Klickitat County, Washington · Columbia River Gorge
White Salmon
Ten minutes from Hood River across the Hood River Bridge, White Salmon sits on a 550-foot bluff above the Columbia with views of Mt. Adams and a walkable main street on East Jewett Boulevard. The White Salmon River below runs Class III to IV with an optional 12-foot waterfall that makes this one of the most memorable commercial raft runs in the Pacific Northwest.
POPULATION
2,485
FOUNDED
1907
FROM PORTLAND
~1 hr via I-84
FROM HOOD RIVER
10 min via bridge
COUNTY
Klickitat
ELEVATION
550 ft
White Salmon sits on a bluff 550 feet above the Columbia River in Klickitat County, directly across the Hood River Bridge from Hood River, Oregon. At about 2,500 people, it is one of the Columbia River Gorge’s smaller towns, but it punches well above its size on outdoor recreation, dining, and Gorge wine access.
The White Salmon River is the draw for adrenaline-seeking visitors. The commercial raft run from BZ Corner through the Husum section is Class III to IV, with the optional Husum Falls drop — a 12-foot plunge into a pool described by outfitters as the tallest commercially rafted waterfall in the country. Multiple outfitters operate the run from May through September: Wet Planet Whitewater, Zoller’s Outdoor Odysseys, and River Drifters are the established operators. Book ahead in summer; this run sells out on weekends.
The downtown on East Jewett Boulevard is the compact, walkable kind: Everybody’s Brewing with its Gorge-view deck, Henni’s Kitchen and Bar for scratch-kitchen dinner, Gander and Goose for botanical cocktails, and a handful of boutiques and art studios. Mt. Adams, the second tallest peak in Washington at 12,281 feet, is visible from most of the town. Trout Lake, the gateway for Adams area hiking and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, is 30 minutes north on SR-141.
Hood River — one of the Pacific Northwest’s most complete small cities — is literally 10 minutes across the bridge. White Salmon residents shop there; visitors who stay in White Salmon can access Hood River’s restaurants, wineries, and Fruit Loop without the Hood River lodging prices.
Getting Here
From Portland, take I-84 East to Exit 64 (Hood River), cross the Hood River Bridge (toll: $1), and follow SR-14 West for approximately 2 miles to downtown White Salmon in Bingen. Total drive: approximately 69 miles, about 1 hour in normal traffic. From Seattle, take I-5 South to I-84 East or US-12 to US-97 to SR-14; allow approximately 3 hours 30 minutes. From the bridge, East Jewett Boulevard (the main street) is a short drive uphill. Parking is free throughout the downtown area.
Things to Do
Outdoors
White Salmon River Rafting
Class III to IV commercial whitewater rafting from BZ Corner through the Husum section of the White Salmon River, with the optional 12-foot Husum Falls drop. Multiple outfitters operate daily May through September: Wet Planet Whitewater, Zoller's Outdoor Odysseys, and River Drifters. Book at least a week ahead on summer weekends — this run sells out. See <a href="https://explorewashingtonstate.com/sporty-white-salmon/">Sporty in White Salmon</a> for the full outdoor recreation picture.
Food
Everybody's Brewing
White Salmon's community brewery at 177 E Jewett Blvd, open daily from 11:30 AM, with craft IPAs, seasonal small-batch beers, burgers from local Chuck, mac and cheese, and a deck with Mt. Hood and Gorge views. The outdoor deck is the best place in White Salmon to watch the sun set over the Columbia.
Wine
Columbia Gorge Wine Tasting
White Salmon is inside the Columbia Valley AVA with several tasting rooms within a short drive. AniChe Cellars and COR Cellars in Lyle, Syncline Winery in Lyle, and Maryhill Winery 44 miles east are among the established options. Le Doubblé Troubblé is a downtown White Salmon tasting room. [VERIFY current tasting room hours for all producers before visiting]
Outdoors
Cycling the Gorge and Fruit Loop
White Salmon is a strong base for Gorge cycling. The Klickitat Trail runs 31 miles along the Klickitat River. The Syncline and Hospital Hill mountain bike systems are in Bingen, adjacent to White Salmon. The Hood River Fruit Loop (10 minutes across the bridge) is a 35-mile scenic road route through orchards, cideries, and lavender farms. Bike rentals are available in Hood River.
