Hood River
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For other uses, see Hood River (disambiguation)
The Hood River is a tributary of the Columbia River in Northwestern Oregon in the United States. Approximately 25 mi (40 km) long from its mouth to its farthest headwaters on the East Fork, the river descends from wilderness areas in the Cascade Range near Mount Hood and flows through the agricultural Hood River Valley to join the Columbia River in the Columbia River Gorge.
It rises in three separate forks north of Mount Hood, in Hood River County, approximately 50 mi (80 km) east of Portland. The Middle Fork, approximately 10 mi (16 km) long rises in several short branches on the North flank of Mount Hood, in the Mount Hood Wilderness Area. It flows North through the Upper Hood River Valley. The East Fork, approximately 15 mi (24 km) long rises on the Eastern side of the mountain in the Mount Hood National Forest and flows North, into the Upper Hood River Valley, where it is joined by the Dog River and then by the Middle Fork.
The West Fork, approximately 10 mi (16 km) long, rises in western Hood River County, approximately 10 mi (16 km) south of the Columbia. It flows generally ENE and joins the East Fork from the west near Dee. The combined stream, approximately 10 mi (16 km) long, flows Northeast across the Hood River Valley. It joins the Columbia at Hood River, a popular destination for windsurfing in the Columbia Gorge.