Tiny White Salmon, which sits on a bluff with commanding views of the Columbia River as well as the town of Hood River, is a good base for exploring the Washington side of the eastern end of the Gorge. A few noteworthy restaurants and shops in the village center cater to hikers, kayakers, and wine- and beer-tasting aficionados checking out this quieter but similar scenic counterpart to Hood River. Several first-rate wineries have opened in the rural communities just west and east of White Salmon along Highway 14.
The Coyote Wall trail, accessed about 5 miles east of town off Highway 14 at Courtney Road, affords hikers unobstructed views of the Columbia River and the surrounding mountains, including Mt. Hood. The trail leads from a disused section of roadway up a gradual slope, through tall grass and wildflower meadows, from sea level to an elevation of 1,900 feet. You can descend the way you came up or by looping back down through an intriguing valley of basalt rock formations—the full round-trip is about 8 miles, but you could hike part of the way up the trail and back, taking in the impressive vistas, in less than an hour. Drive north of town about 20 miles on Highway 141 to reach secluded Trout Lake, the access point for hiking and recreation in and around 12,281-foot Mt. Adams, which is visible from many points in the Gorge.
