Tucked along the banks of the Columbia River between Hood River and Cascade Locks, Viento State Park sits at the heart of the Columbia River Gorge — one of the most dramatic landscapes in the Pacific Northwest. The park occupies a forested stretch where Viento Creek meets the Columbia, creating a sheltered pocket of old-growth conifers and river views that feels worlds away from the interstate running just above.

Viento is a favorite among windsurfers and kiteboaders who use it as a launch point into the Gorge’s legendary winds. The park provides direct river access, making it easy to get on the water without the crowds found at nearby Hood River. When the wind dies down, hiking takes over — the Starvation Creek to Viento Trail connects the park to Starvation Creek Falls and Warren Creek Falls via a scenic 3-mile route cut into the basalt cliffs above the highway.

The campground offers 56 electrical sites and 18 tent sites nestled among Douglas fir and bigleaf maple. Sites are well-spaced and shaded, a welcome reprieve during summer heat. A day-use picnic area along the creek draws families looking for a quieter stop along the Gorge.

Visit between June and September for the best combination of warm weather and consistent wind. Spring brings wildflowers and waterfall season but cooler temperatures. Fall offers golden foliage with fewer visitors.

Come for the wind, stay for the waterfalls, and camp under some of the tallest trees in the Gorge.

Explore Nearby

• Lost Lake sits within the Widow Mountain Wilderness Study Area — Public Land
• Historic Columbia River Highway — Scenic Byway in Oregon
• Little Mountain Covered Bridge — Covered Bridge in Washington
• Sandy Wild and Scenic River — Public Land in Oregon
• Mount Hood National Forest — National Forest in Oregon