is a link to the media website:
541-352-7115
Summer: July 8 thru Aug 20 Weekends Only: 9-5
Fall: Aug 25 thru Oct 31:Open Daily, Mon to Fri 10-4, Sat & Sun 9-5
Winter: Nov 1 thru Nov 19: Open Daily 10-4
Stop seventeen is Mt. View Orchards and Brewery. Here you can find apples, pears, blueberries, peaches, plums, pluots, along with various veggies and dahlias. U-Pick is available also. Mt. View distributes to local and regional businesses and eateries, and participates in a wide range of community partnerships. They opened the brewery in 2020 and this is a great time to grab a bite and try the Alpenglow Hefeweizen Ale or the Hard Marionberry Cider. Don't forget to order a pizza to go with your beverage. If you prefer wine you can get that here also and it's also the next stop on the trip.
541-352-6828
Early July (visit their website for opening day) to November: open daily, 10-5 pm
Stop eighteen is Grateful Vineyards and they have a tasting room that serves wine, cider, and beer all-in-one gathering space with food pairings available (artisan pizza) with flights. Reservations are recommended at Grateful so head to their website to reserve or call them to RSVP. No reservation is needed outdoors in the garden. Friendly dogs on leashes are welcomed outside in the meadow and yes they are family friendly.
They have also been featured on Top Chef and you can catch the episode here:
They have an open meadow with picnic tables that requires no reservation for all the guests at every age. There is also have a covered tented area in the colder months with fireside warmth or you may bring blankets and lawn chairs too. Just to give you a heads!! Because of the excellent food, location, view of Mt. Hood they do a lot of wedding receptions here so i can be very crowded on the weekends.
541-399-6665
Open year-round
Visit their website directly as their open hours change seasonally and is weather permitting
Stop nineteen is Montavon's Berries and they have blueberries, raspberries, and cherries along with the U-Pick option. Montavon's Berries is a small, family owned and operated berry farm situated with a beautiful view of Mt. Hood. They are dedicated to quality fruit, family, friends and community.
The family volunteers locally and donates their fruit to non-profits, offers a hand to neighbors, friends and family, and they encourage their kids to do the same. If you want to go out and pick some raspberries this is the place to come.
541-806-3064
Stop twenty is Van Gogh Lavender Farm and they have lavender, lavender, and more lavender on five acres of land. They also have the U-Pick option here as well. You can get also sorts of lavender items here including plants, oils, tea, flowers, and they will even give you ideas on how to cook with lavender. Their culinary lavender includes Hidcote Blue, Folgate, and Royal Blue.
Beginning in the Spring of 2019, Van Gogh Lavender was created to provide healthy and sustainably grown lavender plants that need 90% less water than Timothy hay. They practice and promote sustainable landscaping, gardening, lavender farming, lavender processing and lavender product development. The farm is owned by Sandra and Kevin Bush and they have done an amazing job.
Mount Hood Parkdale, OR 97041
206-595-4831
Hours & Days of being open to customers
April 15 - May 30: Thursday - Sunday
June 1 – October 30: Thursday - Monday Open Hours: 10 am - 6 pm
Closed for the season: October 31 - April 15
Stop twenty-one is Browning Blueberries and you can get all of the blueberries you need here with the U-Pick option available. When you support a local farm like Browning’s Blueberry Farm, you are supporting small businesses and the families that go with that farm. You are also promoting a healthier lifestyle and their mission for a sustainable food source. If you have been to a local u-pick, you probably know the difference in quality of their fruits and vegetables compared to your local box store I would recommend coming here and getting some high quality fresh blueberries. I promise you won't be disappointed.
541-354-3760
Early to mid-July thru mid-August: 8-7 daily
Stop number twenty-two is The Old Trunk, Treats Antiques. Offering a unique blend of antiquity and modernity, this place is a combination of an antique store, soda fountain, and fruit stand. Visitors can browse through an enchanting collection of vintage items and collectibles and reminiscent about old times. The soda fountain serves up awesome ice cream, milkshakes, and a variety of homemade sodas, making it a hit among both kids and adults. The fruit stand boasts a selection of fresh, locally-grown produce, offering a taste of the valley's harvest. There's also a u-pick flower garden onsite if you want some fresh flowers. Just "BEWARE" if you come here time will pass quickly because there is so much to look at. If you've ever been inside the Cracker Barrel Store this is an even better place to browse.
