One of the most beautiful spring landscapes in the PNW, the open slopes of the Dalles Mountain…read moreRanch section of the Columbia Hills Historic State Park turn yellow from the millions of arrow balsam root flowers that bloom. It is truly an incredible sight and the flowers cover thousands of acres. The balsam root are the first to appear followed by blue lupin. The next wave brings delicate blue bachelor buttons and bright orange California poppies. Since wildflower season is my favorite season, I visit often from March through June to watch the symphony of color that adorns the hills. The Dalles Mountain Ranch, was purchased from rancher Pat Bleakney in 1993. The 3,338 ranch includes Horsethief Lake and the many historic pictographs across SR-14 along the Columbia River. The open slopes of the old ranch attracts hikers in all seasons with a developed trail system with several loop options. The sweeping views of the Columbia River and Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams on a clear day are incredible! This area is so peaceful and serene. There is a dedicated parking area about 3.5 miles up the gravel drive past the old ranch and barn with vault toilets making it very convenient. Day pass is required and there is a kiosk in the parking area. This is the Gorge so it can get very windy! I've been there in the wind and have had days with no wind at all. Just be prepared for either end of the spectrum! No real shade so wear a hat and sunscreen. The trails are dirt and rock so I always brink walking sticks because I need the support. And yes, there are signs warning about rattlesnakes, part of the high dessert ecosystem so pay attention.

There are only 5 previous reviews and mine was one. Guess cuz everybody enjoys the showy wildflower…read morehike - too busy looking at all the incredible photos to post on Yelp. I'll be short. Go to "wildflowersoregon.org" and find out when and where flowers are blooming in the Columbia River Gorge. We started the trail at Dalles Mountain Ranch and hiked 5.5 miles (elevation gain 800 feet) on a figure 8 loop carpeted with Balsamroot and lupine over the hills after hills as far as you can see. Showy wildflower display! The huge pedal Balsamroot are a bit past prime but the lupine are stellar now along with Phlox, Tretelia, Buckwheat and more. Put on a good pair of hiking shoes. Bring a smart phone or digital camera for breath-taking views. Whew! With the clouds yesterday - 5 stars *****

Much windier here. Stopped by after having lunch nearby. There's plenty of parking. Saw many…read morefamilies and people flying kites & a surfing. There are restrooms. Nice park to just enjoy the water & people watch.

Known as the 'Windsurfing Capital of the World', Hood River is a small city in Oregon, on the banks…read moreof the Columbia River. It is known for its concentration of craft breweries in the downtown area, and the ability to consume alcohol publicly on open sidewalks and parks. My wife, mother-in-law, and I drove intentionally to see the city during our visit to the Gorge, and stopped by the famous Park next to the River. It was drizzling and cold this day, so finding free street parking was easy. We found a place to sit, and admire the brave souls surfing. There is a small beach area, and children life jackets to share. And a nice grassy area with playground equipment.

I was lucky enough to have gone hiking here a few weeks before the fire…read more I parked at Rowena Crest, and accidentally wandered a couple of miles up a hill and back down. The Tom McCall trail starts right across the street from Rowena Crest. It's 1.5 miles from the parking area to the top of the hill. There are no restrooms nearby. Parking is free, and permits are not required. However, this area fills up very fast. Even during a Northern Lights show at 3am a few weeks ago, the parking area was crowded and lit up with headlights. Out of all the wildflower hikes I've personally done so far in the Columbia River Gorge, this was the prettiest one. I went in late May and in early June. The balsam root was beginning to droop, but a lot of the other flowers were still in full bloom, or just beginning to bloom. I got some great photos of lupine and paintbrush with the Gorge in the background. Aside from the wildflowers, there was also a lot of plant diversity on this trail compared to others in the area. I saw lots of oak or tanoak near the top of the hill, and some cool looking multi colored shrubs I don't yet know the names of. This trail has been temporarily closed since the fire. I'm not sure how the fire affected the area, or how long it will be until it reopens.

