House Sitting in the Columbia River Gorge
A Guide to Balancing Pet Sitting and Travel
From left to right: River, Jori, Raven
Waterfalls, wildflowers, and river views. Just three amazing highlights from our latest house sit in the gorgeous Columbia River Gorge with our newest fur-friends, River and Raven. We've cared for pets around the world, but this house sit in Skamania County truly stands out. Between the stunning location, endless things to do, and—most importantly—the wonderful pets and kindhearted host, this was a top-tier experience from start to finish.
We hadn’t spent much time in the Columbia River Gorge previously, but it was always high on our house-sitting bucket-list. Acting as a natural border between Oregon and Washington, the Columbia River Gorge is a 4,000-foot-deep canyon that was carved out by the historic Missoula Floods. Stretching over 80 miles, it’s the largest National Scenic Area in the U.S. and is known for its dramatic cliffs, dense forests, and more than 90 waterfalls—including the iconic Multnomah Falls. This area has a fascinating history too. Having served as a vital trade route for Indigenous peoples and the Lewis and Clark Expedition, this region of the Pacific Northwest has quite the story to tell.
View from Beacon Rock Trail, North Bonneville, Washington
The Best Travel Solution for Pet Lovers: TrustedHousesitters
While the Columbia River Gorge is a stunning destination year-round, spring is undoubtedly the best time to visit. From early April through late May, this river canyon comes alive with golden balsamroot, white daisies, and vibrant lupines—this famous bloom attracts photographers and tourists from across the U.S. and beyond. Naturally, the costs of accommodation soar during this time.
Rather than book an expensive hotel or Airbnb, we turned to our favorite travel resource, TrustedHousesitters. We often see homeowners looking for sitters in surrounding towns like Hood River, White Salmon, and Stevenson, so we were confident we'd find something special. Sure enough, we found a dream house sit on the Washington side of the river—right on the water, with two lovable pups and views that stretched across to Oregon. We submitted our application and, after some back and forth messages and a video call with the homeowner, we officially booked the sit!
A Warm Welcome—and Local Craft Brews
Incredible views on the the Mt. Hood Scenic Highway
Before we knew it, it was time to begin our house sit. Since Austin had some work to do that required him to be in person, I headed up to start off the house sit on my own. As an experienced sitter, I’m totally comfortable doing sits on my own—but if the idea of house sitting solo makes you feel a little uneasy, I recommend giving our Safety Tips for House Sitters guide a read.
After a beautifully scenic drive along the Cascade Mountain Range, I arrived to a warm welcome from the homeowner and the pets. Having spent the last few weeks having regular back-and-forth conversations with the homeowner, it was more like meeting a friend than a stranger I met through an app. We exchanged cheerful greetings and hugs, and she introduced me to the dogs, River and Raven, who met me excitedly with full-body wiggles and wagging tails.
Enjoying my favorite IPA from Pfreim Brewery while enjoying the sunset
With tasty IPA’s in hand, we spent the next few hours conversing and going through everything together. The owner gave me the full tour, along with a mock run-through of the home and pet care routines. While she had already prepared a full list of detailed notes, going through things in person is always helpful.
With introductions and the home tour done, we decided to head into town for a shared meal together. I highly recommend budgeting in time to sit down and get to know your pet sitter or homeowner better if you can. It’s such a wonderful opportunity to build trust and community, and it truly improves the experience in so many ways.
After a great meal, it was time for the owner to head to the airport, and just like that—it was just me, the pups, and one of the most peaceful riverside homes I’ve ever stayed in.
Life with the pups, River and Raven
River and Raven playing tug-o-war. They kept eachother pretty busy!
Settling into the dogs’ routine was a breeze. They were used to being fed around 7 a.m. and let outside by 8, which aligned perfectly with my own schedule. By the time I needed to hop online for work at 9, they were already curled up beside me, ready for their nap.
The home was a remote worker’s dream. Most days, I worked from the upper deck, enjoying sweeping views of the Columbia River and the forested cliffs just across the water. River and Raven loved it too—since they could watch the birds and squirrels darting between the trees.
During work breaks, we’d wander down to the point so the boys could get some energy out. The boys had a funny habit of perching on the point — like true kings of the hill. We’d watch sailboats glide past us, and admire the bald eagles, ospreys, and flocks of geese flying overhead. The surroundings were truly idyllic.
After work, I was also able to explore some of the nearby trails with ease. There were endless options to choose from, but a must-do is Beacon Rock—a historically significant hike with amazing panoramic views of the Gorge. Despite the elevation gain, the trail's gentle grade made the hike shockingly easy. It only took an hour to complete, and that was with plenty of time spent taking in the views.
