Is Skamania Lodge worth it? Honest pros and cons

Location & setting

Skamania Lodge sits on 175 wooded acres above the Columbia River Gorge at 1131 Skamania Lodge Way, Stevenson, Washington. The property is inside the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and is minutes from Stevenson attractions like the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum.

The lodge is convenient for road access to Bridge of the Gods, Bonneville Dam, Beacon Rock, and Multnomah Falls. Portland International Airport (PDX) is the nearest major airport; drive times typically range from about 50–60 minutes depending on traffic.

• On-site: 175 wooded acres above the Columbia River Gorge
• Nearby sights: Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center (short walk), Bridge of the Gods, Beacon Rock, Bonneville Dam
• Nearest major airport: Portland International Airport (PDX), roughly a 50–60 minute drive

Rooms & accommodation types

Skamania Lodge offers a wide range of room types across the main lodge, cabins, tree houses, glamping tents, and suites. The property lists 254 guest accommodations across multiple floors and several suite types.

Room names you may see when booking include Superior Room, Superior Room (River), Premier Room (River Fireside), Premier Room, Premier Room (Fireside), Premier Room (River), Room (Fireside), Room, River View (Fireside), Room (River,), Room (Windows on the Gorge), Tree House (Spruce), Premier Suite (Gorge), Suite (Gorge), Tree House (Alpine), Suite (Woodland), Tree House (Alder), Suite (Hood River), Tree House (Noble), One-Bedroom Cabin w/, Cabin, 1 Bedroom, Villa, 3 Bedrooms, and Room (Glamping).

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• Options range from standard Superior Room beds (1 King Bed or 2 Double Beds) up to multi-bedroom Villa, 3 Bedrooms
• Unique stays: Tree House (Spruce), Tree House (Alpine), Tree House (Alder), Tree House (Noble), and Room (Glamping)
• If you want river views, look for Room (Windows on the Gorge), Superior Room (River), or Premier Room (River) variants

Dining and bars

Skamania has on-site restaurants and bars serving Pacific Northwest and American pub-style fare. The Cascade Dining Room serves breakfast and dinner and is the lodge's full-service restaurant; River Rock Lounge provides casual bar food and seasonal patio seating.

Reservations are recommended for dinner at the Cascade Dining Room; the River Rock Lounge hours are listed as Sunday–Thursday 2:00 PM–10:00 PM and Friday–Saturday 2:00 PM–11:00 PM on the lodge site, though third-party listings sometimes show variations by season.

• Cascade Dining Room: Pacific Northwest American cuisine, breakfast and dinner (breakfast 7:00 AM–11:00 AM; dinner 5:00 PM–9:00 PM per lodge menu page).
• River Rock Lounge: pub fare, sandwiches, burgers, shareables; seasonally available outdoor seating.
• Takeaway/room-service option: Skamania To Go (Green Apron) handles to-go and catered orders.

Activities, pool & spa

On-site activities are a major reason guests choose Skamania Lodge. The resort lists an 18-hole golf course, zipline and aerial ropes course on the grounds, bicycle rentals, trails, playground, and nearby hiking and biking opportunities in the Gorge.

Water and wellness amenities include an indoor heated swimming pool, an indoor whirlpool hot tub, saunas in both locker rooms, and an outdoor hot tub overlooking the Columbia Gorge. The Waterleaf Spa provides massages, HydraFacial treatments, warm stone therapy, facials, and body treatments.

• Pool & hot tub access included with resort fee; pool area is kid-friendly from 11:00 AM–7:00 PM and outdoor hot tub becomes 21+ from 6:00 PM.
• Fitness Center: Peloton bikes and Precor equipment; open to guests 16+ with posted hours.
• Spa: Waterleaf Spa located on the basement level (access to pool area); facial treatments restricted to guests 18+ and a 24-hour cancellation policy applies for treatments.

Meetings, weddings and event space

Skamania Lodge is set up for conferences and weddings with substantial indoor and outdoor event spaces. Large ballrooms (Stevenson Ballroom and Cascade Ballroom) and covered pavilions (Riverview and Moonlight) are available, plus an outdoor amphitheater and multiple meeting rooms.

Capacities vary by venue and setup; the Stevenson Ballroom is the lodge’s largest indoor space and the Riverview and Moonlight pavilions are intended for scenic outdoor ceremonies and receptions. Rental terms and capacities are published by the property and should be confirmed with the events team for specific needs.

• Stevenson Ballroom: largest indoor ballroom (customizable).
• Cascade Ballroom (Cascade Locks Ballroom) and multiple meeting rooms including Meadow Room and The Library for smaller gatherings.
• Outdoor venues include Riverview Pavilion and Moonlight Pavilion with river and mountain views; amphitheater available for ceremonies.

Practical tips, fees and who should stay here

A mandatory resort fee covers on-site self-parking (though some OTA pages list parking fees — confirm at booking), Wi‑Fi, pool/fitness access, and other amenities. Some bookings also show an additional small destination fee. Confirm current resort and parking charges directly with the hotel when you book.

Skamania is family-friendly and offers kid-friendly hours at the pool, an on-site playground, babysitting services, pet-friendly rooms (restrictions and fees apply), free shuttle service to downtown Stevenson, and many outdoor activities on the grounds.

If you want a quiet, small boutique stay, the lodge’s size, event schedule, and resort-fee structure may not fit. If you value on-site activities, a full-service spa, and easy access to Gorge attractions, this property is a practical choice.

• Resort fee covers parking, Wi-Fi, pool/hot tub/sauna and fitness access; OTA listings conflict on whether self-parking is separately charged, so verify.
• Pets: allowed in select rooms (up to 2 dogs or cats) for a fee and deposit; service animals exempt — confirm pet-room availability.
• Check-in begins at 4:00 PM; standard check-out is 11:00 AM (late check-out may be possible for a fee).