Columbia Cliff Villas

Fifty-six suites on the cliff above the Columbia River, walking distance to downtown Hood River — a new-build property that opened in the 2000s with an emphasis on river views and apartment-scale rooms. Columbia Cliff Villas is the larger and more contemporary alternative to Hood River's older inns: real living rooms, full kitchens or kitchenettes in many units, and the kind of layout that suits longer stays.

The pitch is the river view. The Columbia Gorge here is wide, working (barge traffic, windsurfer-and-kiter color, the rail line on the far bank), and the cliff-edge siting puts most rooms looking straight at it.

The setting

Hood River sits on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge, an hour east of Portland on I-84, in the heart of the Gorge's wind- and kite-surfing scene and the Hood River Valley's pear and apple country. The property sits on the cliff above downtown — walking distance (a short downhill walk in, a longer uphill back) to the restaurants and breweries on Oak Street.

The Mt. Hood Railroad scenic-train station is ten minutes south. Trillium Lake, Hood River Valley wineries, and the Mount Hood north-face ski areas (Cooper Spur, Mount Hood Meadows) are within thirty to fifty minutes south. Multnomah Falls is twenty minutes west.

The building

A new-build, completed in the 2000s, three-and-four-story buildings clustered on the cliff edge. The architecture is restrained Pacific Northwest — clapboard and shingle exteriors, deep eaves, large windows oriented to the river. Materials are timber and stone with painted-clapboard accents.

Public spaces include a lobby, the heated outdoor pool deck on the cliff edge, and a small fitness room. The aesthetic is refined-Americana — country-estate done in a Northwest vocabulary.

The rooms

Fifty-six suites, most with full or partial kitchen, separate living areas, and one or two bedrooms. Categories range from compact studio suites to multi-bedroom layouts. Most rooms have river-view balconies; some have garden-side patios. Bathrooms are well-considered. Beds are king or queen.

The property is set up for longer stays as much as for weekend trips — the kitchens and the size of the units make a week feel comfortable.

Rates from $285 in shoulder; peak summer windsurfing and harvest season climb.

Food & drink

There's no full restaurant on site. A continental breakfast is typically included. Downtown Hood River is a five-minute walk downhill (or longer uphill on the way back) for restaurants — Celilo, Solstice, pFriem Family Brewers, Double Mountain Brewery, and a wide casual scene.

On the property

The heated outdoor pool sits on the cliff edge with the Gorge view as the backdrop. There's a fitness center and a hot tub. No spa. The property is family-friendly and the suite layouts make it work for multi-generational travel.

• Heated outdoor pool with Gorge view
• Hot tub, fitness center
• Continental breakfast included (typically)
• Walking distance to downtown Hood River
• Open year-round

Who it's for

• Families needing apartment-scale rooms with kitchens
• Windsurfers, kitesurfers, and Gorge water-sports travelers
• Couples on a long weekend who want a kitchen and a balcony with a view
• Mt. Hood / Mt. Adams base for skiing or hiking

Who it's not for

• Travelers wanting a small intimate inn
• Anyone needing a full-service restaurant on site
• Light sleepers — Hood River's downtown is a working town with rail noise that travels

Nearby

Downtown Hood River's Oak Street is five minutes' walk downhill — restaurants, the Hood River brewery row, and the waterfront park where windsurfers launch. The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center is fifteen minutes east. Hood River Valley wineries (Mt. Hood Winery, Naked Winery) are ten minutes south on the Hood River Fruit Loop. Mt. Hood Meadows and Cooper Spur are fifty minutes south for skiing. Multnomah Falls is twenty minutes west.