Travel: Hood River Fruit Loop Turns 25 — Go Explore, See What’s There!

Hood River, OR — 2018 marks the 25th anniversary of the Hood River County Fruit Loop – the popular 35-mile scenic drive that provides the ultimate self-guided tour of the area’s acclaimed agritourism, with numbered stops at farm stands, u-pick farms, wineries, cideries, and lavender farms. New for 2018: Updated number signs that makes finding each stop even easier!

To get there from the Portland Metro area, take I-84 Exit 64 and head up Hwy 35 towards Mt. Hood. To get a feel for the variety of agriculture that defines Hood River Valley, stop at Panorama Point where you’ll also have a view of Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams on a clear day.

We recommend you stop at all the locations on the Fruit Loop map, but here are some suggestions to help get you started: The Gorge White House is a working pear orchard that offers wine tasting from most all of the Gorge region wines. Here you can also sample and purchase local fruit, u-pick berries, and u-pick flowers.

Fruit Loop Fun Facts:

• Started in 1993 with 19 stops
• Of the original members, four are still on the Fruit Loop today: Kiyokawa Family Orchards, Mt. View Orchards, Smiley’s Red Barn, The Farm Place (formerly Rasmussen Farms)
• Current number of stops: 28
• In addition to the self-guided driving tour from April through November, the Hood River County Fruit Loop also offers annual special events, including Cherry Days (June), Lavender DAZE Festival (June), Summer Fruit Celebration (August), Gravenstein Apple Days (September) and Pumpkin Patches (October).
• Things you can do on the Fruit Loop: Pick (fruit, flowers, pumpkins), sample (fruit, cider, jellies, pies, and more!), sip (cider & wine), pet (baby goats, bunnies), swing (Draper Girls Family Farm), picnic, photograph (orchards in bloom, Mount Hood & Adams, fruit galore), fill (growlers of cider, stomachs), relax, recharge.

More food for thought:

• The lavender farms offer u-pick lavender starting at the end of June, all the way through October.
• The upper valley offers berries in July and August, and Heirloom Apples and Pears in the fall.
• The Fruit Loop is beautiful year round, but be sure to visit during the April Blossom Fest time to see acres of orchards in bloom, and the Fall harvest when the fruit is piled high in the bins.

The Fruit Loop is also famous for its many festivals. Get all the details here: http://hoodriverfruitloop.com/