Got some time in June, was going to try and sneak out to Hood River for some DW.
What runs should I be looking at? I see the Viento to waterfront park run, is there any better, less crowded runs?
Potentially was going to camp at viento state park and just bang out as many runs a day as conditions allow, unless people have other suggestions.
Thanks peeps
Edit: sorry paddle downwinders not winging
Ill be out last week of May for about 10 days, thanks for asking this Iām planning to do the same thing!
I think viento to HR is tricky if paddling since the good bumps are on the other side of the river, micro bumps to get back to the oregon side. I would think silos to rufus would be a great run and easy shuttle but havenāt done it and not even sure if silos is still a launch, havenāt been there since the 90ās
Paddle downwind
Yup, Viento to HR is tricky as you mention, thereās barely five good miles out of the eight. Unless youāre into a pump fest, best to do as the others mentioned in the West. Crowding though is unlikely to ever be an issue (except through the Swell/hatch area). The first 3.5 miles can be excellent along the Oregon side and youāre unlikely to see another soul.
The Silos at Biggs is still a launch last I saw (which was late Sept). If itās not just launch from Maryhill, you donāt lose much and the waves are great all the way. Itās only a 20 minute run unfortunately.
Blalock to Arlington is big and consistent for about eight miles (crap launch though). Push it all the way out to Three mile for 22 miles of fun (good luck with that 
).
Can you go from the Deschutes to Rufus? Was thinking of camping there a night or two.
Yup, used to do it this way in the early surfski days. Itās going to be a 1/2 mile or so of mostly pumping though before you get any glides. Then it gets REALLY good by the time Miller island ends and the river comes back together.
Canāt recommend Celilo to Rufus through Hells Gate canyon for supfoil though. Thereās one particular horror story I remember hearing involving a lot of walking barefoot on the WA side gravel road (ask at Big Winds) 
Highly recommend it winging though (or any other craft).
Youāll be suprised at how many options you have to launch and land in the region while dw paddling. Yes there are āthe standard runsā as you mention like Viento to HR but the more you connect with the tribe the more options you will learn of. Entering the river without all the gear a winger carries opens you up to many more possibilities. Whoād of thought? See you in June shredder!
What extra gear do wingers carry? Instead of a paddle they carry a small handwing.
I guess Iād be referring to the wing, pump (and associated doodads) needed. Itās hard to go through the thickets and brambles with something that wonāt fit or can pop. In addition, some launches require an entry which would be nearly impossible to do with a wing due to topography (think cliffs or small spaces). When it comes to making paddled dw runs you have different optionsā¦ is what I am learning.
Iām not into the us vs them debate sorry. My answer was to address that FoilFlop has lots of options and to look outside of the box. Cheers!
Another resource you may want to consider for camping is Maryhill SP located in Washington near the famed Rufus landing stretch of dw runs. Depending on the weather patterns the eastern gorge often lights up when the western gorge in under clouds and rainy. I think Bonifacio covered that part sufficiently. If you are camping off grid then consider parking up at Arlington or Rufus Landing. Be flexible based on the conditions. Iām always happy to share glides with a fellow water enthusiast and shuttling is a great way to share the stoke! Hit me up when you arrive.
Iāll be there the whole season - with a minivan - and keen to run as many shuttles as possible.
Either SUP or wing, I donāt mind.
@FoilFlop or anyone else feel free to get in touch if you want to link up for some shuttles 
I just had my first Gorge experience a few days ago. Short trip to pick up a new board from BW, but got lucky with a decent day. SUP DW. Only rode the Swell City to Hatch run, but did it 5 times, in pretty good conditions. I liked that you could walk, run, or hitch the short distance back to the start. I found the 10-15 locals I met or said āHiā to very nice and friendly. What a good little route for dialing in gear, and perfecting technique (like paddling up onto foil). Easy to see why locals here get good quickly! I hope to return in May (if I see a good forecast), and do some longer runs, and stay for a few daysā¦hopefully experience the Rufus area too. I really appreciated the opportunity to ride there! Cheers, and Thank you Hood River/White Salmon folks!!
@noripplez Iām curious about this route, specifically because Iāll be wanting to do some solo runs. Do you just walk straight up the side of the road with all the gear? Is there room on the road? Gear assembled? Or do you have a funky system going?
Hey Zarb, I would leave my gear at the hatchery end of the run. Lots of folks doing this, then I would simply get myself back to my car, via hitching a ride, walking or running. Then Iād drive back to get my gear, turn around, and drive back to the launch. This worked fine for the short stretch from Swell City to the Hatchery. For longer runs, Iād want to set up a shuttle with a friend. Iām not sure how traffic, ride availability, and gear safety change as the season gets going, as Iām not a local.
I wouldnāt want to walk Hwy 14 West of Swell City in either direction, carrying foil gear or not. Not much of a shoulder on either side and plenty of loaded log trucks doing 100kph. Between Swell and the Hatchery you can kinda get away with it as itās a short distance.
Hey @Bonifacio, I spent last night on Google street view checking that stretch between Swell and Hatch. Seems OKAY with the exception of a few small parts where it seems like youād have to jump the barrier and walk through the long grass? I might cut out a section of pool noodle to pad the mast so it doesnāt hurt to have my board slung over my shoulder on the walk - then I can walk with a fully assembled setup, and then just stash the padding and flipflops in a fannypack while I do the runs.
Hey Noripplez, were you the fella from Orcas Island crusing with Kent?
Frothers remember you can always wing upwind and paddle downwind. A good compression backpack and a paddle on the wing will have you smiling and forgetting about the deets.