Cancel

Open app

Search

Deschutes River State Recreation Area

3.2 (15 reviews)

Deschutes River State Recreation Area Photos

More like Deschutes River State Recreation Area

Recommended Reviews - Deschutes River State Recreation Area

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

River trail
Robin S.

This is a review for the river trails, not the other fine facilities offered in this park. Awesome trail. We stopped in here on the way to The Dalles because it looked cool on the map. The Deschutes River provides a picturesque backdrop to an amazing riverside trail. Along with the typical river terrain, you'll walk through gorgeous grasslands, boardwalk and even a beach. Add in the imposing and impressive bluffs to the east and across the river and you've got a trail worthy of a national park. We walked a couple of miles or so along the river - always looking out for rattlesnakes - before turning back and then jumping to the upper trail for the remainder of the way back. That trail has a more desert mountain feel to it and the views are even better. Parking is easy, there are restrooms and it's free if all you're doing is a day hike. Highly recommended.

View from the bike trail that is located directly above the hiking trail!

See all

Photo of Kim R.
180
1112
3122

2 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Jessica L.
524
76
50

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Erin S.
101
198
1650

10 years ago

Helpful 6
Thanks 0
Love this 5
Oh no 0
Photo of Stacey S.
129
113
21

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Deb S.
17
112
274

14 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Colin S.
120
29
10

10 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Nancy C.
31
51
32

11 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

Ask the Community - Deschutes River State Recreation Area

Review Highlights - Deschutes River State Recreation Area

I will mention that the train does go by there, but I didn't think it was very loud at all and didn't seem to go by that often as others have commented on.

Mentioned in 3 reviews

Read more highlights

Verify this business for free

Get access to customer & competitor insights.

Verify this business

Horsethief Lake State Park - Simply gorgeous

Horsethief Lake State Park

4.4(12 reviews)
9.5 mi

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.

Photos
Horsethief Lake State Park - Placards describe each Petroglyph

Placards describe each Petroglyph

Horsethief Lake State Park - Petroglyph

Petroglyph

Horsethief Lake State Park - Horsethief Butte - from the top

See all

Horsethief Butte - from the top

Hood River Waterfront Park

Hood River Waterfront Park

4.5(43 reviews)
30.0 mi

Visiting Hood River is a must on its own!! But you cannot…read morebeat what you're going to get at the waterfront park !! A small cove cut out for the beach , kite surfing or watching, beautiful water views, Mt. hood, beautiful people watching, playgrounds, it's all here and worth the visit! A couple of things to keep in mind, the bathrooms are very clean and accessible spread throughout . They have a lifejacket lender station !!! It was so nice to be able to let the kids just hop in the water and swim freely! (because I sure as heck I'm not gonna pack lifejackets on my trip who does that?!) Within walking distance, there are so many food options. We always visit Solstice (see that review if you're looking for some great pizza in town).

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.

Photos
Hood River Waterfront Park - Park

Park

Hood River Waterfront Park - Beautiful park

Beautiful park

Hood River Waterfront Park

See all

White River Falls State Park - Old Hydro Building

White River Falls State Park

4.5(8 reviews)
28.7 mi

Love this State Park!…read more This place is a little gem amongst state parks. It's kind of in the middle of nowhere...wouldn't have come upon it most likely had the hubby not seen note of it on a waterfall blog. First impression, the grounds are pristine. Perfectly manicured grasses scattered with picnic tables. Restrooms...extremely clean. There's a decent amount of parking near the restrooms/upper falls, as well as some right off the highway. A genius idea really, they made a now ghostly, obsolete hydroelectric power plant into a park. You can hear the upper falls as soon as you pull up, running hard and fast right now! You get great views from the overlook at the end of the lot, which is very accessible to most anyone. From there you can take the trail down to peek into the rusty, old ruins of the plant, as well as further down to another smaller, but still impressive falls. Heads up though, the trail down is NOT accessible to everyone. The footing is loose and fairly steep. BUT, if you can at least get down to the overlook above the old building do it...the view of the upper falls from that point is extraordinary. Really a gorgeous falls, much more than I expected. Just a great park, I highly recommend a visit to this one!

Spectacular falls, gorgeous views, interesting hiking trail to the bottom. Had to climb over logs…read moreand rocks to get to the bowl of the lower falls. Looks like something out of the movies! So amazing and can't believe it took me so long to get here! Fun ruins to explore as well!

Photos
White River Falls State Park - Old Hydro Building

Old Hydro Building

White River Falls State Park - Old Hydro Building

Old Hydro Building

White River Falls State Park - The water is seriously beautiful.

See all

The water is seriously beautiful.

Deschutes River State Recreation Area - parks - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...