Aaron and I are headed there with the wives next week for the long weekend, what are everyone's favorite places to camp, preferably female friendly? We are not so experienced in the area.

Thanks!

my last trip was a couple years back but i had good experiences at both Memaloose park (Or) and Maryhill (Wa). Maryhill is not near hood river but east is nice if the corridor is gloomy. if you really want female friendly i have to say a hotel with a hottub is going to be your best bet.

My comments are likely redundant, but I couldn't think of a better way to consume 5 minutes. Most of the campgrounds adjacent to the Columbia have nice features (eg. hiking trails, maybe a tiny hidden sandy beach area, etc.), all have no-planes, but trains and automobiles aplenty; the frequency (aka noise) associated with the trains and transport truck airbrakes goes up and down depending on the USA economy (economy booming, there is a train about every 30-40 minutes each way on both sides of the river, makes for a wonderful sleep ; economy in the tank, and the train frequency drops off to somewhat bearable ). I have not stayed in Tuckers but most who have say its okay (its likely that long weekends everywhere in NA are robust with nightly entertainment). Maryhill Campground can in fact be quite nice, and especially so if the cloud-line pushes out to the Dalles (watch out for the wind shifting to the North as that becomes unpleasant for sailing...). The river water level is still high and the current is fast, so what are normally great sites for developing beginners, such as Doug's Beach and Roosevelt, will be notta, yet these sites remain great sites for interested-watchers of water-sports. Assuming its the miss' first Gorge visit, I'll second the suggestion above, get a hotel room as that'll make the experience nice and memorable and that may lead to more water time, more equipment, more trips, etc.

To get nice quite camping, go up the side valleys a little. Tucker County Park is just outside the southern outskirts of Hood River - gorgeous (pun intended ) location on the Hood River, from downtown go south and stay on all the 'Tucker Road" jogs, cross the bridge, stay right next to the river and you are there. Facilities are a little long in the tooth, but its usually full of windsurfers and very quiet. You can play in the river (chilly from glacier melt) and the vegetation is really neat - a mix of Garry oaks and ponderosa pine - Victoria meets Kamloops kindof. I think its $20 a night, that includes hot shower. A little further out, but still a short drive is Toll Bridge County Park. From Winddance, go south on Hwy 35, about 12 km south is "Hood River Ranger Station, keep going another 3 km or so and you'll see signs for Toll Bridge road and campsite. Very nice facilities, newer than Tucker, super quiet campground. I also stayed in one of many more rustic forestry camps just south of Mt Hood, but thats getting too far out for the wind commute.

There's also forestry camps up the side valleys on the Washington side.

Get local maps! Kingley COunty Park campground looks like it might be really nice, also close to HR, don't know anyone who's ever stayed there.

Might see you there next week![/u]

Thanks Guys, heard Tucker was good, probably check that out.

firstonlastoff wrote:My comments are likely redundant, but I couldn't think of a better way to consume 5 minutes. ....I'll second the suggestion above, get a hotel room as that'll make the experience nice and memorable and that may lead to more water time....

Love the intro but more.....water time I was kinda thinking perhaps a nice hotel room and hot tub may lead to more .... other fun time

I hear the gravel pits are very quiet these days nice views too

Stayed at Tuckers once - really didn't like it. Crowded, smoky and showers a bit creepy and gross. I had heard great things about it too, but I think the experience changes if it is super-busy, which it might be that weekend.
I have heard good things about toll bridge and I think it may be a little further from trains and a little quieter.
These two are probably your best bets.

For tips on really good tips on campsites on the Washington side however, talk to windsurfish . MF4 and his son can attest to the quality of spots to be found when travelling with the WSF

Thanks Janet, trying to stay in Oregon, less tax.

Oh yeah-s - the windsurfishes' abattoir "lets find this free camp, its just an hour or so over this gravel road in the dark". Somewhere between Deliverance and the Killing Fields.

I had a nice spot at Tucker (no trains, except maybe the "Mt Hood Excursion" once a day), but they weren't all as nice. Toll Bridge is definitely more private - lots of space between most campsites and less third-world-ish showers and bathrooms.

See you there Tony! I hear Geoffy may make an appearance too.

Portland Blues Fest for us over 4th, staying WA side as we travel there down 97 and avoid I-5 traffic totally, will sail Doug's and Hatch likely, some Event Site (expecially after last experience with waves over near bridge).

Memaloose first hand report - The traffic has picked up in a big way and they trimmed some of the vegetation next to the highway so noise is far worse there now than ever. More trains too with fuel prices as they are.

Expect a huge windsurfer/kiter crowd since winds/river have been uncooperative this year and a lot of people have not ventured out yet. Last 3 weekends we have been only Canadian plates (except for one other, one day) there, and people will be making up for it.

Toll Bridge sounds nice, may check that out, thanks much MF4.