Overview

Viento State Park near Hood River is a fun spot to enjoy the camping, hiking, and water recreation for which the Columbia River Gorge is known. Viento has 56 full hookup campsites with electricity plus 18 tent sites, and this campground rarely gets as crowded as the neighboring Memaloose or Mayer Parks.

Viento provides beach access on the Columbia to enjoy water sports like swimming and windsurfing. A section of the Historic Columbia River Highway now closed to motorized traffic offers a paved hiking area and leads to Starvation Creek Falls. The campground’s proximity to a working railroad means campers will hear train whistles through the night.

Location & Information

Viento State Park is located 8 miles west of Hood River, at Exit 56 from Interstate 84. The campground is first come, first served and usually remains open mid-March through October. Call the Viento Park office, (541) 374-8811, or Oregon State Parks, 1 (800) 551-6949, for information.

Activities

• Camping: 56 full hookups and 18 tent sites; full restroom and shower facilities.
• Hiking: Take a paved, handicapped accessible segment of the Historic Columbia River Highway for one mile to Starvation Creek Falls for a beautiful walk through Oregon’s past.
• Water recreation: Viento beach access opens up swimming, boating, and windsurfing activities.
• Picnicking: The picnic area sits alongside a pretty brook.

Fun Facts

While some may be tempted to believe Viento Park’s name has Spanish roots (“viento” means “wind” in Spanish), the park’s name actually derives from the first letters of the names of three local railroad barons: Villard, Endicott, and Tollman.