For about 80 miles between Portland and The Dalles, Oregon, the Columbia River snakes by way 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 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 searching for a extra comfy out of doors keep or a resort fanatic making an attempt one thing new, this inside take 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 manner into the mountains, it turns into a authentic problem to maintain your eyes on the street and as an alternative 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 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 frequent areas, which embody a big fireplace pit with Adirondack chairs in addition to indoor and out of doors lounge areas. I arrived simply after sundown to witness company sharing bottles of wine, households roasting marshmallows collectively and youngsters enjoying with new associates beneath the alpenglow on Mount Hood.
After listening to about potential wildlife encounters — bears and snake sightings are doable, although unlikely — you may signal a waiver; you may additionally give any meals you could have introduced with you to the check-in group to keep away from critter encounters in your tent. (Don’t fret, the employees refrigerates it and can seize it for you any time you need.)
When check-in is full, you may transfer your automobile as much as the principle lot and certain enlist the assistance of a employees member and golf cart to move your luggage, because the stroll may be pretty far relying in your tent location.
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The tents
Underneath Canvas presents tent varieties to go well with numerous get together 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 encompasses 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 numerous different gear).
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Outdoors the tent, there was a small deck and two chairs excellent for studying or admiring the view. There was additionally a lantern hanging outdoors the doorway that indifferent so you possibly can use it to navigate after darkish. Simply contained in the door flaps — which pulled again for added 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 area 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 fire. Different Underneath Canvas properties have wood-burning fireplaces, however right here, I had solely to flip a swap to get the fireplace going. The cool nighttime temperatures had been excellent for it.
On the opposite aspect of a sliding picket barn door was the ensuite rest room, which included a rest room, sink and bathe. All three had nice water stress, and the sink and bathe had been fast to warmth up. Contained in the bathe had been natural bathtub merchandise in pump bottles.
Total, I discovered the tent rigorously thought-about, well-appointed and cozy. I beloved that it had every part 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 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 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, 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 preferred the smoky candy potato hummus.
Breakfast encompasses 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 will not be open for lunch, as company are sometimes out and about in the course of the center of the day. Your greatest wager is to go 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 vans to select from.
Away from the principle eating space, Underneath Canvas presents 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 would not but have its license to promote alcohol, it anticipates with the ability to promote alcohol someday this season. At the moment, a curated choice of craft beer, wine and spirits shall be obtainable to buy, with an emphasis on regional and native producers. Within the meantime, nonalcoholic beer is offered, and company are free to usher in 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 had been all the time fast to supply a hand or a golf cart journey, and I beloved chatting with them.
- Expertise coordinator: An on-site expertise coordinator is offered to assist company plan native actions like rafting, biking and canyoneering.
- Programming: Visitors can entry a calendar of each day actions, with choices starting from stay 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 fireplace pit the place you may make complimentary s’mores nightly. I beloved the way in which this shared amenity fostered dialog amongst company.
- Non-public loos: Along with the in-tent loos, there are just a few single-stall loos with retailers you possibly can use to plug in a hair dryer, for instance.
- Pets: The property welcomes canines for $35 per canine per night time. Based on the Underneath Canvas web site, this payment features a bandana, although we weren’t supplied one. Whereas all canines are totally 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 automobile charging stations, that are appropriate with any EV.
- Connectivity: There isn’t a visitor Wi-Fi on the property, which supplies an excellent alternative to disconnect and immerse your self in nature. Nevertheless, in case 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 superb place for a household journey, catering to youngsters of all ages. The communal areas supply numerous area for youths to run round and play video games, and the property supplies particular tents particularly outfitted for youths. It additionally presents youngsters’ menus, family-friendly programming and no-cost, pack-and-play cribs for infants.
Nevertheless, there are a few issues to remember in case you’re bringing youthful youngsters. Lots of the property’s facilities are shared amongst company close to the camp’s entrance, which means adults supervising youngsters cannot get pleasure from them after their youngsters fall asleep. It is a totally different expertise from staying at a campsite, for instance, which might sometimes have a person fireplace pit and eating desk outdoors every tent.
The tents also can get highly regarded in the course of 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 tackle, the best approach 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 doable to make use of a ride-hailing service to journey from the airport, I do not advocate it, as you may want a automobile 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 the right way to e-book
Underneath Canvas is a part of Hyatt’s Mr & Mrs Smith assortment, which means you may 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 fits 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 fee with a 20% “Secret Season” promo occurring for dates this fall.
When reserving Underneath Canvas Columbia River Gorge, you may wish to use one of many credit cards that earn the most points for Hyatt stays, in addition to one which presumably presents 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 aren’t obtainable at Mr & Mrs Smith places, company with elite standing can earn nights and bonus factors at Underneath Canvas as they sometimes 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 presents accessible tents, parking choices, loos and foyer tents; Columbia River Gorge isn’t any exception. We advocate reaching out to the property immediately to substantiate particulars about accessibility options on-site.
Moreover, understand that the property’s roads and paths are primarily filth or gravel, which can be difficult for company 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 company of all ages. I will positively be returning.
For those who’re used to tenting, you may love luxurious touches just like the in-room bathe, fuel fire and actual bedding. For those who’re not, it is necessary to do not forget that Underneath Canvas will not be 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 greatest to mitigate these parts, you may have a a lot better time in case you modify your expectations accordingly.
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