One of our favorite times of the year is fast approaching: Wildflower season in the Columbia River Gorge. From late March through May, visit the Gorge to immerse yourself in the beautiful blossoming scenery as flowers (such as Camas, pictured above) are in full bloom. Please take only pictures of the flowers and leave them rooted for many others, including pollinators, to enjoy! Here we have suggestions for 5 easy wildflower hikes in the Gorge:
1. Columbia Hills State Park
Entire
hillsides are transformed into fields of gold during the height of
wildflower season at this state park on the Washington side of the
Gorge, just across from The Dalles.
Access into this paradise
requires a Discovery Pass for $10 per day or $30 per year (they can be
bought at the trailhead). Camping is possible as well.
To enjoy
this epic display of wildflowers in April and May, there are two
options. The easiest is to start at the upper trailhead, near the
original Crawford Ranch on Dalles Mountain Road at a paved trailhead.
From
here, you can hike the spectacular lower meadows on trails like the
Vista Loop and 8 Mile Alternate for 2 to 3 miles. These were in full
bloom during my trip, so thick with balsamroot and lupine that the air
was perfumed.
Later in the season, as the bloom moves up the mountain, you can hike uphill toward Stacker Butte from the same trailhead.
A
final option is to begin at the lowest trailhead, the Crawford Oak
Trailhead, and hike uphill past a nice waterfall and into the
wildflowers. This is steeper, and there weren't many wildflower blooms
until you reached the meadows, but it's hard to complain when the views
are this good.
Directions (Crawford Ranch Trailhead, Upper):
From I-84 near The Dalles, take exit 87 and turn left on Highway 197
and the Columbia River on a bridge. Drive 3 miles to Highway 14 and turn
right. Go half a mile and turn left up Dalles Mountain Road. Continue
3.7 miles on the gravel road, passing the Crawford Ranch, to a
well-signed trailhead and parking area.
Directions (Crawford Oak Trailhead, Lower):
Instead of turning onto Dalles Mountain Road, continue on Highway 14 to
milepost 87.2 and turn left into a large trailhead and parking area
Of all the hikes on the list, this one is my personal favorite.
The Catherine Creek
area on the Washington side of the Gorge is spectacular in so many
ways. The towering basalt formations and canyons, old homesteads, views
of Mount Hood and the smell of ponderosa make me want to stay for days
rather than hours.
The Arch Rock Loop is the best easy hike here and requires a bit of navigation. The loop is 2.1 miles with 481 feet of climb.
From
the trailhead, the route follows a combination of trails and closed
roads past a rock arch, a bubbling creek, an old homestead, epic views
of the canyon and Mount Hood, along with more types of wildflower than
you can count.
The best time to hike is March to May. Right now,
the bloom is excellent, with camas lilies, balsamroot, lupine, prairie
stars and many others.
Directions: From I-84 in
Hood River, take Exit 64, and drive north across the Hood River Bridge
($1 toll for passenger cars). Turn right onto Washington Highway 14, and
drive east for 5.8 miles. Turn left at Rowland Lake onto County Road
1230 (Old Highway No. 8), which follows the north end of the lake. In
1.3 miles, a large and well-marked trailhead arrives on both sides of
the road. The hike starts on the left trailhead (a paved trail down to
the Columbia is on the right)
Truth
be told, the top three wildflower hikes starting here really stood out
above the others. They were all spectacular in their own way, and
ranking them was a challenge. All three are must-hikes.
It
wouldn't be quite right to call Memaloose Hills a secret — it appears in
a book and a handful of websites — but it's still unmarked and less
traveled than most wildflower hotspots in the Gorge.
The trail begins at Memaloose Viewpoint,
just across the highway. It's unmarked throughout but easy to follow a
total of 2.2 miles and 629 feet to the top of Marsh Hill. Balsamroot
blankets the entire hillside at the top with a touch of lupine, and
views extend to Mount Hood.
The trail winds through oak savanna
where other wildflowers stand out, including blue-eyed mary, gold star,
larkspur and many others. Apparently there are longer options, but I
didn't hike them.
Directions: From I-84 near Hood
River, take Exit 69 and continue on the Historic Columbia River Highway
30 east through the town of Mosier. In a little more than 3 miles, stop
at the Memaloose Viewpoint. The trail begins just across the road.
Two different hikes begin at this popular viewpoint on the Historic Columbia River Highway.
The easier of the two traverses the flat Rowena Crest in the Tom McCall Nature Preserve in a landscape carved by ancient lava flows and floods.
Dogs
are not allowed on this 2.5-mile out-and-back hike, and there isn't any
shade at the trailhead, so leave Fido at home for this trek.
The
views are almost nonstop from the beginning of this hike, and in April
and May, balsamroot and lupine are the highlight. Excellent views down
onto the Columbia can be had at viewpoints along the trail.
If you're seeking a more challenging hike, the trail to Tom McCall Point
leaves from the same trailhead and shoots uphill 1,070 feet on a hike
of 5 miles round-trip (the trail is currently closed at the 0.6 mile
mark for reconstruction, but many reopen soon).
Balsamroot and lupine
also highlight this trail, along with desert parsley. And the view of
Mount Adams and Hood at the top are memorable.
Directions:
From I-84 near Hood River, take Exit 69 into Mosier and continue on the
Historic Columbia River Highway 30 east through the town. In 6.6 miles,
you will see the Rowena Crest Viewpoint parking area on your right.
Both trails start here.
This
hike is on the steep end of "easy," but it's very pretty, and the fact
that it starts right within the wonderful town of Mosier is a bonus.
The Mosier Plateau Trail
climbs 600 feet and travels 3.5 miles round-trip, heading through a
park, following a creek, passing a waterfall and ending on a plateau
with beautiful Gorge views.
Peak wildflower season is normally mid
to late April (but it's early this year). The ubiquitous balsamroot is
the star of the show, but the hike also feature buttercups, blue-eyed
mary and others.
Directions: From I-84 near Hood
River, take Exit 69 toward Mosier. Head south off the exit and head into
the town of Mosier. Park at the totem pole in town or at a gravel
pullout. The trailhead is on the south side of Historic Highway 30, just
over the historic bridge. You'll see a bench just after crossing the
bridge and a trail. This is the beginning of the hike.
SRC: Read the complete article in the Statesman Journal here:
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/travel/outdoors/2015/04/02/top-best-easy-wildflower-hikes-gorge/70795874/
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