Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

If you haven’t gone out to see wildflowers in the Columbia River Gorge this spring, now would be a good time to do it.

At the start of May, we’ve arrived right about at the middle of peak bloom for the season, meaning while many spots are bursting with color, some have already faded and others have yet to pop. But that means you’re sure to find some wildflowers on the many trails in the gorge, making a beautiful scene along the Columbia River.

It’s hard to play favorites among all the incredible hikes, but the fact remains that some are just more iconic than others. By “iconic” we mean the ones that first pop into your head when you think of springtime in the gorge – scenes that represent wildflower season in the region as a whole.

If it’s pretty pictures of flowers you’re after, any of these ten will do. But at the top of the list are some truly remarkable destinations where you can fully immerse yourself in the beauty of Oregon spring.

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Stephanie Yao/The Oregonian

10. Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail

Distance: 5 miles, 8.5 miles or 12 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Amenities: Parking lots, restrooms at trailheads

When to go: April and May



When complete, the Historical Columbia River Highway State Trail will be a 73-mile paved pathway through the gorge, but for now you can find wildflowers, waterfalls and river views along three of the major segments already completed. The first runs six miles from John B. Yeon State Park to Cascade Locks; the second is 2.5 miles between Viento State Park and Lindsey Creek; and the third runs more than four miles between the Mark O. Hatfield West and East trailheads.



See the full trail map for more information.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

9. Lyle Cherry Orchard

Distance: 5.2 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Amenities: None

When to go: March and April



A relatively remote hike on the eastern side of the gorge near the small town of Lyle, the Lyle Cherry Orchard hike ascends a grassy hillside above the Columbia River to an old cherry orchard. The meadows alongside the trail are home to wildflowers in spring, but also rattlesnakes, so watch your step. Also be warned that the trailhead is a simple pull-out with no amenities.

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Brian Feulner/The Oregonian

8. Cape Horn Trail

Distance: 5.2 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Amenities: Parking lot, vault toilets

When to go: May and June



The Cape Horn viewpoint on the side of Washington State Route 14 is one the best-known views in the gorge. But head down the highway a little farther to find the Cape Horn Trail, which leads to several more stunning viewpoints and wildflowers in the latter half of spring. It's a 5.2-mile round-trip hike to the stone-walled Nancy Russell Overlook, but you can also hike a little farther to find more views.

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Ross William Hamilton/The Oregonian

7. Coyote Wall

Distance: 7.3 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Amenities: Parking lot, vault toilet

When to go: March and April



Coyote Wall is famous for its hiking trails, mountain bike paths, stunning views and wildflower displays in early spring. A 7.3-mile loop hike will take you through grassy meadows, past small waterfalls and atop cliffs overlooking the gorge. It's best accessed by the Coyote Wall trailhead, found just east of Bingen on the side of the highway.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

6. Catherine Creek

Distance: 1.2 miles and 3.4 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Amenities: Gravel parking area; portable toilets

When to go: March through May



Catherine Creek is a phenomenal spot for wildflowers, not just for the blooms but for the many trails you can take to see them. The shortest is a 1.2-mile universal access loop hike south of the trailhead, where interpretive signs line the paved trail along the Columbia River. The Catherine Creek Arch hike is another popular hike that leads to an arch-shaped rock formation and beautiful meadow, while the Catherine Creek West Hike offers several great views looking into the gorge.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

5. Mosier Plateau

Distance: 3 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Amenities: Parking areas near trailhead

When to go: April and May



The trail up Mosier Plateau opened to the public in 2013, and since then it has become one of the most popular wildflower hikes in the area. The three-mile hike leads past an old cemetery, a waterfall and finally up to the plateau itself which blooms with yellow balsamroot in mid-spring. It's one of the best places to frame photographs of wildflowers and the Columbia River.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

4. Memaloose Hills

Distance: 4 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Amenities: None

When to go: April and May



Traversing the grassy hills above the Columbia River, the Memaloose Hills hike begins at a small trailhead near Mosier on the Historic Columbia River Highway. The trail runs through meadows that pop with color in mid-spring, eventually ending with two hilltops and great views of the gorge. There are no amenities at the trailhead and not much parking space to speak of, so consider going on weekday mornings if you can.



NOTE: An earlier version of this story mentioned a lower access point to the hike located farther downhill, but the U.S. Forest Service discourages public use of that user-made trail.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

3. Dalles Mountain Ranch

Distance: 5 miles and 7 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Amenities: Gravel parking lot, vault toilet

When to go: April



A true wildflower wonderland, Dalles Mountain Ranch is the site of an old cattle ranch that's now part of Columbia Hills State Park in Washington. You can hike a five-mile loop from the upper trailhead or a seven-mile loop from the lower trailhead, but either way you'll pass through grassy hillsides with views of Mount Hood and the Columbia River that absolutely burst with color in the spring.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

2. Rowena Crest

Distance: 1 mile and 3.6 miles

Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Amenities: Parking off the side of the road, portable toilets

When to go: April and May



Rowena Crest is best known for the viewpoint overlooking a horseshoe bend in the Historic Columbia River Highway, but two trails from the viewpoint lead to amazing wildflower displays in the Tom McCall Preserve during mid-spring. The first is an easy one-mile hike out to Rowena Plateau, with great viewpoints all around. The second is a 3.6-mile trek up to McCall Point, where yellow balsamroot and purple lupine flowers fill fields alongside the trail. There's no parking lot to speak of, but there is room to pull off the side of the road around the viewpoint.

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Creative Commons

1. Dog Mountain

Distance: 6.9 miles

Difficulty: Difficult

Amenities: Parking lot, vault toilet

When to go: May and June



When it comes to wildflower hikes in the gorge, Dog Mountain is king. The difficult seven-mile trek leads up several steep switchbacks before emerging into wildflower-filled meadows overlooking the Columbia River – truly one of the most iconic scenes in the Pacific Northwest. Chasing those views are huge crowds that tend to overwhelm Dog Mountain, making parking all but impossible on spring weekends. For two years now, the U.S. Forest Service has been issuing hiking permits to help stem the crowds and protect the natural landscape. Only 250 permits are issued each weekend day during peak season between April 20 and June 16.



NOTE: On weekends during peak season, hikers need to purchase a $1 permit in addition to paying the $5 parking fee. Permits can be purchased online or onboard shuttle buses from nearby Stevenson.

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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB