The Joy Of A Sun-Kissed Patio In Mt. Hood Territory

By Guest Author: Matt Wastradowski

Mt. Hood Territory has plenty going for it. In summer, you can hike through old-growth forests to thundering waterfalls on the slopes of Oregon’s tallest peak. Come fall, salmon swim upstream to begin the cycle of life anew while vintners prepare the next vintages in one of the nation's most prolific wine-growing regions. Spring brings vibrant blooms to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival. Truly, the character of the region is on display around every corner, every day of the year.

Some of my favorite memories across Mt. Hood Territory have come on the trail and in tulip fields over the years, but there’s something to be said for what comes afterward — specifically, sipping craft beers on brewpub patios, reading a book on my cabin’s patio as the Sandy River rushes by and whiling away an afternoon on the shaded balcony at a locally owned inn. Sometimes, it really is the little things.

If we stop and slow down, we don’t have to squint to see the magic on a patio around Mt. Hood Territory. They welcome us to soak up the sun, remind us to take a breath in the shade and encourage us to linger a little longer. They show off the natural beauty before us. And the right patio can be just as enchanting as wherever we just came from.

I couldn’t begin to shout out every last scenic patio in Mt. Hood Territory — there are at least eight restaurants with patios in Sandy alone — but I wanted to share a few that have added to my stays around the region. Here’s a tribute to some of the best patios around Mt. Hood Territory, along with why each holds a special place in my heart.

The patio at Mt. Hood Brewing is open seasonally, allowing guests to enjoy the fresh mountain air while dinning.

On a blistering July morning a few years back, temperatures were expected to top triple digits at home in Portland — and my apartment didn’t come with air conditioning to make the heat a bit more bearable. So I did what any sensible Portlander would do: I set an alarm for 5am, rose before the sun and let my phone’s GPS guide me up the slopes of Mt. Hood.

I’d already had a full day by the time I finished a shady waterfall hike, and it was only 11am, so I kept the outdoorsy vibes going at Mt. Hood Brewing Co. in Government Camp.

After grabbing a flight of the brewery’s top offerings, I parked myself under an umbrella on the patio — and lounged there for the better part of two hours. Notes of toffee and caramel came through in the Cloud Cap Amber Ale while Douglas fir trees swayed gently in the breeze across the street. I savored the subtle citrus flavors of the brewery’s flagship Ice Axe IPA as fellow hikers returned from the trail and gradually filled the patio. A surprisingly smooth Cascadian Pale Ale paired well with my burger, and a sail-like canopy kept the growing crowd cool under the summer sun. Only the tip of Mt. Hood’s snow-capped summit peeked out over the treetops before me, but none of us minded; the fresh mountain air and cold brews were a sublime consolation.

The yurts at Camp Colton are fully furnished and offer a magical atmosphere in the woods.

Does a picnic table count as a patio? Does it matter that it’s not at a hotel, restaurant or brewpub — but at a campground that’s 20 miles from the nearest big city?

The way I see it, the picnic table just outside my yurt at Camp Colton counts. After all, I savored a Sunday afternoon last summer the same way I would have Mt. Hood Brewing Co. or Alder Creek Cabin: I posted up with a book, left my phone on “Do Not Disturb” and lost track of time in a quiet grove of Douglas fir and western red cedar. My yurt was a few steps away, and a few strands of lights dangled overhead. A few wooden chairs surrounded the covered firepit at my site. If I’d been so inclined, I might have started a campfire to huddle around; as it happened, I was far too relaxed to do much of anything.

Read more about my stay at Camp Colton and why it makes an idyllic weekend getaway in the midst of a dreamy forest.

The wrap-around porch at Prairie House Inn offers the perfect spot to unwind from city life.

On a recent summer getaway, I visited the Prairie House Inn in Molalla to research an article I’d later write about the long-running overnight stay. I tried to leave my Portland home early enough to beat rush-hour traffic, but what should have been a breezy, hour-long drive stretched into nearly two hours of bumper-to-bumper slowdowns and countless red lights. By the time I arrived and threw my bags down inside one of the cute, Western-themed rooms, I was ready to melt into a couch or chair and remain immobile until dinner.

Fortunately, the Prairie House Inn, built in 1900, seems to have been constructed explicitly for stressed-out city folk such as myself. That’s because it’s home to a wraparound front porch that’s outfitted with Adirondack chairs, high-top seats and even two rocking chairs in front of the attached Cowboy Coffee. Even with typically warm July temperatures, they all reside in the afternoon shade.

I was all too happy to help myself to a rocking chair in the corner. I fiddled around on my phone for a bit but mostly watched the world pass by. A breeze sauntered in through the trees out front. Cars and trucks headed east toward a crisp evening along the Molalla River Corridor Recreation Area. The hanging plants before me popped with color. After an hour or two, I’d completely forgotten about the rough ride out. I took a deep breath because I could. 

The next morning, after grabbing a breakfast sandwich from Cowboy Coffee, I returned to the porch and did it all over again.

Surrounded by cedar and fir trees the patio at Alder Creek Cabin helps you relax and enjoy the forest.

This past April, I was juggling end-of-month work deadlines, navigating an array of car repairs, packing up my apartment and preparing for a months-long road trip. What I needed, more than anything, was a break — a chance to stop and catch my breath. What I needed, in other words, was a night at the Alder Creek Cabin around the Villages of Mt. Hood.

Coni Scott, who owns the 1929 Steiner cabin with her husband Terry Hescock, welcomed me with a tour of the property, helpful safety information and hints about a handful of hidden paintings around the cottage. With that, she left me to relax on the patio. 

It was an overcast spring afternoon, the kind that invites us to bundle up in a cozy sweater and savor the fresh mountain air, and that’s exactly what I did. I brought my well-loved copy of John Vaillant’s “The Golden Spruce” onto the back patio and took a seat in one of the cushy chairs underneath an umbrella and a towering canopy of Douglas fir. Just out of sight, the Sandy River rushed by amidst a thicket of cedar and fir trees. A soft breeze danced through the patio, and the sun tried its hardest to break through the cloud cover. I found myself so engrossed in the story of a mythical tree in British Columbia — and the man who cut it down — that I ended up pushing back dinner plans. 

When the sun came out the next morning, you’ll never guess where I relaxed with breakfast. Deadlines and moving boxes piled up back home, but they could wait a little longer.

Read more about my experience at Alder Creek Cabin and why you should make it part of your next visit to Mt. Hood.

The patio at Oregon City Brewing is great year-round.

Oregon City Brewing Company is “extra” in the best way possible. The brewery launched in 2014 in downtown Oregon City and today pours nearly 40 ales and lagers at any given time — more than many larger breweries — and invites beer fans to kick back on not one, but two spacious patios. I can’t recommend one over the other, but I can share a bit about what makes each so great.

In the mood for people-watching? Grab an OC Light Lager and post up on the patio at the corner of 14th and Washington streets — my go-to spot when I’m looking to while away a lazy afternoon.  Most tables come with an umbrella for shade, and each offers a front-row seat to the hustle and bustle of downtown Oregon City — cars coming and going, cyclists on their way to Clackamette Park and pedestrians reading the fine print on the “FREE BEER” sign towering overhead. A Ranch Pizza window slings Detroit-style slices a few steps away; don’t skimp on the local chain’s tangy, housemade dipping sauce.

When you’re getting the whole crew together, head to the back patio — where tables sit surrounded by nearly a dozen locally owned food carts dishing burgers, tacos, Thai food and other cuisines from around the world. The tables are shielded from the elements by adjustable blinds, a wooden overhang and a bank of overhead heaters. Twinkling lights add to the cozy charm. A few summers back, I reconnected with a friend over a few crisp IPAs and a plate of pad thai; even if the temperatures hovered around 90ºF, neither of us felt the slightest bit of discomfort in the summer heat. More than a dozen tables line the patio, and the buzz on a busy weekend evening is infectious.

If you’re looking to stay the night nearby, the Best Western Plus Rivershore Hotel is a 10-minute walk away. Expect friendly service alongside Willamette River views, updated amenities and easy access to nearby activities.