Stevenson, Washington, is located along the beautiful Columbia River Gorge in Skamania County just five miles west of the charming, tiny village of Carson, Washington.
About
Stevenson and Carson are popular for visitors to the gorge. From here you can enjoy a variety of outdoor spots including hiking, windsurfing, fishing, and more. There are plenty of options for a quick lunch or leisurely dinner. Five miles east is the woodsy community of Carson, Washington, the gateway to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Mount St. Helens.
Weather and Getting There
Stevenson is a 3.5-hour drive from Seattle down I-5 south and across scenic WA-14 east. Summers in the area are dry and warm with highs close to 80 degrees and evening lows around 60. Winter brings colder temperatures with daytime highs in the 40s and lows in the 30s.
Dining
The local area has several wineries and microbreweries open to visitors. Walking Man Brewery is located in downtown Stevenson. This popular alehouse has an expansive outdoor patio…the perfect spot to relax after a long day outdoors. Backwoods Brewing is located just a few miles away in Carson, WA. This rustic alehouse features a great amber ale year around. They also offer a Stout, an IPA, a Wheat beer and a number of fruit beers. The offerings change based on season.
Washington and Oregon are known for producing fine wines. AniChe Cellars, Cor Cellars and Domaine Poullion all produce red and white wines. These are artisan wine producers, each unique and worth a visit.
There are several locally owned eateries in Stevenson worth a stop. Big River Grill is a typical American Road House. Stop by for American fare and craft brews in a casual atmosphere. In town you can find a variety of foods from tacos to pizza, burgers to grilled fresh salmon.
Festivals & Events
- Blossom Festival
- Hood River Valley Harvest Fest
- Hood River Hops Fest
- Logtober Fest
- Gorge Blues & Brews Festival
Outdoors
This area is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Gifford Pinchot National Forest offers a variety of experiences. Take the easy 1/4-mile hike to Panther Creek Falls or hike the 2-mile trail to Falls Creek Falls.
Looking for caves? Explore the lava tube caves in Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Ape Caves were formed thousands of years ago by molten lava flows. Here you can explore two tubes, so give yourself plenty of time to investigate. The Cheese Caves are located in Gifford National Forest close to Trout Lake. These lava tubes were once used as natural refrigeration by the Guler Cheese Company. Today you can descend a ladder into the tube and see remnants of their cheese storage.
Explore the forest trails and view the landscape surrounding Mt. St Helens National Volcanic Monument. See how nature has reclaimed the volcanic destruction created less than fifty years ago. The “Winds of Change” trail is an easy paved path and gives you a close up look at how green the landscape has become after being buried in ash.
Visit Maryhill State Park. This 99-acre park sits on the Columbia River and is the perfect spot for water sports during the summer months. Paddle boarding, windsurfing and swimming are popular here. Hiking and biking are also popular here.
Things to Do
- Hiking
- Waterfalls
- Tasting at local wineries, cideries,and breweries
- Self-guided tour of local fruit stands at the Hood River Fruit Loop
- Whitewater rafting
- Visit local museums including MaryHill Museum
Learn more about what to do in our 5-day itinerary for the Columbia Gorge here.