Event: Wandering through Wild Flowers…read more Pros: Im with a group called #Afronature located in Portland and we get out to explore monthly. This time around we decided to explore the Tom McCall Preserve. There was roughly 30 Black individual who made the brave hike up this mountain. Let me tell you on a scale of 1 to 10, this 5 mile hike was about a 9 in difficulty for non hikers. We literally huffed and puffed our behinds to the top of that dawg gone mountain! The views and the wildflowers were beautiful. Cons: n/a Side Note: Bring plenty of Water and snacks! There is very little shade so it is possible to get dehydrated. Wear appropriate boots or walking shoes. Loose clothes are suggested. And bring plenty of sun screen!!!!!!

It is such a beautiful and scenic drive each and every time going through the Columbia River Gorge!…read moreIt's something I never tire of and there are so many things to go see both on the Oregon and Washington side of the Gorge. One of the most notable places to stop is Multnomah Falls. It's a highly popular place and it is certainly understandable as to why but it is best to go early. You may even need to look into getting a reservation in order to get a parking space as well... because yes... it is actually that popular all year round. There are so many cute little towns through the Gorge as well. Hood River is a favorite of ours and I believe it's a favorite for a lot of people but Cascade Locks is nice as well and the Washington side has cute towns as well. On the Oregon side is Interstate 84 but don't explore this Interstate or route as a quick, brisk route to get east to west (or vice versa) as you cannot go typical Interstate speed through the Gorge. The curvature of the road and through this long stretch simply doesn't allow you to do that so it would be worth looking into alternate routes as possible if quickness is the only thing in mind otherwise you kind of just have to endure the reduced speeds. The Columbia River itself one doesn't have to repeat how beautiful it is but it's understandable if you do. River activities never fail to mesmerize. Like the group of people we once saw sailing down the river with boogie boards ( perhaps there's another name for it I'm not in the know with that) and the almost other worldly appearance of numerous fisherman on boats once fishing season was in full swig in the early morning. It's something one can never get tired of, The Columbia Gorge and I enjoy it each and every time I drive through it. It's breathtaking and truly one of essential drives to partake if visiting Oregon.

This area is an absolute must see if you are in the Portland area. It is really gorgeous. We drove…read moreto the visitor center and from there hiked up toward Multnomah Falls. It is a great way to get your steps in while surrounded by nature at its finest. There a number of waterfalls in this area and if you don't have time to get out and hike, there are some that can be seen from your car while driving by. We spent most of a day driving and hiking to the waterfalls using a map we got from the visitor center. It was raining during our visit, but we still got to see some beautiful scenery. There's a restaurant at Multnomah Falls Lodge in case you are looking for a place for lunch while in the area.

Great spot for families- especially if you have kids! Awesome spot for swimming in the summer as…read morewell, there's a little sandy area for easy access to the river for swimming.

A pocket park, as it states online, seems like a fitting description. We were looking for different…read moreaccess to the Riverfront Trail, and that pretty much sums up Klindt Cove. It's got a decent sized lot, as well as bathrooms. Clearly a desired resting spot for geese...watch your step...there is a bit of green space and some benches overlooking the water. There's also a handy-dandy bike repair station -- nice touch. It really is a great midpoint access point to the trail, should you just want to wander a couple miles one direction or the other. The views along the trail are nice, and bird sightings pretty common. Maybe not a park so much, but for it's obvious intended purpose, it's doing it's job.

Lovely setting...but way too loud to stay overnight…read more Decided to stay at the campground while exploring the area. The setting of the campground is really pretty, and felt quite peaceful until dark. I'd noticed the sign on the info board warning of noise. But honestly I assumed it would be the normal passing train noise we always experience when staying along the gorge. But this location was something different...train whistles were sounded throughout the entire night. No sleep was to be had for me here. Regardless, we prepped to roam the trails that morning. While I didn't have big expectations when we started off along the river we really ended up enjoying the trails. The hillsides around the Deschutes provide a simply stunning landscape. There are multiple, parallel levels of trails from which to choose. We opted to take about 5 miles round trip, starting on the lowest trail and looping back via the next level up. The trails are narrow & winding, with uneven surfaces. On that sunny day it was very serene, with only the sounds of the river and birds. I wouldn't consider using the campground again, simply due to the train whistles. The sites weren't at all private, some level/some not...but all with nice river views. I would definitely recommend use of the trail system, however.

