First look: Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge brings points travel to one of the Pacific Northwest’s natural wonders

For about 80 miles between Portland and The Dalles, Oregon, the Columbia River snakes through the Cascade Mountains past rocky cliffs, towering spires and rushing waterfalls to form a spectacular river canyon. The Columbia River Gorge, which marks the border between Oregon and Washington, is claimed by both states as a natural wonder. It boasts endless outdoor recreation opportunities, not to mention fruit picking, arts and culture, and breweries and wineries galore.

While the area has always been an easy day trip from Portland, it has lacked the accommodation options for points-savvy travelers to unlock multiday trips — until now. At the end of May, Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge became the 13th property in the glamping brand’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 you’re a camper looking for a more comfortable outdoor stay or a resort enthusiast trying something new, this inside look at the property will help set your expectations for an enjoyable stay.

First impressions

As you exit Interstate Highway 84 and begin to wind your way into the mountains, it becomes a legitimate challenge to keep your eyes on the road instead of on the spectacular views of Mount Hood and, later, Mount Adams. Luckily, views are in no short supply once you arrive at Under Canvas. As you ascend the gravel road leading up to the property, you’ll first glimpse its tents from above, nestled into a valley beneath Hood’s soaring peak.

Once you drive down into camp, you’ll grab a short-term parking spot and enter an inviting check-in tent complete with upscale furniture, board games for borrowing and a curated collection of food, drinks and merchandise. Steps away from check-in are the property’s common spaces, which include a large fire pit with Adirondack chairs as well as indoor and outdoor lounge areas. I arrived just after sunset to witness guests sharing bottles of wine, families roasting marshmallows together and kids playing with new friends beneath the alpenglow on Mount Hood.

After hearing about potential wildlife encounters — bears and snake sightings are possible, though unlikely — you’ll sign a waiver; you’ll also give any food you may have brought with you to the check-in team to avoid critter encounters in your tent. (Don’t worry, the staff refrigerates it and will grab it for you any time you want.)

When check-in is complete, you’ll move your car up to the main lot and likely enlist the help of a staff member and golf cart to transport your bags, as the walk can be fairly far depending on your tent location.

The tents

Under Canvas offers tent types to suit various party sizes, including tents specifically outfitted for kids. They range from two-person Deluxe tents to the Mount Hood Suite, which joins two tents by a private deck and sleeps up to six adults.

I stayed in a Stargazer tent, which features a strip of skylight above the bed, ideally placed to give you a view of the cosmos when you’re lying down. While it’s only meant for two adults, the tent was extremely spacious and comfortably fit me, my husband, our dog and my 9-month-old daughter (plus her pack-and-play crib and various other gear).

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Outside the tent, there was a small deck and two chairs perfect for reading or admiring the view. There was also a lantern hanging outside the entrance that detached so you could use it to navigate after dark. Just inside the door flaps — which pulled back for additional airflow — was an outdoorsy, chic living area with two more butterfly chairs, a woven ottoman and a cowhide rug.

The sleeping space featured a king-size bed with luxe linens flanked by nightstands sporting lanterns, fans and USB battery packs for charging. At the foot of the bed was a wide storage chest, and there was a tray complete with eye masks, towels and earplugs waiting for me on the bed when I arrived.

The icing on the cake was a propane fireplace. Other Under Canvas properties have wood-burning fireplaces, but here, I had only to flip a switch to get the fire going. The cool nighttime temperatures were perfect for it.

On the other side of a sliding wooden barn door was the ensuite bathroom, which included a toilet, sink and shower. All three had great water pressure, and the sink and shower were quick to heat up. Inside the shower were organic bath products in pump bottles.

Overall, I found the tent carefully considered, well-appointed and comfortable. I loved that it had everything I needed but nothing superfluous. Don’t sleep on the eye masks and earplugs: The sun rises very early during peak summer, given the northern latitude, and the tents, while private, are close enough to hear snoring neighbors and crying babies.

Dining at Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge

The main dining option on the property is Embers, a cafe-style concept with seasonal options for breakfast and dinner. Given the property’s remote setting, I found both the selection and quality at Embers impressive; the menu spans starters, sides, entrees, kids’ options and desserts.

For dinner, I loved the PNW rice bowl with marinated green chickpeas and black garlic shoyu ($18), and my husband enjoyed the wild king salmon ($32). Meanwhile, the trio of dips and pita ($19) was a hit with my 9-month-old daughter, who particularly liked the smoky sweet potato hummus.

Breakfast features a full menu of espresso drinks and classics like avocado toast ($16), brown butter pancakes ($16) and breakfast sandwiches ($16). Bottomless coffee and tea from Portland-based Smith Teamaker are included. Note that Globalists do not get complimentary breakfast at Under Canvas or other Mr & Mrs Smith hotels.

Embers is not open for lunch, as guests are typically out and about during the middle of the day. Your best bet is to head back down toward the river to the charming town of White Salmon, where White Salmon Baking Co. is a personal favorite for sandwiches. Across the river on the Oregon side, Hood River is a larger city with several restaurants, breweries and food trucks to choose from.