A little history and the store has been here since the early 1900's; when it was formerly known as Dittbenner's General Store. They also do not allow pets inside unless it is a service animal.
541-354-1181
May thru October: 10-5:30 daily
November thru April: call for hours
Stop number twenty-three is The Apple Valley Country Store and just like the name implies it is a store and they produce small-batch jams, syrups, pie fillings, pepper jellies, pies and more using the fruits available in the Hood River Valley. Fresh fruit pies are baked daily, and also available frozen for u-bake. They offer samples of many flavors of jams, and jellies to help you choose what one you want to bring home. I really enjoyed the Peach Habanero Pepper Jelly.
541-386-1971
April thru May: Wednesday to Sunday 10-5
June thru October: Daily 9-6
November thru March: Friday to Sunday 10-4
Stop number twenty-four is Hood Crest Winery and Distillers. They are family owned and operated and maybe if your lucky you can catch some live music here as well. I really enjoyed the Hood Crest Distillers Apple Brandy. The Old Joe Blade 100% Corn Straight Bourbon was awesome. If you want to try a good wine I would suggest the Nebbiolo.
The Barr family runs the winery and distillery and produces award winning Chardonnays and Pinot Noir but their red wines take center stage. You will love the Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Barbera, specialty blends and more. Sample vodkas distilled 100% from cherries or grapes, delicious brandies from apples or grapes as well as other specialty spirits and cocktails, or a beer wine hybrid. They are also family friendly.
541-716-0140
Stop number twenty-five is Hood River U-Pick Organic. Hood River U-Pick Organic is a Certified Organic Family Farm. They have Organic Cherries (Bings, Rainiers & Pie) and Honeycrisp & Gala apples. It is a fun place to have an adventure. They have a cute petting zoo with goats and pigs, hopefully, piglets during cherry season! The kids are welcome to pet and play with the animals. You can also bring a picnic lunch and use one of the picnic tables scattered throughout the orchard! It's a fun day! Come here and buy some Organic Cherries. Don't forget to bring the kids and do the U-pick because I think they would love it. Just remember to be safe on the ladders.
Check our website for hours
Cherries: Late June thru July
Honeycrisp & Gala Apples: Mid-Sept thru Mid-Oct
OPENING AROUND LATE JUNE, 2023 FOR ORGANIC U-PICK CHERRIES!
Stop number twenty-six is Marchesi Vineyards and Winery. Franco Marchesi’s passion for wine began in his hometown of Borgosesia, Piemonte, Italy. As a child he always wondered what it would be like to be a winemaker like his grandfather Achille. In 1977, when he was just 22, Franco came to the states to work as a sommelier for a luxury cruise line based in San Francisco. After 9 years at sea, he decided to stay permanently in San Francisco. His career in the world of wine lasted almost two decades. He became wine buyer for a leading San Francisco Italian restaurant, and soon found himself running his own import company specializing in Italian wines.
They are a small winery specializing in Italian Grapes varieties. Located on the Heights of Hood River, their grapes grow on southeast slopes at the foot of Mount Hood, reminiscent of Piedmont, Italy. Here they grow the Barbera, Dolcetto, Pinot Grigio, and Pinot Noir with passion. The wines here have won numerous awards and here is a link if you want to see all of the awards.
If you do come here it feels like a little Italy. The outdoor patio is covered with grape vines. The decor is noticeably Italian, with black-and-white photos that depict historic wine-making scenes. The shelves are filled with books about wines and wine making.
They are also kid and pet friendly. You have to try the Nebbiolo because it is awesome!!