This is an ok park if you are stopping for a picnic or to take a hike. It's right on the river so…read morethere are great views, fresh air and all that the Gorge has to offer. However, being the Gorge it can get windy. Sometimes very windy. I don't camp but if I did it wouldn't be here. It's right on the rail line and five mile long freight rains pass by a few hundred feet away every five minutes..... literally. Other than that, it's a good State park with all the amenities. Easy to get to so if you are on the Interstate and need a break you'll find this area more refreshing than a highway rest area.

Get after a hike or ride a mountain bike through the rugged beauty of Swale Canyon. Klickitat River…read morerolls into the Columbia at Lye. Great trail in winter to view the gathering of Bald Eagles. When the salmon are running in October, Native American fishermen set up fish stands along the jagged edges of cliffs to catch the big ones. Notes: Easy ride, peacedul, cruise & roll, not technical. Follows the river. Grade easy. In a 18 mile ride, gained only 735 feet in elevation. Flat double track, very little single track, scenic, and lots of small gravel and lots of rocks rocks rocks. Best to ride a mountain or fat tire bike with knobby tires. Hard ride on the gluteus maximus. Lots of quick pops bouncing with a suspension. Shade 75% and 25% sun. Check the temperature, this is dessert. Bring water. Easy 30 miles out and back.

We love the KRT! We've hiked it many times. The Market in Klickitat runs a car shuttle service if…read moreyou want to do the whole thing or longer sections of it and not have to double back to get your car at the trailhead where you left it. The entire trail is quite long and too long to do as a one day hike. It would be a long day even on a trail bike. Our favorite is the Swale Canton section which is more remote and has a lot less people on it compared to the section that runs from Lyle to Klickitat. It's especially fun during the dead of Winter. I've heard stories of rattler sightings but IMHO it's not a location that's conducive to large amounts of rattlesnakes. I'm sure there could be a few but you'd really have to work at it to get bit. Lots of snakes out there and especially in Swale Canyon but I've never seen a rattler. I have looked at snakes that people on the trail have pointed out and said they were rattlers. But they were something else and not poisonous. There is at least one black bear out there (Swale Canyon) and probably many more. Also Coyote and I've heard that Cougars are around although I find that hard to believe. Lots of deer and elk of course. Lots less wildlife on the Lyle to Klickitat segment. We really apreciate the hard work and dedication that the KTC put into making this trail a reality and for maintaining it. We used to go to their events all the time but they have been silent for several years so they may have disbanded. As a side note, bringing the "ten essentials" is always important and especially on this hike. Pretty much impossible to get lost out there but there is no cell service in Swale Canyon so if you get hurt you are more or less on your own. And bring water! Lots of it!

The last thing I expected to find on a drive in eastern WA and OR! What was truly amazing is that…read moreour trip in was free of charge. I'll admit this isn't like Wildlife Safari in OR, as here the animals are behind fences and you'll not be feeding them as you can there. It's also a very short trip in, as you drive up a few minutes to a barn and then turn around. While it is a very small and short thing to take a look at, it's a great break from a long drive.

We'd driven by the gate multiple times and wondered about the place. So, we finally pulled in…read morerecently to see for ourselves. It's free, just pull in and drive the short section allowed to view some beautiful animals from your car. It's a pretty fast up to the turnaround and back out. I'm not really sure how I feel about the place. The animals I could see appeared to be healthy, with fairly large enclosures and fabulous views...although it's doubtful that latter matters to them. ;) I just wonder the nature of the farm...I'm allllll for any efforts towards animal conservation, but I haven't been able to determine if there's any of that here or if it's just someone's personal zoo. This one's a big ???? for me.