Apple Picking in the Hood River Fruit Loop Oregon

About the Hood River Fruit Loop

Get ready for a wild rural adventure in the Hood River Valley! You’ll find 28 awesome farm stands, wineries, breweries, cideries, and fields of gorgeous flowers. This valley has a long history of farming, with the first fruit trees planted way back in 1855. Now there are 14,500 acres of pears, apples, and cherries ripe for the picking! Take a self-guided tour down 35 miles of scenic country roads and create unforgettable memories with your crew. Let’s get fruity!

Local Tip: If you have a larger vehicle like a bus or large RV, call ahead to where you want to stop to ensure there is space for you.

See More: 21 Best Hikes in the Columbia River Gorge Oregon

Pin

Pin

U-Pick Locations and Harvest Dates

As you drive along the Columbia River Gorge away from Portland, you start to escape the gray and overcast weather. Once you reach Hood River, you head south into the valley, and it’s a completely different landscape. It’s typically sunny and warm, and you’ll find tons of fruit stands and vineyard options. On this trip, we visited the Kiyokawa Family Orchards & Fruit Stand.

If you’re looking for U-Pick Locations, there are 14 of them. We’ve listed them below with the types of fruits you can find at each location. Call or visit their website for specific dates and times.

• Browning Blueberries – Blueberries
• Draper Girls Country Farm – Strawberries, Cherries, Lavender, Flowers, Blueberries, Peaches, Plums, Nectarines, Pluots, Pluerries, Raspberries, Pears, Apples, Pumpkins, and Blackberries
• The Gorge White House – Strawberries, Cherries, Lavender, Flowers, Blueberries, Peaches, Plums, Nectarines, Pluots, Pluerries, Raspberries, Pears, Apples, and Pumpkins
• Hood River Lavender – Lavender and Flowers
• Hood River U-Pick Organic – Cherries and Apples
• Hope Ranch Lavender – Lavender and Flowers
• Kiyokawa Family Orchards – Cherries, Pluots, Pluerries, and Apples
• Montovon’s Berries – Cherries, Blueberries, Raspberries
• Mt. View Orchards – Cherries, Lavender, Flowers, Blueberries, Peaches, Plums, Nectarines, Pluots, Pluerries, Pears, Apples, Pumpkins, Blackberries, Sweet Corn, Quince, and Grapes
• The Old Trunk – Lavender, Flowers, Blueberries, Pluots, and Pluerries
• Packer Orchards & Bakery – Cherries, Peaches, Plums, Nectarines, Apples, and Pumpkins
• Pearl’s Place – Strawberries, Apples, Pumpkins, and Herbs
• Van Gogh Lavender – Lavender and Flowers
• Wy’East Vineyards – Lavender and Flowers

Pin

Pin

Pin

The general seasons for the fruits are listed below. Each year will differ based on weather and conditions so it’s always good to check with the farms before visiting.

• Apples – August to October
• Blueberries – July to mid-September
• Cherries – late June to mid-August
• Lavender & Flowers – June to mid-October
• Peaches – July to mid-September
• Pears (Summer) – August to mid-October
• Pears (Fall) – August to late-October
• Pumpkins – September to late-October
• Strawberries – June to late-July

We aren’t huge apple fans, so we didn’t end up bringing any home with us. We did pick up some cider though and can’t wait to visit again during strawberry or cherry season.

P.S. later that day we found the same cider at Safeway for much cheaper. Should have just gotten those apples!

See More: The Ultimate Oregon Bucket List

Pin

Pin

Pin

Stops of the Fruit Loop

There are 28 spots part of the Hood River Fruit Loop. It includes u-pick farms, fruit stands, wineries, breweries, cideries, and flower fields. We’ve listed them below in the order you should visit if you plan on going to all of them. Check their websites for current hours.

