Beneath Canvas Columbia River Gorge evaluation

For about 80 miles between Portland and The Dalles, Oregon, the Columbia River snakes via the Cascade Mountains previous rocky cliffs, towering spires and dashing 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 limitless outside recreation alternatives, to not point out fruit choosing, arts and tradition, and breweries and wineries galore.

Whereas the realm 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 Might, Beneath Canvas Columbia River Gorge grew to become the thirteenth property within the glamping model’s portfolio, which joined World of Hyatt final summer season. 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 outside keep or a resort fanatic attempting one thing new, this inside have a look at the property will assist set your expectations for an gratifying keep.

First impressions

As you exit Interstate Freeway 84 and start to wind your manner into the mountains, it turns into a reputable 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 Beneath 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 frequent areas, which embrace 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 taking part in with new buddies 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 automotive as much as the primary lot and certain enlist the assistance of a employees member and golf cart to move your baggage, because the stroll might be pretty far relying in your tent location.

The tents

Beneath Canvas gives tent sorts to go well with numerous social gathering sizes, together with tents particularly outfitted for teenagers. 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 contains a strip of skylight above the mattress, ideally positioned to present 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).

Exterior the tent, there was a small deck and two chairs good for studying or admiring the view. There was additionally a lantern hanging outdoors the doorway that indifferent so you may 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.

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 Beneath Canvas properties have wood-burning fireplaces, however right here, I had solely to flip a swap to get the hearth going. The cool nighttime temperatures had been good for it.

On the opposite facet 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 comfy. I cherished 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 season, given the northern latitude, and the tents, whereas non-public, are shut sufficient to listen to loud night breathing neighbors and crying infants.

Eating at Beneath Canvas Columbia River Gorge

The primary 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 cherished 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 notably appreciated the smoky candy potato hummus.

Breakfast contains 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. Word that Globalists don’t get complimentary breakfast at Beneath Canvas or different Mr & Mrs Smith accommodations.

Embers isn’t open for lunch, as friends are sometimes out and about through 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 facet, 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, Beneath Canvas gives 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 having the ability to promote alcohol someday this season. At the moment, a curated number 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 friends are free to usher in alcohol they’ve bought elsewhere.

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 cherished chatting with them.
• Expertise coordinator: An on-site expertise coordinator is accessible to assist friends plan native actions like rafting, biking and canyoneering.
• Programming: Friends can entry a calendar of every day actions, with choices starting from reside music to meditation to arts and crafts tasks.
• Actions: Beneath 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 cherished the best way this shared amenity fostered dialog amongst friends.
• Non-public bogs: Along with the in-tent bogs, there are a couple of single-stall bogs with shops you may use to plug in a hair dryer, for instance.
• Pets: The property welcomes canines for $35 per canine per evening. In keeping with the Beneath 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 undoubtedly most popular the big tent and actual mattress to our typical tenting setup.
• EV charging: I took benefit of the primary car parking zone’s Rivian Waypoints electrical automobile charging stations, that are suitable with any EV.
• Connectivity: There isn’t any visitor Wi-Fi on the property, which offers an excellent alternative to disconnect and immerse your self in nature. Nevertheless, in the event you want it, I did discover I had sufficient reception to name, textual content and do some easy web searches on my cellphone.

Household friendliness

Beneath Canvas is a good place for a household journey, catering to youngsters of all ages. The communal areas provide numerous area for teenagers to run round and play video games, and the property offers particular tents particularly outfitted for teenagers. It additionally gives youngsters’ menus, family-friendly programming and no-cost, pack-and-play cribs for infants.

Nevertheless, there are a few issues to remember in the event you’re bringing youthful youngsters. Most of the property’s facilities are shared amongst friends close to the camp’s entrance, that means adults supervising youngsters cannot get pleasure from them after their youngsters fall asleep. It is a completely different expertise from staying at a campsite, for instance, which might sometimes have a person hearth pit and eating desk outdoors every tent.

The tents also can get very popular through 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 must nap.

Location and logistics

Regardless of its Washington tackle, the simplest method to get to Beneath 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 suggest it, as you may want a automotive when you arrive. For these trying to discover the Gorge as a part of a broader Pacific Northwest highway journey, Beneath Canvas is about three hours from Bend, Oregon, and 4 and a half hours from Seattle.

What it prices to remain at Beneath Canvas Columbia River Gorge and the right way to guide

Beneath Canvas is a part of Hyatt’s Mr & Mrs Smith assortment, that 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 works till late October and resumes in late April. Via 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 fee with a 20% “Secret Season” promo taking place for dates this fall.

When reserving Beneath Canvas Columbia River Gorge, you may need to use one of many bank cards that earn essentially the most factors for Hyatt stays, in addition to one which presumably gives 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 usually are not accessible at Mr & Mrs Smith places, friends with elite standing can earn nights and bonus factors at Beneath Canvas as they sometimes would, and Globalist members are eligible for tent upgrades at check-in if accessible.

Accessibility

An Beneath Canvas consultant shared with TPG that every Beneath Canvas location gives accessible tents, parking choices, bogs and foyer tents; Columbia River Gorge is not any exception. We suggest reaching out to the property immediately to verify particulars about accessibility options on-site.

Moreover, needless to say 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

Beneath Canvas is a good addition to the Columbia River Gorge, notably for factors vacationers who now have an choice to earn and burn with World of Hyatt whereas profiting from 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 will undoubtedly be returning.

In the event you’re used to tenting, you may love luxurious touches just like the in-room bathe, fuel fire and actual bedding. In the event you’re not, it is necessary to do not forget that Beneath Canvas isn’t your typical lodge: On the finish of the day, you are still sleeping in nature, and you will be probably topic to noise, mild, critters, warmth and air high quality points. Whereas the employees does its greatest to mitigate these parts, you may have a significantly better time in the event you modify your expectations accordingly.

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