For about 80 miles between Portland and The Dalles, Oregon, the Columbia River snakes by means of the Cascade Mountains previous rocky cliffs, towering spires and speeding waterfalls to type a spectacular river canyon. The Columbia River Gorge, which marks the border between Oregon and Washington, is claimed by each states as a pure marvel. It boasts countless out of doors recreation alternatives, to not point out fruit selecting, arts and tradition, and breweries and wineries galore.
Whereas the world has all the time been a straightforward day journey from Portland, it has lacked the lodging choices for points-savvy vacationers to unlock multiday journeys — till now. On the finish of Could, Underneath Canvas Columbia River Gorge turned the thirteenth property within the glamping model’s portfolio, which joined World of Hyatt final summer time. Its proximity to the Gorge landed it on TPG’s most enjoyable lodge openings of 2025.
Whether or not you are a camper in search of a extra comfy out of doors keep or a resort fanatic attempting one thing new, this inside have a look at the property will assist set your expectations for an pleasing keep.
First impressions
As you exit Interstate Freeway 84 and start to wind your approach into the mountains, it turns into a respectable problem to maintain your eyes on the highway as an alternative of on the spectacular views of Mount Hood and, later, Mount Adams. Fortunately, views are in no quick provide when you arrive at Underneath Canvas. As you ascend the gravel highway main as much as the property, you may first glimpse its tents from above, nestled right into a valley beneath Hood’s hovering peak.
When you drive down into camp, you may 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 widespread areas, which embrace a big hearth pit with Adirondack chairs in addition to indoor and out of doors lounge areas. I arrived simply after sundown to witness visitors sharing bottles of wine, households roasting marshmallows collectively and youngsters taking part in with new buddies beneath the alpenglow on Mount Hood.
After listening to about potential wildlife encounters — bears and snake sightings are attainable, although unlikely — you may signal a waiver; you may additionally give any meals you’ll have introduced with you to the check-in group to keep away from critter encounters in your tent. (Don’t be concerned, the workers refrigerates it and can seize it for you any time you need.)
When check-in is full, you may transfer your automotive as much as the principle lot and certain enlist the assistance of a workers member and golf cart to move your luggage, because the stroll might be pretty far relying in your tent location.
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The tents
Underneath Canvas provides tent varieties 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 while 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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Exterior the tent, there was a small deck and two chairs excellent for studying or admiring the view. There was additionally a lantern hanging exterior the doorway that indifferent so you would use it to navigate after darkish. Simply contained in the door flaps — which pulled again for added airflow — was an outdoorsy, stylish residing 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 after 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 hearth going. The cool nighttime temperatures have been excellent for it.
On the opposite aspect of a sliding picket barn door was the ensuite toilet, which included a rest room, sink and bathe. All three had nice water strain, and the sink and bathe have been fast to warmth up. Contained in the bathe have been natural tub merchandise in pump bottles.
General, I discovered the tent fastidiously thought of, well-appointed and comfy. I liked that it had all the pieces I wanted however nothing superfluous. Do not sleep on the attention masks and earplugs: The solar rises very early throughout peak summer time, given the northern latitude, and the tents, whereas personal, 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 choice 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, children’ choices and desserts.
For dinner, I liked 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 preferred 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. Be aware that Globalists don’t get complimentary breakfast at Underneath Canvas or different Mr & Mrs Smith inns.
Embers shouldn’t be open for lunch, as visitors are usually out and about throughout the center of the day. Your greatest guess 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 principle eating space, Underneath Canvas provides complimentary nightly s’mores in addition to an array of snacks for buy close to check-in — assume 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 likely be accessible to buy, with an emphasis on regional and native producers. Within the meantime, nonalcoholic beer is accessible, and visitors 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. Workers members have been all the time fast to supply a hand or a golf cart trip, and I liked chatting with them.
- Expertise coordinator: An on-site expertise coordinator is accessible to assist visitors plan native actions like rafting, biking and canyoneering.
- Programming: Visitors can entry a calendar of each day actions, with choices starting from dwell music to meditation to arts and crafts tasks.
- 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 liked the way in which this shared amenity fostered dialog amongst visitors.
- Non-public loos: Along with the in-tent loos, there are a number of single-stall loos with shops you would use to plug in a hair dryer, for instance.
- Pets: The property welcomes canines for $35 per canine per evening. In keeping with the Underneath Canvas web site, this charge features a bandana, although we weren’t supplied one. Whereas all canines are completely different, my princess of a pitbull positively most popular the big tent and actual mattress to our typical tenting setup.
- EV charging: I took benefit of the principle car parking zone’s Rivian Waypoints electrical car charging stations, that are appropriate with any EV.
- Connectivity: There is no such thing as a visitor Wi-Fi on the property, which offers an ideal alternative to disconnect and immerse your self in nature. Nevertheless, if you happen to 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 superb place for a household journey, catering to children of all ages. The communal areas provide a number of house for youths to run round and play video games, and the property offers particular tents particularly outfitted for youths. It additionally provides children’ menus, family-friendly programming and no-cost, pack-and-play cribs for infants.
Nevertheless, there are a few issues to remember if you happen to’re bringing youthful youngsters. Lots of the property’s facilities are shared amongst visitors close to the camp’s entrance, which means adults supervising youngsters cannot get pleasure from them after their children 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 also can get highly regarded 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 youngsters who have to nap.
Location and logistics
Regardless of its Washington handle, the simplest method 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 attainable to make use of a ride-hailing service to journey from the airport, I do not suggest it, as you may want a automotive when you arrive. For these seeking to discover the Gorge as a part of a broader Pacific Northwest highway 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 the right way to ebook
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 may see costs and factors fluctuate all through the season, which matches till late October and resumes in late April. Via the tip 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 price with a 20% “Secret Season” promo taking place for dates this fall.
When reserving Underneath Canvas Columbia River Gorge, you may wish to use one of many bank cards that earn essentially the most factors for Hyatt stays, in addition to one which probably provides computerized World of Hyatt elite standing for value-added advantages. These embrace:
Whereas sure World of Hyatt member advantages like late checkout and complimentary bottled water should not accessible at Mr & Mrs Smith areas, visitors 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 accessible.
Accessibility
An Underneath Canvas consultant shared with TPG that every Underneath Canvas location provides accessible tents, parking choices, loos and foyer tents; Columbia River Gorge is not any exception. We suggest reaching out to the property straight to verify particulars about accessibility options on-site.
Moreover, take into account that the property’s roads and paths are primarily grime or gravel, which can be difficult for visitors with restricted mobility, particularly throughout inclement climate.
Backside line
Underneath Canvas is a superb addition to the Columbia River Gorge, significantly for factors vacationers who now have an choice to earn and burn with World of Hyatt whereas benefiting from all the world 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 visitors of all ages. I will positively be returning.
Should you’re used to tenting, you may love luxurious touches just like the in-room bathe, fuel hearth and actual bedding. Should you’re not, it is necessary to do not forget that Underneath Canvas shouldn’t be your typical lodge: On the finish of the day, you are still sleeping in nature, and you will be probably topic to noise, gentle, critters, warmth and air high quality points. Whereas the workers does its greatest to mitigate these components, you may have a significantly better time if you happen to regulate your expectations accordingly.
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