For about 80 miles between Portland and The Dalles, Oregon, the Columbia River snakes by the Cascade Mountains previous rocky cliffs, towering spires and dashing waterfalls to kind a spectacular river canyon. The Columbia River Gorge, which marks the border between Oregon and Washington, is claimed by each states as a pure surprise. It boasts limitless outside recreation alternatives, to not point out fruit choosing, arts and tradition, and breweries and wineries galore.
Whereas the realm has at all times been a simple day journey from Portland, it has lacked the lodging choices for points-savvy vacationers to unlock multiday journeys — till now. On the finish of Might, Underneath Canvas Columbia River Gorge grew to become the thirteenth property within the glamping model’s portfolio, which joined World of Hyatt last summer. Its proximity to the Gorge landed it on TPG’s most exciting hotel openings of 2025.
Whether or not you are a camper on the lookout for a extra comfy outside keep or a resort fanatic making an attempt one thing new, this inside have a look at the property will assist set your expectations for an pleasurable keep.
First impressions
As you exit Interstate Freeway 84 and start to wind your manner into the mountains, it turns into a authentic problem to maintain your eyes on the street and as a substitute of on the spectacular views of Mount Hood and, later, Mount Adams. Fortunately, views are in no brief provide when you arrive at Underneath Canvas. As you ascend the gravel street main as much as the property, you will first glimpse its tents from above, nestled right into a valley beneath Hood’s hovering peak.
When you drive down into camp, you will seize a short-term parking spot and enter an inviting check-in tent full with upscale furnishings, board video games for borrowing and a curated assortment of meals, drinks and merchandise. Steps away from check-in are the property’s frequent areas, which embody a big hearth pit with Adirondack chairs in addition to indoor and outside lounge areas. I arrived simply after sundown to witness friends sharing bottles of wine, households roasting marshmallows collectively and children enjoying with new associates beneath the alpenglow on Mount Hood.
After listening to about potential wildlife encounters — bears and snake sightings are potential, although unlikely — you will signal a waiver; you will additionally give any meals you might have introduced with you to the check-in workforce to keep away from critter encounters in your tent. (Don’t be concerned, the employees refrigerates it and can seize it for you any time you need.)
When check-in is full, you will transfer your automotive as much as the primary lot and certain enlist the assistance of a employees member and golf cart to move your luggage, because the stroll will be pretty far relying in your tent location.
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The tents
Underneath Canvas affords tent sorts to go well with varied celebration sizes, together with tents particularly outfitted for youths. They vary from two-person Deluxe tents to the Mount Hood Suite, which joins two tents by a personal deck and sleeps as much as six adults.
I stayed in a Stargazer tent, which incorporates a strip of skylight above the mattress, ideally positioned to provide you a view of the cosmos if you’re mendacity down. Whereas it is solely meant for 2 adults, the tent was extraordinarily spacious and comfortably match me, my husband, our canine and my 9-month-old daughter (plus her pack-and-play crib and varied different gear).
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Outdoors the tent, there was a small deck and two chairs good for studying or admiring the view. There was additionally a lantern hanging exterior the doorway that indifferent so you possibly can use it to navigate after darkish. Simply contained in the door flaps — which pulled again for extra airflow — was an outdoorsy, stylish dwelling space with two extra butterfly chairs, a woven ottoman and a cowhide rug.
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The sleeping house featured a king-size mattress with luxe linens flanked by nightstands sporting lanterns, followers and USB battery packs for charging. On the foot of the mattress was a large storage chest, and there was a tray full with eye masks, towels and earplugs ready for me on the mattress once I arrived.
The icing on the cake was a propane hearth. Different Underneath Canvas properties have wood-burning fireplaces, however right here, I had solely to flip a change to get the fireplace going. The cool nighttime temperatures have been good for it.
On the opposite aspect of a sliding wood barn door was the ensuite toilet, which included a rest room, sink and bathe. All three had nice water stress, and the sink and bathe have been fast to warmth up. Contained in the bathe have been natural bathtub merchandise in pump bottles.
Total, I discovered the tent fastidiously thought of, well-appointed and cozy. I beloved that it had every thing I wanted however nothing superfluous. Do not sleep on the attention masks and earplugs: The solar rises very early throughout peak summer season, given the northern latitude, and the tents, whereas non-public, are shut sufficient to listen to loud night breathing neighbors and crying infants.
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Eating at Underneath Canvas Columbia River Gorge
The principle eating possibility on the property is Embers, a cafe-style idea with seasonal choices for breakfast and dinner. Given the property’s distant setting, I discovered each the choice and high quality at Embers spectacular; the menu spans starters, sides, entrees, youngsters’ choices and desserts.
For dinner, I beloved the PNW rice bowl with marinated inexperienced chickpeas and black garlic shoyu ($18), and my husband loved the wild king salmon ($32). In the meantime, the trio of dips and pita ($19) was successful with my 9-month-old daughter, who significantly favored the smoky candy potato hummus.
Breakfast incorporates a full menu of espresso drinks and classics like avocado toast ($16), brown butter pancakes ($16) and breakfast sandwiches ($16). Bottomless espresso and tea from Portland-based Smith Teamaker are included. Notice that Globalists don’t get complimentary breakfast at Underneath Canvas or different Mr & Mrs Smith lodges.
Embers isn’t open for lunch, as friends are usually out and about throughout the center of the day. Your finest wager is to move again down towards the river to the charming city of White Salmon, the place White Salmon Baking Co. is a private favourite for sandwiches. Throughout the river on the Oregon aspect, Hood River is a bigger metropolis with a number of eating places, breweries and meals vehicles to select from.
