Trail Runner magazine names Hood River among top trail towns

Trail Runner crowns Hood River as one of eight “Mountain Meccas” profiled in “Top Trail Towns: 8 Great Mountain Towns” and written by Meghan Hicks and Eric Senseman. The piece is subtitled “In the Shadows of Giants Lie Eight Great Trail Towns” and points to kiting, windsurfing, running, hiking, kayaking, and mountain biking resources. Other meccas include Jackson, Wyo., (“Wild Country”) and Bishop, Calif., (“A Big Backyard”). Also featured are Black Mountain, N.C.; Juneau, Alaska; La Malbaie, Quebec; and Lake Placid, N.Y.

Hood River is described as sitting “in the middle of the massive Columbia River Gorge," adding that Hood River is “spitting distance” from Mount Hood, and repeats the mythic claim that the Gorge “has been carved to a depth of 4,000 feet in places.” (That’s if you go up to nearby Mt. Defiance, elev. 4,783. The actual cliffs overlooking the river tower 200 to 800 feet.)

A “Trip Planning” sidebar states that “wine and beer enthusiasts can try some of the many vineyards and breweries that pepper the countryside.” The wineries certainly do, but only two of the county’s eight breweries are located in unincorporated areas, and that includes Solera in the heart of the village of Parkdale.

The Hood River article highlights Post Canyon and Mount Defiance trails, and the Gorge Waterfalls 100K and 50K, Mt. Hood 50-Mile and 50K, and Post Canyon 50K and Half-Marathon. The article relies on the comments of Bend resident and “trail all-star” Max King for most of its insight, but also quotes Brian Shortt of Shortt Supply: “There are two mountains, three national forests, five rivers and 40-plus annual running events within a 60-mile drive of Hood River.”

Interviewed Monday, Shortt noted that each year there are an estimated 50 competitive runs in the Gorge, and the magazine coverage will draw even more participants to those events.

“All the trail runners love the kind of events we put on around here,” he said. “They’re destination events, and it just adds to the mix of recreation that this area has to offer.”

“We have this very athletic, robust energetic visitor who comes here, and to be put on the national stage is big for us,” Shortt said.