Viento State Park

Park Overview

Viento is Spanish for wind — an apt name for a park in the blustery Columbia River Gorge. But this is just a happy coincidence. Viento (pronounced vee-EN-toe) actually comes from the first letters of three railroad tycoons— Villard, Endicott, and Tollman—who built the first railroad in the area.

Where a railroad station once stood is now the home of one of the best Gorge campgrounds, conveniently located just 8 miles west of Hood River.

Viento’s day-use area has easy access to the Columbia River and some thrilling windsurfing. There's a peaceful picnic next to a babbling creek. A day-use parking permit is required for non-campers.

Seasonal Camping

With spacious, well-shaded campsites located on both sides of I-84, Viento almost always has a spot available when other campgrounds in the area are full.

Reservation sites

Campground is accepting reservations up to 6 months in advance at oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com. 

• 56 electrical sites with water
• 5 tent sites with water nearby
• Flush toilets and hot showers
• Universal Access: One reservable campsite accessible to campers with disabilities.

First-come-first served sites

• 5 drive-in tent sites (no RVs), including 2 ADA accessible sites
• 5 hiker/biker sites, including 1 ADA accessible site
• Flush toilets and hot showers
• Universal Access: 2 drive-in ADA sites and 1 hiker/biker ADA site with taller campfire rings, extensions on picnic tables for wheelchairs and accessible slope and gravel area for wheelchairs

Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail

Viento State Park is also a trailhead for a universally accessible 5.6-mile section of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. From the parking area on the south side of I-84, hikers and bikers will head west up a gradual climb through thick fir forests and lush undergrowth. Moss often carpets portions of the paved trail. When the forest breaks, look for views across the Columbia River into Washington.  After a mile, the trail passes Starvation Creek State Park featuring an accessible view of the park’s namesake falls, picnic tables, and an accessible restroom.

The trail continues west 4.6 miles to Wyeth Campground and trailhead, passing Cabin Creek Falls, Hole-in-the-Wall Falls and Lancaster Falls before climbing to an impressive view of the Gorge. From here, the visitors cross into the forested "Mossy Road," a section of the historic highway that became draped in moss after the highway was abandoned. The final section crosses a talus slope at Shellrock Mountain, where fences offer protection from falling rocks.

Near Hole-in-the Wall Falls, hikers will find trailheads for Mount Defiance Trail (#413) and Starvation Ridge Trail (#414).

For trail information, see the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail bicycle and hiking map.

A day-use parking permit is not required at the trailhead parking lot.

Know Before You Go

• Viento is next to I-84 and a working railroad line and crossing. Visitors can expect to hear train horns throughout the day and night.
• Dogs are allowed in the park and on the state trail, but must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times.
• E-bikes are allowed on the state trail. The following devices are not allowed: electric scooters, mountain boards, electric unicycles, and other similar devices. For more information, please call Viento State Park at 541-374-8811.

Resources

• Friends of the Columbia Gorge
• US Forest Service
• visitcolumbiarivergorge.com
• readysetgorge.com