Away from the main dining area, Under Canvas offers complimentary nightly s’mores as well as an array of snacks for purchase near check-in — think potato chips ($3), trail mix ($10), cheese sticks ($2) and brownies ($5).

While the property doesn’t yet have its license to sell alcohol, it anticipates being able to sell alcohol sometime this season. At that time, a curated selection of craft beer, wine and spirits will be available to purchase, with an emphasis on regional and local producers. In the meantime, nonalcoholic beer is available, and guests are free to bring in alcohol they’ve purchased elsewhere.

Amenities and service

• Service: I found the service friendly and helpful throughout my stay. Staff members were always quick to offer a hand or a golf cart ride, and I loved chatting with them.
• Experience coordinator: An on-site experience coordinator is available to help guests plan local activities like rafting, biking and canyoneering.
• Programming: Guests can access a calendar of daily activities, with options ranging from live music to meditation to arts and crafts projects.
• Activities: Under Canvas has games, a telescope and a guitar for guest use.
• Fire pit: The property has a communal fire pit where you can make complimentary s’mores nightly. I loved the way this shared amenity fostered conversation among guests.
• Private bathrooms: In addition to the in-tent bathrooms, there are a few single-stall bathrooms with outlets you could use to plug in a hair dryer, for example.
• Pets: The property welcomes dogs for $35 per dog per night. According to the Under Canvas website, this fee includes a bandana, though we were not offered one. While all dogs are different, my princess of a pitbull definitely preferred the large tent and real bed to our typical camping setup.
• EV charging: I took advantage of the main parking lot’s Rivian Waypoints electric vehicle charging stations, which are compatible with any EV.
• Connectivity: There is no guest Wi-Fi on the property, which provides a great opportunity to disconnect and immerse yourself in nature. However, if you need it, I did find I had enough reception to call, text and do some simple internet searches on my phone.

Family friendliness

Under Canvas is a great place for a family trip, catering to kids of all ages. The communal areas offer lots of space for kids to run around and play games, and the property provides special tents specifically outfitted for kids. It also offers kids’ menus, family-friendly programming and no-cost, pack-and-play cribs for babies.

However, there are a couple of things to keep in mind if you’re bringing younger children. Many of the property’s amenities are shared among guests near the camp’s entrance, meaning adults supervising children can’t enjoy them after their kids go to sleep. It’s a different experience from staying at a campsite, for example, which would typically have an individual fire pit and dining table outside each tent.

The tents can also get very hot during the day, and while temperatures shouldn’t pose a problem for those out and about enjoying the Gorge, I can see them making things tricky for families with children who need to nap.

Location and logistics

Despite its Washington address, the easiest way to get to Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge is to fly into Portland International Airport (PDX) and drive. The roughly 77-mile trip takes about an hour and a half to complete, and much of that is spent on a breathtaking stretch of I-84 that follows the Columbia River.

While it’s possible to use a ride-hailing service to travel from the airport, I don’t recommend it, as you’ll need a car once you arrive. For those looking to explore the Gorge as part of a broader Pacific Northwest road trip, Under Canvas is about three hours from Bend, Oregon, and four and a half hours from Seattle.

What it costs to stay at Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge and how to book

Under Canvas is part of Hyatt’s Mr & Mrs Smith collection, meaning you can earn or redeem World of Hyatt points when booking your stay. Hyatt prices Mr & Mrs Smith awards dynamically, so you’ll see prices and points fluctuate throughout the season, which goes until late October and resumes in late April. Through the end of the season, I spotted base Deluxe tents for as few as $252 or 18,125 points, but you can save on that cash rate with a 20% “Secret Season” promo happening for dates this fall.

When booking Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge, you’ll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for Hyatt stays, as well as one that possibly offers automatic World of Hyatt elite status for value-added benefits. These include:

While certain World of Hyatt member benefits like late checkout and complimentary bottled water are not available at Mr & Mrs Smith locations, guests with elite status can earn nights and bonus points at Under Canvas as they typically would, and Globalist members are eligible for tent upgrades at check-in if available.

Accessibility

An Under Canvas representative shared with TPG that each Under Canvas location offers accessible tents, parking options, bathrooms and lobby tents; Columbia River Gorge is no exception. We recommend reaching out to the property directly to confirm details about accessibility features on-site.

Additionally, keep in mind that the property’s roads and paths are primarily dirt or gravel, which may be challenging for guests with limited mobility, especially during inclement weather.

Bottom line

Under Canvas is a great addition to the Columbia River Gorge, particularly for points travelers who now have an option to earn and burn with World of Hyatt while taking advantage of all the area has to offer. You couldn’t ask for a better location or views, and a wide variety of programming, food and amenities make it a fun place to stay for guests of all ages. I’ll definitely be returning.

If you’re used to camping, you’ll love luxurious touches like the in-room shower, gas fireplace and real bedding. If you’re not, it’s important to remember that Under Canvas is not your typical hotel: At the end of the day, you’re still sleeping in nature, and you’ll be potentially subject to noise, light, critters, heat and air quality issues. While the staff does its best to mitigate these elements, you’ll have a much better time if you adjust your expectations accordingly.

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