Away from the primary eating space, Underneath Canvas affords complimentary nightly s’mores in addition to an array of snacks for buy close to check-in — suppose potato chips ($3), path combine ($10), cheese sticks ($2) and brownies ($5).
Whereas the property does not but have its license to promote alcohol, it anticipates with the ability to promote alcohol someday this season. At the moment, a curated collection of craft beer, wine and spirits will probably be obtainable to buy, with an emphasis on regional and native producers. Within the meantime, nonalcoholic beer is offered, and friends are free to herald alcohol they’ve bought elsewhere.
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Facilities and repair
- Service: I discovered the service pleasant and useful all through my keep. Employees members have been at all times fast to supply a hand or a golf cart experience, and I beloved chatting with them.
- Expertise coordinator: An on-site expertise coordinator is offered to assist friends plan native actions like rafting, biking and canyoneering.
- Programming: Visitors can entry a calendar of each day actions, with choices starting from reside music to meditation to arts and crafts initiatives.
- Actions: Underneath Canvas has video games, a telescope and a guitar for visitor use.
- Fireplace pit: The property has a communal hearth pit the place you may make complimentary s’mores nightly. I beloved the way in which this shared amenity fostered dialog amongst friends.
- Personal bogs: Along with the in-tent bogs, there are a number of single-stall bogs with retailers you possibly can use to plug in a hair dryer, for instance.
- Pets: The property welcomes canine for $35 per canine per night time. In keeping with the Underneath Canvas web site, this payment features a bandana, although we weren’t supplied one. Whereas all canine are completely different, my princess of a pitbull undoubtedly most popular the massive tent and actual mattress to our typical tenting setup.
- EV charging: I took benefit of the primary parking zone’s Rivian Waypoints electrical automobile charging stations, that are suitable with any EV.
- Connectivity: There is no such thing as a visitor Wi-Fi on the property, which gives an excellent alternative to disconnect and immerse your self in nature. Nevertheless, when you want it, I did discover I had sufficient reception to name, textual content and do some easy web searches on my cellphone.
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Household friendliness
Underneath Canvas is a good place for a household journey, catering to youngsters of all ages. The communal areas provide plenty of house for youths to run round and play video games, and the property gives particular tents particularly outfitted for youths. It additionally affords youngsters’ menus, family-friendly programming and no-cost, pack-and-play cribs for infants.
Nevertheless, there are a few issues to bear in mind when you’re bringing youthful kids. Lots of the property’s facilities are shared amongst friends close to the camp’s entrance, which means adults supervising kids cannot take pleasure in them after their youngsters fall asleep. It is a completely different expertise from staying at a campsite, for instance, which might usually have a person hearth pit and eating desk exterior every tent.
The tents can even get extremely popular throughout the day, and whereas temperatures should not pose an issue for these out and about having fun with the Gorge, I can see them making issues difficult for households with kids who must nap.
Location and logistics
Regardless of its Washington deal with, the best option to get to Underneath Canvas Columbia River Gorge is to fly into Portland Worldwide Airport (PDX) and drive. The roughly 77-mile journey takes about an hour and a half to finish, and far of that’s spent on a wide ranging stretch of I-84 that follows the Columbia River.
Whereas it is potential to make use of a ride-hailing service to journey from the airport, I do not advocate it, as you will want a automotive when you arrive. For these seeking to discover the Gorge as a part of a broader Pacific Northwest street journey, Underneath Canvas is about three hours from Bend, Oregon, and 4 and a half hours from Seattle.
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What it prices to remain at Underneath Canvas Columbia River Gorge and tips on how to guide
Underneath Canvas is a part of Hyatt’s Mr & Mrs Smith assortment, which means you possibly can earn or redeem World of Hyatt factors when reserving your keep. Hyatt costs Mr & Mrs Smith awards dynamically, so you will see costs and factors fluctuate all through the season, which works till late October and resumes in late April. By way of the top of the season, I noticed base Deluxe tents for as few as $252 or 18,125 factors, however it can save you on that money charge with a 20% “Secret Season” promo occurring for dates this fall.
When reserving Underneath Canvas Columbia River Gorge, you will wish to use one of many credit cards that earn the most points for Hyatt stays, in addition to one which probably affords computerized World of Hyatt elite status for value-added advantages. These embody:
Whereas sure World of Hyatt member advantages like late checkout and complimentary bottled water will not be obtainable at Mr & Mrs Smith places, friends with elite standing can earn nights and bonus factors at Underneath Canvas as they usually would, and Globalist members are eligible for tent upgrades at check-in if obtainable.
Accessibility
An Underneath Canvas illustration shared with TPG that every Underneath Canvas location affords accessible tents, parking choices, bogs and foyer tents; Columbia River Gorge isn’t any exception. We advocate reaching out to the property straight to verify particulars about accessibility options on-site.
Moreover, remember the fact that the property’s roads and paths are primarily dust or gravel, which can be difficult for friends with restricted mobility, particularly throughout inclement climate.
Backside line
Underneath Canvas is a good addition to the Columbia River Gorge, significantly for factors vacationers who now have an choice to earn and burn with World of Hyatt whereas making the most of all the realm has to supply. You could not ask for a greater location or views, and all kinds of programming, meals and facilities make it a enjoyable place to remain for friends of all ages. I am going to undoubtedly be returning.
When you’re used to tenting, you will love luxurious touches just like the in-room bathe, gasoline hearth and actual bedding. When you’re not, it is vital to do not forget that Underneath Canvas isn’t your typical resort: On the finish of the day, you are still sleeping in nature, and you will be doubtlessly topic to noise, gentle, critters, warmth and air high quality points. Whereas the employees does its finest to mitigate these components, you will have a significantly better time when you regulate your expectations accordingly.
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