Cascade Locks, Mosier projects receive $51 k in tourism grants to improve recreation
The Dalles, Ore., July 1, 2026 — Experience Mt. Hood and the Gorge has awarded more than $51,000 in tourism infrastructure grants to projects in Cascade Locks and Mosier aimed at improving recreation access, visitor safety and community amenities in the Columbia River Gorge.
The grants are part of the regional destination management organization's 2026 Strategic Investment Fund, which awarded a total of $120,000 to six projects across the Mt. Hood and Columbia River Gorge region. The program funds one-time investments that improve public infrastructure, outdoor recreation access and visitor experiences while benefiting local communities.
The largest Gorge award went to the Port of Cascade Locks, which received $25,000 to improve access at Herman Creek Cove. The project will pave the existing gravel parking lot and access road and add ADA-accessible parking spaces at the popular recreation site, which serves kayakers, anglers, mountain bikers and users of the EasyCLIMB trail network.
Mosier
Main Street Mosier received $26,580 for improvements at Mosier Confluence Park. The project will add clearly defined pedestrian pathways and a dedicated creek viewpoint to improve safety while better connecting downtown Mosier with trails and Mosier Creek. The improvements will integrate with existing amenities, including parking, electric vehicle charging stations and the community skate park.
Mosier Creek Falls. According to their website it is an easy, 1-mile, out-and-back hike begins at Totem Plaza on Mosier’s main street and climbs 150 feet along Mosier Creek to a viewpoint above Mosier Creek Falls. On warm days, play in the swimming hole at the base of the upper falls. Photo by Micheal Drewry. Courtesy Friends of the Columbia Gorge.
Experience Mt. Hood and the Gorge said public infrastructure was identified as the region's top tourism priority in Travel Oregon's most recent tourism industry survey. The 2026 grant cycle attracted 18 applications requesting nearly $799,000, highlighting demand for investments in parking, accessibility, transportation, wayfinding and visitor facilities.
"These projects reflect the RDMO's commitment to addressing community-identified needs while celebrating the places that make Mt. Hood and the Gorge so special," Regional Tourism Lead Ithaca Janzen said in a statement. "From parking and accessibility improvements to urban trail signage and safety enhancements, these investments help ensure the region remains a welcoming and sustainable destination for residents and visitors."
All funded projects are expected to be completed by June 2027.
Other 2026 Strategic Investment Fund awards include:
Bike The Gorge — $15,000 to install bicycle racks at Hole-in-the-Wall Falls along the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail.
City of Sandy — $42,100 for park entry signs, information kiosks and trail wayfinding at five destination parks.
Columbia Gorge Stewardship Alliance — $6,550 to create QR code-accessible audio stories at Sharon Nesbit Heritage Park in Troutdale.
Wylde Wind & Water — $4,770 for infrastructure upgrades at its Hood River waterfront dock site, including improved surfacing, equipment storage and public safety information.
The Strategic Investment Fund is financed through Oregon's state transient lodging tax as part of Travel Oregon's Regional Cooperative Tourism Program. Experience Mt. Hood and the Gorge is managed through Clackamas County Tourism with regional leadership from The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce, Visit Hood River, Explore Troutdale and Mt. Hood Territory.
