Skamania Lodge
Washington | USA
Our recent 4 night stay at the Skamania Lodge, which is situated in the Columbia River Gorge and Cascade Mountains, was a great way to experience the Gorge, Mt. Hood, the dozens of nearby waterfalls, and the charming town of Hood River as well as our river rafting excursion on the Middle Fork of the White Salmon River.
The minute that you pull into the long driveway of the lodge you know that you have landed someplace special. The lodge itself was designed to be reminiscent of the great lodges of the early 1900’s. Indeed it shares many of the same qualities of lodges such as El Tovar at the Grand Canyon, the Ahwahnee in Yosemite and the Timberline Lodge near Mt. Hood.
From check-in, and throughout your entire stay, you are greeted by some of the friendliest staff you will ever encounter. The folks working at Skamania Lodge not only take their jobs seriously but they do so in such a friendly manner as to make you feel like family. From the front desk to the bar & restaurant staff to the ladies who run the spa you will rarely encounter a nicer group of people that genuinely have your comfort and enjoyment at the heart of their mission.
A stay at Skamania will provide you with plenty to do including their challenging 18-hole, par-70 golf course, the Skamania Lodge Zipline Tour, as well as miles of local hiking trails including the challenging hike to the top of Beacon Rock with multiple views of the mighty Columbia River.
The lodge has a kiosk staffed by U.S. Forest Service personnel ready to help you plan your hike of choice. Day trips may find you enjoying a stroll around the town of Hood River or taking the leisurely hike to Mirror Lake at the base of Mt. Hood. And of course, there are dozens of nearby waterfalls that are as accessible as they are beautiful.
If relaxing around the lodge is more your style then, by all means, that is an easy fix. With their spa services, indoor swimming pool and 2 Jacuzzi’s (1 indoors & 1 outdoors) you will find it easy to decompress and melt away your day-to-day stress. If wine tasting is your choice of activity for the day then you will not be disappointed with the dozens of world-class wineries in the region. Reservations for winery tours can be made through the front desk.
After a long day of adventure evenings at the lodge can start off with a cocktail or a glass of wine on their outdoor patio followed by dinner at the Cascade Dining Room where the food is expertly prepared and the service is warm & friendly. Be sure to request a window table as you will have great views of the Cascade Mountains while the moon is rising. After dinner, you can retire to the large outdoor fire pit and await the night sky to fill with stars.
Skamania is a great lodge in a gorgeous setting with incredibly friendly staff and good food combined with plenty of activities and adventures. What more could you possibly ask for in a vacation getaway?
If you happen to visit the Portland area and time permits we highly recommend you include a stay at the Skamania Lodge. You will not be disappointed.