Austin Arrives at the Sit!
River getting groomed by Austin - the best pet sitter ever!
Thursday evening came and Austin arrived to join me for a long weekend! By then, I had River and Raven’s schedule dialed in, which made it easy to plan our adventures around their needs. With more trails, viewpoints, and breweries than we could possibly tackle in just a few days, narrowing down our weekend to-do list was a challenge. But with some suggestions from the homeowner and votes from our Instagram community, we curated a short list of must-do activities that balanced adventure with our pet care duties.
Rather than try to describe everything we did in detail, here’s a general overview of how we structured our time!
Note that these times aren’t exact, but pretty close to our actual schedule!
How we Balance our Pet Care Schedule with Travel
Views from Beacon Rock - the best easy hike in the Columbia River Gorge!
Thursday:
7:00 AM – Morning routine: feed the boys, make coffee/breakfast, relax
8:00 AM – Let the boys out, enjoy the views, check on garden
9:00 AM – Log on for work while the boys nap
12:00–1:00 PM – Lunch, let the boys out, then back to work
4:00 PM - Quick and easy hike up Beacon Rock
5:00 PM – Austin arrives!
5:30 PM – Feed River and Raven, playtime, potty break
7:00 PM – Dinner at Walking Man Brewing – Owner recommendation! Craft beer, garden seating, and train views. Don’t skip the beer flight!
9:00 PM – Settle in with the pups for the night
Hiking to see the wildflowers in bloom at Memaloose Trail in Mosier, Oregon
Friday
7:00–9:30 AM – Morning routine: feed, exercise, coffee + breakfast
10:00 AM–1:00 PM – Hike Memaloose Trail – Stunning wildflowers, Mt. Hood & Mt. Adams views, and fewer crowds than Dog Mountain
1:15 PM – Lunch at La Vaquita Taqueria – Post-hike taco truck stop (don’t miss the pastor sope!)
2:30 PM – Chill at home with the pups, playtime
3:30 PM – Attempt to ride the historic Columbia River Sternwheeler… but miss it thanks to traffic on the Bridge of the Gods… lol
4:15 PM – Back home for a cozy evening with River and Raven + movie night
Bike ride to see the waterfalls along the Columbia River Gorge Highway
Saturday
7:00 AM – Slow morning with the pups, tidying up for owner’s return
10:00 AM–1:00 PM – Bike Historic Columbia River Highway Trail – Easy, scenic ride with three waterfalls along the way
1:00 PM – Lunch at Thunder Island Brewing – Our favorite of the trip: great views, great brews
2:30 PM – Back home with the boys: mini-groom session, feeding
5:00 PM – Wine tasting at AniChe Cellars – Gift from the homeowner (so kind!) Lovely views + wines
7:00 PM – Back home with the boys
8:00 PM – Owner arrives home – Spent the evening catching up, sharing stories, and just enjoying each other's company
9:30 PM – Head to bed
Wine tasting at Aniche Cellars - courtesy of the owner we house sat for!
Sunday
7:00–8:30 AM – Packed up, coffee + pastries with the homeowner, heartfelt goodbyes
9:00 AM – Hike the nearby Falls Creek Falls – An absolute must-do! Easy 3.4 miles round-trip, gorgeous 380-ft waterfall, super accessible
12:00 PM – Quick stop at Traverse PNW Market for cute Mother’s Day gifts, then hit the road
4:00 PM – Arrived home in Bend, Oregon!
I want to mention that even though this schedule looks very structured, we actually had so much flexibility. As long as the boys' were fed on time, and let out for some playtime and potty breaks roughly every 4 hours, we had the freedom to spend our time however we saw fit!
Beautiful waterfall hike in the Columbia River Gorge - Falls Creek Falls
Conclusion
And just like that, our weekend in the Columbia River Gorge came to a close. This house sit was the perfect reminder of why we love this exchange so much: when done right, it’s the perfect way to explore new places in a meaningful, slow-paced way, while enjoying unforgettable moments with the pets and people we meet through this app. And if you ever get the chance to apply to a house sit in the Columbia River Gorge, take it! You’ll leave with unforgettable memories, new furry friends, and a deeper appreciation for this incredible corner of the Pacific Northwest.
Thanks so much for reading!
Ready to kickstart your own house sitting journey? Join Trusted Housesitters with 25% off!
And don’t miss our Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to House Sitting for all the tips you need to begin house sitting with confidence! Get it now!
Jori and the dogs enjoying their last morning together
