Catch a ride to Hood River Fall Festivals, Breweries, Cideries, & Wineries in the Gorge
Heading to Hood River’s Fall Festivals? Let Gorge Transit do the Driving.
If you are anything like us, you have probably wanted to go to Hood River or Cascade Locks or even White Salmon for the day, but didn’t want to drink and drive. With this Saturday’s Orchard & Ale Festival (formerly called the Hood River Hops Fest) there are a lot of reasons to want to head out to check out a brewery, winery, cidery, or hit the fruit loop, and you don’t even have to drive.
The Columbia Gorge Express offers a convenient, affordable ride from Portland’s Gateway Station directly to the Hood River waterfront, putting festival goers within easy reach of the festivities. It’s an especially appealing option for those planning to sample the festivals’ fresh-hopped beers and local ciders—so everyone can enjoy the day and leave the driving to Gorge Transit.
The Hood River Orchard and Ale Festival kicks things off Saturday, October 3, 2026, followed by the Hood River Valley Harvest Fest, October 9–11. With large crowds expected at both festivals, attendees can skip the traffic and parking hassles and let Gorge Transit be their designated driver.
Together, these fall favorites offer a family-friendly celebration of the bounty, flavors and vibrant spirit of the Columbia River Gorge, with fresh-hopped beers, local ciders, regional produce and plenty of seasonal fun. Longtime traditions for locals and visitors alike, both events are the perfect way to experience Hood River at its autumn best.
“Leave the driving to us and make the most of your festival day,” said Amy Schlappi, Executive Director at Columbia Area Transit. “The Columbia Gorge Express offers a convenient, scenic way to travel from the Portland/Vancouver area right to the heart of Hood River. Skip the traffic and parking, enjoy the views and let Gorge Transit be your designated driver.”
A one-way ride from Portland to Hood River is just $10, making it easy to leave the car behind and enjoy the Gorge. For those planning multiple Hood River or Gorge adventures over the coming year, the Gorge Transit Pass offers an affordable way to keep exploring. For just $40 for adults and $20 for youth under 17, the annual pass provides unlimited travel between the Portland/Vancouver area and communities throughout the Gorge on the Columbia Gorge Express. Passes can be downloaded to a smartphone through the Token Transit app or carried as a convenient wallet-sized physical pass—making year-round Gorge travel simple, flexible and stress-free.
Online schedules are available for all routes at gorgepass.com, and printed schedules are available at all transit provider offices, on buses, and at local Chambers of Commerce.
For more information about Gorge Pass visit gorgepass.com or call 833-3GO-PASS.
About CAT
CAT is a service of the Hood River County Transportation District, which provides public transportation services throughout Hood River County and is the operator of the Columbia Gorge Express to Portland, Troutdale, Multnomah Falls, and Cascade Locks seven days a week. Transit Services are funded with local, state, and federal funds. Learn more about CAT at www.rideCATbus.org or call (541) 386-4202.
About Gorge Transit
The Gorge TransLink Alliance seeks to enhance regional connectivity and develop a seamless network of transportation services within the Columbia River Gorge area while linking these services to the metropolitan cities of Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington. Learn more about Gorge Transit at www.gorgetransit.com or call (833)-3GO-PASS.