With Horsethief Butte as the scenic backdrop, this lake is a relaxing spot for fishing & kayaking…read more Equipped with bathrooms & showers, a popular place for camping & RV sleepovers. Not naturally formed, flooded into existence by the Dalles Dam. Without a natural circulation of water, the summer creates toxic algae harmful to humans and fish. Warning signs are posted. A petroglyph trail is a highlight for all; in depth tour guide available by reservation. Boat launch access to the Columbia River.

Lovely piece of the Gorge. We've stopped by the lake portion and checked out the Petroglyphs before…read morewhile passing through, as well as briefly jumping onto a trail at the Butte. This weekend we got around to investing more time in the trails of Butte and it was pretty fun. The trails don't allow for a complete loop around the rock, as there's a block for restoration on the east side. But you can wander most of the way around the water side...up and around the rocks is really where's it at though. There are 3 access points to the top from the trails, and the bouldering up is loads of fun. Once atop you can roam all about and enjoy fabulous views from every angle. While the remainder of the trails at Butte are average, we found it pretty entertaining to climb around the rock portion. There's a decent amount of parking...Discover Pass required...as well at a vault toilet at the trailhead.

With plenty of shaded picnic tables, a walking path, large open grass area, water access and public…read morerestrooms, this is a family friendly park. There is even a small, very small, playground area for little kids. There are beach / river access areas but I didn't see any lifeguards. If you aren't from this area, be aware of the extremely high wind speeds and currents. I'd recommend just dipping your feet, not swimming! There is plenty of parking, even on the busiest days. Located off exit 85 on I-84, just minutes from downtown The Dalles, the Riverfront Park is open Memorial Day through October 31st, Dawn til dusk.

Great park and playground. Beautiful grounds, though lawn around playground needs a little love but…read morelooks like it's coming back. The sprinkles do hit sections of the playground but personally I think it's great because it washes everything down. We stopped here on our travels to let the toddler play and stretch his legs and we had just as much fun on the playground, really fun and creative structures. Definitely will be a future stop again.

Nice park with fabulous views…read more We dropped by Sorosis this weekend, looking for somewhere new to stretch the legs. It's a lovely drive up, and you get amazing views of the gorge from the lot. There's plenty of parking around, and it appeared that the park has a little something for everyone: ball fields, play ground, disc golf, green space, and a walking path around the perimeter. You're not going to get a hike in here, but a spot to stretch it's got. The grounds looked clean and it appeared there were some improvements in the works. Nice, peaceful park. :)

One of the coolest parks I have seen for children. The large castle structure is the first thing…read morethat catches your attention and draws you in. But there is so much more! Swings, slides, jungle gym, tires, play houses, tunnels - you name it, it's there. Even a decent bathroom. Parking lot is somewhat small but there is also street parking. Part of the City of Hood River public park system, this is a fabulous place for your children to play, run and have fun!

We stop here every time we visit Hood River - our kids love to play here. There is plenty of…read moreparking, the location is right in town, and the playground is in great shape. We'll be back!

A great small area to let your dog run off leash. However, they are closed for the winter. There is…read morea baseball field across from there. You must pick up after your dog if you let them run there.

This is a decent size off leash dog park. Lots of space for the dogs to run and play. My grand…read moredogs love it here, they get so excited. It gets busy around 4-5, you will find all different kind of dogs that frequent this park. There is a bucket there for people to donate toys for all the dogs, such a great idea. They have two picnic tables for seating. Great place, remember to pick up after your dogs!!

A lush, beautiful state park located off I-84 near Rowena. After passing by more times than I can…read morecount, I decided to venture off the highway to check it out. Was so surprised and delighted by the incredible views of the basalt cliffs across the way, and of course, close up views of the magnificent Columbia River. There is an area under the trees with picnic tables, a perfect spot to gather for a meal after a nice walk or hike. Plenty of parking, great views, peaceful and serene - a gem.