Culture
Downtown White Salmon
East Jewett Boulevard is the main street — a compact, walkable strip with Everybody's Brewing, Henni's Kitchen, Gander and Goose, White Salmon Baking Co., boutiques, and the Dylan Martinez Glass Studio. [VERIFY: Dylan Martinez Glass Studio open status in 2026] The street gives you a genuine small-town Gorge experience without Hood River's crowds.
Outdoors
Mt. Adams Access and Trout Lake
Mt. Adams, at 12,281 feet the second tallest peak in Washington, is 30 minutes north via SR-141 through Trout Lake. Hiking options include Sleeping Beauty (views of Adams, Hood, and Rainier) and Bird Creek Meadows (wildflower meadows). Langfield Falls is an easy waterfall hike in Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Trout Lake Grocery and the Trout Lake Country Inn are the base facilities.
Outdoors
Waterfalls and Gorge Hiking
Spirit Falls is a short but steep hike about 20 minutes from White Salmon. Catherine Creek, 15 minutes west on SR-14, is one of the Gorge's best wildflower hikes in March and April. Beacon Rock State Park is 22 miles west with the summit trail and the Hamilton Mountain waterfall hike. See <a href="https://explorewashingtonstate.com/spending-a-weekend-in-white-salmon/">Spending a Weekend in White Salmon</a> for a full itinerary.
Outdoors
Hood River, Oregon
Ten minutes across the Hood River Bridge, Hood River is one of the Pacific Northwest's most complete small cities. Windsurfing and kiteboarding on the Columbia, the Hood River Fruit Loop, Mount Hood access, and an extensive dining and brewery scene make it a natural extension of any White Salmon visit. Bridge toll: $1 each way.
“The White Salmon River drops over the 12-foot Husum Falls on its way to the Columbia. Multiple commercial outfitters run this section daily in summer. It is not a beginner run, and that is exactly the point.”
Explore Washington State
Where to Stay
Inn of the White Salmon
A 22-room boutique B&B and hotel in downtown White Salmon, eco-friendly with a local artist gallery section, outdoor garden patio, and a family suite with king bed plus twin bunks. The main lodging option for visitors who want to stay in the White Salmon core.
Book directThe Society Hotel Bingen
A converted old schoolhouse in Bingen (adjacent to White Salmon, about 1 mile away) with private cabins featuring kitchenettes and hammocks, plus bunk-style rooms. On-site Scandinavian-inspired hydrotherapy spa. [VERIFY open in 2026 before booking]
Check availabilityVacation Rentals
More than 275 vacation rental properties are listed around White Salmon on Airbnb and VRBO, ranging from orchard-area cabins to Columbia River-view homes. Strong options for groups and families wanting more space than boutique hotel rooms provide.
Search on AirbnbFind a Cabin Near White Salmon
Find a Cabin Near White Salmon
Food & Drink
Everybody’s Brewing (177 E Jewett Blvd) has served White Salmon since 2008 with craft IPAs and seasonal small-batch beers, burgers from 100% chuck, mac and cheese, and a deck with Mt. Hood and Gorge views. Open daily from 11:30 AM. Henni’s Kitchen and Bar (120 E Jewett Blvd) is the dinner destination — scratch kitchen with seasonal and local ingredients, Wednesday through Saturday 5 to 9 PM and Sunday and Monday evenings. Reservations by text at 509.493.1555. Gander and Goose (216 E Jewett Blvd, Suite 1) opened in October 2023 with botanical cocktails and a bar lounge concept; open Wednesday through Saturday from 4 PM. White Salmon Baking Co. on Jewett is the morning stop for artisan bread, pastries, and local coffee before heading out on the river. [VERIFY current hours for the Baking Co. before visiting]
Festivals & Events
May
White Salmon Wildflower Festival
The entire month of May is organized around the Columbia River Gorge's 800-plus wildflower species, with a Mayfaire community fair kick-off, a Wildflower Half Marathon, a Wine Walk on East Jewett Boulevard, Gorge Open Studio Tours, and guided wildflower hikes. Now in its fourth year in 2026.