541-386-1800
Summer hours of operation: May 1st to Thanksgiving, open daily from 11 am to 6 pm
Winter hours of operation: Thanksgiving to April 30, open Thursday to Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm
Please check their website for updates
Stop number twenty-seven is Cathedral Ridge Winery. Here you can choose from over thirty award winning wines in their tasting room. You can also enjoy the beautiful grounds, working winery, and vineyard with stunning views of Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams. All of their wines come from thirteen local vineyards in both Oregon and Washington. They can grow everything from a Pinot Noir to Zinfandel to Chardonnay, and Cabernet within a forty mile range.
They have also received numerous awards and you can check out this link to see them if you're interested.
541-386-2882 or 800-516-8710
Open daily year-round: November thru March: 11-5;
April thru October: 11-6
Stop number twenty-eight and the last stop on the Fruit Loop Tour is Phelps Creek Vineyards. Established in 1990 winemaker, Alexandrine Roy travels from her own 4th Generation winery in Burgundy, France to use traditional French winemaking techniques on the 36-acre vineyard. they have received consistent 90+ scores in Wine Advocate, Wine Enthusiast, Decanter and Vinous. They focus on cool weather varietals such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling which are grown on the estate vines next to the tasting room. They offer guided vineyard tours and the new Flight Deck where wine education takes off daily. An awesome thing is they offer a $10 Tasting Flight and the fee is waived if you purchase a bottle of wine. If you come here try the Cuvee Alexandrine Alexandrine it is pretty amazing.
541-386-2607
Open Daily 11-5
This finishes the Fruit Loop but I also want to mention a couple of other places you may want to consider stopping. Mt. Hood Creamery specialize in small-batch, homemade ice cream. If you do decide you want to stop here it is between stop fifteen and sixteen listed above. Another mention below is in the same spot as the creamery and it's Baseline Biscuits.
Address: 4946 Baseline Dr, Mt Hood, OR 97041
Hours: Open May-October, Saturday & Sunday 12:00-8:00 pm, Monday-Friday 12:00-7:00 pm
PLEASE NOTE: There is a toll bridge on Route 35 after the Mt. Hood Ranger Station. This is also after stop fifteen and you will turn off Route 35 before the toll. If you reach the toll road you have gone to far in the Fruit Loop Trail.
Baseline Biscuits is a hidden gem on the Hood River Fruit Loop and a must-visit spot for food lovers. This small, family-run business takes pride in serving hearty, homemade biscuits that will surely make your mouth water. Their menu features a variety of biscuit sandwiches and a selection of fresh-baked pastries.
Address: 4946 Baseline Dr, Mt Hood, OR 97041
Hours: Thursday-Monday 7:00 am-2:00 pm, closed Tuesday and Wednesday
Moby Coffee Roasters is another place that I recommend and I really enjoyed my quad-shot coffee here. I love their quick statement:
"QUICK STATEMENT ABOUT THINGS
At Moby Coffee Roasters, we carefully curate smooth and crowd-pleasing coffees that will be loved by ALL. Wow, that's a bold statement. They will be loved by most. The majority. Most people should like our coffees. If not, I don't know. I know there are more expensive coffees out there. I know Folgers is still a brand. I know there are OPTIONS!"
They are a short walk around the corner from Baseline Biscuits. If you walk out of Baseline Biscuits turn right. Go past 3rd Street and take a right on 2nd street. Moby is on your right hand side.
Address: 7259 2nd Street, Parkdale, OR 97041
Hours: Wednesday - Monday 07:00 am - 1:00 pm, Closed Tuesday
After doing the Fruit Loop Road Trip I sat there and wondered about the name "Loop." Yes the road trip is kind of a Loop so I'll give that part of it credit. I also thought that because of the amount of Wineries on the Fruit Loop maybe it was named because you will get pretty "Looped" if you stop at all of them. I highly recommend if you are going to do the wineries on the Loop that you look into a tour guide who will drive you so you don't have to worry about drinking and driving. I suggest you go to this website and let them do the driving for you.
It is a lot of fun and to get fresh fruit and veggies is always a good thing. If you can't make it out here check out the Downtown Portland Farmers Market on the weekends because a lot of them have a booth here as well.
Columbia River Gorge post 4 will be up soon and it will be coming back to Portland Oregon on the Washington State side of the Gorge.
Here are the links for Part 1 and Part 2:
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