We pulled off recently to check out Mayer. In our camper van, it was a lovely, quiet spot to enjoy…read morea stretch and a meal. It seemed to be more like a county park in feel, with plenty of parking, some picnic tables, and toilets. They had a recycle bin alongside the trash cans...loved to see that. Albeit a cold December day, we only saw a couple of cars come and go while we were there. From signage it appears to be a good windsurfing area at other times of the year, so I'm sure it gets much busier. Nice little stop-off along the gorge for a view, a stretch, or a picnic.

Much windier here. Stopped by after having lunch nearby. There's plenty of parking. Saw many…read morefamilies and people flying kites & a surfing. There are restrooms. Nice park to just enjoy the water & people watch.

Known as the 'Windsurfing Capital of the World', Hood River is a small city in Oregon, on the banks…read moreof the Columbia River. It is known for its concentration of craft breweries in the downtown area, and the ability to consume alcohol publicly on open sidewalks and parks. My wife, mother-in-law, and I drove intentionally to see the city during our visit to the Gorge, and stopped by the famous Park next to the River. It was drizzling and cold this day, so finding free street parking was easy. We found a place to sit, and admire the brave souls surfing. There is a small beach area, and children life jackets to share. And a nice grassy area with playground equipment.

Railroad ......been waiting 45 minutes to Cross into park!! From out of town. So disappointed in…read morethe city and the rr!!! Got to pee !!!

Lovely park in The Dalles, easy walk from downtown area just follow the Riverfront Trail. The…read moreLewis & Clark Park is right before the Union Street Underpass. Lots of green space, some water features, a covered area with lots of tables to picnic, a paved walking path, and most important, clean bathrooms! There entrance to the park is beautiful, a long and wide sidewalk leads you to the Pavillion designed in a mid century mod style with a wall of glass windows and doors so you can see right through to the gorgeous view beyond. The building is stunning! Lewis & Clark Festival Park is open to the public and it's also available for private events like weddings, reunions, business functions, etc. Visit their website for fees and requirements. In warmer weather there are also concerts that are well attended. They have their own parking lot which makes it convenient. If there is an event and the lot is full, plenty of street parking nearby. Oh, and the park is dog friendly!

A small little park outside of Hood River . The view was amazing . Mount Hood towering over the…read moremany orchards and wineries was breathtaking. Well worth a small side trip.

A surprising gem in the middle of nowhere! While on a drive through Hood River, this was an…read moreexcellent stop, not just for a bathroom but also to stretch legs, take some photos, and enjoy the quiet.

My family and I had a great time at Mt. Hood Adventure Park. We rode the alpine slide, which was…read moredefinitely the attraction I was looking forward to the most. The park was quieter and less crowded than I expected. The alpine slide alone was $29 per person, but you can purchase an unlimited pass for about $79-$89 per person. I recommend the pass if you plan to experience several attractions. The park has two sections--the east and west sides--which are about a three-minute drive apart. I don't recommend walking between them. Other attractions include a maze, zip lines, bungee jumping, go-karts, batting cages, rock climbing, a summer tubing hill, and much more. There is also a bar and restaurant on the west side of the park.

(This review is my kid's opinion about the alpine slide specifically)…read more "We didn't have to wait very long to get on [mom's note: we were there around 11AM on a Monday] so I recommend to get there early for not a lot of lines. There was good view from the top. The people were helpful to get you off the lift and onto the slide. They will tell you what to do, like how to go fast and slow. I liked feeling in control of the speed. There are leisure and experienced tracks but I didn't really seem to notice a difference. It took about 5-10 minutes to come down. Probably the trip up was longer." Another mom note re: missing 5th star: the website and pricing details were not easy to navigate. There is NO WHERE on the a la carte page that clarifies that the rides are per person (only on the paperwork at the gift shop do they make that clear). I had to fork over an additional $20 onsite but was not ready to spend an additional $30 beyond that for the experience. Instead, stayed at the bottom to get photos.