Skamania Lodge

We stayed at Skamania Lodge two years ago and absolutely loved our experience, which is why we were so excited to return and bring our son this time. Unfortunately, this stay was extremely disappointing compared to our previous visit. The highlights of the trip were definitely the outdoor activities. Our son loved the aerial course, zip lining, and disc golf, and those experiences were the best part of the stay. The surrounding scenery and grounds are still beautiful. However, the actual lodge and room experience fell far below expectations, especially for the price. As soon as we entered our room, there was a very strong odor that immediately made it obvious it was a pet-friendly room. We stayed in a pet-friendly room during our last visit as well and had zero issues, so this felt very different. The carpets honestly seemed like they need to be replaced. Overall, the lodge itself felt outdated, worn down, and in need of a refresh. The room also did not feel thoroughly cleaned. I found someone else’s insulin pen left on the floor near the bed, which was honestly alarming and made us question the level of housekeeping and sanitation. The beds and pillows were also very uncomfortable, and we found ourselves not even wanting to spend time in the room because it felt dirty and neglected. The dining experience was another major disappointment. We ate at the River restaurant and the food quality was surprisingly poor. I ordered the smash burger and it was so dry that I would honestly rather eat McDonald’s. We also noticed that the menus across the lodge restaurants were nearly identical, making the dining options feel repetitive and limited. Two years ago we loved the food, so this was a huge contrast from the experience we remembered. Overall, this stay did not feel like a resort or lodge-level experience. Honestly, it felt below the standards of even a basic hotel stay, which is unfortunate considering the cost and reputation of Skamania Lodge. We were genuinely excited to come back because of how much we enjoyed our first visit, so this experience was very disappointing.

A beautifully situated property halfway between Portland and Hood River, with the Columbia River view as its undeniable centerpiece. The outdoor offering is strong — a Par 3 golf course, biking and running trails, and easy access to popular area hikes make it a genuinely active getaway. Where the property falls short is in the basics. The interiors feel dated — carpets that haven't seen an update in decades, insufficient charging outlets, and spotty WiFi are friction points that a modern traveler shouldn't have to work around. The restaurant also needs attention: the culinary quality doesn't match the setting, and vegetarian guests in particular are underserved. With some targeted investment in rooms and F&B, this could easily be a 5-star property. Right now, it's a 4-star view in a 2-star room.

The food at the Cascade dining room was very average and the bar with the outside seating did not open till 2pm even on a holiday weekend. The golf course is a bit of a joke from what it once was. It is now a 9 hole par three course with synthetic greens that are very fast and are starting to show their age with ripples. The hotel was very accommodating moving us to a nicer room after the first night in which one of our beds was half collapsing with busted springs in the mattress. The back lawn and Adirondack chairs are amazing. We had a great time but I would not say it was exceptional compared to the price.

We had a very nice weekend stay for a wedding. Scenery and backdrop is breathtaking. Staff did a very good job on a busy holiday weekend. Resort and room were very clean. If I could change two things, the food would be better and there would be daily housekeeping. We struggled with that a bit.

This is a beautiful location, but unfortunately the experience did not match the price point. The rooms were not ready at the scheduled check-in time, and we ended up waiting over an hour before being able to access them. For a property charging premium rates, that was disappointing from the start. The spa was by far the worst part of the trip, and I would strongly recommend avoiding spa services here. A 90-minute massage costs around $280, yet the experience felt rushed and unprofessional. The staff overall came across as mediocre and inattentive, especially considering the luxury pricing throughout the resort. The scenery and location are stunning, but the service and value simply do not justify the cost.