White Salmon

White Salmon and Bingen are great starting points for your Gorge Adventure!  World class white water rafting and water sports, phenomenal hiking trails, amazing roadways for bicycling and driving are all at your fingertips - and when you are done playing you can come have wonderful glass of wine or beer and a great meal at one of our local wineries or restaurants.  

The City of White Salmon is comfortably situated on a bluff overlooking the Columbia River Gorge at an elevation of 550 feet with neighboring City of Bingen situated just below on the Columbia River.

The City of White Salmon was incorporated in 1907 and takes its name from the nearby White Salmon River, which was named by the Lewis and Clark Expedition when they observed the river teeming with salmon whose color had turned white after spawning.  The City of Bingen was platted in 1892 by Theodor Suksdorf who named it after Bingen-on-the-Rhine in Germany.  It was later incorporated in 1924.

The views from the White Salmon are quite spectacular. From the bluff looking south one can see the river, the city of Hood River and its valley as well as the truly majestic Mt. Hood. Looking towards the northeast one can catch a glimpse of Washington’s Mt. Adams. The city also includes approximately 3/4 of a mile of Columbia River frontage, including access to the Hood River - White Salmon Bridge.

The phrase, “The Land Where The Sun Meets The Rain” is often used to describe the climate in and around White Salmon and Bingen. The cities are located on the dry side of the Cascade Mountain range in a transition zone between the marine-influenced climate west of the Cascades and the dry continental climate of the inner-mountain region.

The area's relatively mild climate and location combine to offer visitors and residents a recreational paradise.  Hiking, camping and biking opportunities are abundant throughout the Columbia River Gorge. Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Mt. Adams areas.  Fishing is world renowned in the Columbia River and the abundant lakes and tributaries flowing off the High Cascades.  Water enthusiasts can also sail, windsurf, kiteboard and paddle on the Columbia, or take a rafting or kayaking trip on the White Salmon, Little White Salmon or Klickitat Rivers.  The fun doesn't stop in winter, as cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling adventures are available on Mt. Adams and downhill and cross country are available at several resorts on nearby Mt. Hood.