Viento State Park & Campground

Viento State Park is a shaded campground and day-use area beside the Columbia River, about eight miles west of Hood River. The camp loops split across I-84: A and B are north of the highway; C is south. The day-use area opens to the river for windsurfing and has a creekside picnic spot. It suits a Gorge road trip that needs a campground and trail access, but skip it if you want a quiet night outdoors. I-84 and an active railroad run beside the park, and the state warns train horns may sound day and night.

From the south-side parking area, the paved Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail heads west through fir forest, with openings onto Washington across the Columbia. The universally accessible section continues 5.6 miles to Wyeth. After the first mile it reaches an accessible view of Starvation Creek Falls, then runs past Cabin Creek, Hole-in-the-Wall and Lancaster Falls. Viento’s name comes from railroad builders Villard, Endicott and Tolman; it’s a mash-up of their names, not Spanish for “wind.”