1. Pearl’s Place Fruit – A wide variety of locally grown fruits, handcrafted baskets, local wild honey, Oregon-grown hazelnuts, dried fruit snacks, flavored milk, and locally-made chocolates and granola.
2. The Gorge White House – 4th generation family-owned u-pick farm with wines, ciders, craft beers, farm fresh cuisine, and ice cream.
3. Mt. Hood Winery – Beautiful winery and tasting room.
4. The Fruit Company – Orchard-fresh gifts, a heritage museum, railroad and railbike excursions, orchard tours, fresh fruits, and more.
5. Hope Ranch Lavender – Rolling acres of lavender and lavender products.
6. Packer Orchards & Farmplace – Fruits, vegetables, pumpkin patches, sunflower fields, baked goods, jams, and more.
7. Smiley’s Red Barn – Fresh cherries, peaches, pears, apples, and more. Note: Temporarily Closed.
8. Fox-Tail Cider & Distillery – From farm to table ciders and spirits.
9. Wy-East Vineyards – 30 acres of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay grapes. Visit the tasting room or scenic patios. There are also seasonal food trucks.
10. Pear Bloom Farm – Focused on regenerative agriculture, check out the flower bar, shop for fine goods by local artisans, or try some of the local wines and ciders.
11. Hood River Lavender – Beautiful views and u-pick lavender.
12. Stave & Stone – Award-winning wines from Rieslings to Cabernets.
13. Packer Orchards & Bakery – Fresh fruit, baked goods, jam, fresh smoothies, milkshakes, and more.
14. Draper Girls Country Farm & U-Pick Orchards – 3rd generation family farm with a variety of fruits and award-winning cider.
15. Draper Girls Cider Company – Small-batch and award-winning ciders.

Pin

Pin

Pin

16. Kiyokawa Family Orchards – Specializes in growing over 150 varieties of apples, pears, Asian pears, cherries, and stone fruit. They also sell jams, fresh cider, and local honey.
17. Mt. View Orchards & Brewery – Farm-to-table tasting room, small craft beer, cider, and wine, and farm-fresh pizzas.
18. Grateful Vineyards – Farm-to-table tasting room that is a winery, cidery, and brewery all in one. They also serve artisan pizza.
19. Montavon’s Berries – U-pick and ready-pick blueberries, cherries, and rasberries.
20. Van Gogh Lavender – A five-acre lavender farm that also sells lavender products.
21. Browning Blueberries – U-pick blueberries!
22. The Old Trunk, Treats & Tiques – Unique antiques, books, vinyl, art, and gifts plus a u-pick farm. They also have a full espresso bar, artisanal soda fountain, and serve shakes, ice cream, and other treats.
23. Apple Valley Country Store – Small batch jams, syrups, pie fillings, pepper jellies, pies, and more.
24. Hood Crest Winery & Distillers – Taste wine, spirits, and food with great views of Mt. Hood.
25. Hood River U-Pick Organic – U-pick cherries and apples plus goats and pigs to visit.
26. Marchesi Vineyards & Winery – Boutique winery specializing in Italian Grapes varietals.
27. Cathedral Ridge Winery – Award-winning big, bold reds, signature blends, and white whites.
28. Phelps Creek Vineyards – A gateway to the Westside Wine Trail focusing on cool weather varietals like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling.

See More: Ultimate PNW Bucket List

Map of the Hood River Fruit Loop

Where to Stay

Essential Tips

• Each member of the Fruit Loop must meet specific criteria for membership, including cleanliness, accuracy of info, etc.
• Not all members offer u-pick so check the list before visting.
• Check out the official Hood River Fruit Loop Map, and you can find the whole list of fruits (and when they are ready).
• It always helps to call in to see what is currently available. It is constantly changing.
• Dress in layers! It was almost 10 degrees warmer in the valley than it was in Portland, so it was nice being able to shed layers.
• Each location determines their own pet policy.
• They hold events and festivals from July to October, check the calendar here.
• If you don’t have time to make it out to the Fruit Loop, be sure to check out the Portland Farmers Market where a lot of the orchards bring their produce.

Pin

Pin

Pin