September
Bingen Huckleberry Festival
Held the weekend after Labor Day at Daubenspeck Park in Bingen (adjacent to White Salmon), the free festival includes a Fireman's Breakfast, a parade, a 5K run, basketball tournament, and huckleberry food and jam. A genuine community harvest celebration running for decades.
Day Trips
Hood River, Oregon is 10 minutes east across the Hood River Bridge — the toll is $1. The Hood River Fruit Loop is a 35-mile scenic drive past orchards, cideries, and lavender farms that pairs naturally with a White Salmon base. Goldendale, Washington is approximately 47 miles east on SR-14, about 53 minutes — home to the Goldendale Observatory and Maryhill Museum of Art. Stevenson, Washington is approximately 22 miles west on SR-14, about 25 minutes, with Beacon Rock State Park and the Columbia Gorge Museum. Trout Lake is 30 minutes north on SR-141, the trailhead for Mt. Adams hiking, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, and the Natural Bridges ice caves.
Planning Your Visit
White Salmon is best as an overnight base for a Gorge-centered trip, particularly if you are combining river rafting, wine tasting, and Hood River day access. Book White Salmon River raft trips at least a week ahead in July and August — the Husum Falls section sells out on weekends. Henni’s Kitchen takes reservations via text and fills up on Thursday through Saturday evenings. The Inn of the White Salmon is the main downtown boutique option; book ahead in summer. The White Salmon Wildflower Festival runs all of May with a Mayfaire kick-off, half marathon, wine walk, and open studio tours — an excellent time to visit if you want organized programming alongside the outdoor activities.
More White Salmon on EWS
Frequently Asked Questions
What is White Salmon, Washington known for?
White Salmon is known for whitewater rafting on the White Salmon River (Class III to IV with an optional 12-foot waterfall drop), a walkable downtown on East Jewett Boulevard with Everybody’s Brewing and Henni’s Kitchen, and its position 10 minutes from Hood River, Oregon across the Hood River Bridge. Mt. Adams views, Columbia Gorge wine tasting, and the May Wildflower Festival add to a destination that offers more outdoor and culinary depth than its size suggests.
Is White Salmon Washington worth visiting?
Yes, especially for visitors who want Gorge access with a lower-key base than Hood River. White Salmon sits on a bluff above the Columbia with Mt. Adams views, a walkable main street, one of the best brewery decks in the Gorge (Everybody’s Brewing), and a top-rated scratch-kitchen restaurant (Henni’s). The White Salmon River rafting run through Husum Falls is one of the most memorable commercial raft runs in the Pacific Northwest.
How far is White Salmon from Hood River?
White Salmon is approximately 10 minutes from Hood River, Oregon via the Hood River Bridge. The toll is $1 each way. Hood River is visible from White Salmon’s bluff position above the Columbia. Most White Salmon visitors cross frequently for Hood River restaurants, wineries, and the Fruit Loop.
Can you raft the White Salmon River?
Yes. The White Salmon River commercial run from BZ Corner through the Husum section is Class III to IV, with the optional Husum Falls drop (12 feet). Multiple outfitters operate from May through September including Wet Planet Whitewater, Zoller’s Outdoor Odysseys, and River Drifters. Book at least a week ahead in July and August — summer weekend slots fill up.
What is Husum Falls?
Husum Falls is a 12-foot drop on the White Salmon River near Husum, Washington, described by commercial operators as the tallest commercially rafted waterfall in the country. It is the centerpiece of the White Salmon River commercial raft run. The falls are optional — rafters can portage if they choose. Multiple outfitters offer guided runs through the Husum section from May through September.
How far is White Salmon from Portland?
White Salmon is approximately 69 miles east of Portland, about 1 hour in normal traffic via I-84 East to Hood River and across the Hood River Bridge. The drive is straightforward along the Columbia River.
What is there to do near White Salmon in winter?
Winter is the quietest season in White Salmon. Everybody’s Brewing and Henni’s Kitchen remain open. Mt. Hood skiing is accessible in about 1 hour via Hood River and US-26. The Columbia Gorge itself has dramatic off-season scenery. Most White Salmon River rafting outfitters close in October and reopen in May. Hood River across the bridge has more year-round dining and activity options than White Salmon proper.