The Hood River Waterfront is a fantastic place to visit the river, whether you are there to enjoy a picnic at one of the many public grassy areas, or looking to get a water sport session in the water. Hood River County is one of the most well known recreation regions for watersports in the world. In the summer time, strong winds rage through the Columbia River Gorge creating fantastic Windsurfing, Stand Up Paddling, Kiteboarding, Wing Foiling and Sailing opportunities on the Columbia River for watersports enthusiasts. As much as these conditions draw many people to the region for the recreational benefits, these weather conditions also can be intimidating for people who are not aware of the hazards presented by these conditions.

To make our community more safe, we visit local schools within Hood River County in the spring time to talk with students about water safety. During the school visits we teach children our Water Safety Awareness and Preparation curriculum to educate students about cold water, strong currents, wind, safe places to swim locally, the importance of a life jacket and how to wear a life jacket properly.